My fellow musicians

DTMracer · June 13th, 2008, 02:59 PM

I'm posting this outside of the music thread to get my responses.

Just out of interest, what instruments do people here play, and why do you love your instrument so much?

I mainly play piano and guitar. I'm one of those weirdos born with perfect pitch, so I've had a big love of music ever since I was a little boy. I've been playing piano for over 10 years, and I love it because the piano fits into so many different types of music.

Bass guitar was a bit of a weird one. I started out playing normal guitar, but gradually found bass to be more enjoyable. I love the sound of a bass guitar, its just so soothing and once again, fits into many different types of music.

Karoug · June 13th, 2008, 04:41 PM

I've been playing the guitar since i was 14, and I still consider it to be my "main" instrument. I do play other intrumenst such as Bass, Banjo, Drums and the violin.. For me music is/was a good way to deal with my aggression.. That's why I mostly play Metal.. But I also have a soft spot for irish music and bluegrass.. And some jazz..

Crazyjeeper · June 13th, 2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyjeeper

I play guitar and saxophone. I started playing bass, and slowly moved to guitar when I started playing more by myself. I got into it because all of my friends were like, "I want to play the electric guitar" and I decided I was actually going to learn to play it, not just say I wanted to.

I play Saxophone because it was the coolest instrument in 6th grade when I started band at school and stuck with it through senior year.

Speedtouch · June 13th, 2008, 06:07 PM

I play the piano and have done since I was about 7... I don't play anything else, but if I could choose I would probably have learned the guitar instead. Although playing Muse pieces is fun. images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Bugatti's Aftershave · June 13th, 2008, 06:09 PM

I think I started the piano when I was about 4 or 5. I ended up with a performer's degree when I was 15 and then I moved on to the trumpet. Played in a jazz band. Tried to pick up the guitar but just didn't seem to have the patience. Can only play power cords. PPPPooooweerrrrrrrr.

Punisher Bass · June 13th, 2008, 07:10 PM

I tried playing saxaphone in my youth, but gave up because I just can't read notes/sheet music. Some years later I decided to learn bass, and I'll never forget what the guy told me when I bought it. "If you turn out to be a good bass player, you will have work. If you turn out to be a bad bass player, you will have work. Because no one out there wants to play bass". That was almost 10 years ago.

I picked bass because everyone only wants to learn guitar. I've seen and heard countless kids who have zero right being near a guitar or microphone. You know the ones, they have no talent or maybe just a speck of it, but think they are as good as Clapton and will be the next MTV star. I've also seen parents buy little johny jerkoff a $2,500 Fender and $1,500 Marshall stack because they think it will make them a better musician.

Last year I had suck in stereo while buying strings at Guitar Center. On one side of me is one of the above kids with a fender knock off trying to play Enter Sandman. One other side of me a slightly older kid with another knock off trying to play Stairway To Heaven. Both of them failing miserably. It took every ounce of stregnth not to grab one of the guitars and beat them to death with it Bluto style.

I seem to have strayed from the topic a bit...

We may get ragged on for not having talent, but without us and the drummers, you guitarists don't have shit.

+ YouTube Video

And this is hands down the most impressive bass solo I've ever seen.

+ YouTube Video

Labcoatguy · June 13th, 2008, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punisher Bass

And this is hands down the most impressive bass solo I've ever seen.

+ YouTube Video

Dude looks like Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee. Not bad for a hobbit.

I did the usual Asian thing of piano from age 5, and I briefly picked up violin while I was bored in high school. After college I picked a guitar and am figuring out slowly, using tabs and the occasional video tutorial. It's slow work, especially relearning how to read music, but I'm getting there.

DTMracer · June 13th, 2008, 10:35 PM

Bass is awesome. I found it much more enjoyable to play than my 7-string guitar, as as punisher-bass said, nobody want to play it because its not a "lead" instrument.

Seems lots of us here play piano. I've always wondered why so many asian parents make their kids play piano even when they don't enjoy it as it is by no mean an "easy to pickup" instrument, and just because your kid plays bach it doesn't suddenly make him more competent at school.

cvrefugee · June 13th, 2008, 11:04 PM

I play piano and guitar. I had piano lessons from age 11 to around 15, not sure when I stopped. The only problem is that I sight-read notes very well, but it takes me ages to memorize songs. So unless I have the notes in front of me, I'm not very impressive in a crowd. images/smilies/cry.gif

DTMracer · June 13th, 2008, 11:38 PM

lol, I'm the other way around. I remember learning all my exam songs just by listening to them over and over again, but in the exams my sight-reading would suck. My perfect pitch meant I never had to do the listening bits of the exam (e.g. Chord positions, picking out the bass line, whatever).

teeb · June 13th, 2008, 11:40 PM

Double bass, piano, bassoon, electric bass. I own a triangle, too, but I've never taken lessons on that.

