NationStates Jolt Archive


Does anyone play an instrument?

Tweedlesburg
02-02-2006, 02:03
What kinds of instruments do you guys play?
The Genius Masterminds
02-02-2006, 02:04
I play the Viola.
Pure Metal
02-02-2006, 02:05
played the guitar for 4 years or so. sucked so bad i tend not to tell people i did nowadays :(

BUT i'm selling all my guitar stuff and bought a brand new drum kit today, as it happens :)
won't be available till april but it'll be worth the wait :)


edit: haha drums aren't even on the poll :p
Keruvalia
02-02-2006, 02:05
I play nearly every instrument you could name and some you probably couldn't.
Guncorp
02-02-2006, 02:06
I play the trumpet better than Louis Armstrong! lol
Undomesticated Equines
02-02-2006, 02:07
Strings are clearly the superior instrument. Upright bass FTW.
Ham-o
02-02-2006, 02:08
piano, clarinet, baritone, trombone, tuba, drums (badly), bass guitar, guitar(badly), and i do vocals in my band.
Dinaverg
02-02-2006, 02:08
Piano, I am, unfortunately, a pianist. Gah....that was so annoying in middle school....They only know what that word means because it sounds dirty >_<
OntheRIGHTside
02-02-2006, 02:09
Flute, piccolo, trombone, baritone, drum set, and I'm actually able to hold a tune, which makes me fine for an amateur singer.



Plus I can whistle pretty damn well.
Kinda Sensible people
02-02-2006, 02:10
Guitar, Viola, Vocals, and a very little amount of Drums.
Turetel
02-02-2006, 02:10
Outrage! Where is the percussion, surely replacing other with this would close the gap considerably!
Nadkor
02-02-2006, 02:10
Guitar averagely, piano badly, recorder shockingly.
New Sernpidel
02-02-2006, 02:11
Tuba, trombone, Euphonium, Baritone, both bc and tc, beginner trumpet and horn...basic piano
Minoriteeburg
02-02-2006, 02:11
im trying to learn bass guitar, but it's a slow going process since i suck at it. but practice makes perfect
Tweedlesburg
02-02-2006, 02:14
I play trumpet personally.
Keruvalia
02-02-2006, 02:15
I play trumpet personally.

With a vengeance?

(sorry, couldn't resist)
Guncorp
02-02-2006, 02:19
With a vengence, yes...:sniper:
CthulhuFhtagn
02-02-2006, 02:30
Trombone. No one ever appreciates the trombones, even though they're one of the (if not the) hardest wind instruments to play.
Durhammen
02-02-2006, 02:50
Horn, which is really a high brass, a low brass and (from an orchestration perspective) a woodwind, trombone, trumpet, percussion and vocals.

And not to sound contentious, Cthulhu, but bone isn't all that hard in comparison to some other instruments. At least, it wasn't that hard for me.
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 02:52
What kinds of instruments do you guys play?
Should be checked boxed rather then single selection
I played
Trumpet
Trombone
Tuba
Clarinet
Saxaphone

Then moved into percussion
Terrorist Cakes
02-02-2006, 02:55
I'm a classically trained soprano with a two-octave (miserable, eh?) range.
OntheRIGHTside
02-02-2006, 02:56
Trombone. No one ever appreciates the trombones, even though they're one of the (if not the) hardest wind instruments to play.


Plus their sound is pure beauty, and easily the heart of the band if there's a really good trombonist/trombone section.
Tweedlesburg
02-02-2006, 03:02
Plus their sound is pure beauty, and easily the heart of the band if there's a really good trombonist/trombone section.
not if you have a good tuba section
Undomesticated Equines
02-02-2006, 03:03
UM SRY WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS

STRINGS > *

When have you heard a good band concert that sounds better than a good orchestra concert. Never, that's when.
Bodies Without Organs
02-02-2006, 03:05
Outrage! Where is the percussion, surely replacing other with this would close the gap considerably!

