Multi-Instrumentalists?

[Hypnotaize]

Any multi-instrumentalists out there? How long in between picking up each instrument did you wait? What instruments do you play? What do you want to play? Do you have a maximum limit of instruments you hold yourself to?

I play piano, bass, and guitar. I really want to learn violin and alto saxophone, but I'm waiting at least two years before I pick up one, then I'll wait another two years. That way I have a basic idea of the instrument before I over load myself.

 

[M0ses]

I started playing bass shortly after I started playing trumpet ten years ago. At this point I play keyboards (badly), drums, harmonica, and any brass instrument you care to mention. I've just started singing leads.

 

[SasquatchDude]

I started taking guitar lessons at 9 (10-odd years ago) but sort of burned out right about the time I got into piano a year later. Played piano ever since, and picked up bass when I was 17.

Still break out the old 6-string every now and again just to noodle around, although at this point I think my bass playing has done more for my guitar skills than my guitar background ever taught me on bass.

 

[Stick_Player]

... I really want to learn violin and alto saxophone, but I'm waiting at least two years before I pick up one, then I'll wait another two years. That way I have a basic idea of the instrument before I over load myself.

It'll take two or more years just to figure out how to use the bow, then you can start on the violin.

Don't want to burst any bubbles, but violin is best started EARLY on, not later on. But go for it!

 

[Hypnotaize]

It'll take two or more years just to figure out how to use the bow, then you can start on the violin.

Don't want to burst any bubbles, but violin is best started EARLY on, not later on. But go for it!

I'm still a newbie to bass, so I don't want to get too distracted. Plus, I'm a high schooler buying all my own music supplies, and until I can pick up a part-time, I have to save up my allowance until I can get anything.

 

[BioWeapon]

It'll take two or more years just to figure out how to use the bow, then you can start on the violin.

Don't want to burst any bubbles, but violin is best started EARLY on, not later on. But go for it!

Are you speaking from experience? I picked up my friend cello for the first time and was able to bow after a few minutes of messing around. Of course, my intonation was virtually non existent.

 

[Hypnotaize]

This might sound ridiculous, but as well as wanting to learn a bowed string instrument and loving violin music, a big influence on my decision is to give the Jimmy Page technique a shot, where he played a guitar with a bow.

 

[Moley13]

I started piano at five (thanks parents!). This was probably the best possible first instrument. I picked up Euphonium at 10, and switched to trumpet at 12. Started guitar around 12 too, switching to double bass at 14 (and slowly gearing back to electric bass too). I've played high-paying gigs on all three, but wouldn't consider myself a "piano player" anymore. I'd say stick to one instrument until you've REALLY nailed all the general musicianship/theory stuff. Then bring in others, as it really ingrains the general stuff you've already learned (seeing it from a different perspective, and all). I think if you pick up another instrument before then, it seriously delays your general musicianship, because you get bogged down by technical aspects and can't lock down the theory ('cause the "machine" is getting in your way!).

That said, take any opportunity to learn drums/percussion you can. I'd NEVER call myself a "percussionist", but I have done countless workshops and even a few concerts on percussion. It allows you to really get down to rhythms/groove/time without fussing about all that "notes" nonsense

 

[M0ses]

+1, playing drums makes me a better all around musician, not to mention the benefits it has on my bass playing.

 

[D. Gallis]

Technically I can play (or should I say compose) anything with midi and a good daw + plugins. I just picked up piano recently, I can do guitar (but bass is more fun imo); I can't play drums but I can, and have been complemented on, writing some pretty mean percussion parts.

 

[Hypnotaize]

Once our drummer buys his kit, I said I'd let him leave it at my house, since A, that's where practices always are, and B, he doesn't have space in his apartment. I figured I'd teach myself on his kit.

I'd say stick to one instrument until you've REALLY nailed all the general musicianship/theory stuff. Then bring in others, as it really ingrains the general stuff you've already learned (seeing it from a different perspective, and all). I think if you pick up another instrument before then, it seriously delays your general musicianship, because you get bogged down by technical aspects and can't lock down the theory ('cause the "machine" is getting in your way!).

That said, take any opportunity to learn drums/percussion you can. I'd NEVER call myself a "percussionist", but I have done countless workshops and even a few concerts on percussion. It allows you to really get down to rhythms/groove/time without fussing about all that "notes" nonsense

I like that. That's a good way of phrasing it. The main reason I take piano lessons is to learn theory, and I think it's really improving. My bass teacher, though he has greatly improved my playing, doesn't quite apply theory to the bass. He's more there for technique help and motivation. I've definitely improved since I started with him. But when I started jazz camp last week, it focused a lot more on theory and showed me how little I know.

