Musical Instruments Thread

[drcossack]

I play the violin! It started waaaay back when the summer before 5th grade, so about 9 years ago? It was when musical instruments first became available for students--you couldn't get into band until a year later, and I didn't want to wait, although I was just as intrigued by the saxophone as I was the violin. So I started playing, and loved it--kept with it through my senior year of high school with its orchestra. I really miss playing with a group. I remember the moment I finally mastered vibrato, and it was a satisfying feeling. I was giddy!

I really don't play my violin as much, mostly because I am not really inspired to play. I need to pick it up more, even if I'm just going to goof around. I've tried to write music before, but I am someone who can learn by ear about as easily as I can read and memorize music, so I'll always create little riffs and melodies in my head, but never remember them later on. Bad habit. I don't really see my violin playing being more than a hobby, but I believe that if I were to practice more and make my playing more than just a hobby, I could start playing with people and participate in faux-serious bands. Dunno! It's something I know I'll always dabble in, I definitely don't want to waste all the years I've played it now and one day just decide that I'll never pick it up again, and find it gathering dust in the attic. Making music is so fun, and it's a method of expression no one should let go to waste if they've got the ability to exercise it!

That's when I started too. I was awful until 9th grade, when we played with the Senior high band (who were in 9th-12th); the senior that year was EXCELLENT, and he kept coming back to do concerts for a few years. I resented this, of course, but looking back, I'm glad he did - if he hadn't, I wouldn't have driven myself to improve.

I did one Christmas concert my freshman year of college - I had joined late in the year (like 2 weeks before the concert), got the music, sightread it all easily (I had played harder stuff in high school), then had to quit due to night classes (they practiced on Wednesday nights, and I, unfortunately, generally had classes then...every semester.)

I play in two community bands though - one meets Monday nights (and started again after a month off last night), the other on Tuesdays (which starts in March.) Been playing in the second one since my junior year, and the other for a year. Both play throughout the summer + do a few Christmas concerts. I enjoy the one more than the other - the music is harder, the musicians are better, etc. In the one, I have recognized (and thoroughly enjoyed) 4 of the Christmas songs we've done. For two of them (Sleigh Ride and Christmas Variants), my face lit up like a kid in a candy store.

I'm glad I kept up with it though. For me, it was the best part of high school (could never do sports.) At the moment, I believe I'm one of only 3 from my graduating HS class + a few before/after who stuck with it after graduating. One was a music major, one was going to be (but his gf [now wife of..5 years I think] got pregnant our senior year); I met a bunch of the people I was in band with...summer 2009 I think? The band director (for 20+ years) died of a heart attack, so the department decided to do a memorial concert and invited alumni + current students to play.

He wasn't the nicest director, but I ran into him one night before a poker game in one of the dorms and we talked for a few minutes. I didn't plan on playing in it originally, but he saw me and took some time to talk to me, and I just couldn't do that to someone who remembered a student he had 5 years ago.

And yeah, I can't see myself giving it up permanently either. I've been using the same Trombone for 10 years, and there's too much sentimental value for me to get rid of it/use a new one (though I probably will buy a new one someday.) I enjoy playing too much, and I've done it for so long. Maybe I'll get to teach my kids how to play sometime in the future too.

I'm a frequent tromboner.
I also play the double bass, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, and keyboard when I'm feeling lucky.

Working on perfecting the bass part from the Veilstone City background music.. Hot damn, it's good.

Trombone eh? Me too - I can also play Baritone and possibly Tuba (never tried, my low range SUCKS); I would, however, be quite bad with both if I tried now, as I haven't used a valve instrument since my sophomore year of high school; our Marching Band used Valve Trombones. I had developed good finger speed + the ability to hold & play it with one hand (for very short periods of time.) I obviously no longer have it.

My upper range would also be good enough to play Trumpet/Cornet if I practiced, but I don't.

 

[chocolate-kipp]

Oh, also, I play kazoo. That takes practically no talent whatsoever though I'm sure.

 

[Kojax]

I've been playing drums for about 7 years, guitar for around 5, and piano for like 4 or something. Since this thread come up every few months, let's make this one interesting and post pictures of your instruments or post recordings/videos of you playing!

The first guitar I owned, an Ibanez acoustic my parents bought me for my birthday one year:

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The neck is in pretty bad shape. I'm confident I can repair it once it finally breaks clean:

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Fender Standard Telecaster. Actually it's a "special edition;" the body is made of ash instead of alder.

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My buddy gave me this ukulele for Christmas this year:

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My cheapo Casio keyboard. It has a harpsichord sound!

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Harmonica. This one is in C. I also have Eb and Bb harps.