I'm a huge double bass geek (not many can say that). I'm classically-trained (I had 10 years of lessons and an option to go to a music conservatoire to become a professional), which is a bit of a pain because recently I've been trying to play more jazz in a band. And I such utter balls at improvisation. Oh well, I'm trying, at least.

Piano I've played for 14 years, absurdly. I'm not bad but I'm not exactly brilliant, either.

Bassoon, yeah, not touched that for a few years. It was my attempt at playing something more portable.

And the triangle I found at a jumble sale. I took it camping once as I can't play guitar.

Actually, that's a bugbear of mine. I can't for the life of me play guitar. I'm useless at it, it utterly defeats and frustrates me. Believe me, I've tried - just to play basic chords and move between them - but it doesn't happen. So my next plan is to buy a ukulele and self-teach myself that - two less strings to bother with, and it's something portable I can take and play along with at all those social gatherings when there's always a guitar (and it turns out that 50% of the people there can play it, even if it's just knocking out Wonderwall).

mclarensmps · June 13th, 2008, 11:41 PM

I can sort of play the guitar, sort of play the bass, and sort of play the drums, but what i can really play is Ableton images/smilies/smile.gif

Labcoatguy · June 13th, 2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teeb

Double bass, piano, bassoon, electric bass. I own a triangle, too, but I've never taken lessons on that.

I'm a huge double bass geek (not many can say that)

Bassoon, yeah, not touched that for a few years. It was my attempt at playing something more portable.

I have never heard "bassoon" and "more portable" in the same thought, until now images/smilies/lol.gif

. Boy has that double bass affected your perspective!

DTMracer · June 13th, 2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teeb

Double bass, piano, bassoon, electric bass. I own a triangle, too, but I've never taken lessons on that.

I'm a huge double bass geek (not many can say that). I'm classically-trained (I had 10 years of lessons and an option to go to a music conservatoire to become a professional), which is a bit of a pain because recently I've been trying to play more jazz in a band. And I such utter balls at improvisation. Oh well, I'm trying, at least.

Piano I've played for 14 years, absurdly. I'm not bad but I'm not exactly brilliant, either.

Bassoon, yeah, not touched that for a few years. It was my attempt at playing something more portable.

And the triangle I found at a jumble sale. I took it camping once as I can't play guitar.

Actually, that's a bugbear of mine. I can't for the life of me play guitar. I'm useless at it, it utterly defeats and frustrates me. Believe me, I've tried - just to play basic chords and move between them - but it doesn't happen. So my next plan is to buy a ukulele and self-teach myself that - two less strings to bother with, and it's something portable I can take and play along with at all those social gatherings when there's always a guitar (and it turns out that 50% of the people there can play it, even if it's just knocking out Wonderwall).

Yeah, I found that I was pretty rubbish on normal guitar, but could somehow play my way through some awesome bass solos.

I think every boy/man wants to be the next Jimmi Hendrix, which is why we all try and learn to play guitar at some point, but only a select few are seriously good enough.

mclarensmps · June 14th, 2008, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teeb

So my next plan is to buy a ukulele and self-teach myself that - two less strings to bother with, and it's something portable I can take and play along with at all those social gatherings when there's always a guitar (and it turns out that 50% of the people there can play it, even if it's just knocking out Wonderwall).

Just remember that Ukulele's are tuned very differently from guitars, so your chord formations will also be completely different!

DTMracer · June 14th, 2008, 12:33 AM

The ukulele is very different to a normal guitar! I tried playing one once, and it was difficult cos I had to relearn all the different finger positions.

EDIT: Who here found music theory exam to be a complete bitch? I managed to do very well (99 for all levels), but that was with heaps of practice (2 papers a week, every week up till exams) and a lot of swearing.

jayhawk · June 14th, 2008, 01:07 AM

I myself have been playing the guitar for the past 20 years. I like it because it is versatile.

