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-   -   The Musical Instruments Thread (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifting-gears/229387-musical-instruments-thread.html)

I'm not sure if such a thread exists, curious to know if any BHPIAN plays any kind of musical instruments?
I play the Tabla, have been learning for almost 9 years now. Every moment spent practicing and playing is pure bliss.

Hope to hear from all of you!

Nice thread. Always refreshing to talk about music.

I play the Spanish guitar. Started sometime in 2001 and play mostly rhythm. My first guitar was a jumbo cut away Gibson knock off- Givson. :)
Currently I have a Fender acoustic guitar which I got a few years ago and an electric guitar with zoom expression pedal which was bought off my first salary in 2008.

Also play the keyboard but need to better my keyboard playing skills.

Hey man,
That's great to here. I had tried my hand at learning the guitar and drums but both were not my cup of tea I guess.

Attaching a picture of my Tabla during a tuning session

Where do you learn and who is your guruji? Great to see a tabla player on the forum clap:

Great to see a thread on musical instruments and thanks for bringing it up.

As part of the lockdown, one goal for myself is to be able to learn one musical instrument. Intent is to have a hobby that keeps me occupied even after retirement (~20 yrs more to go!).

I have never been into music and arts, and hence this is uncharted territory for me. I always assumed this is something that needs to be in your gene. I had a tryst with a musical keyboard about 20 years back when I joined music class in school. So I have some basic understanding of keyboard, and want to pick that up as a hobby.

Are there any suggestions on how to pick up the knack to play music? Going to a music school is ruled out for few more months, so maybe there is an app that teaches playing a keyboard?

I'd say begin with watching YouTube videos. Everything from the basics: scales, notes and chords to pop music. Then try playing them by yourself, using the videos as a guide. Keep practicing.

I started with tabla. I then moved to Hindusthani vocal. I have been learning vocal since 5 years now.

I can pick up any instrument and get a tune out of it. I thought I was proficient in flute and harmonica, till I heard an expert bend play RD Burman's Arabian Nights.:Shockked:

Lockdown gave me an opportunity to learn keyboard. I almost got my car seized breaking lockdown , getting a keyboard , after heavy research. After 6 months, I can sight read and play sheet music.

The best way, after trying app connecting keyboard to PC (first choice, PianoMarvel), is by going to a tutor's studio. Next best, self learning:

http://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthrea...ml#Post2295775

Though I was always interested in listening to music since childhood, my tryst with musical instruments began when I was 18 and my mom gifted me a Yamaha keyboard (PSR 275). I tried learning it by myself but never really progressed much (trust me self learning is a whole deal harder than learning from a tutor).

Post that, I have constantly been in touch and learned a wide variety of instruments. I have always wanted to learn 1 instrument each of the different types (strings, wind, digital, etc)

Stringed - Guitar - I have been playing the guitar since a decade plus now and had learnt it professionally for around 2 years. I have a steel string, electric and classical guitar (Yamaha CG171S) at home. I usually prefer the classical for regular playing.

Percussion - Tabla - Learnt it professionally for around 2 years but didn't practice much after that so gave it away to my tutor to pass on to someone who needs it. It definitely helped in my sense of timing though.

Wind - Flute - learnt the transverse flute (G scale) from a tutor for a year and practice on and off even now (MyGurukul App was also useful for this)

Digital - Keyboard - Gave away my initial Yamaha and splurged on the Casio PX560. It is absolutely brilliant and I am currently learning it through a piano course on Udemy).

Nice to see a thread on Musical Instruments. Learning an instrument (be it the piano, the guitar or the humble harmonica) is something I would recommend to everyone. It's such a wonderful way to unwind and calm oneself in today's stress ridden world. Also a great thing to stimulate your brain - aside from multiple other benefits. A link showing these benefits -

https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/the...rain-more.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/n...-neuroscience/

I play the harmonica - possibly a serious hobbyist level.:)
Attaching a couple of pics of my harp collection - chromatic and diatonic.

How helpful has it been to have learnt sheet music? This is something I have always been on the fence on and prefer playing by ear more.

Drummer here! I have been playing for more than 20 years now. I also teach kids in Pune part time.

I play both the acoustic as well as an electronic.

If you want to play a few pieces, specially pop songs, which most people aim for, you don't need to learn sight reading. However, if you want to be able to play any piece which has the sheet available, then it's important. Even the apps are designed this way. Flowkey and Simply Piano teach you good arrangements of Imagine by John Lennon. PianoMarvel on the other hand has a great program, which even experts use, to upgrade their sight reading skills! Once you use PM, you'll never go to any other app. However, no app will teach you expressive playing, using tempo, rhythm, dynamics or phrasing: you need a live teacher for all these! Someone who will observe and correct your faults, before they can become hard to correct.


https://www.udemy.com/course/pianofo...iano-keyboard/

BTW are you doing the above accompaniment course on Udemy? Very good value, 500/- for lifetime access. But it's only for harmony, which I find limiting, since the Piano is one of the few instruments that can do both melody and harmony simultaneously. And sound so good!

How nice to see this thread! Welcome all fellow musicians. My name is Balachander, Indian Classical Musician, and I play my own self-designed Veena-Chandraveena.
If you are interested visit my website:www.chandraveena.com and my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/chandraveena.
Lets continue the musical post.

I wish everyone a Happy and Safe Diwali. Be safe.

Guitar player from Kolkata. Have been playing for more than 12 years now and teaching as well. Have played in a few bands and have done shows as well.

Have owned several guitars, amplifiers and effects units over the years.