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I don't have any drums with me at school, my apartment is too small. Here is a link to music where I play all of the percussion, but do nothing else. I guess I helped record/mix/produce too. My favorite is our cover of Tom Waits' "Make it Rain," so listen to that. The drums turned out pretty well in "Peace Unto You" so listen to that one too.
http://www.myspace.com/theidolaters

Here is music where I do everything:
http://www.myspace.com/crabdaddz

 

[Not Scicky]

I kinda play keyboard and sing but I'm much more focused on writing music in shitty computer programs than I am on playing it.

 

[TsukasaSIGN]

Played violin for 4 years then switched to bass guitar and have been playing that for almost 2 years
kind of polar opposites in terms of what I play

 

[mattj]

obnoxious instrument pics, just the ones I play regularly

OLP Music Man Bass. First stringed instrument I bought. Love this thing.

Epiphone Les Paul SG. First guitar I bought. For as cheap as it is it plays great.

Ibanez Talman Accoustic Electric. I love the feel of this accoustic mostly. It's a slim body, so it feels good when I hold it. It also has surprising sound for as small of a body as it has.

Shure SM 58. I love this mic. It works great for recording anything.

Magix Music Studio (yes it's an instrument, as much as anything else). It's dirt cheap and sounds just as good as pro-tools or any of the other expensive softwares. Plus it's pretty easy to use.

My wife's cheap old Cassio Keyboard. I use it mostly for drums and synth when recording. It works great.

Sissy intruments yeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

 

[Miscellaneous]

~6 years of piano lessons and I can't even read music or find middle C.
~6 months of guitar and I can play a power chord and G.

Man I suck at music

I really wouldn't discourage anyone who is like this.

Real life application - can you play a little tune on the piano or guitar (bizzarely good for pulling girls) and do you enjoy playing - those are the most important questions to ask. Mostly enjoyment though, music should be fun and an expression of yourself, that's what I love about music.

You really don't need to be able to read sheet music or even know the notes to play, unless you want to be a musician, in which case you might just want to consider doing so. However, one of my friends finds the guitar as easy as breathing - yet he is clueless on notes, theory and reading. He can still play in a band though.

 

[smashlloyd20]

I play cello. It is awesome.

 

[cookie]

shade plays the skin flute

 

[mattj]

You really don't need to be able to read sheet music or even know the notes to play, unless you want to be a musician, in which case you might just want to consider doing so. However, one of my friends finds the guitar as easy as breathing - yet he is clueless on notes, theory and reading. He can still play in a band though.

Agreeing here. As for guitar, you just have to know how to hold your hand to play a power chord, and where to move your hand to raise or lower the chord as the song progresses. It's easier than it might seem. You can learn more stuff after that.

Try something easy like the bass or something.

 

[NatGeo]

Clarinet for the third year now and proud of it. Also a bit of jack of all trades when it comes to other stuff. Can play brass (barely), and can play most woodwind instruments, so as they aren't too big. Also do some percussion.
Yeah, jack-of-all-trades. :/

 

[Limewire]

I've played the concert flute (y'know, the metallic one that is played sideways) for almost six years. I don't play it at home much, but I do play it at my school band frequently.

Besides the flute, I also played an acoustic guitar for two years. The one I got is manufactured by Yamaha. I bought it at a decent price (~$200 I think) and I just love it.

 

[JarardoMartino]

I've been playing guitar for 7 years. I play a lot of stuff like Iron Miaden, Whitesnake, and Judas Priest. I also play around on the keyboard mainly just to mess with synth stuff.

 

[Thorns]

been playing the drums for a year and a half, slowly progressing. i really like drumming so i'm going to see where it ends up if i keep practising, though with only two years of slacking off in high school left i really don't know if i'll end up quitting by age 17

i have a guitar and a ukulele, the latter of which i play more and get a lot of flak from my friends and other musicians for playing for whatever reason

 

[askaninjask]

I've played piano for 11 and a half years now. It's been a serious part of my life since I started. I used to play constantly just for fun (and I still do). And while doing the piano is now serious work for me, it's still all fun. I'm in a trio with two of the other people in my neighborhood, we're currently working on this and last year we played this (note, these are not recordings of us) and a Clara Schumann trio that I can't find a single good recording of. I also do a fair amount of solo work.

In terms of other instruments, I kind of play the viola, but the only reason I continue to play is to be in the orchestra in school. I also recently bought a ukelele for 50 dollars and I'm in a "ukelele orchestra" with some of my more hipster friends. Yeah.

 

[TubaKing]

I am a Music Education major with my major instrument being tuba (surprise surprise).
I started off in fourth grade playing the clarinet because it was cheap. I taught myself bass guitar in seventh grade and played in my middle school's jazz band in eighth grade.
My high school was pretty desperate for tuba players, so I got drafted because they knew I could read bass clef. Now I'm a semi-decent tubist on the path to a doctorate in Conducting or Music Performance.

