Thought on learning multiple instruments?

[jaymatheson]

I would love to hear people’s experience learning multiple instruments.

I have played banjo for about 8 years but stopped in person lessons during COVID. During the pandemic, I bought a guitar and mandolin. I have made some progress on guitar but haven’t focused on the mandolin just yet.

The banjo has given me a solid foundation for guitar but I am curious if people usually focus on one instrument when they are learning or if they switch around. I don’t want to get too rusty on banjo but would really like to make some progress on the other instruments. I would love to hear any advice on focus and practice,

Mid range goals are to continue to grow with the banjo and to learn basic backup on guitar and mandolin.

I haven’t found folks to jam with on a regular basis so I am leaning into online resources.

[Dave_Long]

Hi Jay!
It doesn’t really take the place of playing with other people, but multi-tracking multiple instruments has some benefits.
For one thing, it forces us to play as part of the rhythm section with an instrument. This helps us break out of the OKL (Only Know Leads) syndrome.

When I learn a tune for the fiddle I’ll make a play-along track with bass, guitar, & mandolin. It helps me understand the the structure of the tune better and can sometimes inspire creativity.

When playing lead to my own rhythm tracks I can spot where I need to work on the back-up instruments pretty quickly.

I don’t have a lot of advice for practicing. I usually pick up whatever I’m working on at the moment to try to get recorded, but once in a while I’ll just grab an instrument because something pops into my mind and I want to mess with it a bit before i forget the thought.

Dave

[Tim_C]

I’m no expert but I play guitar and mandolin. I usually play and practice one instrument at a time. About the only time I use both at the same time is when I’m trying to lay down a rhythm tack.

[andyorrguitar]

Obviously, the hours of lessons and practice on the new instrument could have lifted your playing on your main instrument to a new level. So, there is an opportunity cost to changing horses midstream. But, your diversity would likely give you more opportunities to jam and / or bring something new to your group. So, there’s a very nice benefit.

I think you just have to go wherever it is you want whether it’s down one path all the way to the end or just venture a little ways down many. There is no right or wrong.

COVID put me in the explore new paths camp. I’m having fun with banjo, mandolin, dobro and pedal steel. Not sure what I’ll do next. I know that I’m better at taking lessons and practicing than I have been since I started playing guitar. That might end up being the best part. I’m back to looking forward to learning.