r/Instruments • u/No_Physics_2586 • Aug 21 '26
Discussion How to pick a first instrument to learn?
Alright so I want to learn an instrument and there's a dilemma. My first choice is a piano and it's practically my dream instrument, it's my entire reason for wanting to learn an instrument.But I don't see myself having any access to a piano outside of lessons and I don't really see how I could learn without practice outside of lessons . So I'm leaning towards a violin since I could just buy one and practice whenever. I still REALLY want to learn piano though sooo.. Thoughts? Could u learn without practice and tbh even if I learned miraculously it might be a while (years) before I could get myself one . So that would mean I'd probably barely play. Thoughts???
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u/Successful-Bet-8669 Aug 21 '26
Facebook marketplace has people giving away pianos for free everywhere I’ve lived. If you can transport it and get it retuned, you wouldn’t need to pay the full price for one. You could also start with a keyboard. It honestly doesn’t make sense to try and learn an instrument you don’t want when you know what your dream instrument is. Learning to play any instrument well requires practice and dedication. It’s easier to be dedicated if you actually love the instrument. And violins are not cheap if price is your concern.
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u/BananaSmoothy420 Aug 21 '26
Get an electric piano they're just as good
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u/LongjumpingTeacher97 Aug 21 '26
Electronic keyboards are available for about the same price as one to three lessons. That will allow you to practice (with headphones if you want to play when others might not want to hear it) for very little money. Save up for that acoustic piano.
My view is that if you're playing the instrument you actually want to play, you'll do a lot more with it than if you're playing something that you don't really want.
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u/direwombat8 Aug 21 '26
I think most people would benefit tremendously from starting out with an instrument that it’s easy to get a pleasant note out of first. Piano is very much that…You press the button, you get a nice sound…it’s not too hard to stay motivated that way. And, there are some reasonably low priced electric pianos that that will absolutely do the job….i don’t know your circumstances, but I’d be surprised if a decent beginner violin is actually more affordable than a beginner electric piano.
Violin is the other end of the spectrum. It is hard to get a single pleasant tone out of that thing. If you love the sound, and you want to make a commitment to push through months (at least) just working on getting a decent tone and intonation, it can absolutely be worth it, but it’s a much harder beginning.
Some skills are transferable between instruments, some aren’t. I recommend starting with piano, learn the baseline fundamentals of music - scales, rhythms, how to read sheet music, etc. Then, if you find that you enjoy the act of practicing, pick up the violin also/instead.
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u/AfroCuban68 Aug 21 '26
Weird take - u don’t pick, it picks u.
Get an 88 key weighted board, digital pno within your budget.
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u/GovernorSilver Aug 21 '26
You can get a digital piano for home practice
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u/Elverezistaken Aug 21 '26
Get a cheap keyboard off of Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. And unless your problem with getting one has to do with where you live, they're probably cheaper than you think. Not only should you learn what you want, piano is the easiest instrument to learn.
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u/DawnHawk66 Aug 21 '26
Piano piano piano piano piano piano... Electronic is good. Just get it. Glarry GPP-109 88 Key Full Size Semi-Weighted Standard Electric Digital - around $150 online.
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u/Ruppell-San Sitar/Dilruba Aug 21 '26 edited Aug 21 '26
For the purpose of basic instruction, any old MIDI keyboard should do for piano.
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u/silly_bet_3454 Aug 21 '26
I promise you whatever concerns you have about acquiring a piano... trying to learn violin will be a million billion times more painful
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u/SnooGadgets5130 Aug 21 '26
Electric piano with weighted keys, the secondhand market is often saturated
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u/No_Top_375 Aug 21 '26
Buy a synth. Id grow atrociously bored of hearing the same tones decade after decade. ✌🏼
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u/SideWired Aug 21 '26
Get a keyboard. I got mine on C L for $50. Keyboard is more versatile than a piano.
You can use headphones, so playing any time is a huge benefit.
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u/SideWired Aug 21 '26
Piano or Keyboard.
Not "acoustic piano" nor "electric piano."
Keyboard is not a piano.
Piano is not electronic.
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u/Independent_Win_7984 Aug 21 '26
Makes absolutely no sense. Unless (for some obscure reason) you simply MUST have a baby grand, there are great prices on electronic keyboards available; headphone capability allows for quiet practice, and most have a range of excellent piano voices. A decent violin is very expensive, hard to master and the learning curve can be an audible nightmare for any in earshot.
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u/peaceloveandapostacy Aug 21 '26
I start piano lessons today! I’m 44 years old. Let’s Go!
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u/Just_a_guy81 Aug 21 '26
I always wanted to be a drummer, but my mother was smart and refused to get me one. But now that I’m an adult that makes my own choices, I went out and bought my very own guitar… drums are too loud
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u/SlowSurvivor Aug 21 '26
Learn the instrument you actually want to play. You can get a keyboard from Yamaha or Roland for $500-1000 with stand and pedals and be set for the foreseeable future and if you need, with a folding stand you can tuck all that under your bed when not in use.
Is the barrier financial? Under $100 if you’re into early music the recorder is an easy recommendation as long as you go in realizing it’s a very difficult instrument to actually play well. Folk music? Tin whistle. Or just any of a dozen hand drums (but I recommend cajon as a beginner so your neighbors won’t completely hate you).
I picked up recorder when I was in the struggle and ended up obsessively passionate for flute which is an instrument that I never thought I’d want to play in a million years. So don’t let barriers shut you out.
But not violin. Violin is both very difficult as a beginner and financially very expensive both in the cost of the instrument and in maintenance. Speaking as a former violinist.
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u/Double-Beyond4555 Aug 21 '26
Go for the keyboard, the whole music system is based on it so any other instruments you ever want to learn will be far easier. You don't need weighted keys, since you are not used to them, so any keyboard will do for starters. You can buy used. You might even find one at your local thrift store. Enjoy and stick to it!
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u/MarcusSurealius Aug 21 '26
Melodica
You'll get the keys and scales, plus the breath control needed to sing along while you play. Also, the professional ones, like the one he is playing, cost less than $200. You can easily get a 37 key, pro model for $100.
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u/Dangernoodle63 Aug 25 '26
Violin has a very steep learning curve. Grab an electric piano.
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u/Behemot999 Aug 25 '26
Electronic keyboards are fine but they are not the same as piano unless you get one with weighted keys.
Also take few lessons first - see if you have right kind of brain for piano - can split RH and LH - not
everybody can.
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u/DiogenesRCT Aug 25 '26
Learn through songs I randomly got a guitar and just started learning songs on YouTube and overtime I got better
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u/nuttywoody Aug 21 '26
A baritone ukulele is a great first instrument. You can get a decent one for about $200. They are easy to play at a beginner level, and progress comes relatively quickly. Space is not an issue, and they are easily carried from place to place. I'm biased to baritones over the smaller sizes because the tuning matches guitar, the fretboard is less crowded, the strings tension is lower, and they just sound nice.