So many instruments to choose from! Where do I begin?

The following advice is aimed at folks new to this 'people music'. After long and careful consideration, we've formed certain opinions about what a beginner might want to think about when wondering how to approach playing by ear, and in particular, which instrument to play. I emphasize the word opinions; these aren't facts. Some (or many?) may disagree with us, so do get a 'second opinion', mull it over, and then go for it.

Singing: Your voice is the instrument you were born with. Thus you have a great advantage by using it, not only for the sheer joy of singing, but as a stepping stone to playing intuitively. We personally hold singing to be the quickest and simplest path to playing by ear. Sure, you can learn to play an instrument without ever singing, but by ear? And as quickly? Unlikely, unless you're unusually talented musically (or a child). So, make singing a first priority. For that, the guitar is ideal. You can easily learn a few chords and strum the basic rhythm to accompany your song. Strumming as you sing helps you lock down the beat, which is so essential to music. Next, listening to the harmony of the chord played on the guitar will help you pitch your voice where it needs to be to sing the melody.

Guitar: Everyone we know who plays this music can play guitar, even though many of them love to play another instrument as a rule. That tells you something right there. The same cannot be said about any other instrument. Thus, we deem the guitar as the foundation for this 'people music'. If you are an adult beginner of average musical talent and wish to sing, make the guitar the first instrument you learn. At least learn the basic half-dozen chords, the basic strum, and rudimentary picking. This will prepare you for any instrument you may be drawn to play in the long term. Note: Young kids don't have the same difficulties with music that adults may have, so any instrument they're drawn to may be the best place to start. The fiddle suits the very young well since their hands can navigate the 'fret board' with ease, and their youthful flexibility and adaptability are a big plus in bringing the bowing hand to life.

Dobro: Physically speaking, the Dobro is easier to play than the other five instruments in certain ways. It is open tuned, so as long as you're in the correct chord, any string you strike sounds good. The chords are made by simply placing a steel bar over the appropriate fret; arthritic fingers don't need to make chords. The Dobro is played with finger picks like a banjo. However, picking is done in a straight-forward way—following the melody closely—and so avoids some of the difficulties inherent of the banjo. On the other hand, it doesn't lend itself to strumming backup for singing as well as the guitar.

Fiddle: Both fiddle and mandolin are extremely well suited for playing melody; their smaller size permits them to be tuned much 'simpler', making them easier to play intuitively, in any key, than any of the other instruments. The guitar and banjo require the use of a capo to keep things simple and 'organized'; on the fiddle or mandolin you can just shift your fingers. The challenge with the fiddle lies not in it's lack of frets but in the use of a bow. The most distinctive aspect of the fiddle is its soulful voice. It, more than any other string instrument, sings.

Mandolin: Having the same tuning as the fiddle makes the mandolin a natural compliment to that instrument. Playing one helps with the other, we've found. You might say that the mandolin incorporates some of the best features of the guitar and fiddle. The fretted strings and use of a pick give it a distinctive rhythm backup role in this music. Because of the simple, 'rational' tuning, the instrumental 'breaks' can really fly around the fret board.

Bass: The bass plays a very subtle yet profound role in the ensemble playing of this music (playing it alone would not be satisfying). It gives a bottom beat which supports all the other players. That you really notice it when it's missing from a jam is a testament to its importance.

Banjo: The open tuning gives the banjo an advantage in that, like the Dobro, you can pick any string and sound good as long as you're in the right chord. Nevertheless, the three finger banjo picking style may require more talent than the other string instruments. Getting the thumb and the two fingers to switch back and forth between rolling in rhythm and picking the melody without missing a beat takes extra coordination. The 'flailing' and 'clawhammer' styles of playing have a rhythm similar to the other instruments, although they involve other techniques as well.