Musicians?

[Karrosh]

I have to imagine there are other musicians out there. So, what do you play, and how long have you been playing?

I've been playing the electric bass since I was 14, although I only recently started playing again after my instrument and amplifier were stolen a little over a year ago (I was unemployed for a while after finishing college last winter and couldn't afford to replace either). I have to say, that was a frustrating period of time.

I used to be able to play saxophone and clarinet as well, but I never owned a sax and haven't practiced either in many years now.

Mostly I just noodle around on my own. If I had a drummer to jam with on a regular basis though (or, in my dreams, a legitimate band that got payed to play our music), that would be truly fantastic.

It still bugs me a little how often I have to explain what the bass is to people. The fact is I chose an instrument that a lot of people can't even hear in a lot of music, so it isn't like I don't understand; it just gets sliiiiightly tedious.

Anyway, I'm fascinated to hear from you all.

[Vephriel]

I play the drums, but ever since I finished high school I don't really have time anymore.

They're the only instrument I have experience with though.

[Ungoro]

I started to learn the cornet a few years ago, but when i got my brace two years ago the band i was in moved me onto tuba. Seeing as the cornet, tenor horn, euphonium, baritone aswell as the tuba have the some fingerings for notes, i can play all of them.

I started learning the guitar around a year ago, i'm not the best but i can play a few songs. I started to self-teach myself the keyboard aaround 6 months ago, after my guitar teacher played the intro to Light my Fire by The Doors on the keyboard with ease, it was the first thing i started to learn and got it in a day or two (spent around 2-5 hours learning it, getting the tempo right).

I also have a ukulele that i want to learn, but haven't done much with it, and my eldest sister use to play clarinet and after thinking ne of her old boyfriends stole it i found it lying in a wardrobe and i want to learn that aswell, but the reed is broken.

I also want to learn to play bass and drums, but it's finding the time that's a pain.

[Karathyriel]

I struggled with electric guitar for a while...

The guitar won that fight and I gave up.

[Saturo]

I used to play the violin a bit.

Family didn't like the winy noice. Neither did I.

[Golden]

I used to play the violin a bit.

Family didn't like the winy noice. Neither did I.

Gosh, I've always wanted to play the violin...

I took lessons for the recorder for nine years, starting when I was 7.

[Ungoro]

Oh yeah...In middle school i didn't care much for the recorder, but in Upper school in year 9, there were tons of students missing on a trip so the little class we had done an hour on recorder and seeing as i was way more musical then i was pretty good at it and played the songs with ease. But i havent remembered all the fingerings so i'd need to practise those.

Recently i've had the urge to learn the violin, but finding the time would be hard...

[Nikrosnil]

I've played piano since I was 8, and now we have a wonderful grand piano which plays beautifully, which my father has wished for since he was a little boy. He actually cried the day we got it, and I have NEVER seen him cry before in my life.

I also started playing saxophone at age 13, and I love to jam on it every now and then.

[Dragonpuff]

I learned how to play the recorder and ukelele in grade school!

[Saturo]

I learned how to play the recorder and ukelele in grade school!

I made an ukulele in my schools woodwork. It worked surprisingly well, until I fell asleep on top of it. Ah well...

[Gala]

ive written classical piano music since i was....10ish? somewhere around there.

dont have my hands on a piano or keyboard lately, so i havent been able to write

[VelkynKarma]

I fail horrifically at all forms of music. I tried both the viola and the piano back in middle school, as well as singing in the school's chorus. Painful, painful memories.

Totally appreciate people who can play music though, it's a skill I respect and will never have

~VelkynKarma

[Karrosh]

That's all excellent! I'm always happy to hear from other musicians, and even those who have at least dabbled. Can't say I have a slew of friends IRL, but at the moment I don't really know anyone who plays, which I find sort of sad.

I always have respect for drummers because that one takes a lot of investment. I mean, a kit takes up a bunch of space, isn't particularly cheap, and is loud enough that practicing requires patience from a lot of people. My youngest brother used to play, and was pretty good, until he sold his kit for reasons which would be too off-topic to really be included here.

I want to learn piano at some point myself. I've always been impressed by those who can play it well. To echo the sentiments of Ungoro, whose musical ambition seriously impresses me, if only there were more time! (Also, Ungoro, you mentioned that a broken reed is hindering your attempt at picking up the clarinet, but if there is a music store nearby that sells them, they are dirt cheap, when I was playing they were $0.25).

Nik and Gala, that is really cool.

Aahhhh! I wish I had responded earlier... stupid work. Anyway, you all made me quite happy.

[Ryno]

I used to play the alto saxophone. To be honest it's sitting right behind me, haven't played it since high school. Ah, I kinda enjoyed it. Being in a large band is a good feeling. The pieces to the puzzle fit to make a picture.

[Karrosh]

The pieces to the puzzle fit to make a picture.

Yesssssssssssss.

I was in both concert band and jazz band back in the day. Played everything from Bach to Charlie Parker. There's something that's just amazing about working exactly right with a group of other people, taking a slew of different noises and coaxing them into a complete piece.

Now I'm all hyped to make music. I seriously need to start a band one of these days...

[Tahlian]

Let's see...I can sight-read quite a lot of music. I can play the piano, the soprano recorder, the tinwhistle. I played the trombone in middle school, as well as the violin, but I don't know how good I'd be with them now. I also made an attempt to learn to play the bagpipes, but didn't get very far with it.

These days, I'd love to learn the bodhran. I love the powerful back-rhythms of celtic music and the sound of the bodhran.

[Karrosh]

I was getting pretty good at reading on my tenor sax and clarinet, but then I sort of stopped playing them, and I just never put in the time to learn to read for bass (I suppose at some point I could rectify that, but since I mostly just noodle around on my own it isn't a huge priority).

That's awesome though. Have to say, bagpipes intrigue me.

Also, part of me wants to get a theramin and learn to play that one. It's one instrument a lot of people don't know about, but everybody has heard because it's a favorite for sci-fi sound effects. I mean, playing music by waving your hands through electrical fields is totally a neat concept.

[Saturo]

I had one of those. It constantly freaked the dog out, so I had to get rid of it.

The school orchestra liked it tough, bit they said it didn't belong along their fancy violins, and guitars, and pianos, and triangles...

Yes, there was a guy who played just the triangles. We made fun of him. A bit... Sometimes...

[Vephriel]

Heh, I've always had a slight desire to learn the bagpipes, mainly because I'm Scottish by heritage. They sound incredibly difficult to learn and master though, so that desire will most likely just remain wishful thinking.

[rathenar]

^ haha your scottish too? I play the guitar though I fail miserably, I've always wanted to pick up the cello though, but if i fail at guitar than cello is deffinantly out of my reach X(