Specialize or attempt to broaden my horizons

[spenser]

I have learned a lot from the board, and have been struggling with something. I picked up the mando about a year ago, and have been told by my teacher that I can play. Like most folks on this board, I only have so much time in the day what with work, family, other interests and hobbies and just generally "having a life." And that is where the conundrum comes in-I have always wanted to learn to play blues guitar, BUT, and here is the big BUT, I have tried guitar now for the third time and find it MUCH more difficult and I have much less aptitude for it than the mandolin for some reason. SO, and here is the 24 dollar question, have others run into this problem, and split the 2, knowing that the time you take for guitar, or something else, is taking away from mandolin, where you have showed more aptitude, etc etc. Here is the kicker, and this kind of says something for me to see it in writing, I get frustrated with the guitar, I dont with the mandolin, I will hammer away at learning new things on mando but shut the guitar case in frustration with it because it is harder. In closing, thanks for you all on the board, this is one of the refreshing places to stop, check in and read what is going on at the end of a day (no, I dont stop here not to practice!). :popcorn:

[catmandu2]

So many instruments...so little time. I have a closet full of every kind of guitar from a lifetime of playing, smitten and enamoured of them. These days, I play hardly any guitar at all, even though it's my first instrument. There are just too many other fun things to play...mandos being one.

Assess what you want to do with music and the playing of instruments. If it's not fun, and you don't "need" to do it, put your time into something else. For me, performance opportunites have largely dictated the direction of my studies. I'd always wanted to develop especially on only one or two instruments, but they're all too much fun.

OTOH, perhaps it is your calling to play the Blues on the guitar. In this case, suffering at the hands of the instrument will only benefit you. ;)

[Soupy1957]

For "me" it was the exact opposite. I have spent years playing the guitar (not as good as I could have been if I stayed as zealous about it now, as I was in my teens and twenties, but life got in the way), and just started the mandolin in 2006. I "hammer out" stuff on the guitar, and struggle with the mando.
So as you can see, it all depends on what you started with, and how comfortable you are with that first instrument. (In truth, my "first" instrument was the piano, then the organ, then the trombone of all things, and THEN the guitar).
I get guilty feelings about not giving equal time to the guitar lately, but I have this sense of confidence in my ability on the guitar that sorta gives myself permission to slack off on the guitar right now, in order to get better with the mando. It's one of the downsides I suppose, of playing more than one instrument.
Honestly, I don't know how some of these folks who play and own a multitude of stringed instruments, balance their time. I guess they could have made up a chart (mentally or on paper) on which they noted certain days for practicing each, but I'd not like to have that problem, frankly.
Would I like to be multi-faceted with a number of different instruments? Sure! But like you said, family, work, and other "stuff" has priority status.
What the folks in here have tried to instill in me, and I think "rightly" so, is that the whole idea is that our musical interests are meant to be fun, recreational, enjoyable, and worth the time we give it. If I let it become a drudgery, or a hassle in my life, what's the point of doing it.
Am I envious of the folks who play music for a living? Yes, and no. "Yes" because it would be neat to be able to make money doing something I love, and use that money to support my needs.
"No" because of the sacrifice involved. Travel, lack of seeing the family, lousy pay, dingy dives to play in, traveling, (oh, I said that already.....lol). The life of a "musician" is not what I want for myself.
There IS, of course, the avenue of being a "studio musician" locally. Go to work each day as a backup for all kinds of folks, and go home every night. If I had to do it all over again, I'd join the Musicians Union, and do the "studio musician" thing.
But as far as practicing, and giving equal time to my instruments is concerned, I've been told to "lighten up" on myself, and that's excellent advice. I'm WAY to hard on MYSELF, and that's neither productive, nor wise.
I've reached a point where I simply will "attempt" to give equal time to each instrument, but I allow myself to pick-n-choose which one I "feel" like playing that day.
Someone in here advised me that I may not always "feel" like playing, but "play anyway" was their advice. I understand that, from the point of view of "you ain't gonna improve if you don't practice regularly, but I also feel it is "ok" to let yourself off the hook once and a while. Especially if you are like me, and play for the joy of it, and not because you have to learn 3 songs by tomorrow's gig.
Hope that helps,
Soupy1957

