What Musical Instruments Do You Play?

[Selena]

It certainly does.

 

Thank you.

[aely]

I learned the viola when I was younger (aged 9-11 ish) and found it ridiculously hard in comparison to the ukulele, which I could play fairly well at the age of 6 or 7, the recorder which again I could play well at the age of 8 and even the piano, which I started learning age 8 (I think).

 

It wasn't learning the alto clef that was difficult for the viola, but getting my fingers in the right places on the strings to get the pitch of the note right. Strangled cat isn't in it! I'd given up by the time I was 11 and concentrated on the piano, recorder and singing. I hated having people listen to me practise the viola as I was so bad, though it never really bothered me so much with the recorder and piano, consequently I didn't practise the viola and so never really improved.

[Selena]

Which one is the easiest to learn, then? The viola or the violin?

[SH/LotR/Zelda Fan]

I'd say Violin.

[Selena]

Violin? Why is that?

[Alice Holmes]

The violin is smaller. Its neck is not as wide, and not as much effort is required on the part of the bow arm. The viola is heavier, intervals are larger, and it takes an experienced balance and technique to play well. The violin--you touch it with the bow, and it screams. The viola requires a certain amount of weight in the bow, and is harder to get a good sound out of. All in all, the viola requires more stamina, patience, and longer fingers. Oh, and that--if you have small hands, the viola will muder you. The only reason I can play it at all is because I basically have the feminine version of Benedict Cumberbatch's hands. 

[Caya]

But if the viola is more difficult to play, where do all those viola jokes come from?

 

(not disparaging violists here! just curious)

[Undead Medic]

I'm assuming the jokes all come from the same place as the "Bass player = Failed Guitar Player" jokes, when in actual fact the bass is just as hard to play well as the guitar. People make presumptions, with no experience to back them up.

 

[aely]

Most of the kids who learned the violin at the same time as me did on half or three-quarter sized instruments. My 'viola' was actually a full size violin restrung as a viola.

 

IMO the viola has a far superior sound to the violin, so much fuller bodied. Mind you, as an alto and someone who prefers alto voices, that probably isn't surprising. Cello is also gorgeous (my cousin is a very good cellist and his dad used to write music for Tolkien's poems. I think it was that uncle who gave me my ukulele).

[petitecuriosity]

I play very very very little guitar. A former co-worker of mine taught me a few basic (open) chords, and I've learned a few on my own.

 

I used to be in choir, not the sort you had to audition for though, mind you. I also used to take voice lessons. It's something I'd like to get back into, both choir and voice lessons. I am not a singer by any means, but I can carry a tune lol.

 

I also am determined to learn to play both the piano and violin.

[Alice Holmes]

But if the viola is more difficult to play, where do all those viola jokes come from?

 

(not disparaging violists here! just curious)

 

There are viola jokes because violinists think they're all that. I know, becuase I am a violinist. They boss everything. Orchestras, quartets, chamber groups, most solo repertoir they own it. So, they hate on violas. The little guys. Or, at least, they pretend to.

[YouDoCount]

I play clarinet, piano and ukulele, and do singing lessons

[Vidocq]

I play the harmonica and the guitar.

 

Though I suck at guitar but my harmonica is good enough, barely makes a few ears bleed. Like in 1 in 20 listeners.

[Alice Holmes]

Ha! I'm sorry, Vidocq, I just found your post really funny!