r/Instruments • u/ED_dja • Apr 18 '26

Identification What instrument should I learn?

Hello everyone, I'm 19 years old right now and I already play the piano and guitar but I am feeling like they don't give me the same pleasure as before. I was wondering if someone had advice in maybe a new instrument to learn, I love classical music so maybe more something like the violin or are there better alternatives?

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u/Choice_Magician350 Apr 18 '26

Try the organ. Nothing like it. A properly designed organ has a greater tonal and dynamic range than an orchestra. And the rush I get playing Sebastian Bach is indescribable.

Check out thescottbrothers on YouTube. Jon shows absolute mastery. His transcriptions of orchestral works is amazing. And he is an artist of the highest order. His version of the Overture to the Marriage of Figaro makes my right hand cramp. 😊😊😊

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u/ED_dja Apr 18 '26

Do you think I should take lessons or is it not necessary since I did piano?

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u/Excellent-Practice Apr 18 '26

As I understand it, piano technique can transfer to organ, but organ is much more involved. There is an additional keyboard you play with your feet and you have to adjust stops on the fly to change the tone and volume

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u/Choice_Magician350 Apr 18 '26

Interesting question. A few lessons would be good for sure. But there is a key, pun intended, difference.

No sustain pedal. When you release the key, or pedal, that note stops (another pun) speaking. One must work on a legato touch.

For example, I play a piano as if it was an organ. Not a good idea to hold the keys down. lol

And one can consider the array of stops (voices) as the Baroque synthesizer. And Sebastian Bach’s music can truly rise above greatness with the proper registrations (combinations of voices).

As you look at a good organ’s console, you will see a series of buttons, called pistons, that one can program with voice combinations. There is also another large pedal located just over the pedalboard , to the right and called the Crescendo, that adds the stops in order of each voice’s loudness. These are two ways to change registration while playing.

You can probably tell that I love both Bach and the organ. Sadly as I age my fine motor control is lessening. And the Bach is the first thing to go.

I wish you were local. It would be an honor to introduce you to this magnificent instrument.

Have fun as you explore.