What counts as actually learning an instrument?

Question

On some forums I've seen some dwellers claim they learn three to five instruments, some are confident enough to say they know ten or more. In my mind they sound like pretentious little f*cks, but what actually counts as knowing an instrument? I know the violin, xylophone/marimba, and working on learning a third.

Answer 1

Another aspect to this is that certain instruments form families or use similar skill sets. Someone might play the saxophone well enough to fill the qualifications. Now, if they play all four of the common sizes of saxophone, do they play four instruments or only one? If someone plays well on a keyboard that has 500 instrument voices does it count as anything more than one instrument?



Some instruments use common skill sets that make it easier to play multiples. The ukulele and guitar have so much in common that a good guitarist can pick up a ukulele and play it well in minutes. Many of the brass instruments use similar logic in their designs that allow easy doubling, such as the trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn. It's almost expected that a trumpeter could play the others whenever asked to.



The point of this being that before you should be impressed by a brag about the numbers of instruments played, you should consider the instruments themselves. If someone told me they played the mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, cittern, and tenor banjo, that would not impress me as much because they are basically variations on a common theme. To play the piano, flute, and violin very well is a much more impressive accomplishment.



In your own case I would say that playing the violin and the marimba is impressive. Playing the marimba and xylophone together is not as big a deal. You could be easily expected to play those along with the vibraphone and glockenspiel since they are closely related and use a common skill set.

Answer 2

There is a difference between knowing how to play a number of instruments that are closely related and knowing how to play instruments that have nothing in common.



For example: if you can play the clarinet it will be very easy to learn how to play other woodwinds, as the basic skill set is the same. A friend of mine's grandfather plays 5 different woodwinds at a professional orchestra level, but he is best at the tenor saxophone, and that is what he usually gets hired to do.



But learning guitar, saxophone, and drums would be much more difficult because the 3 instruments do not share a basic set of skills.



I would go with Focus' list of qualifications for being able to claim you can play an instrument, minus the paid performances part. You don't have to get paid to be able to say you can play something. Also, guitar is an instrument that a lot of very proficient players cannot sight read for, so it's a bit of an oddball instrument in that regard.

Answer 3

You are right in that it may sound a bit pretentious. In any case, one should always be wary of claims made by anyone online. It all boils down to what it means by actually being able to play an instrument - knowing an instrument is, to me, basically the same as being able to make a few meaningful sounds on it, something which shouldn't count for much.

In order to have at least a basic ability to handle an instrument, one should be able to play it in a setting with other people. You should be confident enough to play the basic skills required on said instrument pretty much flawlessly.

If you take an instrument such as drums, it is easy to sit down and figure out how to play a straight beat. However, actually playing a drum set with other people and making it count in a true musical sense is something way different.

Same goes for bass guitar. Many guitar players (including myself) can pick up a bass guitar and play the required notes - even in time. But does that make us bass players, heck no. Actually playing the bass and fitting it properly within the context of a song or composition - making it gel properly with the rhythm and the drums is on another level all together.

Answer 4

Considering different skill levels (I mean it is unfair to say people who can't play the cello as well as Yo Yo Ma aren't cellists), I think there's a couple of ways you can say that one has truly learned an instrument. This is just my own thinking, others may consider it differently.



It can be one or more of these traits:

-can sight read (this is especially true for classical and jazz musicians)

-can improvise AND within the limits of the band/orchestra/group

-can execute all basic techniques at a moderate speed

-can tune and maintain said instrument short of actual repair or any adjustment that requires a professional, such as piano tuning

-can compose an original tune using the instrument

-can perform three songs from memory

-can communicate using the correct technical terms

-has performed with the instrument on at least 5 paid or paid for productions/shows (not in the context of being used as a prop or the subject of comedy, satire, and the like)

-has been hired to perform the instrument for recording

-can teach or impart practical musical/ instrumental knowledge to a non-player such that they are able to perform at the same level as the teacher, with continuous tuition

Answer 5

i would say that if you can read the music, play all the major chords, and if you are able to replicate some popular songs and people can recognize those songs i would say you can play the instrument.

that would be a beginner but they can still play.

i mean, i can mess around on the drums and make a beat but i dont know any songs and i couldnt play along with a guitarist or whatever so i would never claim to know how to play drums.

but the thing is, a lot of people who play 1 instrument can play multiple. especially people who learn the piano first...they often branch into guitar and then bass...so maybe some of those people are exaggerating but maybe they arent. i know plenty of people who can play multiple instruments quite well...they usually have an instrument that they are really good at but then they are decent at a few others.

Answer 6

If you are competent enough to play the separate instruments in a live setting in front of a crowd of people who are not your friends and with other musicians,( who don't tell you that you suck at it), then you can say you play those instruments.



I am able to perform live and professionally (at least was...am a bit rusty since I've retired) bass, guitars, keys(not piano, though) drums, congas, various latin percussion instruments, and singing.



Am I the greatest of all time at them? No. Can I do it well, sure.

Answer 7

Sometimes you can learn instruments in groups. I learned the baritone. From there I found I could play the tuba or trumpet just as easily. Then when you add in the variants of the same instruments like the euphonium, the coronet and the sousaphone, oh, and don't forget the fingered trombone and the piccolo trumpet, why pretty soon knowing one instrument turns into a bunch of instruments.

Answer 8

I played Trombone in elementary school. Trumpet, Mellophone, Trombone and Baritone in marching band. Trombone and French Horn in concert band. Electric Bass in stage band. Violin and Viola in orchestra. And an electronic wind instrument in church every Sunday. I also dabble with the woodwind instruments too.

Answer 9

You're right pretentious little ....



I play piano, organ, harpsichord, recorder, and flute ... I "know" piano.