Part of becoming a musician is to explore outside your comfort zone. As a creative endeavor, playing music shouldn’t be constrained to a single instrument. Learning how to transition from the piano to the guitar helps you hone your skills and exposes you to new experiences and opportunities.
However, different instruments required different learning curves. Even if you have a well-rounded foundation in music, it will still take time and practice to become good at a new instrument. There is no perfect way to learn, but you can maximize the time and effort you invest to become better at playing something that’s out of your horizon.
1. Take it one step at a time
Consider this as the most basic approach to learning something new. You can’t expect to shred like Slash on the guitar or play the clarinet like Coltrane overnight. It takes patience and constant effort to get to their level, so don’t put yourself under so much pressure. Learn the fundamentals and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You are still in the discovery process, so learn as much as you can in every step. To help you on your journey towards mastery, use a progress chart and see what else is there to learn.
2. Use what you already know about music theory
If you are learning to play a second instrument, you can use the skills you have learned from the first such as reading sheet music or building harmony. You may already have a good idea of music theory, so use it to your advantage. Eventually, acquiring new musical skills won’t be difficult to pull off so long as you have a solid understanding of the principles.
3. Get a good feel of the instrument
You don’t need to spend much for a quality instrument. Even if it isn’t made from the best materials, any instrument should help you develop basic skills. You just need to learn the different parts and how these parts create music. In addition, you should also learn how to manipulate these instruments so they can produce the right sounds. If you’re learning how to play a ukulele, you need to know how to tune ukulele strings or choose the best brands to buy from.
4. Get a mentor to help you out
Being better at a musical instrument requires having a music mentor by your side. While it’s possible to learn an instrument on your own, you still need a step-by-step walkthrough for each skill. It helps if you have someone who is already a master of playing the instrument to show you how it’s done. Keep in mind that you don’t need to mimic their playing style, though you can learn certain techniques that can help you excel. Ultimately, learning a new instrument gives you the opportunity to become the musician you have always wanted to be.
If you want to become a talented musician, don’t settle with the instruments you already know. Explore outside your niche and learn how to master new tools that can help you on your journey.
