# What musical intrument would you master? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 26, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058 "2012-02-26T15:27:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/41 "2012-02-26T22:42:33Z")
I waffle between piano and guitar. I like the idea of piano better, but a guitar is easier to take with you. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/42 "2012-02-26T22:49:09Z")
Piano. I’m already a mediocre guitar player and a pretty bad pianist. Okay, let’s call a spade a spade, I’m a horrible pianist. I’d love to be able to master that. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/43 "2012-02-26T22:57:16Z")
I’m gonna be an oddball… Chapman stick [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_JjimMO2SdE/hqdefault.jpg "Rob Martino - One Cloud (Chapman Stick)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JjimMO2SdE) > **[Chapman Stick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapman_Stick)** > > The Chapman Stick is an electric musical instrument devised by Emmett Chapman in the early 1970s. A member of the guitar family, the Chapman Stick usually has ten or twelve individually tuned strings and is used to play bass lines, melody lines, chords, or textures. Designed as a fully polyphonic chordal instrument, it can also cover several of these musical parts simultaneously. > The Stick is available with passive or active pickup modules that are plugged into a separate instrument amplifier.... ---
**Author:** ![BTEzra04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@BTEzra04](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BTEzra04)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/44 "2012-02-26T23:31:21Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > We have one of [these](http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/keyboards/digitalpianos/clp_series/clp430/?mode=model) to be delivered on Tuesday, a Yamaha Clavinova 430. My daughter takes lessons and it’s time to upgrade from her little keyboard. That looks very nice. It’s Yamaha, so of course the quality is going to be good. I hope she enjoys it! **drachillix** –that Chapman Stick recording sounds amazing! It would be great to learn, it looks like. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/45 "2012-02-27T00:06:09Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Going to start piano lessons soon, however. Taking up an instrument at 45.. why the F not? I did it. Never had an instrument more complicated than a triangle in my hand until I decided I must learn to play piano in my 40s. Found a great teacher who tailored lessons to an adult learner (i.e. the music was more relevant to me than little kid stuff–I learned by playing a lot of standards, classics, pop). I started on a small keyboard; my husband bought me a secondhand piano for my birthday and I blossomed. However, I reached a wall. With enough practice, I can render some pretty respectable versions of **Misty** , **Pachelbel’s Canon** , and **Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas** , etc, but piano will always be a cognitive endeavor rather than an artistic one for me. I love playing and exercising previously idle areas of my middle-aged brain, but I realize I will never be a real musician > [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > The banjo. And I’d like to own one with a fiddle-shaped peghead! I would LOVE to be able to play the banjo. Saw Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in concert a few years ago and have dreamed of strumming ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/46 "2012-02-27T01:40:56Z")
Bagpipes. I have a chanter at home (Christmas present from my wife from some years ago) but have failed so far to progress beyond _barp_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/47 "2012-02-27T02:19:01Z")
Flute, just your basic western concert flute ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/48 "2012-02-27T19:36:27Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > I’m gonna be an oddball… Chapman stick > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_JjimMO2SdE](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JjimMO2SdE) > > [Chapman Stick - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapman_Stick) Cool-I’d never even heard of a Chapman Stick until now. ---
**Author:** ![raspberry\_hunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@raspberry\_hunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raspberry_hunter)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/49 "2012-02-27T21:26:00Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Just curious, **Czarcasm** - why do you eliminate voice from our possibilities? Granted, it isn’t an instrument and a singer uses a strange blend of some of the skills of a musician and some of the skills of an actor, but it is a discipline well worth pursuing, and difficult to master I came in to say voice until I read the rules. Although I have a good voice and am very good at singing on pitch, I have what I feel is a lot of trouble with the technical aspects of classical voice training (e.g., “placing” my voice, supporting in the correct way, doing all of it together, etc.). I’d love to be able to just have the technical aspects work and be able to concentrate on intepretation and nitpicky items, the way I am confident of my overall technical skill on the violin and can concentrate, when I practice, on nitpicky items and expression. (Also, the acting skills of a singer are perhaps a little more obvious, but I’ve found that instrumentalists need some acting, in the sense of stage presence, as well.) But since voice doesn’t count, I’ll say piano; certainly that would be the most _useful_ for me to be able to be a master at, at least if “master” includes “able to read piano music really well, including open score.” > [@AnalogSignal](#): > > The reason why piano is so notoriously difficult to master is that the keyboard is hard wired for C major (and the church modes). I don’t think that’s all of it by a long shot. I think a lot of it has to do with the two hands playing what can be completely different rhythms and notes. Violin is hard for other reasons, but at least one can be assured that they are working together to play the same (one, or at most two or three together) note. I base this on the fact that I have more trouble with polyphonic pieces in C than in non-polyphonic in other keys. