Secondary Instruments
I know of quite a number of pianists that took on guitar later as a second instruments to learn. I guess the reverse should be rare due to the need for keeping finger nails on our right hand. I'm just curious for the guitarists, if you were to pick up a new instruments to learn, what do you think would be:
1. Easiest transition (non guitar) - maybe cello or violin
2. Based on personal preferences?
Thanks!
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For me, the obvious choice would be another member of the plucked instrument family. This is a large family that includes the lute (both ‘renaissance’ and ‘baroque’) the vihuela, the theorbo, and various types of early guitar. (The vihuela is probably the most like the modern guitar, in terms of ergonomics and playing technique.) Unfortunately, none of these instruments is easily purchased. And all require adoption of a novel right hand technique. (Nail length is a well known issue!) But for those who have fallen in love with the music of Dowland or Weiss (to cite just two familiar names) the rewards surely justify the cost and effort.
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Well, I do own an inexpensive renaissance lute. One of my dreams is to take the time to learn to play it properly. I am particularly drawn to the fantasias of Francesco da Milano. Right now, I still play it like a guitarist, and I'm really just noodling.
Going outside of the "plucked" category, I would probably choose the cello (if I could afford one). Its sound really draws me in. And as my father would say, there's always room for cello.
(Now you see where I get my horrible "dad" jokes from. The apple doesn't fall far ...) -
I had Singing as second instrument during my studies, haha!
I have played piano for 6 years because in Bavaria it is obligatory to play piano if you want to study classical guitar. I love the piano, I think I even listen to more piano music than guitar, but I was so bad and so frustrated because I was improving so slowly. When I decided to move to a different part of Germany for my studies I found out that I don't need to play piano, which is why I chose singing: It's the cheapest, I was always singing in choirs and I think was fairly good at it. I was even thinking of studying singing as a second major at one point!
Now I still enjoy singing, I still play a bit of piano (my gf has a grand in our living, would be a shame not to try it from tine to time) and I've started violin because it's just soooo cool!
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David Krupka , I never really thought those baroque or early instruments, but I guess is probably due to exposure to repertoire. I did a quick google and it is interesting those early pluck instruments has so much more resonance than the modern guitar. Or rather it sounded very twangy if that is a right way to describe it.
Eric Phillips Yes. I am the same, if I were to learn a new instrument it will probably be the cello. I'm a big big big fan of Anime, games music. There is such a wealth of awesome composers for both orchestra and chamber music there. They sounded awesome on the piano, violin, cello but doesn't transcribe well to the guitar which is so frustrating for me.
Martin Really interesting, I cannot imagine you playing heavy metal at night and singing church choir during the day. The mental switch must be crazy. How do you play the piano with your finger nails? Isn't that a challenge? I have a keyboard for learning music theory but I don't really know how to play it and it is such a pain with my nails on the keyboard. Yes, in the movies all the cool guys plays the violin.
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