Here -

piano/keyboard
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 03:05
not if you have a good tuba section
Ehhh I still say the trombone contributes often ... normally tuba does not play something closely matching the melody
For the lows trombone usually fills in that (at least to an extent) and that makes them a powerfully driving force

Though depending on the band quality sometimes you see it out of a French horn/melophone line to (if a bit higher)
OntheRIGHTside
02-02-2006, 03:06
not if you have a good tuba section

The tuba is the ass of the band. It's very important, and if done well, quite enjoyable, but trombones are the HEART.
Tweedlesburg
02-02-2006, 03:06
Ehhh I still say the trombone contributes often ... normally tuba does not play something closely matching the melody
For the lows trombone usually fills in that (at least to an extent) and that makes them a powerfully driving force

Though depending on the band quality sometimes you see it out of a French horn/melophone line to (if a bit higher)
Good french horns are hard to come by
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 03:08
Good french horns are hard to come by
Thats why I said "depending on the quality of the band" :) hehehehe
OntheRIGHTside
02-02-2006, 03:08
UM SRY WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS

STRINGS > *

When have you heard a good band concert that sounds better than a good orchestra concert. Never, that's when.



Strings suck. They are wimpy and can't stand the elements. Wind instruments were invented because string instruments have no sound in large places unless you get hundreds of them, and because string instruments die if they go outside without a case.


Winds>>>>>>>>strings


Besides, the sound of a good trumpet or a good flute always sounds better, at least to anyone I know, than the sound of a good violin.
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 03:11
Strings suck. They are wimpy and can't stand the elements. Wind instruments were invented because string instruments have no sound in large places unless you get hundreds of them, and because string instruments die if they go outside without a case.


Winds>>>>>>>>strings


Besides, the sound of a good trumpet or a good flute always sounds better, at least to anyone I know, than the sound of a good violin.
Most good wind instruments do as well ... I have seen a few idiots that used wood clarinets in marching band
Tweedlesburg
02-02-2006, 03:12
Strings suck. They are wimpy and can't stand the elements. Wind instruments were invented because string instruments have no sound in large places unless you get hundreds of them, and because string instruments die if they go outside without a case.


Winds>>>>>>>>strings


Besides, the sound of a good trumpet or a good flute always sounds better, at least to anyone I know, than the sound of a good violin.
Well it all depends. You want something jazzy or a good march, a band will always do it for you. Orchestras can be good once in a while for the slow sad songs.
Durhammen
02-02-2006, 03:14
Mellophones are crap invented instruments. I hate them with a passion.
OntheRIGHTside
02-02-2006, 03:16
Most good wind instruments do as well ... I have seen a few idiots that used wood clarinets in marching band


My city is too poor to not do that, so the clarinet players in band just use the already crappy school ones. They're good enough players to mask the ugly sound, startlingly enough.
Swabians
02-02-2006, 03:18
I can't believe I'm the only low woodwind here! Contrabass clarinet owns you all.

Oh, and there are good Clarinet players in the world? I'm shocked. In my band the conductor is always correcting their section. It's like they're violas or something. Never in tune.
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 03:19
My city is too poor to not do that, so the clarinet players in band just use the already crappy school ones. They're good enough players to mask the ugly sound, startlingly enough.
Your school can afford wood clarinets? Or did I misread your statement.

Usually the plastic ones are both the cheaper and crappier (and more rugged) versions.
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 03:20
I can't believe I'm the only low woodwind here! Contrabass clarinet owns you all.
Forgot that one I dabbled ... I played it for a bit less then a year and they needed me to move to low brass
CthulhuFhtagn
02-02-2006, 03:20
And not to sound contentious, Cthulhu, but bone isn't all that hard in comparison to some other instruments. At least, it wasn't that hard for me.
Hard to play? Not really. Hard to play well? Yes. The slide is hell. One centimeter off and your sound is crap.
Dempublicents1
02-02-2006, 03:21
I picked "high woodwinds" because I play the flute, although I typically play the bass flute, which is probably more on the level with "low woodwinds". I figured most people would place "flute" of any kind in the high woodwinds. =)
Swabians
02-02-2006, 03:22
Forgot that one I dabbled ... I played it for a bit less then a year and they needed me to move to low brass

Oh good, I'm not alone after all, what did you play?

Oh, and isn't a bass flute kindof a contradiction?
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 03:22
Hard to play? Not really. Hard to play well? Yes. The slide is hell. One centimeter off and your sound is crap.
Yet more people seem to have problems with the French horn then trombone lol
Dempublicents1
02-02-2006, 03:23
Most good wind instruments do as well ... I have seen a few idiots that used wood clarinets in marching band

Or wooden piccolos! Don't you just want to strangle those people?