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/50 "2012-02-27T21:27:21Z")
Flute. Wood, like Krishna carried. No tinny metal flute for me! Violin music stirs my heart and soul, and certain pieces of it can actually bring me to tears if I allow them, but a flute hearkens back to my childhood and happy times. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/51 "2012-02-27T21:46:30Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Just curious, **Czarcasm** - why do you eliminate voice from our possibilities? Granted, it isn’t an instrument… It looks like you’ve answered your own question, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/52 "2012-02-27T22:05:01Z")
Banjo. I’ve already started, and it has been pretty easy, but it starting to feel like I’ve hit a wall. Just not getting any better. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/53 "2012-02-27T22:07:21Z")
I check in on this thread and have thought about what I would want to master… As a long-time blues and rock guitarist, I certainly get the desire. It is always interesting to play and see the faces of folks watching - there are always one or two who watch with a bit more intensity; they are the ones who come up afterwards and want to talk about what it is like to play. In terms of this thread - I would love to play/master jazz guitar; the tools, techiques and theory are just enough out of reach that it feels like another instrument. I would also love to be a master at boogie piano. If I could play like [Meade Lux Lewis](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0UudZ746nI) (youtube), life would be full of yay. When I am stretching out on guitar, I try to incorporate the rhythms and chords I hear when I listen to boogie piano (or [T-Bone Walker on guitar](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVuuMiqeQas)) - slowly, slowly, it is getting me a bit jazzier in my approach… ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/54 "2012-02-27T22:21:29Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It looks like you’ve answered your own question, doesn’t it? So? It is still a musical discipline and worth mastering, is my point. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/55 "2012-02-27T22:40:06Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > So? It is still a musical discipline and worth mastering, is my point. You are welcome to start your own thread about musical disciplines. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/56 "2012-02-27T22:42:49Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > You are welcome to start your own thread about musical disciplines. I understand that. Let me be clear - I have no quarrel with you, I’m just curious why you felt it was important to exclude voice and conducting from your question. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/57 "2012-02-27T22:55:36Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > I understand that. Let me be clear - I have no quarrel with you, I’m just curious why you felt it was important to exclude voice and conducting from your question. Because the topic is about instruments, and they aren’t, strictly speaking, musical instruments. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/58 "2012-02-27T23:04:58Z")
Just to be on the record, I don’t have any quarrel with you either, Czarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/59 "2012-02-28T14:33:38Z")
Is there still room for me in the cello section? As a kid, I played violin and viola. The next logical step would be cello. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058/60 "2012-02-28T15:03:47Z")
Accordian. In 2004, after 16 or so years of having a classical guitar laying around to goof around with, I decided to buy a cello and take some lessons. I took 2 lessons, then lost my driver’s license for 3 months, and so had to teach myself from a beginner’s book. After the 3 months I returned to resume my lessons and had found that my instructor was now inferior to me. Admittedly he was a jack-of-all-trades type music teacher. I was divorced, seeing my kids on weekends, and could not go anywhere, living rurally, so practiced upwards of 3 hours/day. On a few occasions I literally played that cello for 8 hours straight. I switched to a violin/cello teacher (mostly violin, but she could provide basics for cello), and she set me on Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada) pieces. I had played myself to a Grade 6 level in 3 months. The cello is pretty straight forward for someone with experience with strings, and, being a heavy metal fan, I absolutely love the range of crunchy sounds that come from the low register, and the emotional depth of the vibrato is untouchable in any other instrument, IMO. I like the accordian because it’s something that can produce a multitude of sounds, and you can walk around while playing it. Also, it’s not completely necessary to use both hands at all times, so one can always grab a slug of beer and a drag of their smoke without having to stop playing! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-intrument-would-you-master/614058.md?page=4)