[Mike Scott]

I may be the exception here. I like playing both. I think if one dedicates himself to one or the other, the mandolin may be the easier to play 4 sets of strings vs. 6 and fewer frets. I am sure others feel differently. Plus I play fingerstyle on the guitar which throws in even more dynamics. I play mainly county blues on guitar and while yes a challenge I enjoy it a lot. I also enjoy the mandolin although I have been playing it far less time. My opinion is that I suck at both. That being said I play each about an hour a day and longer on the weekends. So.......................my advice is try them both for a while and then go with what your heart tells you to do-guitar, mandolin, both. Who cares as long as you are having fun! After all that's what it's all about!

[Mike Bunting]

If I may say so, you seem to worry so much about playing. Why not just relax and play what moves you at the time.

[Jim Broyles]

I have learned a lot from the board, and have been struggling with something. I picked up the mando about a year ago, and have been told by my teacher that I can play. Like most folks on this board, I only have so much time in the day what with work, family, other interests and hobbies and just generally "having a life." And that is where the conundrum comes in-I have always wanted to learn to play blues guitar, BUT, and here is the big BUT, I have tried guitar now for the third time and find it MUCH more difficult and I have much less aptitude for it than the mandolin for some reason. SO, and here is the 24 dollar question, have others run into this problem, and split the 2, knowing that the time you take for guitar, or something else, is taking away from mandolin, where you have showed more aptitude, etc etc. Here is the kicker, and this kind of says something for me to see it in writing, I get frustrated with the guitar, I dont with the mandolin, I will hammer away at learning new things on mando but shut the guitar case in frustration with it because it is harder. In closing, thanks for you all on the board, this is one of the refreshing places to stop, check in and read what is going on at the end of a day (no, I dont stop here not to practice!). :popcorn:


Spense, you have answered your own question. The definition of insanity is doing something over and over and expecting a different result. Play blues on the mandolin - best of both worlds!

[onassis]

I don't think that a "choice" is really necessary. My advice woulbe to play whichever is moving you at the moment. Since getting wrapped up in the mando, I don't play nearly as much guitar, but when I do, I find I'm better than I used to be. It takes an hour or so to shake off the rust, but I'm always seem to have improved a bit. My theory goes like this: 1. I have a lot of fun playing the mando, so I play it a lot. 2.Theory seems much more accessible and logical (at least to me) on the mando, so during all this playing time, I'm gaining new insight into chord structure, scales and melody. 3. This real-world theory experience now carries over to some extent to the guitar, from having already heard it and experienced it on the mando. My $0.02 worth.:popcorn:

[spenser]

"What the folks in here have tried to instill in me, and I think "rightly" so, is that the whole idea is that our musical interests are meant to be fun, recreational, enjoyable, and worth the time we give it. If I let it become a drudgery, or a hassle in my life, what's the point of doing it."

Soupy and Mike-you nailed it-I AM not getting paid to play music, I am playing for myself, I can play with my teacher on mando, which I cant do with the guitar, and with friends when invited. Guitar may come, it may go, but I can sit on the porch and play mandolin just like I could the guitar, and likely sound better!

Jim-your quote was great as I am the child of a former psychiatrist....and seeing THAT is writing could further explain the obsession! And I do have several blues mando books that I havent cracked yet. Could be the middle ground for right now

[Greg Wilson]

Whatever you choose make sure it is the option where you actually enjoy yourself. Don't play an instrument because it is an obligation.

[Pete Martin]

First and foremost, play what is fun to you.