 

[SasquatchDude]

Once our drummer buys his kit, I said I'd let him leave it at my house, since A, that's where practices always are, and B, he doesn't have space in his apartment. I figured I'd teach myself on his kit.

I like that. That's a good way of phrasing it. The main reason I take piano lessons is to learn theory, and I think it's really improving. My bass teacher, though he has greatly improved my playing, doesn't quite apply theory to the bass. He's more there for technique help and motivation. I've definitely improved since I started with him. But when I started jazz camp last week, it focused a lot more on theory and showed me how little I know.

+1 on using piano for theory... never let go of that. I find understanding harmony so much easier with all the notes physically laid out in a neat line rather than trying to visualize patterns/shapes on a fretboard.

 

[Hypnotaize]

Yeah, I wasn't even going to consider piano until I moved in with my grandma. She used to teach piano and hasn't touched it in 20-something years, so I figured I might as well take it up. I've long since gotten kinda bored with it, but I know it'll help my bass immensely.

 

[JustSomeDude]

I've managed to make a living (SO FAR!) as a Multi Inst.
Teachers always told me I had to pick one, but if I had I wouldn't be doing what I am today (though maybe I would be MUCH better on one instrument
I have noticed that lots of Bass Players started on Trumpet.

Having a basic understanding of how other instruments are played gives you a HUGE advantage in working with and especially arranging for other instruments.

I started on Trombone at age 10 and then Trumpet. Got decent on Clarinet and Tuba and picked up the basics on Sax and Percussion and Piano.
My brother loaned me a 70's Epiphone Bass. I WAS HOOKED.
Trumpet and Bass were my mainstays and everything else was recreational.

Moved to Nashville at 18 and started revisiting some of my old instruments I had accumulated along the way and added fun stuff...ethnic, accordions, more perc, plead more Guitar (out of necessity).

My studio now would likely get me on "Hoarders" but it's great fun and a good chunk of my work now involves Horns/Woodwinds.

 

[Hypnotaize]

I can't imagine anything better than being the kook that has their fine china scattered haphazardly on counters, and instruments in a glass cabinet, tucked away safely.

Part of my interest in sax is because I love the improv you can do within jazz. Until you get real good at it, there doesn't seem to be much freedom in jazz bass. I sit with my teacher during sessions playing the same few bits over and over. In everything else I've played (mostly rock/punk bass) it's simple but it changes a lot, keeping it interesting. But so far, I've seen beginning saxophonists doing a lot more improv and loving it.

We do something in camp called Play with the Pros, where the teachers play at their level and you're expected to keep up. Occasionally the guitarist will point at someone to solo, and while I like sitting in the more exciting pieces and playing, from what we've done, it just gets painfully boring, almost killing my enthusiasm for music.

 

[davy4575]

I play piano/keys, bass and drums. Ive played each as my primary instrument and gigged as such. Playing the drums is so very beneficial to your bassplaying and musician ship. Out of everyone you need to have a bond with as the bassist is your drummer first and foremost. its great for your chops and gives you a really appreciation of what your other half needs.

 

[spanndrew]

I have noticed that lots of Bass Players started on Trumpet.

Add me to that list. Started on trumpet, then guitar(never loved it), bass, harmonica, singing lead and second attempt at guitar. I study theory separately with some books but definitely wish I had the piano background. While I think mastering one instrument first can be a good strategy, I also think that seeing how music works from another instruemnts perspective can really help you out.

 

[Definitely]

I only took lessons on bass, but I can play bass, guitar, drums, keys, ukulele and trumpet. I just taught myself random instruments in my spare time or if I wasn't feeling bass for a couple of weeks. I now just sort of play around with all of them (I own all but a trumpet) and try to write stuff to incorporate it all. I play bass most, and it's the prominent feature in anything I write, but I'd say my second best instrument is drums, so I do a lot of off-time rhythmic stuff and add riffs here and there on guitar if I feel like it, maybe a piano in the back on this song, etc.

 

[Bassic Playing]

I play bass, guitar and drums, and have just started learning trumpet. Going to get taught to play piano next semester by a friend at my college, but don't plan on spending too much time on it, just for compositional purposes.

Really I want trumpet and bass to be my main instruments. But man, trumpet is HARD!

 

[Need Gigs]

I play electric, upright, euphonium, guitar and drums (and orchestral percussion). My reading's not so good on the last two. Mind you, my school just did Fame the musical and I had to teach the guitarist some of his parts.
I absolutely agree with learning drums. It was my first instrument and it taught me rhythm like nothing else could.