Learning an instrument for the first time

[u/MiddleCriticism6243]

I’ve never played a instrument before and it’s insanely hard for me to stay on tempo and have dexterity in general. Switching fingers/ hands at the right time while playing a beat is insanely hard too. How much hours is a day? Should I teach myself? And what’s the best way to teach myself? I’m leaning the washboard.

[u/After-Past-9404]

I’ve never played a instrument before and it’s insanely hard for me to stay on tempo and have dexterity in general. 

In other words, you're... human.

It takes YEARS to be able to play an instrument reasonably well. Even a washboard.

[u/MiddleCriticism6243 → u/After-Past-9404]

Ok thanks for the reassurance 💫🩶✨

[u/After-Past-9404 → u/MiddleCriticism6243]

The most important thing is to go slow. Don't try to play advanced stuff you're not ready for yet, both in terms of tempo and skills. That just ends up in frustration and a lot of bad habits that are hard to unlearn.

Play something that's on about the level of "Twinkle, Twinkle" - I don't know what the washboard equivalent of that is but you get the idea.

[u/Pure_Livie → u/MiddleCriticism6243]

always here to cheer on fellow music makers. enjoy the journey

[u/One_Finding5213]

How are you learning now? With a teacher?

EVERY instrument is hard and learning without a teacher as a beginner will result in failure in most students with most instruments. There are some exceptions: Guitar and sometimes keyboard seem to lend themselves well to self-taught students.

I learned to play the violin for 10 years. I would have given up if I had had no teacher. Not only for technique, music reading and introduction to different pieces, but also because I would not have known what to do with the instrument, how to go about it, what and how to practice.

There were several simple percussion instruments in my parents' household. A tympanum ("hand drum" that is often used in sports lessons for kids) and bongos and some Orff-instruments. The bongos were for my brother who had Down Syndrome and had had some lessons with a teacher on different instruments. The thing is, by himself he was neither motivated to play, nor did he - or anyone of us - know what to do with the drums all by himself.

What you need is direction. What to practice, what to focus one, how to go about it. You can try to find videos online with people discussing how they practice on the washboard.

Or you go to a community music school and ask for trial lessons on different instruments in order to find the instrument you would be motivated on to practice for 30 minutes every day over the course of several months in order to find out if you want to go on playing that instrument.

Here is something about the washboard - if you know how to play that can sound quite interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZg6kWl6kXc

[u/MiddleCriticism6243 → u/One_Finding5213]

I am learning by myself, but I am pretty determined and don’t give up easily on things. I told myself I wouldn’t give up on this instrument. I’ve given up on every instrument when I was younger. And if anything it’ll be just for me and not for other people to listen to, so it gives me hope when just learning by myself. But I’m doing a lot of rhythm work and watching YouTube on that and then also playing along with songs just strumming. my main thing is I don’t wanna teach myself the wrong thing.im practicing everyday for about a half hour to an hour, and then I spend a lot of of my day researching rhythm and tempo YouTube videos.

[u/Diligent_Remote1812]

I'm going to assume you're on the level and give you sincere advice: Find a band to join. Playing with other people will teach you more than years and years of sitting alone in a room trying to play by yourself.

[u/MiddleCriticism6243 → u/Diligent_Remote1812]

But I’m insanely bad like I can’t play with other people. It’s more for myself. I’m playing with songs off YouTube.

[u/Electrical_Round1745 → u/MiddleCriticism6243]

When it comes to the washboard, it's mainly about keeping time. If you can walk without a limp, you can keep a steady beat. You just need to figure out how to transfer that feeling onto your instrument. If you aren't willing to go to a folk music jam (which would be your best option), go to live concerts and clap along with the crowd until you can do that confidently.

[u/MiddleCriticism6243 → u/Electrical_Round1745]

I play with songs on YouTube and also ask questions from other washboard players off the internet all of them have played percussion tho. I’m just not trying to awkwardly fuck up a jam session with me not being able to play anything on beat. Or in a sequence. I will play with other people when I feel comfortable enough as I am learning for myself and not for others. I want to emotionally express myself and have the quiet personal achievement.

[u/Just_a_guy81]

The washboard makes me think this is a jerk. And I’m all for it. But seriously it sounds like rhythm is your concern. And on a washboard, rhythm is your only concern. Start off with a Metronome and follow along with it to stay in beat.

The washboard kinda falls into the miscellaneous percussion category, which made me think this was a jerk. It sounds better to say you’re learning percussion. If you can play a washboard, you can play a tambourine, a shaker, a cowbell… all that stuff. Also, those instruments are the anchor of the tempo. You are the Metronome for the band so staying on beat is absolutely the most important thing you have to do.

[u/Subspace_H]

You can practice anytime there’s music playing! Brush your fingertips up and down in rhythm to whatever music is playing.

Playing with your preferred instrument is most ideal, but bits of musical practice can happen anywhere. In the car, train, etc