Musical instruments

[TZ]

Do you play one? If so what instrument and why did you pick it? Or alternatively if you had the chance to learn to play one what would it be?

I can answer all three questions..I used to play the viola. I liked string instruments but cello was too big and too many people play violin..so I went for something different and too me, much more mello sounding..
However, If I could learn one..It would be drums..My stepfather plays drums and used to be in a rock band and I was very impressed by his skill and found it fascinating...

[Iggo]

1. Yes.

Guitar.

I chose guitar because the girls I liked liked guys who played guitar. Never did a plan come together more successfully.

If I had it to do over again, I dunno...probably drums. Nobody rocks harder than drummers.

[TZ]

2. Wow...that didn't take long..

I know there are a lot of guitar players here and I was wondering who would fess up that they choose guitar cause girls dig it..Props to you for admitting it...:-)

[BeachBaby]

26. Interesting.

I've always had a thing for drummers - and it was the guitar players who were always standing in my way so I couldn't see him. ;)

And you're right - take the drums out of a song, and feet stop tappin' and heads stop boppin'.

[LanternWaste]

3. I'd love to purchase another Bass Clarinet....

I'd love to purchase another Bass Clarinet, but even used they're still a bit too pricy for me right now. It's one of my small dreams that I've put on hiatus until there's a bit more money.

But sheesh-- I really do love the deep, rich, mellow sound it makes!

The old line I used in high school to the questions, "how did you get so many patches and get to first chair region and state...?"
"Well, seeing how there's only five bass clarinet in the world, it's not that difficult!"

[vi5]

4. Guitar

I've played guitar since I was 13 (I'm 38) and still play regularly (although not in any band capacity). I'm self taught on drums and bass.

If I had to do it all over again I'd have picked up bass earlier and gotten really good at it at a younger age since it's a less finesse type instrument than guitar. I'm a decent guitarist but never was going to be great. If I had picked up up earlier I could have been an excellent bassist and bassists are in much greater demand than guitarists (especially mediocre guitarists).

I would have liked to be really good at drums but my sense of multiple simultaneous limb movement is just not cut out for being a really good drummer.

[skygazer]

5. I don't play any instruments really

As a teenager, I played some keyboards, self-taught and by ear because I never learned to read music but not enough to consider myself a musician by any means.

I really admire people who can make music. It's a wonderful gift.

If I was to learn an instrument, I'd want to play either drums or bass guitar. I really love both. To me, they're what hold the music together.

[tonkatoy57]

6. Clarinet

My undergrad and graduate degrees are in music performance.

It started off as my job, but there aren't that many orchestras in the U.S. that have openings and pay a living wage.

Unfortunately, I had severe addictions to eating and living in standard housing and severe aversions to teaching 10 year old girls with no desire to learn and bad attitudes. So, I now have a job that at best is a tedious, soul sucking hell on earth.

[LanternWaste]

9. I'd always thought that most orchestras paid decently.

I'd always thought that most orchestras paid decently. Just an impression I'd had-- nothing going on any real facts on my part.

I can only imagine the stuff you could do with your clarinet seeing as how you have a graduate degree in music-- once I'd finally gotten around to learning circle breathing and the Circle of Fifths, high school was over and I never looked at another piece of sheet music again (mores the pity).

My hat is off to you! :hi:

[tonkatoy57]

12. A common misconception

There are about 20-25 orchestras that pay a salary commensurate to the members education and skill level. And for a wind or brass player, 20 to 30 years may go by without an position opening up.

The remainder of the orchestras are short season and/or per service organizations.

Even for a regional or per service orchestra there may be 200-300 people who audition for a wind or brass position, yet conservatories and music schools continue to churn out highly skilled players for a market that doesn't really exist.

Little known useless tidbit of information: The city of Berlin spends more on the arts than the entire U.S.

[harmonicon]

67. if it's really what you want to do, hang in there

Maybe if orchestral repertoire is your thing, getting a doctorate isn't all that useful, but I had two degrees in music before going for mine, and like you had some shitty job, or no job for years at a time. Now I'm in a doctoral program and am super happy with how things are in my life. I don't really have any illusions about getting a good job when I'm done in 2 - 3 years, but for now it's a lot better than working whatever crap job I could get with music degrees. I do know some people who make a living doing classical music performance, but it is hard.

