I Chose the Guitar
Since young, there were times when I wanted to enroll myself at the music school just to learn an instrument or two. It was either the piano or the guitar for me. I wavered between these 2 instruments for years and it was only during my Junior College (JC) days when I came to a decision and joined my JC’s newly set up guitar club as my Co-Curricular Activity (CCA).
My guitar club was a short-lived club. It was renamed “String Ensemble” in the 2nd year that it was set up but it did not survive to see the 3rd due to some school budget problem. Nevertheless I learn much from the less than 2 years experience.
Why the guitar?
My parents frowned and thought that I’ve gone wrong when I wanted to learn TEH guitar.
Why the classic guitar instead of cooler ones like the Acoustic guitar or Rock guitar?
My friends felt that I looked cooler with the other guitars instead.
Actually I thought long, very long, and I did ample research for years. All I needed was the little push to get me started and I found my chance to learn the Classic guitar when I was in JC.
Practicality.
I had to join a CCA; it was compulsory. There was no piano club, and the guitar club was a “classic guitar” club. I could kill 2 birds with 1 stone; learn the guitar while fulfilling my CCA.
Another consideration would be whether I can go solo with the instrument of my choice. I needed an instrument where I can go solo and play when I feel emo, say at night. Imagine playing the trumpet at midnight, my neighbors would hate me.
Cost.
Cost was the major factor. Since I was in the guitar club, the school’s guitar instructor was paid by the school and I learn free! Music lessons are costly, especially for a student.
My instructor got me a handy classic guitar for near S$200 and I’m sure that a classic piano would have cost me more than S$200. It’s important to own the guitar because I believe in practicing at home during my free time and if I felt like it, I could continue guitar lessons at music schools after graduation. I even checked my local music schools and found that Classical guitar lessons were way cheaper than piano lessons, thus, guitar over piano.
Flexibility.
A good thing with guitar is that I can bring it anywhere as all I need is a guitar casing. However, I can’t say so for an awesome looking stage piano. You’ll need a piano transporting service to help you with it.
But why? Why the classic guitar?
Learning the classic guitar is like learning manual driving. A manual driver can drive both manual and auto cars while the auto car driver limits himself to auto cars only. I can play the rock guitar after familiarizing myself for a while but it would be either a re-learn or a challenge for a rock guitar player to play the classic guitar.
Maintenance.
I’m a lazy person who only cleans my room 4 times a year so the guitar is fitting for me since it requires little to no maintenance. I tune the guitar before I play, I wipe my guitar after play, and I change the strings once a year. When I don’t need it, I store it away.
Time.
I was serious with learning the guitar and I spent hours a day or all my free time practicing. Within 3 months, I could read music scores without aid, played some chords, played all notes (because I was 1st guitar), and I could play some of my favorite songs.
Enough of me. What are your considerations when you first chose an instrument and if you don’t play any instruments, why not?
I do want to learn the guitar…but I am lazy. :\
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I just enrolled myself for guitar lessons, but have yet to purchase my guitar yet. Looks like I’ll have to practice really hard before I can even play anything decent, especially since I have bad hand-eye co-ordination and practically no music background.
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I still prefer the piano.
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I don’t play any musical instrument, and for years had no desire to. But only recently did I have this small wish to learn how to play the piano. But as you said, the instrument itself is way more expensive than a guitar. So I thought I’d start learning music with the guitar. However, I’m no longer in school and there’s nobody who can teach me for free–and there’s also time consideration. Time with guitar = less time for anime T_T
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And now all you need is a husky voice to increase the sexiness aura by +5 points.
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I once learned the keyboard but it was a rather short experience.My teacher was a horrible one and i totally lost interest in playing.I still have the keyboard somewhere in my bedroom.Maybe ill pick it up again when Im earning enough to pay a teacher that makes the whole thing fun.
Is Classic guitar= Western guitar?
If ill ever get to SG well gather with TB around a campfire and sing Kumba ya
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I always wanted to play the piano but because at the time we didn’t own one, nor even a full size keyboard my music teacher tried me out on other instruments and the only one I could really play a little was the violin. 8 years later the violin has become pretty awesome to play and I hope to reach a proffesional level one day, to the point where I can also take up viola (I love the sound of the viola). I also take singing lessons, which I took to give me more confidence. : ) (Singing lessons are stupidly expensive -_- Probably more than piano) I still want to be able to play piano though!
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There really wasn’t any consideration when I chose the guitar. All there was was my love for the acoustic sound and the awesome rock hard sounds it can make! ^_^
I studied ‘classical style’ first and got the basics down. And now when using the electric guitar, I have no problems fingering with my left hand nor reading the musical notes…but I have a HARD time reading tabs, which is supposed to be easier…and using the pick…>_>
I also dabbled in Piano/Keyboard…but ultimately I chose to stick with the guitar! ^_^
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@Panther
Aiyoh, don’t be lazy. Perhaps you might want to check out Cristofori as they have many branches in Singapore and they’re offering cheaper music lessons as compared to Yamaha.
@double
Practicing daily, an hour or two, might help. If you’re tight for time, at least do the finger warm up exercises daily.
@Blowfish
Neh, mine is the Classical Guitar which is identifiable by it’s 3 nylon strings. Oh Kumba when you’re in sg? I’ve a better plan instead; I’ll bring you to the figure shops when you do visit Singapore.
@hayase
Ah…time and money is not on your side. What about learning the theory first? Music theory books are available for loan in the library if you’re interested.
@Catherine
Best wishes for your violin lessons and may you play the viola soon! One of my friends also took singing lessons but dropped them due to the prices.
@53RG10
It’s great to be able to come into contact with many instruments. That way, you’ll be more certain of your preference. I tried Acoustic guitar but I went back to the Classical guitar because I like the sound and the nylon strings more.
I learned how to play guitar when I was still in Junior High, but then I lost interest and forgot how to play…. D= Regrets…
Oh, and the only instrument I can play now and I will not forgot how to play it even If I never play it for so long is… A recorder… lol Because I learned and played it from Elementary School until Junior High like crazy…
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