DTMracer · June 14th, 2008, 01:16 AM

20 years! So you must be half way to becoming jimmi hendrix.

toma_alimosh · June 14th, 2008, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mclarensmps

I can sort of play the guitar, sort of play the bass, and sort of play the drums, but what i can really play is Ableton images/smilies/smile.gif

You mean Ableton Live? Ableton is the company, Live is the program.

But yeah, pretty much same here. I been picking up virtual instruments since last year. Play them with an M-audio MIDI keyboard and a Native Instruments Kore console, which really helps in terms of sound design.

The virtual instruments I play emulate your basic electronic instruments: synthesizer, sampler, drum machine, etc.

And I also use Ableton Live as my DAW of choice.
Unfortunately, my productions at the current time sound a bit shite because of low PC specs ... and some of these virtual instruments eat a lot of processing power ... a whole lot. If luck holds, I'll buy a new desktop by the end of summer, and finally things might start to pick up.

Oh, and I also DJ ... mostly on software, and on timecoded vinyl whenever I can borrow some decks off my friends (usually in exchange for lending my MIDI equipment to them). I need my own decks, damnit. images/smilies/sad.gif

73GMCSprint · June 14th, 2008, 06:44 AM

I played trumpet in concert band and jazz band through high school, and then in symphonic band at the university.

First, and foremost, however, I am a concert pianist. I've played since before I was 5, continued through college, and graduated with a music degree. I play almost exclusively classical, although I would love to learn to really play jazz.

June 13th, 2008, 02:59 PM	#1
DTMracer Joined: Oct 6th, 2007 Last Online: September 6th, 2008 Posts: 1,067 Car: 1988 Mini Cooper, 1998 MB E55 AMG Rep Power: 8	My fellow musicians I'm posting this outside of the music thread to get my responses. Just out of interest, what instruments do people here play, and why do you love your instrument so much? I mainly play piano and guitar. I'm one of those weirdos born with perfect pitch, so I've had a big love of music ever since I was a little boy. I've been playing piano for over 10 years, and I love it because the piano fits into so many different types of music. Bass guitar was a bit of a weird one. I started out playing normal guitar, but gradually found bass to be more enjoyable. I love the sound of a bass guitar, its just so soothing and once again, fits into many different types of music.

June 13th, 2008, 04:41 PM	#2
Karoug Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sweden Age: 30 Posts: 1,470 Car: Volvo 745GLT! 3 bikes Rep Power: 19	I've been playing the guitar since i was 14, and I still consider it to be my "main" instrument. I do play other intrumenst such as Bass, Banjo, Drums and the violin.. For me music is/was a good way to deal with my aggression.. That's why I mostly play Metal.. But I also have a soft spot for irish music and bluegrass.. And some jazz.. __________________

June 13th, 2008, 06:07 PM	#4
Speedtouch Joined: Jul 30th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Kent, England Age: 16 Posts: 2,544 Rep Power: 28	I play the piano and have done since I was about 7... I don't play anything else, but if I could choose I would probably have learned the guitar instead. Although playing Muse pieces is fun. __________________ I Don't Know Where I'd Be Without This Forum. Thanks So Much

June 13th, 2008, 11:40 PM	#11
teeb Joined: Sep 23rd, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Bordeaux, France, but isn't French! Age: 21 Posts: 1,975 Rep Power: 46	Double bass, piano, bassoon, electric bass. I own a triangle, too, but I've never taken lessons on that. I'm a huge double bass geek (not many can say that). I'm classically-trained (I had 10 years of lessons and an option to go to a music conservatoire to become a professional), which is a bit of a pain because recently I've been trying to play more jazz in a band. And I such utter balls at improvisation. Oh well, I'm trying, at least. Piano I've played for 14 years, absurdly. I'm not bad but I'm not exactly brilliant, either. Bassoon, yeah, not touched that for a few years. It was my attempt at playing something more portable. And the triangle I found at a jumble sale. I took it camping once as I can't play guitar. Actually, that's a bugbear of mine. I can't for the life of me play guitar. I'm useless at it, it utterly defeats and frustrates me. Believe me, I've tried - just to play basic chords and move between them - but it doesn't happen. So my next plan is to buy a ukulele and self-teach myself that - two less strings to bother with, and it's something portable I can take and play along with at all those social gatherings when there's always a guitar (and it turns out that 50% of the people there can play it, even if it's just knocking out Wonderwall). __________________ ...I'm meant to put something here?