[regularguy]

7. Benn playing guitar for over 30 years.

I just picked one up and knew that I was meant to play this thing. I'm not saying I'm that great, but it came to me very naturally. And being the best guitar player in your high school (especially in the 70s) means that girls like you and tough guys not only refrain from kicking your ass, but actually share their drugs with you! Now that I'm a grown up Dad and all that, I keep playing simply because I love music and because it's fun to do something that you're good at. My wife also plays, so it's nice to be able to jam together.

[Throd]

8. One day I'm gonna buy some vibraphones on a whim, they just sound so cool.

[SteppingRazor]

10. I play the guitar, and I do so because my parents gave me one when I was in 7th grade...

I would like to learn to play piano. Fiddle would be cool too.

[lukasahero]

11. Lots of answers

Piano: my parents bought one when I was 5 and my sister got to take lessons. I wanted to be like her so it wasn't long before I had convinced them to let me take lessons too. My sister quit a year later, I went on to study it in college.

Guitar: started in high school because you can't carry a piano to the park.

Bass guitar: started in high school because the jazz band needed a bass player.

Violin: studied in college but I sucked.

Cello: studied in college and I loved it. I was ok but couldn't afford to buy one so I no longer play.

Trombone: studied in college and I was actually pretty good given that I had to turn the instrument sideways to reach an "F".

Synths/keyboards: started in college to make money. :)

Can't make a sound out of a woodwind instrument and while I can play most percussive instruments that have "keys", drums require a coordination I cannot muster.

[Tyler Durden]

13. Classical piano

Started at 5, tore my right hand to pieces at 10, 2 years plastic surgery and rehab, not enough dexterity to do much with the hand.

Oh well.

[TZ]

29. Thats so sad....

:hug:

[MountainLaurel]

14. Flute

The story of how I ended up with it: At the end of our 5th grade year people who wanted to play in the band picked the instruments they wanted to play the following year (when band was first offered) one night when the music store rep was at the school to sign us up for leasing and give us a chance to try different instruments. I had wanted to play drums, but our band teacher would only allow two people to sign up each year. By the time my mom and I got there (had to wait until she got home from work), two boys had already picked drums. Looking at my other options, I hated the way that the clarinet reed buzzed against my lip and liked the peaceful way flutists looked in the poster on the band room wall. So, despite my band teacher's protests, I chose flute.

[AllegroRondo]

15. Ive played many

I started on bassoon at age 9. Then went on to play with the US Army Band.
While I was in, I also learned sax, clarinet, and some percussion.
Learned enough piano to pass music theory class (which means not much)
and started teaching myself classical guitar a couple years ago.

[mitchum]

16. Guitar, keyboards, lap steel, theremin, dulcimer, tamboura

[Aristus]

17. I played the tuba. How nerdy is that?

I started out on drums as a kid. But when I was in junior high, the band had way too many percussionists, and a weak low brass section. The band director asked me to give the tuba a try. So I did, and quickly zoomed to first chair (now, THERE is an accomplishment to boast about! :+ ).So I played the tuba from then on until graduation.

[Zornhau]

70. Hey, I was first tuba too

:D I'm also slowly learning trumpet. I'd like to learn guitar, but I just haven't been motivated to really put in the effort :(

[EnviroBat]

18. I LOVE DRUMS! I WANT TO PLAY THE DRUMS!!!!

what?

[LynzM]

19. Violin, piano, voice, feet, banjo

I played violin from age 5-14 on a regular basis. Got to high school and we didn't have an orchestra, so I took up singing pretty seriously at that point, and learned to play enough piano to accompany myself with chords.

