How do you know if you're musically inclined?

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DVad3r

DVad3r

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2005
5,340
3
81
Hey guys,

Just wondering if there is a way to tell if people are musically inclined or not? My dad said he had a guitar when he was young and tried playing it but he was never musically inclined...unlike some of his friends who had a talent for it. Are there any online tests etc?

I've never taken music nor played an instrument, but I'm curious if I fail at music naturally or if I took up something would I be good at it?
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
58,171
8,440
126
You just have to play around with it and see how you do. I've fooled with several instruments over the years, and I just don't get it; I'm not a musician. The only test you can take is to pick something up, and try it for awhile. You may even suck, but as long as you enjoy it, that's all that matters. Be sure to try a few instruments you're interested in. You may take to one thing more than something else.
 
guyver01

guyver01

Lifer
Sep 25, 2000
22,135
5
61
DVad3r said:
Just wondering if there is a way to tell if people are musically inclined or not?

My dad said he had a guitar when he was young and tried playing it but he was never musically inclined
Click to expand...

DVad3r said:
My dad said he had a guitar when he was young and tried playing it but he was never musically inclined
Click to expand...

DVad3r said:
tried playing it but he was never musically inclined
Click to expand...

DVad3r said:
tried playing it
Click to expand...

does this make it easier for ya?
 
TecHNooB

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
7,458
1
76
If you don't like to practice, you're not musically inclined. If you can't tell when you're making mistakes or if you make a ton of mistakes while playing a song and like the sound you're making, you are not musically inclined.
 
Nik

Nik

Lifer
Jun 5, 2006
16,101
2
56
TecHNooB said:
If you don't like to practice, you're not musically inclined.
Click to expand...

Entirely false. I absolutely hated practicing piano and violin, but I picked them up very fast. I picked up a pair of drumsticks and LOVE to practice. I am musically inclined but that doesn't mean I enjoy every instrument I can play (and play well).
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
58,171
8,440
126
Try penny whistle. They're super cheap, and you can make some great music with them. It's one of the few instruments where pros play the same $6 instrument as hacks(but you can spend much more for a custom whistle).

Here's a good one you can start with...

http://www.thewhistleshop.com/catalog/whistles/inexpensive/Clarke/Sweetone/sweetone.htm

If you get motivated, you can even make your own. I used to make them out of copper pipe.

Edit:
Penny whisle being played...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP7GH_tLQds
 
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TecHNooB

TecHNooB

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
7,458
1
76
Nik said:
Entirely false. I absolutely hated practicing piano and violin, but I picked them up very fast. I picked up a pair of drumsticks and LOVE to practice. I am musically inclined but that doesn't mean I enjoy every instrument I can play (and play well).
Click to expand...

Have you played in competition?
 
Cheeseplug

Cheeseplug

Senior member
Dec 16, 2008
430
0
0
Sit them down at a piano and see if they can match pitches on the keyboard with their singing voice. That can tell a lot about someone's musical ability.
 
jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Cheeseplug said:
Sit them down at a piano and see if they can match pitches on the keyboard with their singing voice. That can tell a lot about someone's musical ability.
Click to expand...

I can't really sing, but I was pretty good when I was playing trumpet - started in 8th grade, and was going for All-State entering my sophomore year of high school. We moved and I didn't really pursue it further...thinking about picking it up again though.

Just don't ask me to sing. :p
 
O

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
36
91
If you like "Lady" Gaga, you are automatically eliminated.



Except that paparazzi song, damn that is catchy.
 
E

esun

Platinum Member
Nov 12, 2001
2,214
0
0
Can you carry a tune? And actually be in tune? I have friends that cannot sing in tune for their lives. If I hum a pitch they can't match it. You don't have to be a great singer or something, but just gauge if your ears can hear correct pitches and your ear-brain-voice feedback loop works.
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,329
30,357
146
DVad3r said:
Hey guys,

Just wondering if there is a way to tell if people are musically inclined or not? My dad said he had a guitar when he was young and tried playing it but he was never musically inclined...unlike some of his friends who had a talent for it. Are there any online tests etc?

I've never taken music nor played an instrument, but I'm curious if I fail at music naturally or if I took up something would I be good at it?
Click to expand...


really?
a question like this...

....seriously?

are you fucking kidding me?


I will never feel comfortable leaving the world to this helpless, inbred, community of worthless malcontents bred and raised through the internet that have no concept of life.
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
You know by feedback. I was naturally an artist when I won awards in art class and everyone commented positive on my drawings in school. I sucked ass at music when my friends and musicians there told me to GTFO the mic at karaoke. What are other people telling you?
 
M

mav451

Senior member
Jan 31, 2006
626
0
76
Are we treating inclination as a word meaning talent level? As Nik emphasized, if you have natural talent, you won't need to practice as much as less gifted individuals.
I will also emphasize that starting on the guitar is probably much harder than starting on the piano. Chords on the piano are easy - guitar, you need finger strength + finger length. If you have short fingers you will have a harder time, sorry.
 
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N

nanette1985

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 2005
4,209
2
0
As a former music teacher - some people have natural, obvious musical chops. Ironically, many of those people do not do well as musicians because they often don't bother learning how to practice, work, learn music theory etc. They only do the stuff that comes easily to them. Of course, many naturally talented people go on to be incredibly talented musicians - with practice.

Many totally non-musical people find that with some teaching, they turn out to be nicely musical. One of my former piano students is now an opera tenor - when he started as a resistant and untalented piano beginner, he was as non-musical as you could get. Took a few years but once it started to click, he was hooked. It took him years and years of theory and ear training to sing in tune, on pitch.

And there are some people who just aren't musical at all.

If it matters to you, find someone you click with and have them help you. See what happens.
 
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