Re: Any Guitar Players, ADD is an up hill battle

[Patte Rosebank]

I’ve read that people with ADHD often find single-note instruments much easier to play than those that involve chords. Which explains why I had a hell of a time trying to learn piano and guitar.

I think the issue is that, with chords, you’re trying to do several things at once: read the music, figure out the chord, and finger the chord with your left hand, while doing something else with your other hand. In the case of a keyboard instrument, you’re doing all that chord stuff with your left hand, while playing the melody (more chords!) with your right.

That’s a lot of processes to juggle at once. And then, just try adding singing!

I played clarinet when I was in grades 7 & 8, and I remember it was very easy for me. I think it was because it involved only playing single notes, not chords, and both hands worked together for the fingering. In fact, the hardest parts were figuring out how to make the reed vibrate (because you have to blow into it a certain way), and getting the breathing right.

Singing, on the other hand, has always come very easily to me. Except singing a harmony line. I have a hell of a time picking that line out of the blend and hanging onto it, which is why I always sing either solo or soprano line.

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