Assuming total time invested is the same, anyone will get farther along the learning curve playing one instrument in one style than multiple instruments in multiple styles. This is very true when you have limited time.

[acousticnotes]

Spenser... sometimes I wonder if maybe I bit off more than I can chew also. I have many guitars, steel string, nylon string, lap steels, bass guitars, keyboards and special made instruments for me that don't really even have a name. Recently I started playing mandolin with another one on order. Not to mention a pretty darn good recording studio with a few CD's out doing well. Couple that with a music web site and I can definitely say I am at my limit time wise. What scares me the most is now I'm starting to look at violins! (I pay my bills with my day job not with music) I do believe that you can spread yourself thin and not get as proficient as you might have if you just study one instrument. On the other hand it's nice to be able to make music on multiple instruments. I guess it boils down to what your after. What are your goals? Being a mandolin or guitar virtuoso? If so my opinion would be one or the other. It doesn't sound like you enjoy playing guitar all that much. I will say that to play well on any instrument it takes a lot of effort but it seems to come easier for you on the mandolin. Just enjoy as others have said unless you want to do this for a living. Than that could change everything.

[neal]

There are two instruments one can play in the morning... on the toilet, to be blunt.

mandolin and uke. It's the best time to play. Add 15 minutes and try to stand a bit, when you're done of course.

[man dough nollij]

I got smitten with the sound of the clawhammer b@nj* a couple of years ago, and ordered one. I also thought my mandolin playing would progress faster if I knew guitar chords (so I could spot them at jams), so I bought a guitar somewhere in there. I found that both were bad moves for me. I really need to concentrate all my practice and play on the mandolin, because I'm advancing so slowly anyway. Trying to be a noob multi-instrumentalist was just not going to happen. A "friend" borrowed the guitar and somehow lost it. I sold the other unmentionable thing at not too bad of a loss. If I already had the mandolin down pretty well (like you say you do), I'd probably take up the clawhammer thing. Maybe some day. For now, eight (strings) is enough.

[Ken_P]

I still enjoy playing both. I would guess it's about 75/25 in favor of mandolin at the moment, but that changes. What I like is that for me they kind of feed off each other. I try to keep my technique the same so there's no barrier to switching between the two, and and ideas I come across on one lead to new discoveries on the other. I will echo the advice of others, play what moves you. If you force yourself to play guitar when you'd rather be playing mandolin, don't fight it. There is no law stating you have to stick with both. :)

[Lee Callicutt]

I find that I have more natural aptitude playing banjo, but I still enjoy piddling around on the mandolin and I can't ever imagine giving up guitar altogether, and in all honesty, I'm not sure banjo would have been so enjoyable if I hadn't played guitar and mandolin first. I really enjoy pounding out a rhythm on guitar with a flat-pick, and learning a new melody on mandolin -- banjo kind of pulls them both together, with that driving rhythm of my thumb on the drone string and my fingers free to explore melody, harmony, etc. etc. They don't call it a drum on a stick for no reason.

I think playing each instrument informs the other in a strange kind of "three-steps forward, one-step back" fashion that can be frustrating at times. I also think it's easy to get frustrated with guitar because so many people make it look so easy, when really it isn't. My .02, don't quit.

[sbarnes]

usually in the long run, one strengthens the other....

[chip]

Take up the banjo:disbelief:

[catmandu2]

There are two instruments one can play in the morning... on the toilet, to be blunt.


Actually, there is at least one other instrument one may play whilst idling away the minutes on the terlet.. :whistling: But Kirk digresses (the captain has had a big glass of wine ;))

Broadening your horizons may lie in learning other instruments, or it may entail pursuing the mastery of only one -- which would no doubt lead to broadening your musical horizons. The Captain suggests that you assess your goals.

[Soupy1957]

If I played on the crapper, I'd never get my work done!!
-Soupy1957

[Philphool]

Soup,
You should do what makes you happy, but just to give you an example from a bad guitar player for 40 years, turned mando player.

