The following are my thoughts on a topic that was suggested for the SurvivalBlog writing competition:
This is a very broad topic. Does it mean the instruments themselves or the use and playing of them?
Or perhaps it means how to choose one or how to master one? Does it pertain to what to have when SHTF or TEOTWAWKI? Are you at home, or on the road? Do you have room for a larger instrument or is your space limited?
Do we start with the neophyte who is thinking about possibly getting into playing an instrument but is not sure if they have what it takes?
Maybe you have an instrument that has been sitting around for a while and are thinking about getting back into playing said instrument but are unsure if you need to start from square one? Maybe you just need a few weeks of brushing up to become proficient at it again?
Hopefully, this article will at least give you some musical ideas and motivate you to do more research into the topic. My hope is that it will inspire you to get your butt in gear and actually get playing.
Without a musician, there can be no music. Let’s focus on you for a minute or so:
You can start music at any age or stage of life. Some people think they are not musical when in fact they are. Ask yourself: Do you like different types of music? Do you enjoy going to see live music? Do you like singing or humming along to songs? Do you tap out the rhythm or beat to a song? Have you tried picking out a tune on an instrument? Does music relax you? Does music provide an outlet for you? These traits indicate some affinity for music. If you have the desire to learn to play an instrument, and the time and discipline to practice, then there is nothing holding you back.
The question of how to go about learning an instrument is another topic in itself. Many people can learn and become good at an instrument via the internet for free. You can get a music lesson book from a music store and learn from that. You can also get lessons in person.
What worked best for me was in-person lessons. Usually, you have to pay for lessons which I think makes you try harder because you’re paying for it. The instructor can also motivate you when you feel like you are not progressing as fast as you would like and also prevent you from forming bad habits like improper fingering or poor breathing.
Instrument Choices
So, now that you are convinced you want to learn an instrument, let’s see what’s available. Entering “what are the most popular musical instruments?” into an Internet search engine produced the following:
- Piano
- Guitar
- Violin
- Drums
- Wind instruments like saxophone and flute
- Brass instruments.
- Vocals (your voice).
Let’s quickly look at each one and give the pros and cons.
Piano:
Pianos come in a few different configurations. Starting from largest to smallest we have the grand and the upright. The upright comes in a large version, sometimes called an “upright grand” and a smaller variation, sometimes called the “apartment size”.
We also have another option, the electric piano or electronic keyboard.
Pros:
Pianos and lessons are generally available everywhere. The piano is a great foundational instrument meaning that the principles learned on it can be applied to many other instruments. A good electronic piano can be an excellent choice for those on a smaller budget and that don’t have the space for an acoustic piano. Electronic pianos don’t need tuning.
Cons:
Brand new pianos of any type are generally expensive and heavy. An acoustic piano can weigh between 300 and 1,000 pounds. Professional electronic pianos can weigh 50 to 200 lbs. An acoustic piano generally needs to be maintained on a regular schedule. For example, a concert hall piano will be tuned before every concert. A home piano is usually tuned once a year.
Used versus new. In both acoustic and electronic pianos there is a lot going on “inside the box”. Be careful when buying used to be sure everything works as it should. It is better to pass on any piano (be it acoustic or electronic) that has an operational defect as they can be time-consuming to repair. Stay away from “toy” grade electronic keyboards. They can be fun and amusing to play with but are generally not good for learning on. If going electronic, get a keyboard with at least 66 keys. 72 keys is better as it will let you do everything you would normally play on a standard piano keyboard. The best choice would be a standard piano keyboard which has 88 keys.
Guitar:
Guitars come in different configurations and sizes. They also come in acoustic and electric versions. We will also put bass guitars and ukuleles (ukes) in this category. Guitars and lessons are generally available everywhere. Electric guitars and ukes are generally easier to play due to the smaller size, thinner necks and thinner strings that are easier to press with your fingertips. Ukes have become very popular over the past few years. They are smaller, more portable and generally less expensive than a guitar.
Pros:
Acoustics are fairly portable and come in many sizes and weights, which is helpful if you are a child or small person or want something even more portable.
Cons:
Electrics require an amplifier which can be heavy and adds to the cost.
All guitars need to be tuned before and sometimes during playing (not difficult). Guitars need new strings now and then depending on how much the instrument is played as strings stretch and can be affected by sweat and oil on your hands. Although an added expense, consider getting a guitar case to enhance portability and to protect your investment
Used versus new:
There are many inexpensive good new guitars available. Used guitars should be checked carefully for cracks and deformations in the body and neck and that all the hardware is OK. In addition, used electrics should be checked to make sure all electric components work as they should. Used guitars with problems can be expensive to repair.
