NationStates Jolt Archive

Do you play an instrument? If so, what instrument do you play? How long have you been playing? Why did you choose it? Just curious...

Guitar (but, hey, any muppet can do that), 5 string banjo, uke, currently learning mandolin. also tinker about with an indian banjo, a three chord autoharp, a melodica and a variety of other oddities.

The banjo is my favourite, but I have reached something of an impasse with it: I believe the services of a luthier are called for to do some minor repairs to the instrument and to adjust my quite hideous set-up.

Yep...

Guitar (electric and accoustic), Piano, Synth, Viola, Violin, Vocals, Bass, Drums, and I can conduct passably.

I was in choir for five years, which started out as a fluke, and turned out I've a very nice voice. I used to play the violin, and played the piano for a bit.

I play guitar....electric and acoustic. played for about a year now, but meant to start for about 5 years before that. Just wanted to out of my music tastes, and wanting to play what i was hearing.

Wow...I'm stupid. I should probably tell you that I have been playing the cello for almost 4 years. Before that, I played the violin for 2 years. My mom made me play the violin when I really wanted to play cello, but finally I convinced her to let me switch. Anyone else?

Piano, which is the best percussion instrument ever. And I used to play the bassoon, but I didn't like it.

Piano, which is the best percussion instrument ever.

Excepting, of course, the vibra-slap.

Learning guitar, and I mess around on the piano.

I play the trouser-flute.

Been playing guitar for around six years now. My dad started to teach me the acoustic when I was ten, played that for three years until I got my first electric guitar. Some cheap $100 guitar from a pawn shop, but hey, I learned on it. But man, I love the guitar, great instrument. Great at parties, for makin extra cash, fun as hell to play, yeah....

EDIT: And forgot to add, I recently spent almost all my saved up cash on a Gibson Les Paul!!!!! Hells ya! W00T! W00t! :cool:

Excepting, of course, the vibra-slap.

Nah. In any case the jingling johnny beats the vibraslap.

I recently spent almost all my saved up cash on a Gibson Les Paul!!!!! Hells ya! W00T! W00t! :cool:

You should've gotten a Fernandes Burny Les Paul. They're cheaper, more durable, look better, and sound better.

Sax-a-ma-phone.

While drums/percussion is my main talent, I also sing, play bass (upright and electric), guitar (rhythm - can't play leads worth a damn), piano/synth, trumpet, clarinet, flute, saxophone and can program the hell out of sequencers and drum machines.

You should've gotten a Fernandes Burny Les Paul. They're cheaper, more durable, look better, and sound better.

Eh, the shop I went to didn't sell one... But the Les Paul is awesome, sounds better than the Fendor Bullet I've been playing on, man, it really is a great guitar...

I've been playing the violin for about seven (7) years now. When I began middle school, my mother had put me in the orchestra, so what could I do? My hands were too small for the bass or the cello, so I was given a violin. I've always wanted to try the viola though.

Eh, the shop I went to didn't sell one... But the Les Paul is awesome, sounds better than the Fendor Bullet I've been playing on, man, it really is a great guitar...

Les Pauls are great, that's for sure. Fender Stratocasters are great, too. Same level of quality... Just a different sound.

I play trombone and violin mainly, but I can play viola, baritone, piano, or trumpet if I had enough time to practice.

Something which sounds a lot better on the Les Paul is the Eddy Van Halen stuff. On the Bullet it just sounded off, but now it sounds like something from a cd. Yeah, I really like my new guitar, I shall name it....Eleanor! :D

quick list

Flute
piccolo (yes, an instrument in its own right)
saxophone
piano
acoustic guitar

started on the piano, then added flute and sax, then the piccolo. Just play for the sake of playing and performing. i am going for grade 8 flute in august

I play the saxophone and sort-of-almost percussion. I've been playing sax for eight years now and love it to death. As to percussion, one of my saxophone friends convinced me to join the percussion ensemble this past spring and I had a blast with it (even if I wasn't all that good at it).

Something which sounds a lot better on the Les Paul is the Eddy Van Halen stuff. On the Bullet it just sounded off, but now it sounds like something from a cd. Yeah, I really like my new guitar, I shall name it....Eleanor! :D

CD's suck.

Played the Sousaphone in the high school band a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. The years were 1958 – 1960 in Belmont, Massachusetts. Haven’t played anything since.

CD's suck.

lol, meant it sounded like something done by the pros, who usually have cds.

Trumpet
Electric Guitar (I suck at it though)

Electric Guitar (I suck at it though)

You have to keep at it. It takes a while to get good. And, you really should start out with an acoustic... Electrics make you sound better than you really are.

Piano, cello, and electric bass. I'm trying to learn how to play all three simultaneously. It's hard.

Electrics make you sound better than you really are.

That's the idea. ;)


I've only had it for a few months, so I don't have all the finger positions down yet.

Violin - since age 2. My mom started me on it, obviously, because she heard it was good for neurological development and I was already starting to read.

Piano - picked it up through out the years

Viola - picked it up in orchestra

Drums - for two years

I wish I could play cello =(. I hate the violin.

I play electric bass and sing. I recently got an Epiphone Thunderbird IV which is pretty awesome. I like the Simpsons episode where they Homer goes to rock camp:

Homer: "Give us our guitars!"
Elvis Costello: "Now now, not everyone can play guitar. How about bass? Who wants to play bass?" *plucks a string quietly*
Homer: "Out of the way, nerd!"

