Do you play an instrument?

[JesterFace]

Is there a thread like this already, oooops.... ?

Anyway, do you play an instrument or are you doing something music related?
I play guitar, or at least try. Electric guitar to be specific.

I started to play in the 5th grade in mid 90s in a school band. Basic chords and that's about it.
It sort of went away until in 1998 when I went to a new school around 15 to 16 years of age and there were few metalheads in my class.
We got to know each other and eventually that led me discovering metal music and then picking up the guitar again and actually learning to play things that aren't just basic chords.

Lately I haven't been very active whith playing due to health thingy but perhaps some day it'll come back.
At one point I went overboard and had about 10 electric guitars at the same time.
These days I have 2 and that's enough, no more gear wanking.
The Explorer I got in 2017 but the ”BloodyKelly” has been with me since 1999 or something like that and that's the guitar I was using when actually learning to play.

I'm not a beginner but not amazing either, middle of the road skill level type of player.

Pictures of current gear.

DEAN Z

JACKSON KELLY

 

[Finn]

no

 

[Velocity]

I played the clarinet in grade school and I hated it.

 

[Winterwind]

As a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist I've been know to play a few.

Like most kids, at least in our school system when I was a kid, I started with the recorder in Grade 1.

I started playing the flute in Grade 7 and my folks got me an acoustic guitar the same year. I wound up playing flute in the concert band and guitar in the jazz band all through high school.

So... guitar, bass, piano, harmonica, flute recorders, penny whistles and I dabble a bit with ukulele and mandolin.

 

[tomalak301]

I played the clarinet in grade school and I hated it.

Same, but for me it was the Alto Sax. Didn't like Band class at all. In fact, most of Middle School is a time in my life I kind of regret.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I've been playing electric bass guitar for about 30 years now, but I started off on drums and have dabbled with synths and acoustic rhythm guitar now and then. But bass is my favorite.

 

[Timewalker]

I can play the organ, recorder, accordion, and I've been musing about spoons (yes, they are a legit musical instrument; there are plenty of how-to videos on YouTube).

I've also composed music, written filksongs, and taught organ.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Trombone.

I was a huge band geek in high school (AND college) and loved every minute of it. Played in every kind of band I could find. Marching, concert, orchestra, jazz (my favorite).

One of my favorite memories of that was when I was in college and President Bush (Sr.) came to speak. Playing "Hail to the Chief" was one of the greatest things I've ever done. I remember the Secret Service watching us rehearse.

 

[Winterwind]

I've been playing electric bass guitar for about 30 years now, but I started off on drums and have dabbled with synths and acoustic rhythm guitar now and then. But bass is my favorite.

Funny thing is, I'm a guitarist that actually prefers playing bass. I think it's because, since I do 90% of my writing on guitar I subconsciously think of a guitar as work and the bass is a vacation. I just feel more free wandering around the neck of a bass.

 

[XCV330]

There' a lot of musical talent on this forum

I've played a lot of instruments over the years, none of them particularly well.

Lately I've gotten into doing electronic music jams without computers (dawless), and I try to keep it simple as I can with just a few synthsizers and a groovebox. When I am feeling less electronic, I am supposed to be practicing on the five string banjo. I used to play tenor banjo, but I set it aside and it's collecting dust with the mandolin.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I have mad respect for anyone who can play the guitar, or indeed any stringed instrument. I don't understand how the hell they can do it. It just looks so damn complicated.

What I'd really love to learn is the Chapman Stick....seems like it should be easier since you don't have to play chords.

 

[XCV330]

I have mad respect for anyone who can play the guitar, or indeed any stringed instrument. I don't understand how the hell they can do it. It just looks so damn complicated.

What I'd really love to learn is the Chapman Stick....seems like it should be easier since you don't have to play chords.

the easiest stringed instrument is probably going to be something like an autoharp or a bowed zither.

but for a fretted instrument that sounds great and is easy to play, from experience, I'd say the mountain ducimer tuned DAA or DAD. You only have to play the melody note. You can find versions of them that play more like little guitars, called "Stum sticks" and even banjo like versions, called banjimers.

Another easy way to play a fretted instruent would be playing a ukekele tuned "Slack" or open G. you just bar your finger across the frets and get a cord that way. It's good enough for Keith Richards on 6 string

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I play a little guitar but go months without practicing sometimes.

With the music theory I got from the piano lessons when I was 8 I don’t find it all that complicated. Unless you’re doing something like improvisational jazz you’re mostly playing basic chords and moving one note or riffing on scales.

 

[shapeshifter]

I play a scorching air guitar.

 

[jackoverfull]

Yes, I’ve been playing Hammond Organ professionally for the last ten years or so.

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I also play other keyboards, sing a bit and write music.

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[Nombrecomun]

Electric guitar for some decades now. Somewhere around a decade or so ago I stopped. Family, kids, all of that takes up time, energy....

About 6 years ago Steve Vai had one of his Vai Academy camps within driving distance from my house. He's one of my guitar heroes and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to reconnect with the guitar. One of the highlights of his camps is that every camper gets on stage to jam with him. A super scary prospect for me so I had to start practicing in anticipation. It's been non-stop since then.

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[XCV330]

https://soundcloud.com/user-215886818/good-morning-welcome-home

a little piece i did for a friend who was recovering from major surgery and finally got to return home. Just a groovebox and a tiny synth/effects machine with a little TNG thrown in

 

[PCz911]

I’m a quite average guitarist. Which really comes out when I play with my fellow musician pals who are all pros and do it for a living (recording artists, session guys, Berkeley school grads etc). It humbles you really quick, but the joy of playing outweighs my lack of talent.

I always say if there was a correlation between the number of guitars owned and skill, I’d be Eric Clapton. Also have bass, uke, and mandolin. These days I just play for fun and in the worship band at church.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Funny thing is, I'm a guitarist that actually prefers playing bass. I think it's because, since I do 90% of my writing on guitar I subconsciously think of a guitar as work and the bass is a vacation. I just feel more free wandering around the neck of a bass.

I hear you. For me, the bass became unconsciously a continuation of the drums I started off with as I do a lot of slap & pop playing. Even my regular fingerstyle playing is kind of percussive, but I'm more about setting a groove than a beat.

 

[XCV330]

I hear you. For me, the bass became unconsciously a continuation of the drums I started off with as I do a lot of slap & pop playing. Even my regular fingerstyle playing is kind of percussive, but I'm more about setting a groove than a beat.

I wanted to be the next Mark King or Larry Graham on bass as a teenager but I just didn't have it, whatever it was. I admire anyone that can do it.