Learning two instruments at once?

[Greenman72]

Question - How difficult is it to learn two instruments at once?

Longer version - like most people, I started out on piano when I was a kid. Didn't get very far, because video games were more important. Plus, it's hard to play AC-DC and Metallica on the piano.

Now that I'm 45, I have picked up the bass, and really enjoying it. I'm definitely in the "poorly mediocre" category, but...whatever. I'm having fun.

I think I'd like to go back to the piano again, if for no other reason than because piano is the best instrument in the world to learn music theory. And I'd like to play the piano.

I know it's possible, but...for somebody who owns a business, has a wife and a 12- and 14-year old, is it really possible?

 

[Wasnex]

The correct answer depends on a lot of factors.

My first response is bad idea, which may be true for you and your situation...or not.

As a music major you would be expected to study your primary instrument, take class piano, and take methods classes if you were an education major.

When I was a music major I wanted to take lessons on other instruments and most of the professors scoffed at the idea. One did agree to do it with some degree of concern and reserved judgment. Never made it to the next semester.

I futzed around with guitar for about a decade. Never really learned to play, but had a lot of fun with what I did learn. Eventually lost interest.

If it's just for fun, I say go for it and see how it goes. You can always change direction.

 

[bholder]

Depends on the individual. Some folks would find it too much, others might find the cross-fertilization and advancement in general musical understanding to be worth the extra effort.

 

[Lobster11]

As far as learning concepts and theory are concerned, the two instruments would probably complement each other. The only reason they would interfere with each other would be the obvious fact that when you're practicing one you're not practicing the other, which means it would take about twice as long to get proficient at either of them. And given that in your situation you're not going to have a ton of time available for practicing, your progress on each might be frustratingly slow.

Although you're right that music theory is generally based on, and illustrated on, piano, I don't think you need to be able to play piano: You just need to understand how it works -- e.g., the patterns of white keys vs. black keys -- and you already know that. I've never played piano but never had any trouble learning theory.

So, I would say that if you would like to get proficient on an instrument as quickly as possible, you should probably pick one -- at least for now. (Hint: Pick bass!)

 

[gln1955]

It's not a big deal. Lots of youngsters take piano lessons and most of them are also in their school band or orchestra.

It all depends on how much time you have to devote to music.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

At 14 I was horsing around with piano, bass, guitar, harmonica, Sousaphone and voice.
All at the same time. Very different levels of accomplishment, but learning.
Theres a lot cross-over.

 

[Groove Doctor]

At 14 I was horsing around with piano, bass, guitar, harmonica, Sousaphone and voice.
All at the same time. Very different levels of accomplishment, but learning.
Theres a lot cross-over.

Agreed. I played 7 instruments when I was 11-18 years old. Only truly serious at a Pro level at Bass guitar though. The others were to widen my understanding of music and how a band works together.

I’m Music Director in most groups now as a result of my drive, breadth/ depth of experience, leaderships skills, organisational skills, and hard earned respect from other players.

You do you. Remember to have fun.

 

[mambo4]

Learning to play an instrument is perhaps 50% learning how the instrument works and 50% learning how music works. Once you get a solid grasp of how music works, you have eliminated 50% of the work for a new instrument.

(actual proportions may vary in reality)

 

[fdeck]

I took flute and cello lessons as a kid, and also picked up electric bass on my own. I don't think it's a big deal. Give it a try. Either you'll find time to practice both instruments, or one will fall by the wayside. Of course nobody knows what your schedule is like as an adult, but I see no harm in trying it and seeing what happens.

 

[matthewbrown]

I think that for us bassists, it's extremely helpful to learn another instrument, and if you want to understand music well enough to play bass at a high level, you should at least learn how to play piano well enough to figure out music theory concepts. It's also helpful to understand the roles of different instrumentalists in an ensemble, as well as the challenges they face. One way to do that is to learn other instruments. For myself, I learned to play piano a bit, and I play intermediate-level classical guitar. I also have taken up flute again recently, which I played in high school band and jazz band. I've been getting a few gigs on flute and guitar, which is nice, but mainly I play them because they complement playing bass.

 

[mambo4]

I'll add this: serving the music requires awareness of what all instruments are doing
That awareness is easier come by with familiarity of said instrument
also: easier to communicate with players of said instrument

 

[bass player 53]

I am an adult piano student (68), having started ‘classical’ piano lessons at 60 with an experienced teacher. You
have to accept that adult piano students are different than children,
and adjust your expectations accordingly. I think, too, that you
should have clear goals regarding
what you want to learn and accomplish
on the bass.
The demands on your time and your
energy level are not the same as
younger folks.

 

[Beej]

I consider myself a bass player. But I also play several other instruments well enough to improvise or play in a band situation, though some I'm more comfortable with some than others. I play guitar of all stripes, mandolin, cello, keyboards, clarinet, keys/piano and drums. I also mess around with sax, recorder and violin though I'm not well enough to play in a band situation.

In my own experience, every new instrument has spoken the same language (but getting it out of each instrument is different of course) and has been 'additive' to my own musical learning and growth of capacity on other instruments. At no point has working on any instrument 'held me back' in my development of any other. I don't think I'm a particularly talented player, I don't have perfect pitch, but I do have a well-developed relative pitch capacity, which has only improved the more I've played.

I'd say go for it! The more the merrier.

 

[james condino]

I can't imagine being in a band and not being able to understand what the guitar player is doing, with special mention to all the poeple who put a capo on the 6th fret and still call out the chord as "G".

I've been in a couple of bands where everyone was a multi instrumentalist and it was fantastic for both the band and the audience to hear how much the music changed from song to song.

 

[matthewbrown]

I consider myself a bass player. But I also play several other instruments well enough to improvise or play in a band situation, though some I'm more comfortable with some than others. I play guitar of all stripes, mandolin, cello, keyboards, clarinet, keys/piano and drums. I also mess around with sax, recorder and violin though I'm not well enough to play in a band situation.

In my own experience, every new instrument has spoken the same language (but getting it out of each instrument is different of course) and has been 'additive' to my own musical learning and growth of capacity on other instruments. At no point has working on any instrument 'held me back' in my development of any other. I don't think I'm a particularly talented player, I don't have perfect pitch, but I do have a well-developed relative pitch capacity, which has only improved the more I've played.

I'd say go for it! The more the merrier.

Right now, I'm finding that the pitch acuity that I developed by playing fretless bass is a huge help playing flute.

 

[Polfuste]

I know it's possible, but...for somebody who owns a business, has a wife and a 12- and 14-year old, is it really possible?

Seems you already have you own reply.
How many time are you ready to involve in this context ?

 

[JohnBrown13]

Question - How difficult is it to learn two instruments at once?

Longer version - like most people, I started out on piano when I was a kid. Didn't get very far, because video games were more important. Plus, it's hard to play AC-DC and Metallica on the piano.

Now that I'm 45, I have picked up the bass, and really enjoying it. I'm definitely in the "poorly mediocre" category, but...whatever. I'm having fun.

I think I'd like to go back to the piano again, if for no other reason than because piano is the best instrument in the world to learn music theory. And I'd like to play the piano.



I know it's possible, but...for somebody who owns a business, has a wife and a 12- and 14-year old, is it really possible?

The key isn’t talent, it’s time management. You don’t need 2 hours a day per instrument. Even 15–20 focused minutes on piano a few times a week, alongside your bass practice, will add up. Piano will actually help your bass playing — especially with theory, chord structure, and understanding harmony.
You don’t have to “progress” at the same rate on both. Think of piano as your theory lab and bass as your fun performance instrument. They can feed each other.