Feet is because I'm learning appalachian-style clogging, which is basically learning to use your feet as a percussive instrument. :)

Banjo I just started a couple months ago, because I enjoy folk music, I like the energy that a banjo has and the diversity of music you can play with it, and I have the opportunity to learn from a great, local folk artist! :bounce:

[DaydreaminHippie68]

20. I play

some guiatr and I'm good at bongos...yes i play bongos...I think I want learn to play the sitar also.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

21. I played the cello from 5th to 10th grade

It was suggested to me in 5th grade, as they needed cellists in the orchestra. I bought one on eBay a couple of years ago (just a cheapo) - need to get back into playing it. Right now it's in our "music room" (where Mr. DTBK plays his harmonium and sings ghazals).

[Greyskye]

22. King of Weird-Ass instruments

I got a late start instrumentally, although I started singing around age 5.

I tried guitar with no success in grade school. But after I got out of college, I started hanging around with a disreputable crowd - musicians! In self defense, I started looking for alternatives. Now, I've been in 2 different bands - one a Renaissance Dance band, and the other a Celtic Folk band.

Instruments I've played/owned:

Blues Harp
Bowed Psaltery
Penny whistle
Recorder
Appalachian (lap) dulcimer (acoustic)
Solid body electric dulcimer (custom)
Bodhran (Irish frame drum)
Electric bass
Conga drums
Selmer Bb clarinet (wedding gift from father-in-law, who had his own big-band pre-WWII.)

Currently playing:
Lyon's C clarinet - I LOVE this instrument. I take it to music festivals to play at the after-hours music jams in the campgrounds. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyQdcCa_qEU
Bodhran

[illumn8d]

23. Everything?

I play guitar, bass, drums, piano, trumpet (all brass actually), and banjo.

I have never had any luck with woodwinds.

[MilesColtrane]

24. .

Clarinet at 12 yrs. old-picked it because it looked more interesting than the other instruments. I think it had to do with the black wood and asymmetrical, contrasting silver keys.

Tenor saxophone at 13-picked because I wanted to be in the junior high stage band. (which excluded clarinet players)

Started playing my Mom's guitar about that time also.

Oboe-picked for me when one of the school band members went on to high school.

Bass guitar at 14-picked for me by high school band director for the jazz band. Also started playing bass in a garage band.

Played my first gig about 6-8 months after that. It was in a place called the "Mad Dog Saloon". We split 20 bucks 3 ways.

French horn-again picked for me because of graduation attrition.

Studied music in college and began playing the upright bass and piano.

During this time I was also playing gigs. One grueling stretch that lasted for 3 months, I was playing a 6 night a week gig until 2am in a hotel bar 40 miles away, driving back, then getting up for 8:30am classes.

Eventually passed the barrier exams on both piano and bass, and gave my senior recital on upright. Graduated with a bachelor degree in jazz performance.

I've been playing professionally ever since...20+ years.

I want a drum set to pound on for fun, but just don't have the room for it.

[Inchworm]

25. Hmm, I played the trumpet in elementary

I know my chords on guitar, mandolin, fiddle; although, my right hand doesn't get it. I can play the radio and beat on the desk proficiently.

I'd never play any of these in front of anyone though except maybe the desk. My dogs seem to dig it though :P

:hi:

[BeachBaby]

27. Ugh. Yes.

Was trained, from the age of four to the age of 19, on the piano. Classical compositions and gospel, mostly.

[Bake]

28. Banjo. Guitar. Mandolin. Dobro. Bass. Some fiddle.

I hesitate to say fiddle because I would never let anyone hear me play it. I have progressed beyond the point where pulling the bow across the strings produces a sound not unlike that of a cat dying a painful death ...

Bake

[DarkTirade]

32. Which is not unrelated to the process in which strings used to be made...

:P

[Bake]

35. Poetic, huh?

Until you hear that sound, at least ... then it's pretty damn descriptive!

:rofl:

Bake

[DarkTirade]

37. 'sokay, my violin playing ain't so hot these days.

I didn't play for about three years after I dropped out of school, so I'm waaaay outta practice.

[eyepaddle]

30. Guitar.

I wanted to play as soon as I heard the outro solo to AC/DC's "Let There Be Rock" I just couldn't beleive anybody could possibly move their arm fast enough to pick like that. I think I was about ten or eleven and hadn't yet noticed girls. So oddly enough, my desire to play guitar predates my desire to impress women.

