Musical instruments that you play...or would like to play

[Scoop Snoop]

There will probably be many steel string and electric guitarists as well as pianists here.

 I'll begin with my learning to play steel string acoustic guitar late in life and switching to classical guitar within a couple of years. There is no "right" kind of guitar as far as I am concerned-steel, electric, and CGs all have their own characteristic sounds. When I first heard a CG, I fell in love with the distinctive, subtle, and hypnotic tonal ranges and never looked back.

 I play music ranging from pieces you would recognize to others centuries old. Despite years of lessons and phenomenal hours of practice, my talent level remains modest.

CGs are more lightly built, smaller bodied than steel string acoustics, have synthetic strings mimicking gut strings from many years ago, and are always played by fingers, not a pic (with one very notable exception in Willie Nelson, as people are always quick to remind me). Spruce soundboards produce a "brighter" sound while cedar ones produce a "warmer, more Spanish" sound. I have one of each. The necks are wider than acoustic guitars to accommodate finger playing rather than strumming of chords. 

I also love the rich, soulful sound of a cello and wish that I had enough musical talent to add a cello to my collection.

classicalguitardelcamp.com is a huge international CG forum. On the off chance that a few of you would like to listen to some samples of CG, go to the site and under "Our Recordings of Romantic and Modern Music", pg.1, Londonderry Air is a tune that you will quickly recognize under another name. On pg.2, El Noi de la Mare is a beautiful, lilting Catalan song. These are both very simple pieces that I play along with many others. The last sample features a very accomplished CGer. He's waaay ahead of me. Under "Our Recordings of Early Music", click onto "Our Recordings of Gaspar Sanz", then pg.2, Canarios played by cedartop is a short version of this piece. 

 

   

[Jay Bee]

Uncle rico plays a mean s-flute.

I've put out multiple LPs.

I think the most amazing thing to me has been how many musicians can play multiple instruments. Some cats are just so musical and talented. Really dope.

[Uncle Rico]

Uncle rico plays a mean s-flute.

I've put out multiple LPs.

I think the most amazing thing to me has been how many musicians can play multiple instruments. Some cats are just so musical and talented. Really dope.

This post isn't very Christian.  I assume you'll ask penance at your next confession.

[JWags85]

I'm the standard piano and guitar musician.  Took piano for 5-6 years in grade/middle school, didn't love it.  Picked it back up in my early high school years playing what I wanted this time and progressed a lot faster.

Taught myself acoustic guitar when I was 17, progressed into songwriting in my early college years and got my first electric.  My last 2-3 years of college I played open mics weekly and weekend shows a few times a month.  Played with a band for a few months that ended up being signed to Fueled by Ramen, 6 months after myself and another guy had left due to summer work commitments.  But I co-wrote a song on their debut album so that was cool.

Ive never really had the urge to play anything else.  Drums are obviously fun, but that's sort of the extent of it.  If anything I just wish I was more fluent/proficient at the theory of each instrument which would make spontaneous playing a bit more free flowing.

I have a sampling/midi pad that I got awhile ago that I never really threw myself into learning.  I'm excited to expose my son to it in a few years and learn how to work with it together, cause Ive seen so many cool things done with them.

[muwarrior69]

Piano and I love to sing. Sing in my church choir and 75 voice community choir. I sang with the MU Chorus.

[Galway Eagle]

Instruments I've taken lessons for and played:

Highland bagpipes
Piano
Guitar
Bass saxophone
Clarinet
Violin

Instruments I've tried to figure out myself and can play 1-3 songs:

Irish tin whistle
uillean pipes
Accordion

I've only had one uillean pipe lesson, I'd really like to play them competently, the cost is extremely prohibitive. The eBay sets from the Middle East don't actually work which leaves hand made Ireland UK or US

[MuggsyB]

Instruments I've taken lessons for and played:

Highland bagpipes
Piano
Guitar
Bass saxophone
Clarinet
Violin

Instruments I've tried to figure out myself and can play 1-3 songs:

Irish tin whistle
uillean pipes
Accordion

I've only had one uillean pipe lesson, I'd really like to play them competently, the cost is extremely prohibitive. The eBay sets from the Middle East don't actually work which leaves hand made Ireland UK or US

Wow!  That's awesome.  I just play piano and a little guitar. 

