Musical Cousins: Try a New Instrument

by Shannon Price

Need a challenge? Do you feel like you are in a “rut” with your current musical instrument? Are looking for new musical ideas? Why not try another instrument that is musically “close” (like musical cousins) to the one you play now?

 

What motivated this idea is that the lead guitarist in my band, Walter, has started to learn to play the lap steel guitar. It’s close enough to guitar that he feels like he’s not in totally new instrument territory, but different enough that he’s really learning an entirely new skill set: different tunings and playing techniques, using a lap/pedal steel bar.

This has given Walter a fun song-learning boost. He’s relearning old songs using the new instrument and putting entirely new twists on those songs. He’s also learning new ones that are not guitar-featured songs (e.g., “Steel Guitar Rag,” “Hula Blues”). In searching around for resources to learn more about the lap steel guitar he encountered an entirely new set of lap, pedal, and dobro instrument virtuosos—Tom Morrell, Bob Bozman, Herb Remington, and others. They’ve definitely broadened Walter’s musical horizons, in addition to, as Walter puts it, “Broadening the opening of my mouth when my jaw drops open in response to their incredible playing!”

Trying a new instrument that’s similar to the one you currently play, is a way to energize/revitalize your musical experiences. Lessons are always available and you may open new brain pathways! Most of all, you can have fun and challenge yourself. Get together with friends and family form ensembles and you may also spark their interest in learning something new.

When you start a second instrument the groundwork for theory, ear learning, dynamics, etc. is already in place, so if the second instrument is closely related to the first you have a pretty good head start. Finger position, bowing technique, and/or breath control will carry over to your new musical adventure. Music is something you can do just for you, while sharing music opens gates of communication and the thrill of life in general. Playing music, or being a part of anything musical, can give you a new attitude and make your life better every day. Talk about dynamics!

So what’s next for Walter? He can play just about anything he sets out to learn; I think I’m going to suggest bagpipes!