Thinking about buying real instruments

[CYKLVM]

I have Komplete collectors edition, but I'm honestly thinking about buying 2 real guitars, an electronic drum kit, and a bass. I kind of feel buyers remorse with Collectors edition since I realized in the end that I really do need the real deal of learning and playing the instruments in order to be satisfied. I wonder if I should even keep the kontakt libraries installed

[sjm]

If you get an e-drum kit, those drum libraries are just more sounds to trigger.

Never been a fan of guitar libraries; anything chord based tends to sound fake, and the effort it takes to program them well is better spent learning to play a real guitar. It works out to be way more efficient over the long run.

It's a lot easier to fake bass, as long as it's not too central to the music. It's still way more fun to play the part live on a real bass though.

There's a lot more instruments in the ce than just drums, guitar and bass. You will never learn to play them all so it's not like the collection is worthless.

[CYKLVM]

If you get an e-drum kit, those drum libraries are just more sounds to trigger.

Never been a fan of guitar libraries; anything chord based tends to sound fake, and the effort it takes to program them well is better spent learning to play a real guitar. It works out to be way more efficient over the long run.

It's a lot easier to fake bass, as long as it's not too central to the music. It's still way more fun to play the part live on a real bass though.

There's a lot more instruments in the ce than just drums, guitar and bass. You will never learn to play them all so it's not like the collection is worthless.

Good points
I overthink

[Cuauhtli]

Unless you need the drive space you might as well keep them I think. Maybe they have some strum patterns, etc. you like that you can reference for use with your real instruments.

[Zeisner]

Before buying any physical instruments, invest in acoustics.

[zerocrossing]

I think it’s great to play a traditional instrument. I started playing guitar and I still do. I love it, but be prepared for a steep learning curve, and a life of practice. It doesn’t take much time to get rusty. Maybe it’s my age. Still, well worth it.

I don’t keep many guitar libraries installed, except for a few bass libraries that are very different than my Steinberger. I might install a nylon string if I need it, as I don’t have a decent one, and that’s not my style of playing.

As for a drum machine? I have an Elektron Analog RYTM, but I don’t really use it much. I find software to be better for my way of working. It does sound great, though.

[mixyguy2]

I have Komplete collectors edition, but I'm honestly thinking about buying 2 real guitars, an electronic drum kit, and a bass. I kind of feel buyers remorse with Collectors edition since I realized in the end that I really do need the real deal of learning and playing the instruments in order to be satisfied. I wonder if I should even keep the kontakt libraries installed

If you don't play of them currently, be prepared for A TON of time and effort invested to learn each to any level of even modest competence (unless you're gifted that way).

[felis]

Learning an instrument takes a lot of time and effort, but it's well worth it.
Also, don't try to take on everything at once, or you'll probably get frustrated and give up.

[Papuzzo]

Mozart learned to play multiple instruments early on and that made him a true musician, not just another piano player. I think learning as many instruments as you can will never hurt you and may open your mind to think better as a composer or a producer.

[Seluvis]

Mozart learned to play multiple instruments early on and that made him a true musician, not just another piano player. I think learning as many instruments as you can will never hurt you and may open your mind to think better as a composer or a producer.

Mozart was obviously a genius, for mere mortals a better strategy might be to completely master one instrument. Jack of all trades vs a master of one.

[Papuzzo]

Mozart learned to play multiple instruments early on and that made him a true musician, not just another piano player. I think learning as many instruments as you can will never hurt you and may open your mind to think better as a composer or a producer.

Mozart was obviously a genius, for mere mortals a better strategy might be to completely master one instrument. Jack of all trades vs a master of one.

People are free to do whatever they want. If one's goal is to play Liszt flawlessly, there is not enough time in one's life to also get proficient at guitar or drums. If one's aspirations are to play pop/country music, it doesn't require the level of talent to play Liszt. I often suggest to guitar players to learn the basics of playing piano. That comes in handy so many times. One doesn't have to become a virtuoso at either one, but knowing how to play both keys and guitar is a very valuable combination.

