Does anyone else play music even if you are not very good?

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I love music and love to listen and to play music, but I am not very good at it. I can pick some basic chords and accompany some songs, and I get a lot of satisfaction out of it, but then when I realize how rudimentary it is, I get discouraged and don't play for weeks. Plus, no matter how hard I practice, my dyslexia puts my fingers in the wrong place from time to time. And finally, when I was originally taught to play, I was made to play with a metronome and this practice makes for correct beats, but a lack musical expression. Is there anyone who enjoys picking around on an instrument, even if you don't get good at it?

I'm not brilliant at music, but I still like to pick up whatever is nearest and just mess around with it. I sometimes don't even think about chords or any songs in particular, just what sounds good. It can be very therapeutic.

I tried piano lessons once, and was really having trouble playing a certain section from a book, and just couldn't figure it out. But during one practise session there was a guitar nearby so I stopped practising and messed around with the guitar for a while. After doing that, the next time I tried to practise with the piano, I managed to play the piano parts a lot better, and felt a lot more relaxed in doing it.

In my opinion, you can always improve, and you do without even realising it sometimes. I find the best way is to have a balance between learning to play music and enjoy playing it, so that when you're playing stuff you like to play, it keeps you motivated for when you're trying to play music that you're learning.

Thanks for your reply.

I like the idea of just playing what comes to you. I have thought about it, but am very scared to try it, even when I am alone and no one can hear.

As a child, I was given a lot of music lessons and I played in the high school orchestra and stuff like that. But I wasn't very good. I hated to practice and I never felt like I was playing music.

I pretty much quit playing music after high school and didn't take it up again until my 30s when I took some classical piano lessons at a community college, did some Irish fiddle playing and then some piano backup for contradances. But I really wasn't very good and I think the rest of the groups pretty much just tolerated me. I dropped it again.

Most recently I have picked up the banjo, but I have refused to take any lessons. I feel that all the lessons I had stole the actual music away. I pick at it like a guitar. Can't play the guitar because my hands are too small. So I play the banjo like a four-stringed guitar.

I wish I weren't so embarrassed about it.

Hey its no problem, its actually something I can relate to .

I didn't start learning anything properly until I was in my early twenties. Sure there were music lessons in school but I was never taught to play an actual instrument back then. Even though currently guitar is my 'go to' instrument, I've got a bass guitar, a keyboard, a mandolin and a few harmonicas in my house (lack of money thankfully stopped a saxophone being added to the collection )

Learning to play music is a good idea but for me its best focused on one instrument, as if you try to learn too much you can suffer burnout. I play bass and keyboard often but I've never been taught either via books or from a teacher, as I already am taking guitar lessons so the combination would just be too overwhelming.

The best way to stay interested in my opinion is to have familiarity whilst playing the instrument. Sure, try new songs to learn but keep songs you enjoy playing nearby so you can always just go back and have some fun if the learning process gets a bit tricky.

Also, if you're feeling embarrassed don't worry, I've no idea how to play a banjo, so with that instrument you're already better than me no matter which way you prefer to play it .

Keep playing and make sure you enjoy yourself first and foremost

Thanks for the encouragement and advice. I will keep playing and see what happens.

Yes, definitely this! I was so nearly put off ever making music again at school by the formal education, and having to play music that I had no enthusiasm for (school orchestra trombone parts are generally not devastatingly interesting - I can only recall there being one tune with a slide between notes; the one cool thing about the trombone, and you weren't allowed to do it!)

Bass has been my main instrument since my twenties, when I got into playing in punky bands. Unfortunately, I couldn't really cope with the social part of gigging well enough to keep doing it, but it was brilliant therapy playing.

Even after all these years, I struggle playing along with other musicians because after school, I totally lost the ability to read music or follow the usual language for keys/chords etc. If you asked me to point at a B-flat on the fretboard, I would still have to count my way up the frets trying desperately to remember which notes have sharps/flats and which don't. After playing bass for so long, but mostly on my own, I have a very "idiosyncratic" ("terrible"!?) style of playing with lots of effect pedals, power chords etc. that isn't really what a bass would normally do in most bands. I also find that I can get stuck for months only ever playing in the same one or two keys. But I love every moment of it still, and it takes me to a place far, far away from the stuff in the outside world that sends me crazy.


I'd say just don't worry about that. Four-string guitars of various flavours are common in latin music, and there are plenty of instruments with even fewer strings (the Japanese shamisen and erhu for example.) I ended up getting my hacksaw out and botching a four-string electric guitar years ago because my bass-player brain couldn't handle six strings (ironically, years later, I now have a 6-string bass.)

The embarrassment factor, I understand well (a dented school trombone played badly is only good if you need to scare the neighbourhood cats out of your garden!) I'll just point out a couple of things there. Firstly, there are plenty of classic records which only have a handful of chords and were recorded with cheapo chipboard guitars, and no-one gives a hoot so long as they can have a good old boogie and a sing-along. Music doesn't have to be complex or show off every intricate technique for people to like it (much as I love my prog-rock, it isn't exactly the most popular style of music!) Secondly, we're surrounded by a world of awful noise anyway - I'd rather listen to someone learning banjo than tinny mobile phones and those boom-boom-boom cars that seem to drive by every two minutes!

The main thing that hanging around with other musicians has taught me is this, though: Be influenced by the music you like and the players you respect, but don't get hung up on trying to copy them or their techniques exactly. It's your music, so don't be afraid to be yourself on whatever instrument you choose. I've seen so many people give up before they had a chance to shine because they couldn't perfectly emulate the style and sound of their favourite musicians - but if those musicians had done that, no-one would have ever heard of them. Serendipity is your friend - when I read magazines about music production it's amazing how many classic sounds and tunes were complete accidents that just happened to make everyone's ears prick up.

Thanks, trog...all good advice. While I am as tough as nails in some arenas, with the music I am super-sensitive. Plus, as an aspie, I rarely realize when my husband is joking. I recently told him of a comment he made months ago that had "caused" me to stop playing for many weeks. He was astounded. He not only doesn't remember the comment, he is sure it was a joke. He says he is going to get a sign on a stick that says "just joking" so he can wave it at me when he is joking. If I had a sound proof room to practice in, it might be better. But we live in a two room cabin so it doesn't matter where we are, he can hear me. But he also says he doesn't listen. And I believe him. He has his nose in his computer. I just wish I could get over the self-consciousness.

I used to be very good at reading music and I don't have trouble with the standard chords, although jazz chords are way out of my range. C#min9. Can't find that without counting lines on the staff and keys on the piano! But I really have a hard time reading "tabs" and most songs are in tabs instead of just saying G or Cmin or whatever. I have been trying to improve my ear. I have to stop being afraid of "wrong" notes! I guess.

Everyone should be issued with one at birth IMHO, that's a great idea.


Just play them extremely confidently so that people think you're doing it on purpose - it worked for Shoenberg.

I can't play anything, but I do sing from time to time. I suck, but so what? I like it and it's not like I force anyone to listen...

Tabs sometimes can be easier to read than sheet music, it depends on both the instrument and the individual. Plus wrong notes aren't anything to be afraid of, as sometimes a 'wrong' note works in a different way depending on the music, some make the music sound eastern, some make it more bluesy. If you play them and still like what you're hearing, go for it. Music theory is more of a guide than actual rules, I find



A good way of thinking, do what you like and in the end as long as you enjoy it that's what matters the most. My Dad sung a song he'd written decades ago this month for the very first time. He wouldn't have won a singing competition these days, but to just be able to give it a go really made his day