Can practicing 2 instruments at once hurt?

It might hurt if you try to play them both at the same time, but if you alternate between the two, you should be fine.

 

I don't think it will hurt.....more or less = upgrade.

 

DANGER!!!​

it can lead to things like this...

 

Playing guitar won't hurt your bass playing, however it's physically impossible for it to help your bass playing. I mean, do pitchers practice being a quarterback?

 

I can hurt a little

 

No. Never. It can only help you become a better musician. Learn as many instruments as you can. It's all about making music, not about showing of your mad skillz.

 

two people practicing one instrument at once can hurt worse

 

It would hurt if you try to play them both at once. It would probably ding them all up too

 

One time, at band camp....

 

Not in my opinion. I find it's a symbiotic relationship...do it!

 

If you believe that learning two instruments at once can’t work, then you’re right. If you believe it can, then you’re right. Any impediments due to trying play two or more instruments are impediments in your thinking, not in the differences between the instruments.

Nearly everyone who plays well on one instrument is at least functional on another. I’m of the school that believes that each instrument you study teaches you something useful when learning and playing other instruments. At a minimum it enhances your ability to communicate with other musicians.

 

Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

 

No! I am not a virtuoso, not a natural, not a prodigy, etc. It's hard work for me just to be good enough to get on a stage. I practice bass, guitar (acoustic and electric), Banjo and most recently Mandolin. On top of that I practice vocals to each of these instruments. As I've stated sooo many times before, I am a stage guy. Not a play in the bedroom guy. So this all comes very hard for me, it's more work than pleasure. Two out of ten times I come out of the music room with a smile. I did try keys and drums but gave up on that. Being proficient enough to hop up on stage is the reason for all of it. I do believe that all of this makes a better bass player and stage performer. How can I follow a guitar player if I have no idea what he is doing?

 

After losing band partners after moving away from home, I started to learn guitar for a good year, not really touching the bass at all. Guitar was easier to learn with all the bass knowledge but it did improve my bass playing dramatically, mostly with chords, solos and melodies. Now I get calls for gigs for both bass and guitar. More money more candy!

 

Practice both.

 

You can't play guitar and bass at the same time in a traditional way

Kidding aside, I think the answer is yes and no IMO.

Yes: because music is music and if you know how to play an instrument, it'd help you learn another easier. (If you can drive a car, I'd be easier to drive a bus)

No: because the more new information gets into your brain, the less you're focused.

I don't know if what I just said is true or not, I'm thinking out loud.

 

Surgical instruments? Yep.

Musical instruments. Nope.

 

Why stop at two?

 

Any loss of repetition you have by splitting time between instruments, you gain back by getting a more holistic education to music and understanding how the instruments fit together musically. The only downside to learning multiple instruments at once? Honestly, it’s the gear. I’m mostly set now since I have enough gear, really I do, but I play piano and guitar semi-professionally, gig on bass regularly, and play a decent amount of drums. The amount of studio space and money needed to get my musical life to a satisfactory point is pretty scary haha.