Shameless plug: www.myspace.com/905tobedetermined which is the band I'm in. We have some songs up.

I inflicted my viola on the world all the way through Intermediate and High school. Since then I have seen the light and given up my bad habits. ;)

How bad was I? I was one of those violist who inspired this (http://www.petelevin.com/violajokes.htm).

I used to play the trumpet.

But now, comedy is my instrument. And laughter is the sound that it makes.

Sounds rather grand, doesn't it? :)

I am the Tuba Man!

Yeah.

Singing since before I could talk
Piano since I was 4
Bass guitar for a year
Guitar for a year
Kazoo for ages
Violin for 2 years

music is my passion

I play Bass. I've got an acoustic one, but it's electric as well, it's got the pickups and everything. I'm actually saving up for a Les Paul Standard Bass. I've been playing for about six months but I really enjoy it. I do sing, but I butcher almost every song I come into contact with.

Although I don't have to much trouble "singing" Hardcore metal for some reason...

I play the bassoon and saxophone. Sax I started about 7 years ago, bassoon 3 years ago. I can also kind of do some stuff on clarinet and piano. I tried to pick up flute awhile back but could never really get a hang for the embochure required for that, it just seemed so freakishly unnatural. I can also sing well enough to not embarass myself if expectations aren't too high.

To the two people, thus far, who have said they don't play an instrument:

The saddest way to go through life is to not know how to make music. Learn an instrument ... now.

Acoustic and Electric Guitar and Bass for me.... I've been playing for close to 6 years.

Since others have shamelessly plugged, I will as well...

my band (http://www.myspace.com/kbd)

Voice
Piano
recorder
xiolophone
clarinet

I play guitar. Both acoustic and electric. I've been playing for about 10 years.

And since others have shamelessly plugged their bands, I guess I'll just have to shamelessly plug my friends' band.

Fuzzy Logic (http://www.fuzzylogic.org.uk/)

Electric bass and "vocals". I played trumpet for a couple of years but I didn't really like it.


Shameless plug: www.myspace.com/905tobedetermined which is the band I'm in. We have some songs up.

I like the riff for 'Stop The Machine'.

Would a digeridoo be woodwind?

I don't like them.

I play electric bass and sing.

snip

Shameless plug: www.myspace.com/905tobedetermined which is the band I'm in. We have some songs up.

You realise that I'm going to have to download all of your songs because I really like Art Of The Protest Song.

I'm listening to 'Blink' right now. God I love that bluesy riff... thats some good stuff man, great bass line!

I play the keyboard

electric guitar - very badly. i have no clue about musical theory and just cannot understand it, no matter how much i try to learn or who tries to teach me (and many people have by now). i have troubles with mathematical patterns, and thats all musical theory is (as far as i'm concerned)... so i just suck.

that said i've been playing for about 4 years or more, and have good technique - especially with picking hand - just i don't know where to put my fingers. learning tabs and structures of songs is also fuckin impossible for me, so i just make up my own songs & riffs; and because its such a fuckin struggle, i get angry very easily when playing, so i keep coming up with the most brutal and heavy riffs :)


but i want to play drums. i've had a bash about on a friend's kit and he said i was a natural... but then anybody can play drums :p

I used to play the flute from about the age of 8 to 13. Got to Grade 4 but gave it up because I just simply didn't enjoy it anymore.

My brother plays the drums. He's 12 (13 in November) and on his Grade 4 I think. And PM, not just anyone can play :p They're damn hard! My brother is also learning the guitar (electric and bass kinda) who's learning partly from....

...my dad. He's played the guitar for ages and is rather fantastic. Far far past Grade 8. He plays classical beautifully and electric (mainly blues-Gary Moore for example. He met my mum through playing Black Magic Woman too). He was in a band and they reunite sometimes.

I play the drums and have been for 3ish years now...

I can play bits and pieces of other instruments (i'm ok... kinda... at guitar)

and i sing... i hope i can sing well otherwise i embarrass myself daily

Piano, which is the best percussion instrument ever.
You realise piano comes under "string" don't you?

I play the Sax...tenor and alto, trying to save up for a soprano, but it aint gonna happen....had a go at guitar but i couldn't figure out how to play chords so my teacher told me to bugger off - really, what's wrnog with playing something called a "tune" - had a go on piano, keyboard, and cool organ, but couldn't be bothered to carry on with the lessons - they were getting boring - Irish Tin Whistles (AKA Penny Whistles) - which are simply cool, you can do soooo much with them!!

EDIT: Don't forget the African drum that my sister brought back from Kenya - that's really cool and really easy!! - a strange drum-kit that i've had since i was about 12 and only played about twice, clarinet, flute, boudrum drum, and once i had a go on my godfather's banjo, but he won't let me near it again....wonder why...?

You realise piano comes under "string" don't you?
Wrong! It's percussion, hammers hitting strings not bow on strings, therefore it's percussion.

Orchestral percussion is teh win! :D

You realise piano comes under "string" don't you?


Nope, Lac is right here - it is traditionally classified as a percussion instrument, due to the hammers striking the strings. Contrast this to a harpsichord, which is classed as strung, due tothe arms plucking rather than hammering the strings.

Nope, Lac is right here - it is traditionally classified as a percussion instrument, due to the hammers striking the strings. Contrast this to a harpsichord, which is classed as strung, due tothe arms plucking rather than hammering the strings.

*iStand down*