Electric Guest is comprised of Asa Taccone and Cornbread (legally Matthew Compton). Asa plays several instruments, Cornbread nearly a dozen (including, to be fair, triangle and tambourine). Both began making music from a very young age, both initially self-taught.
Cornbread began on the drums, recalling life at 13, 'I wanted to learn every metal album that I owned: Metallica, Metal Church, Testament. I eventually started taking lessons from this guy that worked in the lumber department of Lowes.' He quickly became adept on the drums and toured nationwide with various bands until he tired of the dirty gypsy lifestyle as a tour drummer, settling in Los Angeles to work on music for commercials and movies.
Asa's start was even less conventional, buying his first keyboard while still in elementary school for 10 dollars from the kid who lived down the street.