Choosing an Instrument

Hearing is Disbelieving. Primer to choosing your instrument.

An instrument is extremely personal. Extremely.
 
When the business suits ask me what equipment I use, I tell them the same synth that Paul Mcartney and Stevie Wonder use, The same libraries that are used in Hollywood, and so on and so forth.
 
But let’s face it, the reason Paul McCartney uses a Yamaha synth is because Yamaha pay him to use it.
When choosing drums for example, don’t even bother listening to the drum sounds on modern albums of your favorite band. Drums sounds are literally replaced in the editing room. The album may say Joe Shmoe uses and abuses Tama drums, but you are probably hearing 6 different snare drum sounds from all different kits mixed together to get the album sound they want.
 
So how do you go about choosing the sound you want?
Simple.
 
Blindfolded is ideal, but probably impractical so start by slowly internalizing what I’ve just said. Then go into your music shop, sit at a kit or grab a guitar and play it.
Finding your instrument is falling in love. You’ll simply know it when you have that sound that is you.  You will probably gravitate to the instrument with the big name, but to hell with it. Relax, enjoy yourself. Play them! Don’t even analyze them or think. Just play them, feel them. When you feel that you are lost in your own world with nothing around you, you’ll know you’ve found it.
 
For me personally, I’m sold on the Mapex brand drum kit sound. It’s a lesser know company, but they just sound beautiful to me. However this kit might not sound beautiful with you playing it. It’s a symbiosis of the player and the instrument. And that’s why you need to experience it.
 
And don’t be afraid to even mix and match… with cymbals, strings, or whatever.
 
So to put it in a sentence for you: “Don’t choose your instrument, let your instrument choose you.”