Violin Family:
Includes violin (fiddle), viola, cello and bass. These get progressively larger and less portable as we move through the list. We will also put the mandolin in this family. When I think of a violin, I think of county music. The violin is also heavily used in classical music and has also found a place in rock music. The violin is played by drawing a bow across the strings. It can also be played by plucking the strings. The mandolin has the same fingering as a violin and is played by strumming or plucking the strings. While not as easy to find as piano or guitar, violins, and lessons can be found in most larger towns.
Pros:
Violins and mandolins are portable. They can be a solo instrument or as part of an ensemble. They can be played in a variety of styles to suit different types of music.
Cons:
Some people find it difficult to maintain the combination of bowing and the exact placement of the left hand fingers on the strings. Like the guitar, violins require tuning before and during playing as well as occasional string and bow hair replacement. Violins are fragile.
New vs used:
Cheap new violins can be more trouble than they are worth. They are generally constructed poorly using inferior wood. They may not stay in tune as well and may break more easily than a more expensive better-quality unit. A bargain basement violin will most likely be more difficult to play and may be impossible to repair if it breaks. Check used violins as you would a used guitar.
Drums:
There are probably hundreds of different types of drums. Many are peculiar to certain regions. We will only talk about what is normally referred to as the standard acoustic drum kit. It usually consists of a snare drum, three toms that give a high, medium, and low tone. The largest drum in the kit is the bass drum (sometimes called the kick drum). Also included are a set of hi-hat cymbals and a crash and/or ride cymbal. The kit should come with all the hardware and stands to support the various components. It is always cheaper to buy a complete drum kit than to try to gather the parts individually. Drum kits and lessons can be found in most larger towns. Drum kits also come in electronic versions.
Pros:
Drum kits are great for expending excess energy. Drum kits are loud. With a good drummer that can control the sounds and volume of the kit, drums are an excellent back-up instrument to almost any other musical instrument.
Cons:
Drum kits are loud. This can hamper practice times. Drum kits are not very portable. Drum kits take up about a 7×5 foot area. Drum kits are not a solo instrument. Electronic drum kits change technology often. Electronic kits generally require an amplifier adding to the cost. An older electronic set may not sound good and it may be difficult to get parts or accessories. Some people have difficulty co-coordinating all the different patterns when having to play 4 or more pieces of the kit at once.
New vs used:
Cheap new drum kits can be made to sound pretty good with careful set up and tuning. Cheap drum kits are usually made with lighter, cheaper materials than more expensive kits. The result is the cheaper drum kit will be more prone to falling apart. Broken and stripped fasteners and stands that don’t hold up are more common on cheap drum kits especially if they are taken down and set up often. The drum heads and cymbals on cheap kits generally don’t stand up well to heavy playing. A quality used name-brand drum kit that is in good shape with all stands, fasteners, foot pedals, etc. put together properly with no missing hardware will generally be a better option and cost not much more than a brand new cheap kit.
Woodwind instruments like saxophone, clarinet, flute:
These instruments generally produce sound by passing air through a mouth piece. Most woodwind instruments mouth pieces contain a reed that vibrates as the air passes by the reed and that sound is channeled into the top of the instrument. Notes are played by pressing keys that cover holes in the body of the instrument or by covering the holes with your fingertips. Proper mouth position on the mouthpiece (called the embouchure) is essential to producing a good tone from the instrument. As well, proper posture, breathing and fingering are required to play properly and reduce fatigue. Many woodwinds have similar fingering, so changing between different woodwinds is possible without completely relearning how to play.
Pros:
Most woodwinds come in a hard protective case and are very portable. Most woodwinds play the melody of the song, so are well-suited as a solo instrument. Most woodwinds are available in a plastic version that cost less and compare favourably to traditional wood and metal versions.
Cons:
A few of the larger woodwinds like tenor sax, bassoon, lower octave clarinets are generally bulky, heavy and expensive. Many woodwinds have somewhat complex linkages that control the pads that cover the holes that can be easily damaged if the instrument is dropped, bumped, or falls over while in a stand. It may be difficult to find someone locally to repair woodwinds. They usually have to be sent out to a specialist for repair. It may be more difficult to find woodwind instruments for sale and lessons outside larger population centers.
