Who here is a musician?

[PETRUS]

What instrument(s)? What style(s) of music?

My principle instrument is classical guitar - my specialty is South American music - but I play other styles and use steel string (acoustic and electric) instruments, too. Last year I got caught up in bluegrass, and developed a lot of new speed in the process.

I can get by on bass, piano/keyboards, and drums.

[arcane1]

1. I am when I'm motivated

Guitar and bass, mostly rock.

[PETRUS]

4. "When I'm motivated"

Sound like you're keeping it fun!

[arcane1]

14. It's "when I end up playing"

There are days when I play all night, and other days when I never pick up. Lately, I've been mostly trying to record silly songs I wrote when I was in my 20's. And even when I just play around, I LOVE living in the 21st century!!! We can sit on our asses at home and still record multi-track multi-instrument at CD quality

[Scuba]

2. Guitar. Rock and blues. No talent but plenty of grinding determination and love for music. n/t

[PETRUS]

5. Talent

People do have varying levels of innate ability, I'm sure. But much of what appears to be talent is just hours and hours of practice.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

12. And the will to get better.

No substitute for that.

[Brickbat]

3. I was a very good classical pianist and violinist who probably could have gone far if it were my

primary interest, which it was not. I was just an excellent hobbyist. I am currently picking up the electric bass and LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT.

I am also a very, VERY good music theorist.

[PETRUS]

6. Cool.

I find theory quite fascinating, too.

[Brickbat]

7. Oh God -- a bottle of wine, a record on the stereo, and I'm off.

Don't get me started!

[PETRUS]

13. A poet friend of mine...

...was talking about rules and form and what not. His opinion was that when being creative, it's good to "do something one wouldn't normally be inclined to do" and that it's possible employ knowledge of rules and form to break out of a rut. I feel the same way about music theory when it comes to composition or improvisation.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

8. Played rythem, lead and bass in rock and punk

bands. I now play folk, for lack of a better way to put it. I know hundreds of country songs. (Hate new "country".) I can play every Beatles song ever written. Dylan, Neil Young and other songs from back when that you can play on an acoustic guitar. I've written a lot of songs, some of which I'd like to record and post here if y'all don't mind.

[Scuba]

10. As a relative novice, I'd love it if you posted some songs with tabs and strumming patterns.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

11. I would but I never learned tablature.

All I can do is post the words and chords.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. After a fashion.

My B.A. is in music and I sing in a couple of small early music ensembles. Used to play the piano, too, but these days I pretty much suck at it.

[abq e streeter]

15. I sing, and play harmonica, flute, and sax

Always been sort of a semi pro, meaning I almost always had to have at least a part time day job too.
I've mainly done blues, and 60's soul and rock over the years, but have played a wide variety of styles. My favorite style to sing (and what I'm best at) is rockabilly but haven't done that in a dozen years. On harmonica,blues obviously... and on sax, I love the old soul stuff. For flute; I like reggae, and jazzy stuff (as opposed to jazz, although can sort of fake it if I have to) like Van Morrison... I love harmony singing too but only get a chance to really do that once in a while.

[PETRUS]

16. sort of faking jazz

That's about where I am, I'd say. Comfortable with rhythm and comping, can improvise a lead in a pinch (or if I know the changes really really well) but feel totally exposed when I'm up against a real jazz musician.

Ever pick up a clarinet, just for fun?

[abq e streeter]

21. I feel the same way when I'm playing with serious jazzers

I can get by OK if I know the changes, which more often than not I don't cuz I don't listen to much jazz, so don't know the material too well usually....But I have a fairly good ear, which is why I can even sort of fake it.
Also....Never tried a clarinet . Very different fingering than sax from what I understand.

[RZM]

17. Been playing guitar and bass for about 17 years

I enjoy it very much. Have a project going right now with a friend who plays drums. We've been recording and I've been having a lot of fun with it.

He tends to write poppier songs (I like to tease him that he reminds me of Donovan).