A friend of mine is a guitar teacher--and he assumed that playing guitar must've got me somewhere with the ladies. But I don't think it has. To the best of my knowledge being a guitarist hasn't gotten me laid once in 23 years. Geology and Industrial Hygiene on the other hand--much better results! (Girls go to class y'know!) B-)

And I had impressed my SO plenty before she ever heard me strum a chord, so now I am unlikely to have play those anglesl....

If I had it to do over again, I would've learned piano. I still might, right now I am treaching myself to read notation again, I wish I would've gotten around to that sooner.

[DarkTirade]

31. I started with voice and violin

dabbled a little in piano, but it was never my forte (no pun intended). Around high school I taught myself guitar. Since then I've also done renaissance music, three sizes of recorder and lute, and picked up bass as well.

*edit* That's bass guitar, not bass viol or the fish.

[Jamastiene]

33. Yes...guitar...wanted to be Eddie Van Halen.

Ended up just being me. Here are some old songs from the 90's with my weird guitar playing.
http://www.myspace.com/kaseykatzmusic

I wish they hadn't asked me to play so many solos though. It was too much, now that I listen back at those songs.

[eyepaddle]

57. I dunno, I liked it.

It's really easy to get super self-conscious, though--isn't it?

[DFW]

34. These are two of my babies

An old friend from Serbia made them for me in 1999. He made some others
for me back in the seventies, as well.

I also play balalaika, tambouritsa, bass, keyboards,
and guitars with only six strings, if I have to.

[DarkTirade]

36. Ever tried lute?

The one my school had that I got to play was a 13 stringer. Just like a 12 string guitar (tuned a step down), but with one extranious high G string extra. :) (woulda been a high A string on a guitar, but like I said, tuned a step down.)

I've some with 15 strings though. That's something I hope to one day own, I've already got most of the instruments I want. But one day I hope to get a really nice acoustic guitar, and a lute.

[DFW]

38. Never tried one

There are quite a few similar instruments I would love to master, but
never got around to it. When I was in Portugal, I saw some wild thingy
that looked intriguing, and a friend from Turkey introduced me to the saz,
and when I was a lot younger, I tried my hand (and sliced my fingers) at
playing the sitar. When I got my day job, my musical explorations were,
alas, severely curtailed. Otherwise, I would have had Leo Kottke trembling
in his boots (NOT---I wish LOL!)

[DarkTirade]

39. It's pretty easy for those of us who know guitar to pick up

although french tableture can be a bit weird to read. :)

[DFW]

53. It would also help if there were 30 hours in a day, and 9 days in a week, too!

[DarkTirade]

54. Details, details...

:P

[DFW]

59. Hey, I've got more excuses than Cheney has crooked teeth!

[Broken_Hero]

40. Clarinet, and Guitar

I'm a below par piano player, my sight reading is horrendous, it would probably take me a month to learn just one song...thats how bad my sight reading is.

I decided to play the clarinet in the 6th grade...well, because that was the only instrument name I knew(besides guitar, but the band had no guitars)...

I picked up the guitar in Feb of 2000, and am self taught...

As for the piano, I was raised in a very staunch mormon household, and the church at times, had issues of having a solid piano/organ player, so I learned a few church songs, and I was the last ditch player, if the other 6 main players weren't there....

[Greyskye]

44. If you're still interested...

... in clarinet, you might want to check out the Lyon's C clarinet. (see post #22 for a youtube clip). As it's in the key of C, it's really easy to play along with folk instruments like the guitar. It's super-light, which makes it a lovely travel instrument. I take it to music festivals to play at the after-hours jams in the campgrounds. :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

41. How long has it been since you played?

I'm a violinist who can play the viola if somebody's desperate for a violist. Played trombone for about 6 years, and can play a little (very little) piano. I've got a bowed psaltry that I enjoy when I have a rare moment of free time.

[Greyskye]

42. Another bowed psaltery player?

Who'd of thunk it? :shrug: See post #22. :hi:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

46. I first heard one on an Ensemble Galilei recording

and had to get one to play around with. I want to get some real hair on my bows, though. That fiberglass stuff sounds screechy! x(

Looks like you're a folkie fan too! :hi:

[Greyskye]

48. I first heard it...

...while under the influence after-hours at the old Northern California Renaissance Pleasure Faire (when it was at the Blackpoint location). A while after that, I was gifted a beautiful one (without the strings) from some friends who haunted out-of-the-way antique stores and thrift shops. After I restrung it (what a P.I.T.A. that was!) it turned out to have the best tone I've ever heard from one.