 

[GMLW]

I used to play trumpet. I played it for four years, and I just quit this year. I was never really good at it, and everyone else was so much better, that it was just depressing. The music started to get so hard and fast, that my hands couldn't go fast enough. There's a mental delay between reading the note and figuring out the buttons, and I just couldn't do that fast enough. I also really hated practicing. So, I just gave up on it.

Besides, band is an elective in my new school, and I'd want to pick an elective I'd actually enjoy.

 

[Arcticblast]

I've played the violin for around seven years. I'm pretty good at it.

I've played the guitar for around seven months. I'm pretty LOL at it.

 

[DDRMaster]

I play the baritone in a marching band. I used to play the trumpet but now I suck at it.

 

[drcossack]

I used to play trumpet. I played it for four years, and I just quit this year. I was never really good at it, and everyone else was so much better, that it was just depressing. The music started to get so hard and fast, that my hands couldn't go fast enough. There's a mental delay between reading the note and figuring out the buttons, and I just couldn't do that fast enough. I also really hated practicing. So, I just gave up on it.

Besides, band is an elective in my new school, and I'd want to pick an elective I'd actually enjoy.

It was an elective in mine too. I used to have that disparity between reading the music and actually being able to play it. I overcame it very quickly; playing a lot of hard stuff with fast tempos when you're the only one playing that instrument (which was the entirety of my sophomore year) will do that though. :)

I used to have trouble with music written in cut time, but that was no problem after a year or so of playing it frequently. Right now, I can't think of anything (in my normal key signatures, anyway) that I wouldn't be able to sightread; I just have to know the general tempo of the section, the time signature, and the key signature.

I doubt I'd be able to do orchestra arrangements as easily, but I have hardly ever played with anything that had more than the occasional sharp in it; I know where some of them (concert F Sharp, concert G Sharp, middle C Sharp) are, of course, but that doesn't mean much when you're not used to them.

Dunno if anyone posting in this thread lives in PA, but if you do, you'd likely be familiar with PMEA festivals (District/Region/State level for those who aren't); I did those in HS, and those audition solos for Districts were HARD. The one I had sophomore year (Morceau Symphonique, written in 6 flats) was probably the worst of the 3 range-wise; the thing was filled with high notes (Upper G Flat, A Flat, and B Flat) and an optional C (the one above the aforementioned B Flat.)

I played my ass off for two months and I eventually learned how to hit every single one of those notes. Rhythmically, it wasn't so bad, but the other two were worse - a shitload of 16th note runs and shit.

 

[ocarina of rhyme]

I played the french horn for 9 years :) But I stopped after high school.

Awesome :)

For all the piano players in this thread: im insanely jealous. im going to need to learn piano to be a music major and im wishing id started much earlier (im a junior in high school).

Another question for you guys; do any of you, like myself, find other musicians easier to get along with? For instance, my private lesson teacher is very social, so all of her students spend a lot of time together. From the first time i met them all (im one of the newer students) we've just kind of clicked, which is very rare for me. it seems to me like we have a sense of solidarity with other people through music.

 

[drcossack]

Awesome :)

For all the piano players in this thread: im insanely jealous. im going to need to learn piano to be a music major and im wishing id started much earlier (im a junior in high school).

Another question for you guys; do any of you, like myself, find other musicians easier to get along with? For instance, my private lesson teacher is very social, so all of her students spend a lot of time together. From the first time i met them all (im one of the newer students) we've just kind of clicked, which is very rare for me. it seems to me like we have a sense of solidarity with other people through music.

Hmm. I never actually thought about it, but I'd say so. Age doesn't really matter with music - people from high school to people in their 80's can play an instrument and have something in common. My monday night band has two brothers who have been members since before/during/after World War 2 (I forget), and I talk frequently to the one (who plays Trombone as well), and there's a high school girl who joined recently. I have no problem whatsoever talking to her, even though she's only a junior.

 

[HitoriRaven]

Piano, I don't really like it but I have to keep going anyway. It's nice to know how to read music though. Trumpet, haven't played in a while though. And a tiny bit of guitar. I'm also told I can sing decently.

 

[Sledge]

I've been playing trombone for about 6 years now. This year I also started to dabble with the trumpet and have gotten fairly competent at it. Lately I've really been getting into actual music more instead of just notes on a page, and I'm finding that I can understand what I'm playing and how it fits much better now and as a result have been enjoying playing much more.

Anyways, I had a question for all the french horn players out there. So I have 4 french horn players in my band and they are all pretty much terrible (at leastone of them can't even play a Bb major scale). They say that the french horn really, really, really, really hard but I have to wonder sometimes whether or not the french horn really is that difficult, or if they just aren't putting in any effort. So is the french horn really that hard to play?

 

[mattj]

...or if they just aren't putting in any effort.

I was never taught to play the french horn. I did play Tuba for 2 years in high school. That was 7 years ago. Just the other day my mom showed me her new french horn (she teaches and plays music at a local college). I picked it up and started playing the chromatic scale by ear. They're just not trying.