Your First Instrument Purchase

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Posted by queenee on Sunday, February 19, 2012

There are varying opinions on what to do about buying your first instrument. You should read many different opinions and decide which advice suits you best.

This is what I have come to believe after spending many years teaching beginning players:

Many prospective music players are excited about the unique sound of a certain type of instrument and like how they feel when they hear it. They like the sound so much they are inspired to want to express themselves by playing that instrument. They don't have much knowledge about the wide range of musical possibilities but want to play music and might spend a great deal of money on their first instrument. They then learn to play a little and might realize they have bought the wrong type of instrument.

Get familiar with more types of banjo music before you buy your first instrument. The Hangout jukebox is a great place to hear all kinds of music genres, playing techniques and tone qualities. You will have more knowledge about the wide range of banjo playing techniques and music styles. Lots of players have more than one banjo because different styles and techniques work better on a certain type of banjo.

Staying motivated is difficult when you're first starting out. Don't get a hard to play and bad sounding "cheap junker" banjo because you are "just a beginner". Your first instrument should sound good and play easily so you enjoy practicing on it. Students who want to investigate more than one style could begin the banjo playing odyssey on a simple open back 5 string model such as the decent affordable ones made by Gold Tone and Deering. You can sell it when you know more about the style and technique you like best or you could keep it as the first beloved member of your banjo family. Your second banjo will be more well suited to your banjo music taste and you won't have spent a fortune on a model that doesn't suit your evolving knowledge of music and newly acquired playing skills..

The ability to express your feelings through the language of music is precious and priceless. Music played from your heart will make both you and your listeners happy no matter how simple it is. Invest as much time and money as you can on your instrument and on learning to play it. It will become a loyal and comforting lifelong companion.

Good luck and have a blast!

Diane Sanabria

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