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Is the myth that if you can play one instrument, you can learn another instrument with ease true?

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1

I've heard many people say this:

"If you can play one instrument, other instruments will be easy to learn"

I just can't help but wonder if this is true. Suppose I'm a professional flute player. Would learning an instrument, suppose guitar (while being the professional flute player) be simpler to learn than if I didn't play the flute?

guitar learning flute transition

share|improve this question

edited 4 hours ago

Xilpex

asked 4 hours ago

XilpexXilpex

938326

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I suggest clarifying the question. First, you ask whether the second instrument will be easy to learn, but later, whether it will be easier. These are quite different questions.
  
  – replete
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @replete Oops. I typed faster than I could think. I'll clarify.
  
  – Xilpex
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Possible duplicate of Problems With Learning a Second Instrument
  
  – replete
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  IMO, no dupe. It's close, but that one asks about a more specific scenario.
  
  – user45266
  19 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

1

I've heard many people say this:

"If you can play one instrument, other instruments will be easy to learn"

I just can't help but wonder if this is true. Suppose I'm a professional flute player. Would learning an instrument, suppose guitar (while being the professional flute player) be simpler to learn than if I didn't play the flute?

guitar learning flute transition

share|improve this question

edited 4 hours ago

Xilpex

asked 4 hours ago

XilpexXilpex

938326

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I suggest clarifying the question. First, you ask whether the second instrument will be easy to learn, but later, whether it will be easier. These are quite different questions.
  
  – replete
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @replete Oops. I typed faster than I could think. I'll clarify.
  
  – Xilpex
  4 hours ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Possible duplicate of Problems With Learning a Second Instrument
  
  – replete
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  IMO, no dupe. It's close, but that one asks about a more specific scenario.
  
  – user45266
  19 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

I've heard many people say this:

"If you can play one instrument, other instruments will be easy to learn"

I just can't help but wonder if this is true. Suppose I'm a professional flute player. Would learning an instrument, suppose guitar (while being the professional flute player) be simpler to learn than if I didn't play the flute?

guitar learning flute transition

share|improve this question

edited 4 hours ago

Xilpex

asked 4 hours ago

XilpexXilpex

938326

share|improve this question

edited 4 hours ago

Xilpex

asked 4 hours ago

XilpexXilpex

938326

share|improve this question

edited 4 hours ago

Xilpex

asked 4 hours ago

XilpexXilpex

938326

asked 4 hours ago

XilpexXilpex

938326

asked 4 hours ago

XilpexXilpex

938326

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

7

You wouldn’t need to relearn theory or reading music. You wouldn’t need to learn to establish a practice regimen. You wouldn’t need to relearn to hear intervals or feel a beat.

Going from flute to guitar, you would need to memorize the positions of notes and chords. You would need to develop calluses. You would have to suffer the pain of learning to contort your hand to make barre chords. It would take a lot of practice to develop the muscle memory you need to play proficiently.

If you’re going between similar instruments—organ to piano, for example—you would certainly be influenced by the techniques of your original instrument. It could be an advantage. Chords are fingered the same on both instruments. But you’d have a set of disadvantages to overcome as well. In this example, you’d have to learn dynamic expression in a whole new way. Suddenly, the force you put on the keys matters in a way it never did before!

The answer definitely depends on what instrument you’re coming from and what instrument you’re going to. But, in general, yes, as an experienced musician, you have a considerable advantage that an absolute beginner lacks.

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

trwtrw

3,1581228

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1, but an extremely minor quibble: "Suddenly, the force you put on the keys matters in a way it never did before!" It matters on the organ too, it is just that the result is different: a change in timbre versus a change in dynamic level.
  
  – replete
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Another disadvantage is that you are going from being able to play an instrument fluently to not really being able to speak, if you will. This can be quite frustrating and held me back from learning a second instrument for some time.
  
  – b3ko
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @replete You're saying that on an organ, if you press keys harder you get a change in timbre? I had no idea. Are there any videos out there that demonstrate that?
  
  – BobRodes
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @BobRodes This is true only of proper mechanical action or tracker organs. Many organs have an electric action reducing the keys to mindless on/off operation. Tracker organs are interesting because of a fellow named J. S. Bach who wrote good music for them. Yes my tongue is in my cheek. He did not write for mindless bloated electric action instruments which began to proliferate a century and a half ago. The mechanical action gives a direct connection to the pallet which allows air into the pipe, allowing the player to control the consonant somewhat like the tonguing of a wind player.
  
  – replete
  10 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @replete Very interesting. Are there many of those organs still around, or are they all also of the type from the pre-electric days where someone had to work the bellows or whatever?
  
  – BobRodes
  1 min ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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7

You wouldn’t need to relearn theory or reading music. You wouldn’t need to learn to establish a practice regimen. You wouldn’t need to relearn to hear intervals or feel a beat.

Going from flute to guitar, you would need to memorize the positions of notes and chords. You would need to develop calluses. You would have to suffer the pain of learning to contort your hand to make barre chords. It would take a lot of practice to develop the muscle memory you need to play proficiently.

