i want to play a new instrument

[rtil]

when i was 9, i got a stand-up piano for my birthday. i played it for about 9 years until i started going to university. i was not very good but i liked to play.

now i've moved and that piano is my little brother's now, it is technically still mine, but there is no way it would fit in this apartment or even the elevator to take it up here. it's just too big to bother with.

i'd like to pick up a new instrument now and i need some suggestions. HOWEVER, i have a few conditions. i'm specifically interested in a stringed instrument, but i DO NOT want to play the guitar or any classical instrument (violin, viola, etc). i'm very interested in eastern instruments like the erhu, guzheng and koto. but i know there are many instruments like them, and i'm having trouble picking out one that has my favorite sound. i'm also worried about the learning curve of the instrment. i dont have time for lessons and will have to be self-taught, but i want something that i can pick up easily and learn steadily.

so if you have any suggestions for me that would be great. or just post an instrument you think i might not know that you like the sound of.

[lenko]

mandolin maybe? i dunno if you'd count that as a guitar (i think its technically a lute, but it might be too similar to a guitar if you're after something more exotic). it has a cool sound though.

the mayuri is pretty cool, it's indian i think:

[Sef]

the shamisen?? it is still a very guitar-like instrument

[MarcK]

I have a friend that makes electric dulcimers out of cigar boxes.

[cipher]

I've actually also been looking into starting an instrument for a while, but I've been far too busy. However, i've always had a great interest in world instruments (particularly nordic and celtic). Either way, this is a great website to browse through for ideas

http://www.larkinam.com/

They sell all kinds of crazy stuff you probably haven't heard of, and a lot of them have sound samples too. There's a huge string section as well, just check the tab at the top

Good hunting

[Philip K Dick]

i know you said no guitars but
http://www.misadigital.com/index.php?target=kitara&lang=en

this looks really neat and ive been looking into getting one for a while

this too
http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/guitars/electric/6-string-solid-body/mb-1-standard-matt-bellamy-signature-guitar-230329/review

[Kött]

I think erhu is a nice choice.
A friend of mine actually plays the erhu and apparently you can learn it autonomously. It is a special and uncommon instrument and I find it to be a nicely sounding one as well.

However, you should keep in mind that the deepest tone on an erhu is the D and you might have some trouble playing most pieces in a convenient position or playing them in the original key. It also is a very high pitched instrument that is hardly used in combination with singing and it stands out extremely, making it a great instrument for solo parts or actual erhu songs but it can be kind of hard to use in a standard formation or a band.
Additionally it probably isn't the easiest instrument to learn and it definitely is quite a limited one at that.
The erhu usually has a range of 3 octaves but the starter instruments don't sound too well on the really high tones and you will have a hard time striking these as a beginner anyway so I'm not sure if I would recommend to go for a really expensive one from the start... first of all - providing that you're still interested - I would start with a beginner instrument which start in the price range of 200 to 400$.

All in all, it definitely would be an interesting and nice choice but definitely not an easy or common one...

[rtil]

i was just saying that its sound is something i like and that it's a type of instrument i would be interested in, not that i was intending to buy one. i dont think i would buy an instrument with only a single string

[rtil]

i know you said no guitars but
http://www.misadigital.com/index.php?target=kitara&lang=en

this looks really neat and ive been looking into getting one for a while

this too
http://www.musicradar.com/gear/all/guitars/electric/6-string-solid-body/mb-1-standard-matt-bellamy-signature-guitar-230329/review

yeah, no guitars.. i'd also prefer a non-digital, non-electric instrument. i also don't think a $3k+ instrument is in my price range either

[trent bortknob]

have you considered a sitar?

[Kött]

i was just saying that its sound is something i like and that it's a type of instrument i would be interested in, not that i was intending to buy one. i dont think i would buy an instrument with only a single string

Nope... an erhu has 2 strings and the bow hair is in between those two strings which is what makes this instrument so special. However, you grab both of them simultaneously... and the way you expressed it, it actually sounded like you might also be interested in acquiring one of the listed instruments and I simply wanted to share my knowledge as it might actually be your thing...

[Sef]

Electric Zithar

[rtil]

i was just saying that its sound is something i like and that it's a type of instrument i would be interested in, not that i was intending to buy one. i dont think i would buy an instrument with only a single string

Nope... an erhu has 2 strings and the bow hair is in between those two strings which is what makes this instrument so special. However, you grab both of them simultaneously... and the way you expressed it, it actually sounded like you might also be interested in acquiring one of the listed instruments and I simply wanted to share my knowledge as it might actually be your thing...

oh it is. i didnt know it had 2 strings. i guess what i mean is, you cant play chords with it, it can only make one sound at a time. while i've heard some beautiful songs with the erhu, i think i would prefer something that has more than one note at a time. i suppose i'm spoiled by the piano.

[Necronomitr0n]

co-sign with lenko on the mandolin

[dilly]

this could be you, commander-chan!

i've always wanted to learn the trumpet or the flute. both of those instruments from what i remember from band were fairly cheap in comparison to other instruments.

also, tin whistles have a very unique sound that i wish was in every song ever created. also fiddles or violins. i really like irish and americana music that utilize both of these.

[Sef]

Being the BEST TUBA PLAYER in my school, I could always give you pointers

[trent bortknob]

learn the accordion

[Shida]

co-sign with lenko on the mandolin

Mandolins have quite a nice sound - dude on my corridor has one and its really fun to listen to him play it.

Also seeing the other things in this thread has reminded me that I used to play the Zithar in primary school (I'm not sure why we had one) and want to learn to play the accordian too...

[Ashington]

guqin prehaps they're cool

Guqin - Guiqulaici - Returning home

or the erhu prehaps

The Erhu

fuck now i really want to play an erhu

[Gladius]

Abdel Wahab Song, on Oud عود: يا مسافر وحدك- محمد عبد الوهاب

for that authentic arabian sound