I use both a small artificial hair hair bow made for psaltery's, as well as a small horse-hair bow made for a children's violin. And lots and lots of rosin!

Yeah, guess I could be called a folkie fan. :hi:

[TZ]

43. Probably about 20 years...

I dread the sounds that I would make trying to play after all this time...;)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

47. You might be surprised...

If you ever decide you'd like to give it another whirl, let me know. I have friends in your neck of the woods who are excellent teachers. :hi:

[RadiationTherapy]

45. guitar, bass guitar, keys, djembe, penny whistle, e-drums,

I am amateur at all of them, but I have music for sale on i-Tunes and Amazon.

[ZombieNixon]

49. Guitar for 7 years.

Viola for since 7th grade (nine years ago), but I let it slip. :( I plan to bring it back to Chicago with me when I go home for the summer.

I also took piano lessons for a year or so beginning when I was nine. Damned if I remember anything.

[BlueJazz]

50. Sax.... Worked for CBS as a Studio Musician for 12 years.

Started on Clarinet when I was 7 ...switch to Sax at 12

Play enough Piano to know I'm just "Fair" on the instrument.

Play mainly Jazz and some Blues and Rock...

[TZ]

51. Well that does explain your screen name

[abq e streeter]

62. would it be ok if I PM'd you with a question about tenor mouthpieces?

just your opinion re: ones you like...

[laconicsax]

52. Why yes I do! Several in fact.

I play clarinet, sax, flute, and oboe. I picked clarinet originally because I like the sound, sax came next for the same reason. Flute was third because no self-respecting jazz sax player doesn't double on flute and as a bonus, it's a lot of fun to play. I picked oboe because the I started to appreciate the sound of some really good oboists, and because I had already had to turn down a pit orchestra gig because I didn't play oboe/english horn. Rule of thumb: if you have to turn down a gig because you can't play one of the doubles, it's time to learn that instrument.

I've managed to learn other instruments as I find the time to do so (and an instrument to borrow/buy for dirt cheap). Those include cello, bass, horn (it's actually German, not French), trumpet, trombone, and Baroque oboe.

I also play piano but am trying to quit--it's like a bad habit.

[B3Nut]

55. Hammond B-3, bass, guitar, piano, synths,

and just enough mandolin to get into trouble. ;) Self-taught aside from guitar lessons as a kid and a few sporadic piano lessons years ago, currently dabbling with notation again. The Hammond is my favorite instrument, though. I feel I'm at my most expressive playing it.

[guitar man]

56. Guitar

I'm primarily a guitar player, electric mostly. I also play some B-3 organ(clone), piano, bass and harmonica, but not nearly as well as I play guitar.

Why did I pick it? Initially, I was the average school boy who was looking for an angle to get laid. Little did I know it would be something that would later become a vocation and avocation that would stick with me for life.

[ceile]

58. Used to play the bassoon.

Wish I still did. Beautiful instrument. Always wanted to learn to play the cello or the french horn.

[Fox Mulder]

60. If I ever get the chance, I'd LOVE to learn to play the violin...

or the cello. I just love both of those instruments.

[DarkTirade]

61. The important factor in deciding between the two is your fingers.

If they're fairly strong and/or not very skinny, go for cello. If they're not that strong and/or fairly thin, go for violin.

As a child it doesn't make much of a difference because you grow into it and get used to it enough to compensate for either way. I've got fat fingers and I can play violin just fine... but that's because I did it from when I was a little kid until I grew up and developed said fat fingers. :P So I was able to compensate as it went along. But starting as an adult, it's best to just play to your strengths. (no pun intended.)

[BlueDissenter]

63. Piano and cello

I played the cello from 5th to 9th grade and stopped once I got the high school credit for art/music. I have no problem admitting that I wasn't very good plus the fact that there were certain people in the orchestra that were jerks me was another reason I quit.