If you’re going between similar instruments—organ to piano, for example—you would certainly be influenced by the techniques of your original instrument. It could be an advantage. Chords are fingered the same on both instruments. But you’d have a set of disadvantages to overcome as well. In this example, you’d have to learn dynamic expression in a whole new way. Suddenly, the force you put on the keys matters in a way it never did before!

The answer definitely depends on what instrument you’re coming from and what instrument you’re going to. But, in general, yes, as an experienced musician, you have a considerable advantage that an absolute beginner lacks.

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

trwtrw

3,1581228

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1, but an extremely minor quibble: "Suddenly, the force you put on the keys matters in a way it never did before!" It matters on the organ too, it is just that the result is different: a change in timbre versus a change in dynamic level.
  
  – replete
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Another disadvantage is that you are going from being able to play an instrument fluently to not really being able to speak, if you will. This can be quite frustrating and held me back from learning a second instrument for some time.
  
  – b3ko
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @replete You're saying that on an organ, if you press keys harder you get a change in timbre? I had no idea. Are there any videos out there that demonstrate that?
  
  – BobRodes
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @BobRodes This is true only of proper mechanical action or tracker organs. Many organs have an electric action reducing the keys to mindless on/off operation. Tracker organs are interesting because of a fellow named J. S. Bach who wrote good music for them. Yes my tongue is in my cheek. He did not write for mindless bloated electric action instruments which began to proliferate a century and a half ago. The mechanical action gives a direct connection to the pallet which allows air into the pipe, allowing the player to control the consonant somewhat like the tonguing of a wind player.
  
  – replete
  10 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @replete Very interesting. Are there many of those organs still around, or are they all also of the type from the pre-electric days where someone had to work the bellows or whatever?
  
  – BobRodes
  1 min ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

7

You wouldn’t need to relearn theory or reading music. You wouldn’t need to learn to establish a practice regimen. You wouldn’t need to relearn to hear intervals or feel a beat.

Going from flute to guitar, you would need to memorize the positions of notes and chords. You would need to develop calluses. You would have to suffer the pain of learning to contort your hand to make barre chords. It would take a lot of practice to develop the muscle memory you need to play proficiently.

If you’re going between similar instruments—organ to piano, for example—you would certainly be influenced by the techniques of your original instrument. It could be an advantage. Chords are fingered the same on both instruments. But you’d have a set of disadvantages to overcome as well. In this example, you’d have to learn dynamic expression in a whole new way. Suddenly, the force you put on the keys matters in a way it never did before!

The answer definitely depends on what instrument you’re coming from and what instrument you’re going to. But, in general, yes, as an experienced musician, you have a considerable advantage that an absolute beginner lacks.

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

trwtrw

3,1581228

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1, but an extremely minor quibble: "Suddenly, the force you put on the keys matters in a way it never did before!" It matters on the organ too, it is just that the result is different: a change in timbre versus a change in dynamic level.
  
  – replete
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Another disadvantage is that you are going from being able to play an instrument fluently to not really being able to speak, if you will. This can be quite frustrating and held me back from learning a second instrument for some time.
  
  – b3ko
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @replete You're saying that on an organ, if you press keys harder you get a change in timbre? I had no idea. Are there any videos out there that demonstrate that?
  
  – BobRodes
  33 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @BobRodes This is true only of proper mechanical action or tracker organs. Many organs have an electric action reducing the keys to mindless on/off operation. Tracker organs are interesting because of a fellow named J. S. Bach who wrote good music for them. Yes my tongue is in my cheek. He did not write for mindless bloated electric action instruments which began to proliferate a century and a half ago. The mechanical action gives a direct connection to the pallet which allows air into the pipe, allowing the player to control the consonant somewhat like the tonguing of a wind player.
  
  – replete
  10 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @replete Very interesting. Are there many of those organs still around, or are they all also of the type from the pre-electric days where someone had to work the bellows or whatever?
  
  – BobRodes
  1 min ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

You wouldn’t need to relearn theory or reading music. You wouldn’t need to learn to establish a practice regimen. You wouldn’t need to relearn to hear intervals or feel a beat.

Going from flute to guitar, you would need to memorize the positions of notes and chords. You would need to develop calluses. You would have to suffer the pain of learning to contort your hand to make barre chords. It would take a lot of practice to develop the muscle memory you need to play proficiently.

If you’re going between similar instruments—organ to piano, for example—you would certainly be influenced by the techniques of your original instrument. It could be an advantage. Chords are fingered the same on both instruments. But you’d have a set of disadvantages to overcome as well. In this example, you’d have to learn dynamic expression in a whole new way. Suddenly, the force you put on the keys matters in a way it never did before!

The answer definitely depends on what instrument you’re coming from and what instrument you’re going to. But, in general, yes, as an experienced musician, you have a considerable advantage that an absolute beginner lacks.

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

trwtrw

3,1581228

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

trwtrw

3,1581228

answered 4 hours ago

trwtrw

3,1581228

answered 4 hours ago

trwtrw

3,1581228