What kind of music do you play?

[C38368]

I know for fact that I play the saxophone. Know for fact, I say, because I seem to be under the delusion that I also play bass

 

[Bunnyears]

Quote:

Originally Posted by luuk Cool to see so many playing guitar. I always wanted to play guitar, but my parents kept me on the piano. A part of me is now thankfull after 11 years of practice, but a part of me curses them. But heck, airguitar is fine

After about 8 or 9 years of formal piano and theory lessons I took my birthday money, went out, and bought a guitar and a book of how to play and taught myself. It never made me more than a half-decent amateur. Certain things such as some easy styles of picking were taught to me by friends. My enjoyment of guitar was as great as my enjoyment of piano, maybe greater because I did it completely by myself. I also could play autoharp without any lessons at all -- no surprise to anyone. Ofcourse I continued studying piano until well into my 20s, but that is a whole different story. Later when my kids were given recorder in school I had no problem playing along with them either.

 

[xtr3me]

Another "guitar dude" here.
I play a lot of different stuff (from metal to classical) but right now I'm an acoustic guitar phase. I've been playing a lot of Dave Matthews, and Eric Clapton these last few weeks.

 

[NightWoundsTime]

I played classical piano from about 4 years old until I was 21. Towards the end I was really interested in modern classical. Of course I still had college professors making me play the Beethoven and such but my favorite two pieces I ever played were Charles Ives' "The Alcotts" from Sonata No. 2, and the complete Ginastera Sonata for Piano. Another real favorite of mine from the high school years was Lizst's Spozalizio from the italian pilgramage. Chopin's Polonaise in C minor got me pretty far in a Bob Jones high school piano competition (Yes that Bob Jones, I had a strange childhood.)

The last time I played for an audience and probably the last time I played a real piano (a 9 foot steinway) was when I performed the Ginastera Sonata at my community college. That is one amazingly insane piece to say the least, and I don't think my audience was up to the task of listening to it but I had a lot of fun. Something very cool about a piece where nobody knows if you're hitting wrong notes. I kind of got this crazy inspiration to stretch a few passages out completely irrelevant to the tempo I'd established and they ended up being the crowd pleasers, something to kind of break up the monotonous eighth note barrage. My teacher had kept telling me to find the melody in all that mess and it wasn't until I really performed it that the melody jumped out, so I made sure everyone knew it was in there somewhere. It wasn't until afterwards that I got Hilda Somer's recording of the piece and found that she does the same thing in a few places. I thought my teacher was going to kill me when I got off stage but he was impressed.

Ok sounds like I'm bragging here about being really good, but I wasn't. I basically got to a stage where it would have taken a large part of my day practicing to really get better. I was sort of at a high school level of real understanding of the music and technique, while constantly tackling harder pieces, and actually overstressed my hands and arms a few times because I was so haphazard with the big pieces I was playing. I stopped playing classical because I was no longer interested in the same old Bach & Beethoven, and didn't want to become a master level pianist (and definitely end up teaching somewhere, I'm definitely not cut out to be a concert pianist).

So, all that ranting aside, basically all I do now is screw around with jazz & blues on my keyboard. Still satisfying although I wish I had a real piano to keep my fingers more nimble, a keyboard just doesn't give the same kind of exercise.

 

[technobarbie]

Piano, Sax, and Guitar.

Unfortunately I haven't kept up with it.

 

[kencer]

Been playing the bass for 12 years now, never bothered with the guitar(Les Claypool was a huge influence there, and Jason Newsted as well). And a bit of drums

 

[PSmith08]

I noodle about on the bass. More to relax than anything else. Of course, I made a point of learning the opening riff to Queen's "Under Pressure," more or less as the one piece I play for people when they come into my room and ask if I know how to play. Happily, no one ever asks to hear another song.

 

[Aman]

Well, I play the following:

Drums - 13 years
Piano/Synth - 10 years-ish
Harmonica (Chromatic's my thing, but I have an E, G, and C diatonic as well) - 6 years
Bass - 6 years
Guitar - I've dabbled...
Banjo - 3 years
Sax (Alto is my favorite) - 4 years

I started off playing grunge/alternative rock kind of stuff. I was in a few bands during high school that reflected that (but we were still a bit progressive). My last high school band that fused into a college band became the outlet into my jam-band and electronic improvisations. Now, my musical ability essentially allows me to rise above genres and musical styles. Now, I play in a band that innovates and creates. We mix everything from Jazz, to the Blues, to hardcore metal, to avant-garde and experimental improvisation, and even some rap and trance. I play my own kind of music, the music that I produce for my band. I wish I could explain it better, but I'd be generalizing if I tried. Think of a cross between Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, Sigur Ros, and Charlie Parker. You'd be a bit closer to the sound we implement under that mentality

 

[kencer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSmith08 I noodle about on the bass. More to relax than anything else. Of course, I made a point of learning the opening riff to Queen's "Under Pressure," more or less as the one piece I play for people when they come into my room and ask if I know how to play. Happily, no one ever asks to hear another song.

LOL! Under Pressure had one of the easiest opening riffs. shame vanilla ice had to ruin it. the first complete song i learnt was Radiohead's Creep. really easy song to play but wasnt later that i realised it was all about feel...that was the turning point for me

 

[megawzrd]

Started playing bass in 92
Picked up the guitar in 94 and never looked back (mainly electric)
Although I took a detour in 2003 to meander in the art of mixing and turntablism I still kept my fingers nimble on strings
Now I am taking up the drums

I consider the guitar to be my number one instrument...heck 10 or so years, im decent. But drums have always been my secret passion. I always wanted to play drums way back before I picked up the bass but I couldn't do so becuase I know my dad wouldn't have put up with the noise. I picked up an electronic set so I wouldn't bother the neighbors. I love it.

I think I will go back to guitar later on. Perhaps pick up a nice flamenco guitar. Or maybe the Cello...I've always wanted to shred on a cello...

. As you can see I am a very distracted person. Oh well...such is life

 

[EhJayKim]

I play percussion, mostly orchestral, with an emphasis on marimba and mallets.

 

[DJ Mauler]

my brother is starting to show me guitar but its not really too high on my list atm

 

[fewtch]

I can sing (and am actually good -- natural talent) but unfortunately don't play other instruments... very few bands looking just for a singer, and I've never tried getting into a band anyway. Used to get plenty of applause at karaoke bars tho... don't hit 'em much anymore because I'm without a vehicle.

 

[kencer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch I can sing (and am actually good -- natural talent) but unfortunately don't play other instruments... very few bands looking just for a singer, and I've never tried getting into a band anyway. Used to get plenty of applause at karaoke bars tho... don't hit 'em much anymore because I'm without a vehicle.

gave american idol a try?

 

[iSleipnir]

I have been playing sax since the 4th grade. I really like works by Frank Tichelli and soem of Grangers compositions. That and Ska is really my performance passion. Great music with amazing energy.