Hello to everyone and a problem with playback sound

One step forward and now frustrated 

not really 100% sure. I am very unsteady on my feet with all of this. I fumble my way through. I know about being frustrated. first, in Reaper Preferences, do you have everything copacetic? as in, Audio devices, choosing ASIO, and then specifically the Focusrite drivers. then maybe for the input and output........not sure now, going to have a look...... its a step by step thing, though.........lots of people here are friendly and knowledgeable.......hang in there..........this stuff tales time.......but is so worth it, once you get there......... trying to help. apologies if I make mistakes..... on Reaper Preferences Audio Device page, after the ASIO and then ASIO Driver, is correctly selected, for my settings I have for the inputs, enable inputs is checked and then first is Analog 1, last is Analog 2. output range says first Analog 1, last Analog 2. now, have you checked out Reaper's Routing Matrix? it can be VERY helpful, once you understand it.

Routing screenshots 

Danke whiteaxxxe! I am interested in working with Midi but that is a while away for the time being, but I will have a look at your suggestions re Cubase. I still scribble on staff paper as it's my background from the cradle so Midi is fascinating to me. Maybe your suggestion would have saved us newbies from all the googling to search for what is midi!

Welcome Nisi. Midi is a protocol designed in the mid 80s by which computers can interface with music and musical instruments. It's just a series of 0s and 1s, in order to actually make things sound you need to load a virtual instrument in the FX bus on your track, and get midi input from somewhere (e.g., a midi keyboard). I have a classical music background as well, took me a while to find around this stuff but once you get going it's a hell of a lot of fun.

right on. I am indeed trying to help. let me say again though, I am no guru. ok, that said, I still try. you need to have the right Focusrite drivers on your computer. do you know if you do? you certainly do want to be using them, instead of asio4all (I have read this many times). one thing, if all else fails here, I super recommend contacting Focusrite support. my experiences with them have been superb.