I've noticed my style is sadder. And louder. Moody pieces with lots of minors and sustain

[tammywammy]

18. I played the cello for 8 years

stopped after my senior year in high school. Sold my cello to a friend a couple of years ago.

I wish I had learned the piano.

[murielm99]

19. You sound like me.

I have a similar history with the cello. I wish I had learned piano, too. I bought a good piano and made sure my kids had lessons. They all played a second instrument, too. One of them has a B.A. in music, and a master's degree in flute performance (but it is called something else).

I am glad my musical exposure led to greater musical exposure and appreciation for my children.

[tammywammy]

20. I don't have kids

Though if I did they'd at least learn the piano. A good understanding of classical music is key in life, I believe. All music derives off of classical, if it's into rock and rap, etc.

I love classical music. I'm still surprised almost to this day about my parents getting seasonal tickets to the ballet and my dad actually going.

Just last weekend I commented to a friend about a commercial playing "Swan Lake" and he didn't know that it was "Swan Lake" playing....

[hifiguy]

27. Agreed, tammywammy

A functioning knowledge of classical music and English literature is basic cultural literacy. I'd add jazz to the mix as well.

[TexasTowelie]

22. Trumpet player.

Played from 5th grade until I graduated from college. Finally took music theory for non-music majors the last semester of college since I needed 3 hours of classroom fine arts along with 3 hours of performance art on my BS degree plan (yes, they wanted the science majors to have a diverse background). In college, I was in a concert band since we did not have football at my university.

Dabbled a bit on keyboards after graduation, but wasn't talented enough to pursue as a career.

One of the funner experiences was about 12 years after high school, they had an alumni band function where the band members joined with the high school band during a football game. While the youngsters were out marching, the old fogies stayed in the stands to play the fight song when we scored. Our team scored more in that one game than we did my entire junior year of high school so my chops were shot by the end of the night.

[fizzgig]

23. my husband just started teaching me the bass

i'm 30 and, to date, my greatest musical accomplishment was a xylophone solo in a music program in kindergarten or first grade. i have always been fascinated by it and wanted to learn an instrument, but have not had the opportunity until now.

i'm still just practicing my scales and learning the notes, but he said i'm picking up pretty quickly.

he's a bass player, but we've got a couple guitars, a drum set and a piano. i've seen him half-ass it on a sax.

he won me over when he pulled out a stand up bass and busted out lovecats

[mikeytherat]

24. I've played bass and bass guitar for 33 years, and I sing Tenor and Alto.

mikey_the_rat

[OxQQme]

25. Bass. R&R cover tunes mostly

My 45 yr old son, (stage named, The Chet) though, plays just about everything.

With Eels:

He's here on guitar (in the vest):

On pedal steel:

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On The Saw (and guitar):

On homemade drum kit:

With Lucinda Williams (the blond guitar):

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[hifiguy]

26. Bass guitar for almost 40 years

and backing/harmony vocals. Was trained in classical and theatre organ as a tween and can still find my way around OK on organ and synthesizers.

[OxQQme]

28. Here's me on bass

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at a seriously mis-guided fund raiser for Chris Dudley for Governor.

Mis-guided, as I was under the impression that, since he was the president of the NBA Players Union, he would be a good choice.

More at the you tube site but the sound was captured on a video cam that was also mis-guidedly wandering around )

[Burma Jones]

29. Trumpet, Keyboards and Classically Trained Tenor I

I've been paid (poorly) to play trumpet and for my singing, more for my singing. I've been a paid Tenor for a couple of Church Choirs and a soloist for a few things.

My keyboard playing was mostly for punk/New Wave bands in the early 1980's, very rudimentary


I've played at CBGB's and Southpaw in NYC, the 9:30 Club, Black Cat, IOTA and The Bayou here in DC, a couple places I can't recall in Baltimore and a bunch of places I can't recall throughout Illinois and Iowa. I've also sang at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Washington National Cathedral, The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Strathmore Music Center, Funerals, Weddings, many Churches and more than one street corner.......

I also composed music for Live Theatre Productions and spun records at Clubs.