What are the best instruments a song writer should know how to play??

[Kitty Tibsen]

[QUOTE=mikromort;59035]A guitar is just easier to learn because once you learn bar chords you can accompany yourself and it's kinda handy.

I'm learning piano but thinking of switching to guitar. I want to accompany myself in singing-what makes you say you can accompany yourself on guitar rather than piano? Is guitar better for that? I am no professional-I just want to play with my family and friends for fun, but I have a good ear and a good voice-though mostly untrained. And not enough time to learn 2 instruments. Suggestions?

[TonyB]

It all depends, but historically the piano and guitar have worked well over the years.

When I need inspiration I'll go to some other instrument (that makes sense for the genre) and try that.

For example, in a country song I may tinker around on the Mandolin (although that's all I can do on a Mandolin is tinker). But it gets me out of the "beaten path" to come up with something new and creative.

[john67elliott]

I write with guitars (acoustic, nylon and electric). I also use the Yamaha MM6 keyboard. Since learining to play it (barely!) I've had SO many more song ideas! I played guitar for more than 30 years, and have to say...... THE KEYS PLEASE! LOVE THAT THING! (I'm searching for one of those freaky states that allows marriage to dogs, cats, statues and sex toys.... and an MM6! lol

ok, john.... relax... easy boy.... that's it.

[JRSB]

Learn both! When I'm playing with my drummer ill usually crank out the guitar, but more than often on my own Ill be bashing my grand piano. Matt Bellamy of Muse is a perfect example of an artist who uses both guitar and piano to accompany his vocals.

[jamort]

I would use piano for melodies because its hard for me to write melodies on guitar...then guitar for chord progressions then any other instruments you know helps the writing process though u can get used to the sounds instruments make and just write stuff on guitar and piano and transpose it for who evers playing them... you will have to come up with riffs on guitar and stuff like that... also the piano to me wasnt that hard to learn afterlearning guitar you have to learn the stuff basiaclly in one spot ogf the key board the u just apply it to the other parts... im not saying your going to bethoveen over night but its not that hard to learn the basic stuff

[john67elliott]

You bring up a good point, Jamort! I now figure out my melodies with my MM6. On guitar, chords use about 3 notes per octave, while piano has so much more room to "run with." Like a singer... only with backing harmonies. I too am finding out that piano is much easier to learn than I thought it would be. Chord patterns are chord patterns! 1-3-5, 1-3b-5, etc. Who knew!? Apparently everyone but me.... hehe. With the previously learned two-hand cooridnation, it was relatively painless. I imagine that it would be the same for a piano player to learn guitar... maybe even easier. They both have an important role to the songwriter, no doubt about that. Shoot, any instrument does. People have gotten famous playing trash cans (well, that may be a poor example, but it's true, nonetheless.) Back in '87, while in the navy, I used a banjo and mandolin.... and annoyed the heck out of my shipmates!

JE

[jamort]

lol yeah the banjo is just a good as the guitar... u got on mm6 how good is it ? I was thinking of getting on because i had to sell my keyboard, and iot appeared to be the only thing i can afford that looks decent

[john67elliott]

Jamort, the MM6 is an amazing piece of gear. Need a sound? It's got it. I definitely suggest reading the manual on a lot of the features. I've had it for 2 1/2 months and find new features almost daily. It is my favored instrument now.... that's coming from a guitarist! The only thing I wish it was capable of is, when sequencing tracks, you've got to play the track right. Screw up part of it, and you have to do that track again. No editing the tracks by section. BUT.... that is proving to make me a better player quickly... by neccesity. Best $600 I've ever spent.... no kiddin.

[jamort]

if you have it running with cubase and dont complely screw up cant u edit it?

[john67elliott]

Yeah, I suppose so, but my computer is total crap. It can't handle the program. It crashes anytime I try to use anything. Good for web cruizing, Micro-works, youtube video uploading (takes 3 hours to upload a 3 minute song!). I'm gettin a multitrack soon. I'd have to buy a more powerful computer.... and honestly.... I'm done with 'em. It got hit by lightning (well, our house did!) the other day. Now it's worse. Not gonna buy one till I can afford a powerful one. Thinkin' Mac for purely viral reasons.