Thread: Why do you play an instrument and a musician?

Well I'm about to start learning the guitar and I've played many instruments in the past (piano, clarinet, baritone saxophone and bass guitar) and I was just wondering what your motivation was to play?

My current motivation is that I want to start a psychobilly/rockabilly band and since I can't afford an upright bass, I'll learn guitar. I'd also eventually like to be a rhythm guitarist for a thrash metal band.

As for why I want to be a musician: I just love music. I never plan on it being a full time thing, that is left for being a therapist and college professor, but I'd like to form a band and just play and then eventually record stuff and play live shows on weekends and during the summer. I'm definitly not in it for the money and I really wouldn't care if it was a losing money deal, as long as it wasn't a lot of money.

So why do you play your instrument and why would you want to be a musician?

well i first started playing guitar in like the 6th grade when this kid was like hey were gonna make a band and you gonna play guitar, so i played this old guitar my dad had in the basement and i learned a few songs

i want to be a musician cause that basically has to be the coolest job in the world

i play the drums, have for 9 years. i started because i thought it was the coolest instrument in the school band. then when i realized i was good at it i did it for fun and to impress people. then i formed my first band and played a couple shows at my middle school and i got hooked on playing the drums for people and for myself. i have since been in 4 real bands and been payed a couple of times to play at bars and stuff, as well as been in countless school concert bands, jazz bands, whatever else bands. ive played more live shows than i can count...but not with a "real" band. and ive been recorded dozens of times... but not for "real".


i do it for 2 reasons. for creative artistic blah blah blah expression because its something i can do well and i have my own style. i can express me in the way i play. i also do it as therapy for my existence. when im angry or sad or bored or depressed or neglected or wired or caged or whatever i can hit my drums as hard as i want for hours and nobody says anything cuz its music not destruction. playing the drums gets me through so much aggression because i can just play it away. proof of its effectiveness was shown this summer because i didnt play drums for 3 months straight (almost) and it was "coincidentally" (probly not) the worst summer ive ever had.

Here we go. I play guitar because I managed to learn how to play it well enough to play some of the songs I like. I've never had any ambitions to play for others though, even though I have in school. I like to think that someone who plays music can better appreciate music but that's probably false.

Originally Posted by Ryukin

i play the drums, have for 9 years. i started because i thought it was the coolest instrument in the school band. then when i realized i was good at it i did it for fun and to impress people. then i formed my first band and played a couple shows at my middle school and i got hooked on playing the drums for people and for myself. i have since been in 4 real bands and been payed a couple of times to play at bars and stuff, as well as been in countless school concert bands, jazz bands, whatever else bands. ive played more live shows than i can count...but not with a "real" band. and ive been recorded dozens of times... but not for "real".


i do it for 2 reasons. for creative artistic blah blah blah expression because its something i can do well and i have my own style. i can express me in the way i play. i also do it as therapy for my existence. when im angry or sad or bored or depressed or neglected or wired or caged or whatever i can hit my drums as hard as i want for hours and nobody says anything cuz its music not destruction. playing the drums gets me through so much aggression because i can just play it away. proof of its effectiveness was shown this summer because i didnt play drums for 3 months straight (almost) and it was "coincidentally" (probly not) the worst summer ive ever had.

You could also add that it can keep you in good physical shape. I was flipping through TV channels (I don't have cable so there aren't many channels) and I saw that the Ellen Degeneres show was on and Tommy Lee (from Motley Crue) was on and Ellen asked him how he stayed in shape and he told her drumming. He took one of those step counters that you can buy and you put it on your waist or leg and it tells you how many steps you have taken, well Tommy put it on his foot for a gig and it was 2 1/2 hours playing time and after the show he looked at it and it was like he walked 3 1/2 miles. I believe that out of the most traditional music instruments, drums is the most physical demanding (when you have a set, not just a single snare or bass drum)

I myself toy around with music because there are certain ideas I have that haven't been done. My big one is writing a concept album based on the TV show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. I loved the intro and had a few ideas for some awesome songs (like a bass vs. guitar solo which would symbolize Ares vs Hercules). I would try to get Kevin Sorbo to narrarate the album. I am also with enraged. You don't need to be a musician to appreciate music. I just think learning something on an instrument or trying to creates an even deeper love for the music.

My reason for being a musician has always been just to pass the time. It's only been in the past few years that I've actually wanted to get serious with whatever instrument I choose to play and work with other people. But before that, it was just fun to listen to a song and try to play along.

I do however think that being a musician and knowing a lot about music as opposed to being a casual listener helps when listening to some kinds of music. I used to hate Dream Theater's complex sections until I actually started learning about different time signatures and all of that shit. But a lot of non musicians do not hear music in those complex pieces, they hear noise.

Originally Posted by xxxSxIxNxxx

But a lot of non musicians do not hear music in those complex pieces, they hear noise.

Anyone who has ever picked up a guitar and tried to play something should be able to appreciate the complexity of such songs.

I play guitar because I enjoy it and for no other reason. Half the time I don't even use an amp when I play guitar, just play it how it is and work on stuff.

It is a release for me, I can get lost in it and tap into a part of myself that no other instrument could ever possibly do.

I play drums because I enjoy it, can express myself, etc. But what I truly love is jamming with other people; spontaneous improvisation style. Jamming through the tough times then finding that killer groove is ultimate reward to the max (OMEGA!). It also takes restraint, to play in a group, as a whole, taking it down a notch so everyone is just... in the zone. It taps into that primal part that loves the feeling. That's mostly it.

Been playing for about 2.5 years. I'm in college now, living in the dorms, so I don't have the set (not enough room, too loud), and I can't afford an electric one. I want to learn how to play guitar, but we'll see.

i play guitar so that people can go "that sounds fucking weird as hell." thats pretty rewarding.

Dude, we should jam sometime. I'll be home for Thanksgiving. We should keep in touch.

i write music for expression of emotion. whether it be humorous, sad, happy, or angry. often in the same song.

I only have had flute lessons and I hated them because...
A. I am a-musical
B. the flutes I had were broken, dehydrated or false or both
C. Lousy tunes coming from good flutes
D. Asshole teacher
E. I came in halfway in the year. Everybody could read notes, I still don't.