Buying An Instrument

If you write music or just lyrics, this is a very important step to take. Whether you are looking for a good notebook, pen, tape recorder, guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, percussion or whatever, the same basic principles apply. You must like using it, it must be comfortable to use for long periods of time, and should be within your budget. Here are a few ideas you might not have thought of when choosing a new or used toy.

DO YOU LIKE IT?

Face it-if you can't stand even looking or picking up the item, you aren't going to write a lot of music with it. When it comes to writing lyrics, I prefer an old Bic crystal pen, and an artist's pad to write lyrics on, but if it's there and I have a sudden urge to write, anything will do. I find I also prefer recording things directly into my computer than using a tape recorder, but if I am away from home, a tape recorder will do fine. If you are picking out a keyboard, there are larger ones, shorter ones, and ones with smaller keys-find the one that best suits your style, and is compatible with your amplification system. If you need a new amp, make sure it has the punch to play larger venues if you need to do so-it will cost more to replace cones if you blow them out than it will to get a decent-sized amp to begin with. If you just need something for the studio-you may just need a simple preamp unit with a few effects and patch your guitar or other instrument straight into the board, especially if you are stuck recording in an apartment, and don't want to catch a noise complaint. If it's a guitar, and you are about to take lessons, get a buddy who is really good come and really abuse the instrument with lots of string bends and tricky fingerwork and see how soon it falls out of tune, as well as get an idea of how good it might sound once your playing is better. If you don't like the tone of your new find, don't get it unless you also get whatever you need effects-wise to make it sound the way you want, or you will never write much with it. No sense in spending money on something if you don't like the way it sounds.

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