*wants a wooden piccolo, and a wooden flute, and a rosegold flute, and a bass flute, and an alto, and a contrabass, and all of that would be worth more than everything I own put together minus my house hehe*
Tweedlesburg
02-02-2006, 03:24
Hard to play? Not really. Hard to play well? Yes. The slide is hell. One centimeter off and your sound is crap.
Which also gives the trombone the advantage of being able to tune the most easily of any instrument.
OntheRIGHTside
02-02-2006, 03:24
Your school can afford wood clarinets? Or did I misread your statement.

Usually the plastic ones are both the cheaper and crappier (and more rugged) versions.


They always looked like wood to me... hmm, I was probably just mistaken. I don't play clarinet myself, so I don't know very much about them besides their being called clarinets for having a clear sound.


Regardless, the claris that the clarinet players actually own are still better than the school ones :D
Dempublicents1
02-02-2006, 03:25
Oh, and isn't a bass flute kindof a contradiction?

Nope. It's actually got a gorgeous sound. It's a full octave below regular C flute, so your average flute choir these days has five full octaves worth of sound.

Then there's the contrabass which is a full octave below the bass. And the double contrabass which is a full octave below that. But normal people can't afford those. The cheapest contras are about $20K.
Cheftopia
02-02-2006, 03:26
I play low wind to, as well as a pile of others.

Alto, Tenor, and BARI SAX (wooo), Recorder, Piano, Clarinet, Bass and Guitar.
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 03:34
They always looked like wood to me... hmm, I was probably just mistaken. I don't play clarinet myself, so I don't know very much about them besides their being called clarinets for having a clear sound.


Regardless, the claris that the clarinet players actually own are still better than the school ones :D
Always are ... but luckly a good player unlike with a lot of interments can really compensate better for low quality instruments
Durhammen
02-02-2006, 03:36
I guess it varies from person to person, but I found trombone easier than the rest of the brass family.
UpwardThrust
02-02-2006, 03:40
Or wooden piccolos! Don't you just want to strangle those people?

*wants a wooden piccolo, and a wooden flute, and a rosegold flute, and a bass flute, and an alto, and a contrabass, and all of that would be worth more than everything I own put together minus my house hehe*
Lol my bro has a wooden piccolo if I rember right as well as a good standerd flute
OntheRIGHTside
02-02-2006, 03:43
Nope. It's actually got a gorgeous sound. It's a full octave below regular C flute, so your average flute choir these days has five full octaves worth of sound.

Then there's the contrabass which is a full octave below the bass. And the double contrabass which is a full octave below that. But normal people can't afford those. The cheapest contras are about $20K.



All the contrabass's I've seen, though I never have seen them in real life, look kind of cheap, as though they're made of PVC to make up for their huge size.

What are they actually made of though?
Smunkeeville
02-02-2006, 03:43
guitar (acoustic, electric, and bass) piano/keyboard, pipe organ, banjo, drums, viola, cello, recorder..........I think that's about it, I tried the trombone for a while but it's a pain in the ass, so I didn't ever learn to "play it" right now I prefer to sing, but I may start to learn alto sax in 2007, I haven't decided yet. ;)
Dinaverg
02-02-2006, 03:46
And, pianos get more screen time in cartoons than other insturments, rivaled only by cymbals.


I like the xylophone, it's fun. ^_^
Undomesticated Equines
02-02-2006, 03:56
Wow, lots of people here who don't really know anything about music.

But anyway, back to strings owning everything: go listen to Tchaikovsky's Francesca da Rimini (the greatest song EVER written) and try to tell me that it wouldn't song like crap without strings. Then, listen to anything Vivaldi has ever written for a string orchestra and try to tell me it wouldn't sound like crap if played by anything else.

To be fair though, Romeo and Juliet would suck without brass, and pretty much every song would suck without percussion (except good string pieces of course). Marche Slav wouldn't be the same without the winds I suppose, but it would still be badass.
Cannot think of a name
02-02-2006, 04:04
Sax-a-ma-phone
Whereyouthinkyougoing
02-02-2006, 04:13
Violin. Haven't touched it in ages, but played for, I don't know, 8 or 9 years. So I figure I should still be able to technically "play" it ;). Also, I wanted to push the votes for string :p.
Wildwolfden
02-02-2006, 12:39
I don't play an instrument
Kanabia
02-02-2006, 12:41
Acoustic and electric guitar. I'm starting (read: attempting) to sing too.
Legless Pirates
02-02-2006, 12:42
Other: multiple :D

Keyboards, Bassguitar (electric) and Washboard
Callisdrun
02-02-2006, 12:43
I play several.