[Seluvis]

People are free to do whatever they want. If one's goal is to play Liszt flawlessly, there is not enough time in one's life to also get proficient at guitar or drums. If one's aspirations are to play pop/country music, it doesn't require the level of talent to play Liszt. I often suggest to guitar players to learn the basics of playing piano. That comes in handy so many times. One doesn't have to become a virtuoso at either one, but knowing how to play both keys and guitar is a very valuable combination.

Of course people are free to do whatever they want, I wouldn't presume otherwise. Where I disagree with you is that I believe if you dedicate enough time you will become proficient.
I am not saying that practice makes perfect but it goes a very long way if you are not a deity.

[foosnark]

I like having a bass guitar, though I'm very far from being a good player. I can noodle on it, and what comes out is different than what I'd do on a keyboard, grid, sequencer etc. It's also another sound source that isn't an oscillator or sample, even if what I'm playing is very simple and boring outside the processing and the context of the rest of the music. It's also just fun.

Also learning to play an instrument helps you appreciate how to write for it, if that's your thing. (Personally when I play bass in my music, I want it to sound like another synth part or a strange hybrid.)

I also feel like the hand drumming and taiko that I did was an influence of some kind, even though I'm mostly making drone and ambient-ish stuff Although having performed in a taiko ensemble for a couple of years, every single taiko sample library feels deeply unsatisfying to me. I want the slap of the hinoki cypress bachi over the top of the earthshaking odaiko, that perfect shell resonance from the shime-daiko, the sweat, the muscle strain, the blisters, the awkward costume and the director yelling at me about "noodle arms"... wait, maybe not the whole experience. I figure that is how guitar players feel about guitar sample libraries...

[Papuzzo]

I like having a bass guitar, though I'm very far from being a good player. I can noodle on it, and what comes out is different than what I'd do on a keyboard, grid, sequencer etc. It's also another sound source that isn't an oscillator or sample, even if what I'm playing is very simple and boring outside the processing and the context of the rest of the music. It's also just fun.

Also learning to play an instrument helps you appreciate how to write for it, if that's your thing. (Personally when I play bass in my music, I want it to sound like another synth part or a strange hybrid.)

I also feel like the hand drumming and taiko that I did was an influence of some kind, even though I'm mostly making drone and ambient-ish stuff Although having performed in a taiko ensemble for a couple of years, every single taiko sample library feels deeply unsatisfying to me. I want the slap of the hinoki cypress bachi over the top of the earthshaking odaiko, that perfect shell resonance from the shime-daiko, the sweat, the muscle strain, the blisters, the awkward costume and the director yelling at me about "noodle arms"... wait, maybe not the whole experience. I figure that is how guitar players feel about guitar sample libraries...

The problem we keyboardists have is we usually play bass lines like a keyboardist. We also play drums like a keyboardist, and guitar parts like a keyboardist. Bass players play bass lines like bassists. The bass is a completely different instrument whose technique requires a different approach. I learned to play bass 10 years ago and am glad I did. I also learned to play the guitar early on. While my main instrument is the piano and synths, it is so much more rewarding to be able to just pick up a guitar and do things that are almost impossible on a keyboard. Unison bends, for example. Playing slap bass is cool and very difficult on a keyboard. I guess it's being able to choose the right tool for the job.

[mothra]

The problem we keyboardists have is we usually play bass lines like a keyboardist. We also play drums like a keyboardist, and guitar parts like a keyboardist. Bass players play bass lines like bassists. The bass is a completely different instrument whose technique requires a different approach. I learned to play bass 10 years ago and am glad I did. I also learned to play the guitar early on. While my main instrument is the piano and synths, it is so much more rewarding to be able to just pick up a guitar and do things that are almost impossible on a keyboard. Unison bends, for example. Playing slap bass is cool and very difficult on a keyboard. I guess it's being able to choose the right tool for the job.

Being in 'real' bands for years as my 'main gig', this was a very frustrating thing for me. Drummers were a dime a dozen, but man, finding a bass player that isn't a guitar player just trying to join a band is so difficult. You're not the lead instrument this time, quit trying to plays riffs along with my parts and actually go learn to play it properly. This isn't Slayer, listen to the drums and do what a bass is supposed to be doing!!