June 13th, 2008, 11:41 PM	#12
mclarensmps Joined: Mar 28th, 2006 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Age: 24 Posts: 484 Car: 1992 E36 BMW 318i Rep Power: 11	I can sort of play the guitar, sort of play the bass, and sort of play the drums, but what i can really play is Ableton __________________ "Right decision...? (long pause) Yeaaaaaaaaaaa..." - Mika Hakkinen

June 13th, 2008, 06:09 PM	#5
Bugatti's Aftershave Joined: Dec 28th, 2007 Last Online: 02:49 AM Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 201 Car: 2005 MB C240 4matic, 1977 Yam XT500 Rep Power: 11	I think I started the piano when I was about 4 or 5. I ended up with a performer's degree when I was 15 and then I moved on to the trumpet. Played in a jazz band. Tried to pick up the guitar but just didn't seem to have the patience. Can only play power cords. PPPPooooweerrrrrrrr.

June 13th, 2008, 10:35 PM	#8
DTMracer Joined: Oct 6th, 2007 Last Online: September 6th, 2008 Posts: 1,067 Car: 1988 Mini Cooper, 1998 MB E55 AMG Rep Power: 8	Bass is awesome. I found it much more enjoyable to play than my 7-string guitar, as as punisher-bass said, nobody want to play it because its not a "lead" instrument. Seems lots of us here play piano. I've always wondered why so many asian parents make their kids play piano even when they don't enjoy it as it is by no mean an "easy to pickup" instrument, and just because your kid plays bach it doesn't suddenly make him more competent at school.

June 13th, 2008, 11:04 PM	#9
cvrefugee Joined: Aug 16th, 2004 Last Online: 02:57 AM Location: Corona, CA Age: 27 Posts: 3,224 Car: 2005 Scion xB Rep Power: 48	I play piano and guitar. I had piano lessons from age 11 to around 15, not sure when I stopped. The only problem is that I sight-read notes very well, but it takes me ages to memorize songs. So unless I have the notes in front of me, I'm not very impressive in a crowd.

June 13th, 2008, 11:38 PM	#10
DTMracer Joined: Oct 6th, 2007 Last Online: September 6th, 2008 Posts: 1,067 Car: 1988 Mini Cooper, 1998 MB E55 AMG Rep Power: 8	lol, I'm the other way around. I remember learning all my exam songs just by listening to them over and over again, but in the exams my sight-reading would suck. My perfect pitch meant I never had to do the listening bits of the exam (e.g. Chord positions, picking out the bass line, whatever).

June 14th, 2008, 12:33 AM	#16
DTMracer Joined: Oct 6th, 2007 Last Online: September 6th, 2008 Posts: 1,067 Car: 1988 Mini Cooper, 1998 MB E55 AMG Rep Power: 8	The ukulele is very different to a normal guitar! I tried playing one once, and it was difficult cos I had to relearn all the different finger positions. EDIT: Who here found music theory exam to be a complete bitch? I managed to do very well (99 for all levels), but that was with heaps of practice (2 papers a week, every week up till exams) and a lot of swearing. Last edited by DTMracer; June 14th, 2008 at 12:59 AM.

June 14th, 2008, 01:07 AM	#17
jayhawk Cigar Smoking Man Joined: Dec 11th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Listening to stories from the Brân Lwyd. Age: 32 Posts: 4,805 Car: MY07 G11 WRX-TR WRB. Rep Power: 77	I myself have been playing the guitar for the past 20 years. I like it because it is versatile. __________________ It is nice to have friends like you on this forum. In the wee hours I'll meet you, down by Dun Ringill. Wife is re-employed....maybe I will show up unexpectantly at the next Nürburgring meet...

June 14th, 2008, 01:16 AM	#18
DTMracer Joined: Oct 6th, 2007 Last Online: September 6th, 2008 Posts: 1,067 Car: 1988 Mini Cooper, 1998 MB E55 AMG Rep Power: 8	20 years! So you must be half way to becoming jimmi hendrix.

June 14th, 2008, 06:44 AM	#20
73GMCSprint Joined: Jun 20th, 2007 Last Online: September 6th, 2008 Location: UT, USA Posts: 341 Car: 1973 GMC Sprint, Buick 455, TH400 Rep Power: 9	I played trumpet in concert band and jazz band through high school, and then in symphonic band at the university. First, and foremost, however, I am a concert pianist. I've played since before I was 5, continued through college, and graduated with a music degree. I play almost exclusively classical, although I would love to learn to really play jazz.