I still jam with guitar with some friends one night per week. I just strum chords, no flatpicking. This keeps me able to accompany myself or others with rhythm on occasion and keep my chording patterns in my brain.

I spend ALL the rest of my time with the mandolin, since it is more fun for me and I feel much more adept on the mando now than I ever was on the guitar. (I'm 3 years into mando.)
And of course, because the mandolin is the BEST INSTRUMENT! :grin:

[spenser]

thank you one and all. I appreciate knowing that I am not the only bipolar person on the board! And maybe I will buy a banjo and a fiddle just to give me one thing to play each day with one day of rest, just to make myself totally crazy!

[Alex Orr]

Why not play blues Mando? Steve James has a book out, Rich Delgrosso must have something.

I still play both. I'm a better mandolin player and I don't regularly practice the guitar anymore, but I'm sort've satisfied with where I'm at on the guitar. I doubt I'll get much better at it, but I don't need to be much better either.

Man, if I had more time...I'd pick up the dobro again. I spent about a month dabbling with it last year and felt (and was told) that I was getting pretty good pretty quick. But honestly, it just took up too much time. So, it now sits in the corner gathering dust, and me...well, I'm sitting down with my mando right now :mandosmiley:

[Miked]

Guitar was my first instrument (not counting the clarinet in school) some 32 years ago, but I became more active playing bass. I now split most of my playing time between bass and mandolin, but once in a while I'll get out my guitar. My serious practice time is now with mandolin since it's a relatively new instrument for me and I'm trying to develop my skills. It's interesting that when I do pick up my guitar, I can pull off some flat-picking that I use to fumble around with.

I conclude that playing mandolin will improve your guitar abilities!:mandosmiley:

[Steve L]

If you don't feel an affinity for the guitar, I'd leave it alone for now. Developing a blues style on the mandolin would make you a potential "breath of fresh air" in an idiom that is not exactly lacking for guitar players. Your frustrations with the guitar are actually handing you an opportunity to be yourself.

[allenhopkins]

I play about a dozen instruments, with (radically) different skill levels. I started on 5-string banjo 48 years ago. In my experience, the first instrument is the hardest, and each subsequent one gets a bit easier. (Exception: English-system concertina!) There are, surprisingly, benefits to putting one instrument down, sometimes for months or years, and coming back to it. It doesn't take as long as one might think to re-claim the finger positions and picking patterns, and, sometimes, the roadblocks that once existed have eroded with time. I find this also to be true with particular pieces of music that I'm having a hard time mastering; that one lick or run that I just can't seem to get, comes a bit easier after not having attempted it for a week or two. (Alternate hypothesis: my standards of acceptability lower with the passage of time.)

In any case, butting one's head against a brick wall only leads to frustration, abrasion, and concussion. Why not do what one finds enjoyable, rewarding and satisfying, and leave the "hard stuff" (not referring to alcohol -- see that other thread) to another day? I mean, isn't the point of playing music to enjoy it? Or is that an insufficiently Puritan attitude?

[onassis]

my motto: no pain....no pain.

[catmandu2]

...the first instrument is the hardest, and each subsequent one gets a bit easier. (Exception: English-system concertina!)...

English concertina is unique (as are the duet systems), but for me it's the penultimate most difficult; fiddle is preeminent: even though strings are my first instrument, the violin is inherently most challenging.

I once engaged in a lengthy debate comparing the relative difficulty of playing fiddle versus concertina: while a stretch, I compared these to golf versus pinball. Not to minimize the art of concertina playing but, still, we are talking about buttons and a "stopped" instrument.

[Jim]

I play guitar, bass, & flute as well as mandolin , lost my lip to a hockey inj but understand brass and wood winds. However, try as I might I just can't make music on a harmonica. I try every few years and keep a C & D in the studio in case I'm lucky enough to have a player visit but I just can't make it happen.