New vs used:
Although older woodwinds are generally better overall quality than newer woodwinds, it is usually a good idea to buy a new woodwind instrument rather than try to resurrect one that has been sitting in a closet for years. I have opened some long-forgotten woodwinds and found the case and instrument covered with mold inside and out. Woodwinds have parts like pads, keys, springs, linkages, and cork gaskets that are perishable. If considering an older woodwind, have it checked out by someone familiar with that type of instrument. New plastic instruments should be considered as well. They compare favourably to those made of traditional materials. Check with a shop that deals with woodwinds for recommendations. Another good resource may be your local school music teacher.
Brass instruments like trumpet, french horn, tuba, trombone:
These instruments produce sound by passing air between your lips, causing them to vibrate while having those vibrating lips pressed into a cone-shaped mouthpiece that channels the sound into the instrument. Buttons called valves channel air into different lengths of tubing changing the note. As well, the player must tighten and loosen their lips to raise and lower the note you want to play. Just like the woodwinds, proper mouth position on the mouthpiece (again, called the embouchure) is essential to producing a good tone from the instrument. As well, correct posture, breathing and fingering are required to play properly and reduce fatigue. Many brass instruments have similar fingering, so changing between different brass instruments is possible without completely relearning how to play.
Pros:
Most smaller brass instruments come in a hard protective case and are very portable. Most smaller brass instruments play the melody of the song, so are well-suited as a solo instrument. Most brass instruments are available in a plastic version that cost less and that compare favourably to traditional metal versions.
Cons:
The larger brass instruments are expensive. Most metal brass instruments are easily dented by dropping, bumping or having them fall off a stand. Many times if the dent is not too large and not in a critical spot, the instrument will continue to play and function as normal. Like woodwinds, it can be difficult to find someone locally to repair brass instruments. They usually have to be sent out to a specialist for repair. It may be more difficult to find brass instruments for sale and lessons outside larger population centers.
New vs used:
New brass instruments can be expensive. New plastic instruments should be considered as they compare well to those made of traditional materials.
Checklist for used brass instruments:
No missing or broken parts-must have a mouthpiece and a case included.
No dents preferred.
A bit of tarnish or patina is generally okay.
Valves must move smoothy.
Tuning slides must move smoothly.
If you would like to try learning one of the above instruments, most larger music stores have rentals available. Many also have rent-to-own and rent while you are learning options. This can be a great way to see if a certain instrument is right for you without a large cash outlay up front.
Vocals:
Everyone’s voice is unique. If you want to hear a great variety of voices and abilities, go to a Karaoke night at your local bar. Vocal appreciation by yourself and others seems to be one of the most subjective things about singing. You can’t blame your instrument for bad performances because your instrument is YOU. You have to work and practice just as much at being a singer as playing an instrument. To sing, you must connect with and be able to control your voice. It is a lot like sports training. It will be helpful to take instruction in person or on the Internet. This will help you to learn proper voice technique, find your range and find the type of songs your voice is most capable of singing. The nice thing about singing is that your voice is always with you. It is the most portable instrument that there is. Although it is fairly common to be able to convey emotions through an instrument, your singing voice gives you the ultimate emotional musical outlet.
I must also mention some of the smaller and perhaps lesser-known, instruments. Some of these, you could tuck into a bug-out bag. But any of these are compact enough to fit in your bunker, when TSHTF. You can look them up on the internet to see if you might enjoy learning one:
- Small accordion or concertina.
- Recorder
- Harmonica
- Jaw harp
- Pan Flute
- Zither
- Auto Harp
- Penny Whistle
- Kazoo
- Spoons.
Learning an instrument will give you much enjoyment. If you can play for others, they will usually appreciate it. There are many opportunities to give music to family, friends, and community. Think of a family gathering that could be improved by playing a favourite song or two. Think of friends gathered at a barbecue or around a campfire. Think of appreciative folks that can’t get out to see live music. An instrument that does not require power would provide a lot of enjoyment to a lot of people in a grid-down situation.
Consider this, paraphrased from an online source:
“Research has shown that listening to and playing music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, memory, and facilitate opportunities for emotional expression. Music has benefits for learning, mental health, and physical well-being. It can impact us as individuals and as communities.”
I hope that I have piqued an interest in either learning an instrument, or for some, to rekindle a renewed interest in playing an existing instrument.
About The Author
I’m an amateur musician. Took formal accordion music lessons from age 6 to 14–still playing.
Took tenor saxophone in music class in high school–have not played the sax since.
Took up drums with formal lessons 10+ years ago–still playing.
Currently taking group ukelele lessons.
Currently playing percussion in an amateur community concert band–10+ years, still active.
Played in amateur Top-40 rock cover bands for the last 20+ years on keyboards, percussion, and back-up vocals.