Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [self-learning]

For questions about the process of learning an instrument and musical theory without formal instruction.

Do not use this tag if you are simply self-learning and come across a question or issue you do not understand. Use this tag only for questions about self-learning.

240 questions
29
votes
12 answers

Learn piano one hand at a time or simultaneously?

I've started to teach myself how to play the piano, and one of the difficulties I've found is trying to get both hands to do things at once. I either forget one hand entirely, or have one hand trying to mimic the other. This reminded me of many…
DaaaahWhoosh
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28
votes
6 answers

How do I stop muting nearby strings or will my fingers reshape after some practice?

I recently started learning to play guitar. I cut my nails completely, so I can press the strings. Often I need to endlessly re-arrange my fingers because I'm muting nearby strings. I correct one finger with a lot of effort, but mute some other…
DetectiveShmee
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26
votes
14 answers

Can one be too old to learn an instrument?

I own a guitar. I've owned it since I was about 13, but never really got into it because I was a spiteful teen who wanted to play the drums, and went out of my way to play the drums instead (to the dismay of my parents who acquired the guitar for…
nostalgk
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26
votes
12 answers

How can I keep learning new songs and not forget the previous ones?

I love learning new songs. A fairly easy, energetic rock piece is sometimes everything that I need to keep playing for hours. However, some pieces are harder, some solos require more patience and all in all I have to actually go back to some parts…
Bartek Banachewicz
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26
votes
4 answers

Learning Piano without a teacher

How can I effectively learn how to play the piano if it is simply impossible for me to get a teacher? I took it upon myself to learn the piano. However, I am not sure where to start, especially with regards to getting things 'right' (i.e. posture,…
Secret
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26
votes
14 answers

What are the advantages of learning to play on your own versus learning from a teacher?

Ok, as a new learner I have started by watching Learn and Master Guitar lessons, using other web tutorials, and whatever other resources I can find on the internet. Do you believe that this way is OK for someone who wants to learn guitar? Or do I…
Sotiris
24
votes
7 answers

Operating guitar for 10 years but can't make music

I'm failing to understand why I'm not being able to play actual music, thus I thought it'll be interesting to hear opinions of other people: I have a strong spatial intelligence - I think in pictures and have a relatively good memory for I can…
user44769
23
votes
13 answers

What do musicians mean when they say "learn music, not instruments"?

I started playing the piano about 2 months ago. Various people have told me several times to "try to focus on music more than the instrument", but I don't quite get the notion. It'd be great if any of you could elaborate it a bit.
hakiki_makato
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21
votes
14 answers

Ideas for a musical instrument to learn that is easier on the fingers

I am hoping to learn to play a musical instrument (I cannot play anything as yet) that is easy on fingertips and am looking for some suggestions, please. I have psoriasis on my fingertips and it usually spreads to just above the first knuckles. I…
Mhia
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21
votes
6 answers

I feel like I don't evolve, and sometimes shamed when playing with someone better than me

I'm currently 15 years old, and I play violin on the church. I started playing there when I was 9 years old, and always loved doing what I do, specially for the reason I do it. I sometimes play with people who just started like my 9 year old self.…
MucaP
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19
votes
9 answers

What is the most effective, structured way for an adult beginner to learn drums without a teacher?

I've wanted to play the drums since I was kid. I tried to learn when I was 11 but I lacked the psychological confidence to keep myself on it - my teacher at the time had learnt by banging on his mother's cooking pots so he was full of enthusiasm and…
georgiosd
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19
votes
6 answers

Progression path from an apprentice to a guru in music theory?

I am a computer science major and have been practicing music (as a hobby) for the past 4 years now. I started digging into the basics of Music Theory a year ago and now wish to advance my knowledge so as to better understand and analyze the works of…
Kasahs
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17
votes
9 answers

Learning an instrument online

I took ballet and with ballet you gain something called muscle memory and if you learn incorrectly, it's almost impossible to become a great dancer. Because of this, you can't learn ballet out of a book or from a video -- you need an instructor to…
Melanie Shebel
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13
votes
7 answers

Best Way to "Learn" Jazz Piano

Let me preface the question with a bit of background because I'm not even sure if I classify as "beginner" or "intermediate" or anything like that. I took your run of the mill piano lessons for 8 years. Started at 3 Blind Mice and ended with…
Patrick
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13
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3 answers

How to practice my ears to identify scales or notes?

I know it comes by practice; my teacher said this. But I want exercises for this, so that I will come to know which note or scale is being played. Where should I start from?
Yugandhar Chaudhari
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