Learning Correct Technique

When starting to learn any instrument, the most important thing is to know that you are learning with correct technique from early on. Without correct technique, you may be able to get by in the beginning and sound relatively ok (which is great for motivating yourself to keep practicing in the early stages of learning), however in order to become a truly good and versatile musician in the long term, correct technique is very important. Simply put, there are elements of music which can’t be played without good technique and without it you will never be able to play at a standard where you sound like a high level musician. That said, going through the “pain” of learning things properly early on will actually help accelerate your learning. You will learn faster because good technique prepares your body to handle more complex movements. However, if you put off learning good technique when you start out, it will be harder to break any bad habits you may have formed.

Where to Start: The Importance of Learning Music Theory

To begin with, you should get a friend who plays the instrument you are learning, or find a music teacher to show you the fundamentals; such as how to hold or sit at the instrument, and what action and positions your left hand should make in conjunction with your right hand to make a note or chord sound. Once you can make a good sounding note or chord, try changing between the two to get a feel for how your hands should move. Examples of how to do this can be seen in our free online lessons for Guitar, Bass, Drums, Ukulele and Piano. Once you can do this, you are ready to start playing songs!

Once you can play a few notes or a few chords, the best thing to do is to find a book, DVD or online lesson material to show you exactly what to learn in what order. There are many technical terms used in playing an instrument which you will find in instruction manuals and other music.

Music Terminology

Terms like “key, scale, chord, arpeggio, sharp, flat, etc, relate to all instruments. However, some terms are fundamental to specific instruments, so you will need to know them to converse with other musicians. Terms like “beat, rhythm, groove” etc, refer to the timing of music and the way the instruments work together. You will find all these things in any good music instruction course.

Music terminology can seem scary and confusing at first, but the idea isn’t to try and memorize everything at the same time. You do not need to know every single music term while you are starting out. Over time, you will naturally begin to pick up the terms as you use them, so don’t worry if you can’t remember everything from your first lesson.

Playing With Other People

It is also a good idea to begin playing with other musicians as soon as possible. Find a friend who plays another instrument and start learning some songs together. You will learn a lot and it’s much easier to stay motivated with a friend who is keeping you on your toes and pushing you to improve your skills. Music is a great way to express yourself, have fun with friends and also to make new friends.

– Continue learning with Learn To Play Music at LearnToPlayMusic.com