I play electric bass guitar (I play a Rickenbacker, not a Fender!), trombone, electric guitar, and a little piano. I also sing/vocalize in my bands.
Kanabia
02-02-2006, 12:44
(I play a Rickenbacker, not a Fender!)

Haha, good man. :)
Callisdrun
02-02-2006, 12:48
Haha, good man. :)

Why, thank you. I take it you share my fondness for Rics?
Hullepupp
02-02-2006, 12:53
-accoustic guitar(s) -----> I have 5
-electric guitar(s)-------->I have 2
-bass guitar------------->I have 1
-keyboard--------------->I have 1 + a PC
-violin------------------->I can play "Silent Night" ;)
-flute(s)---------------->I have about 10 (wood or metal)
The odd one
02-02-2006, 12:55
guitar, occasionally attempt didgeridoo, used to play the violin (like 6 years ago)
Kanabia
02-02-2006, 13:04
Why, thank you. I take it you share my fondness for Rics?

Not really - only ever played one Rickenbacker guitar, briefly (this same one (http://www.guitaremporium.com.au/newimages/67%20RICKY%201.JPG)) - but I do have a general disdain for Fender. :p
Monkeypimp
02-02-2006, 13:08
I play a bit of bass guitar.
BackwoodsSquatches
02-02-2006, 13:10
Guitar, and if you include the human voice as an instrument, then I play that too.
Pompous world
02-02-2006, 13:55
i play guitar and piano. im amazing at both as im pompous and can shred
Cromotar
02-02-2006, 14:17
Clarinet (B flat) and some piano.
Wildwolfden
02-02-2006, 16:36
Only my man instrument ;)
Letila
02-02-2006, 16:38
I play the keyboard, but I'm particularly good at it or anything. I'm still pretty new to it.
Kiwi-kiwi
02-02-2006, 16:42
Is the French horn considered high brass? I doubt you could call it low brass, so I suppose so... Anyway, I play the French horn.
Frangland
02-02-2006, 16:43
I own a Takamine six-string electric/acoustic guitar in black gloss with mother of pearl inlays and whiteish accents. nice guitar on which i can play chords and do simple finger-picking
Keruvalia
02-02-2006, 16:44
Always are ... but luckly a good player unlike with a lot of interments can really compensate better for low quality instruments

Aye ... as I always tell my students: 'Tis a poor musician who blames his instrument.

Interestingly enough, that saying also works if you replace "musician" with "lover". :D
Kanabia
02-02-2006, 16:48
Aye ... as I always tell my students: 'Tis a poor musician who blames his instrument.

Interestingly enough, that saying also works if you replace "musician" with "lover". :D

Naw, not always. I can blame my current acoustic guitar and get away with it. There's a crack in the headstock and she don't tune good no more. :p
Keruvalia
02-02-2006, 16:51
Naw, not always. I can blame my current acoustic guitar and get away with it. There's a crack in the headstock and she don't tune good no more. :p

Heh ... well super-glue and duct-tape that puppy and learn to experiment with dissonance. ;)
Kanabia
02-02-2006, 17:15
Heh ... well super-glue and duct-tape that puppy and learn to experiment with dissonance. ;)

Oh don't worry, i'm one step ahead of you. I'm not going to throw it out, I think it sounds cool...in a warped kind of way...and I want to see what I can do with it. :D I'm getting a new one soonish though. A left-handed classical cutaway. Mmmmh.
Palaios
02-02-2006, 17:20
Alto, Tenor, and BARI SAX (wooo), Recorder, Piano, Clarinet, Bass and Guitar.

Oehh, I only play tenor and alto sax, and then piano and recorder too... never really had the chance to do anything else
Dempublicents1
02-02-2006, 21:36
All the contrabass's I've seen, though I never have seen them in real life, look kind of cheap, as though they're made of PVC to make up for their huge size.

What are they actually made of though?

I think some of the original contras were made out of PVC or something like it, but all the ones I've seen used in concert have been made out of silver, or have been silver-plated, same as most flutes.
Maelog
02-02-2006, 21:37
I play trumpet personally.

I play oboe socially :)
Rasselas
02-02-2006, 21:41
Flute, piccolo, tenor sax, bass guitar, guitar, piano, didgeridoo, several other bits and bobs - whistles and things.
Guld
02-02-2006, 21:46
I don't play an instrument yet, but I'm fully determined to learn to play the keyboard as soon as I find the time for it.