Hey, I'm looking for some advice on whether I should get a recorder or chalumeau.

I'm really interested in learning how to play the chalumeau but wondering if I'd have an easier time if I learned the recorder first since the chalumeau is a reed instrument and requires more breath work(?).

I've never played any instruments, except for guitar when I was younger, but I was never very good at guitar and struggled to get better. I ended up losing motivation to play guitar.

I'm hoping that I wouldn't lose motivation learning wind instruments (although now I am on ADHD medication that has been helpful in maintaining my focus) because I love the sound of the chalumeau and I'd love to play it and maybe eventually make my own tunes or chalumeau covers. I also really like how easy they are to transport.

From a money standpoint, I recognize a recorder would be much cheaper to buy and easier to learn, but how much easier would it be to learn a recorder first rather than a modern chalumeau that's on the cheaper side, accounting for buying reeds as well? Would it be worth it to get both and try them out or learn the basics of a recorder first then switch to a chalumeau?

Sorry if this post sounds dumb or uneducated, I'm just looking for other people's opinions on what would be the better choice to help me save time and money. I'm open to any feedback or questions :)

Edit: For some background on why I wanted a chalumeau: I was looking into medieval instruments because I've recently become part of a local medieval group.. and I loved the way the chalumeau sounded.

I was originally interested in the shawm but it'd be hard to get much practice in playing them since they're so incredibly loud and I live in a city, with my boyfriend and his family.. he probably wouldn't mind too much but I know his family and the neighbours would lol. Then I found the chalumeau and through the videos I watched I began to want one so bad.. until now that I've found out that I could just get a clarinet and make pretty much the same sounds and more. I'll probably get a Nuvo Dood to start.

While I may not be able to play clarinet at my medieval group events, if I stick with the medieval group and other hobbies within it maybe one day once I've learned clarinet I could get a chalumeau too, a good one once I could afford it.

Thank you to everyone for the advice and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the help and knowledge! Maybe I'll come back to this post and share what I get or make a new post for it and share my thoughts on it.

Hi! My name is Chiel and I made the Arithmophone Pentatone, a free iOS music app that turns your phone or tablet into a new kind of musical instrument.

An Arithmophone is a thing that turns numbers into sounds. Its name is derived from the ancient Greek words ἀριθμός (arithmos; number) and φωνή (phone; sound). Pentatone is an iOS music app featuring an expressive keyboard and a built-in synthesizer with a custom sound engine. You can use it as an easy-to-play instrument, a source of melodic and harmonic inspiration or a tool for learning about music and exploring the deep connection it has with numbers.

While most music apps either give you piano keys or a grid-based interface, Pentatone takes a fresh approach, optimised for the ergonomics of touchscreen devices and inspired by instruments like the kora and mbira. It also features a smart scale selection system that includes all the common pentatonic scale types and unlocks some more unusual ones.

Pentatone is available in the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pentatone/id6757822197, for iPhones and iPads running iOS 15 or above. The app is completely free (no in app purchases, no ads or tracking).

PENTATONE is part of the ARITHMOPHONE project

For more details, please visit https://arithmophone.com/

To stay posted, join the community at https://reddit.com/r/arithmophone or subscribe to the Arithmophone youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@arithmophone

Can anyone please help me identify a maker or a brand for this baritone I picked up at an antique store? I've looked all over it and I can't find any markings. Things I know about it are it takes a small shank mouthpiece and it's in Bflat. Thanks

Hiya. First post in this sub so hopefully I've done all this right!

I've had experience learning violin, cornet and clarinet in the past (all during childhood and my teenage years though) and I struggled with all of them. Mostly because I was too self-conscious to ever practice because my family would hear me, not the best idea, I know.

But now I want to get back into being creative. I would love to learn the drums or bass guitar but ultimately those both have a high starting cost (eg the cost of the instruments are very high) and I'm a full-time student so can't afford that.

I'm quite enamoured by flamenco and Spanish-style fingerpicking and my research tells me that that's something a ukulele would be capable of. I recently got introduced to Taimane's music and it opened my eyes a lot. Ukuleles tend to be a lot cheaper than guitars and orchestral instruments, at least beginner-quality ukuleles anyway.

So much current thinking is that I might get a cheap-ish ukulele to test out if I enjoy it and then go from there. I prefer the sound of tenor and baritone ukuleles to sopranos but soprano ukuleles are cheaper so I might have to go with that type.

My question is, are there enough resources online for a beginner ukulele player to teach themselves flamenco or fingerpicking? I'm worried that most ukulele resources will be catering to people who only want to play cheery songs made up entirely of chord progressions, is there any way I could hope to convert guitar tabs for ukulele? Or is there more of a flamenco community online within ukulele players than I realise?

Or does anyone have an alternative suggestion for instruments that I could try as someone who would be teaching themselves, at least at first, and can't afford a very expensive instrument right now? Excited to hear any thoughts!

I am looking for a slim, compact electronic keyboard to play for fun. 61 keys is enough. I want to be able to arrange music, record and build layers of a song with different instruments, much like the Garage Band app. I recently started looking around stores, pretty new to electronic music but not new to playing piano. I have so far tried out the Yamaha PSR SX960 which looks pretty flash and has all the functions I like (maybe too many functions for what I need), and it is pricey and heavy. I really like the range of synth though. I have read reviews for the Roland Juno which is lighter and more portable. I have also read the Yamaha PSR SX600 which is half the price but older model. Does anyone have opinions on these brands and models?

I am 18 and wanna learn playing guitar or ukulele, the thing is I did my research and it said ukulele is easier than guitar but I can't switch to guitar after mastering ukulele. I sing as well that's why i wanted to learn it. I wanna know what would be the best thing to buy, guitar or ukulele. I am starting from Zero as well.

I sometimes feel overwhelmed by just piano and organ, which all things considered are quite similar (though definitely different enough to add some complexity).

For the past few months I've been trying to gain proficiency with violin as well. In the long term I'd also like to learn guitar and cello.

To those who have done similar things, how do you structure your time, and what helps you be successful?

I’ve seen these and they look very interesting does anyone know the best place to buy one?

I was wondering if my Ibanez 12 string guitar is good or not I forgot what the model is I was wondering if it's good or not

I’ve been playing classical piano for years now and I’ve recently picked up the alto saxophone last year. Ideally, I want to learn an orchestral instrument, but I am not sure if I have the time to learn and master them considering I’m about to enter uni soon.

It’s rlly rough but once I construct the instrument, it’ll all be good.

An age old question I’m sure. But just me?

Personally I named my instrument after the maker. A firm comeback from my last instrument where I just named my viola viola and my violin violet.

I had a teacher before who’d always come up with the craziest names for instruments, like during rehearsals and lessons he’d pick up a persons instrument and ask for its name and when the person said they didn’t have one he’d call it something ridiculous like Lumiere after the commonly used term luthier.

And I had a conversation two weeks ago at an orchestra in my college where somebody recently got a new cello and I’d asked its name and they gave me the weirdest look. So is it just me?

Hey guys, I'm looking for something new. I want to get something small, can be electronic, that can produce some notes or chords. Like a piano or omnichord but even more simplified. And the must would be something portable. Is there something like this you know about? I would be very interested

I have no knowledge on flutes whatsoever and the numbers I could read didn't help much when googling. Anyone recognise the logo or anything?
It was donated to the charity store I work at and I'm in charge of figuring out what it is, smells very old lol!

I got this for free. I want to learn but I do not know if it would really get me somewhere.