[Boone]

Self-taught guitarist (Walden acoustic; Les Paul epiphone electric played thru an Orange amp)...and it shows at times bc I don't read music. If I could, maybe my lead playing  would be more fluid and less mechanical.

[Scoop Snoop]

Self-taught guitarist (Walden acoustic; Les Paul epiphone electric played thru an Orange amp)...and it shows at times bc I don't read music. If I could, maybe my lead playing  would be more fluid and less mechanical.

The challenge of learning to read music scared me at first, but it is actually easy to learn the basics. Classical music notations are more complex, but I encourage you to learn to read music at a basic level. It not only opens up the door to a huge number of songs, but you can learn dynamics and have the better fluidity, less mechanical playing you desire (provided you learn to read through the bars and do not have a "micro second" pause at the end of bars). I know that some people can play very well and with great expression while not being able to read music. I'm not one of them, and I think you have made it clear you are not either.

Notations in the score really helped me bring out the soul of Ashoken Farewell. I could have figured it out without the notations (by listening to recordings), but it would have taken much longer. It really loses its' spirit if played mechanically. Ken Burn's Civil War series made it famous nationally and then it went on to international fame.

Trust me on this, Go for it!

[muwarrior69]

Most singers I know are decent sight readers. In my church choir only 5 out of 20 cannot sight read which is why most choir directors will go over the notes for each part. In my community choir of 75 I would say about 15 cannot sight read. By sight reading I don't mean they cannot read music. A decent sight reader can actually sing the pitch of each note without hearing it on the piano but even for a decent sight reader certain intervals can be difficult. Most Choirmasters will always go over each sections notes that way we are all in tune with each other.

When you sing acapella counting can be quite challenging as well. I always have trouble with hemiolas. That is when a piece is written in 3 time but feels like it is in 2 time for a few measures.

[Pakuni]

Uncle rico plays a mean s-flute.

Just ask Rico out, already. The worst he can do is say no.

Self-taught guitarist here. One thing I do worse than play guitar is teach it.

[Jockey]

I'm the standard piano and guitar musician.  Took piano for 5-6 years in grade/middle school, didn't love it.  Picked it back up in my early high school years playing what I wanted this time and progressed a lot faster.

Taught myself acoustic guitar when I was 17, progressed into songwriting in my early college years and got my first electric.  My last 2-3 years of college I played open mics weekly and weekend shows a few times a month.  Played with a band for a few months that ended up being signed to Fueled by Ramen, 6 months after myself and another guy had left due to summer work commitments.  But I co-wrote a song on their debut album so that was cool.

Your post illustrates how music is a 'language'. Learn the grammar of music and it is relatively easy to switch from piano to guitar. Practice is all you need.

Don't wanna learn the grammar? you will usually sound pretty mechanical. Once you do learn, playing lead will become instinctive rather than just rote playing.

[Scoop Snoop]

Just ask Rico out, already. The worst he can do is say no.

Self-taught guitarist here. One thing I do worse than play guitar is teach it.

I think I took lessons from you briefly. Took 2 years to unlearn what you taught me.

[Boone]

The challenge of learning to read music scared me at first, but it is actually easy to learn the basics. Classical music notations are more complex, but I encourage you to learn to read music at a basic level. It not only opens up the door to a huge number of songs, but you can learn dynamics and have the better fluidity, less mechanical playing you desire (provided you learn to read through the bars and do not have a "micro second" pause at the end of bars). I know that some people can play very well and with great expression while not being able to read music. I'm not one of them, and I think you have made it clear you are not either.

Notations in the score really helped me bring out the soul of Ashoken Farewell. I could have figured it out without the notations (by listening to recordings), but it would have taken much longer. It really loses its' spirit if played mechanically. Ken Burn's Civil War series made it famous nationally and then it went on to international fame.

Trust me on this, Go for it!


Good to know. Thanks. Rhythm is fun but to get to next level know I need to improve lead play.