I started self-teaching myself on the piano when I was in eighth grade and started taking lessons in tenth grade. I haven't taken any lessons for a couple of months so I'm slightly rusty.

There aren't any instruments that I'd like to learn simple because I enjoy the piano.

[abq e streeter]

64. harmonica , sax and flute

I also sing...picked up the harmonica in college for no reason other than another kid in my dorm had one and it sounded cool... this is my strongest instrument; seemed to have had some natural talent...whereas on sax and flute, I have had to work very hard on these to be even close to as good as I am on harp and vocals. Picked up flute in grade school; for no reason I can remember, and never even realized that sax was a natural to also learn till I was in my 20's. Had I been a jazz listener I probably would have figured this out much sooner, but I've always been a terminal rock and roller ( and blues) . But always loved players like King Curtis and Bobby Keys, and especially Clarence Clemons; not the most brilliant technical players in the world ( Bobby and Clarence anyway), but ballsy and utterly soulful. And as you know, gtrman, our dear departed mutual friend Sam Franklin, from the Albert Collins Band, was a big influence later on too. I wish I still played piano; I was pretty good as a little kid but let it go. Have tried to learn guitar but I'm absolutely hopeless, and don't understand how anyone ever learned to play.

[Pierre.Suave]

65. I play a kick ass bass...

Air Guitar!!!!!!

:P

[lizziegrace]

66. Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Flute and Piccolo

and the last 5 years, I've played in a handbell choir.

Always wanted to play cello or french horn, but playing bassoon paid my tuition for 2 years in college.

[ghostsofgiants]

68. I play bass and dabble in guitar.

I also like to play around with programs like Ableton Live and make electronic/hip-hop beats.

[harmonicon]

69. ukulele

I play it because it's small, and I can take it anywhere with me. I also have some little percussion things like finger cymbals. That's all that's in my apartment right now.

I started playing orchestral double bass in college, and electric bass in rock bands. I've also played electronic music things for years and years, and I still do that sometimes. I own a few synthesizers still, but they're somewhere at my parents' or friend's house back in the US, along with my basses. I can also play some guitar and drums, and I have a violin somewhere in California that I can't play for shit. I also used to play harmonica. I kept it in my ukulele case, and my uke was stolen out of the back of my car. I bought a new uke, but money was really tight then, so I didn't get a new harmonica.

[Cabcere]

71. Good question(s)!

:) I started playing flute in middle school - I knew I wanted to be in band, and I was torn between flute and clarinet, because they were both small enough to fit in my backpack. :P (I know that sounds like a lame reason, but the bus I had to ride every day was ridiculously overcrowded anyway, and I didn't want to have to carry around a big band instrument in addition to my bookbag.) Eventually I went with flute just because I liked it, I guess, although I did pick up a clarinet at a yard sale several years later and have messed around with it some. :P

I played trumpet in high school jazz band, because by tenth grade I was sick of not being heard and I wanted to play something loud and obnoxious. ;) Trumpet was AWESOME - I had so much fun playing in jazz band! I also played trumpet in marching band my junior year, and switched to mellophone (marching band version of the French horn - same fingerings as trumpet) for my senior year.

I took piano lessons as a kid (5th-6th grade), and then again in college, and I really liked it - the piano is such a great instrument, and I wish I could play better. I also own a bass guitar and an electric guitar, neither of which I can really play very well, but I like to mess around with them when I have time. I started playing bass because of John Entwistle, and the electric guitar was up for auction at a charity event, so...yeah. :P I signed up for classical guitar lessons this semester and would have loved to learn guitar, but unfortunately numerous health issues forced me to drop that course only a few weeks into the semester. :( Maybe later I'll learn on my own, or get my little brother to teach me some of the stuff he knows. (My little brother is amazing - he's a drummer, but he's picked up guitar really quickly on his own. It's pretty phenomenal, and I wish I had his talent, lol!)

If I had the chance/time/money, I would love to learn guitar, bass, piano/keyboard, drums, trombone, harmonica, saxophone, violin...pretty much every instrument out there. :) I love music - nothing makes me feel more alive.