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Post by 469roadking on Feb 15, 2011 17:12:21 GMT -5
The thread on the resonator mandolin got me to thinking. Although the 6 string guitar is obviously and rightly our main squeeze, what other instruments do ya'll like and or play. I spent about 15 years playing predominately 5 string bass guitar. I love the instrument and the function of the instrument in a band. I learned more about what makes a song groove by being in that slot than I probably could have anywhere else. I spent a much shorter amount of time playing drums. I liked it too as it satisfied my groove jones. But it takes too much time to set up. ;D I'm can get by on a mandolin as long as the listener is fairly "uninformed" I had a violin once. It's a passionate instrument that I am totally in love with the sound of. When I pick it up and hold it under my chin and feel the fretless radius and tiny finger board it feels great. Then place the bow in my hand and ever so gently and with even pressure rake the bow across the strings and hear the horrid screeeeeech that comes out of it, I know that I should probably stick with the guitar. ;D What about Ya'll?
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Post by Mojo on Feb 15, 2011 17:21:50 GMT -5
Great thread idea! I'm originally a clarinet player. I played it for 10 years straight - still own one - as I attended the music conservatory as a young lad. I rapidly gravitated to the sax, and that became my main instrument. To this day, I listen to more jazz than anything else, and Miles, Bird and Trane are played in my house every day. After those two, i picked up the piano because I wanted a polyphonic instrument. Years later, I picked up the guitar - I'm a late bloomer, I was well into my 20s. I do play bass, but I am terrible at it, and since the shoulder surgeries, I have a hard time playing bass more than one song or two at a time. Something about the scale and the string gauge makes it too hard on the ole shoulder. I can't drum - I am a horrible, horrible drummer. I play the mandolin and the banjo, I enjoy both, but I know where my real love is
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Post by pwfirst on Feb 15, 2011 19:06:49 GMT -5
Many instruments I would love to play. Violin is at the top of my list with the keyboard right behind. Play a little simple Bass just to get buy in a pinch. Years ago played a little harmonica , have not picked one up in 35 years. I lust after a mandolin and am looking at one of the high end kits just to give it a try. When I play the drums it is just sad, I have no rhythm in my feet.
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Post by rayden44 on Feb 15, 2011 21:01:24 GMT -5
Played in order: Piano - learned as a kid for several years. I can still kinda play, but suck really Guitar - somebody handed me sheet music figuring since I could read it I'd be able to transfer it to guitar. HA! not that easy. learned a few riffs, but thats about it Sax - after noodling around for several years I learned sax in my late teens. No chords and no bass clef = fantastic! My brother says I was really talented and should never have stopped playing, which he doesn't say about my guitar! My teacher moved away, and I kinda gave up. Can still play last I checked, but the pads on my sax badly need work. Unlike guitar, brass/woodwind instruments wear neglect pretty badly. Guitar (The return!) - Figuring out who EC was and realising he wrote every song I'd ever loved (practically) was what got me into things again. I got a copy of EC's unplugged album, sat down and learned every damn song from tab, chords, midi, or whatever I could find. About 19/20 I got my first electric. Learned everything I could on it from the internet (which was a wimpy little nerdy kid at the time) and I am still around today Mandolin - I know 3 chords, with a few 7ths and interesting sounds thrown in. Fun to play, but challenging - very tight close frets. Kind of like a flipped guitar (G, D, A, E tuned). Bass - I play by ear, and not often. I do like grooving along, but not really good at it. Drums - I can coordinate my feet - or my hands. Both don't work. I can bongo a bit, but no drum work please I can't even tap my foot while playing guitar, not in time anyway. I usually bob my knee/head/butt. If I'm really feeling a song, my ankle will sway from side to side. I never claim to be normal
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Post by gasman on Feb 15, 2011 22:06:33 GMT -5
Well, I have a bunch of different instruments that I can barely play. First of all, I got my first acoustic guitar when I was about six - just used it to bang around at that age. I then got my dad's tenor banjo when I was about eight. My dad taught me some simple melodies that I can still play to this day. I have a Mel Bay tenor banjo book, and I know that if I sit down and try, I can learn more (I started doing that once), but I haven't messed with my banjo for a while. It's more of a sentimental piece than anything else.
My first serious guitar was my Harmony acoustic that I got when I was about 12 or 13. I played that one off and on until I got my first electric in 2007.
I also have a violin that I got from a distant cousin who sold it to me at a discount (he owed me money Ha, Ha). Just like with the banjo, I got a book for it, and started learning the basics, but I haven't picked it up in a while.
I also have two harmonicas. One is an older German-made Hohner Echo which sounds really cool. I've taken the self-taught approach on those, but I also have book to help me along.
I can do bongos, and I have some, but these days, my son uses them more (to play around).
I bought my son a ukulele for Christmas, 2009. He doesn't pay attention to it very much. I'd like to mess with it, but my son's at the age where he probably wouldn't like that.
I might get a mandolin off of Craigslist, but at the same time, I found a custom made Tele there also. I might end up getting both, but if I don't, I'll probably end up with the Tele.
EDIT: I almost forgot - I also dabble with keyboards once in a while. Great instrument to start learning about music!
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Post by rayden44 on Feb 15, 2011 23:37:04 GMT -5
Don't think anybody would frown upon the Tele
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Post by gasman on Feb 16, 2011 1:07:41 GMT -5
Don't think anybody would frown upon the Tele You said it! ;D
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Post by pwfirst on Feb 16, 2011 8:27:10 GMT -5
I hear search, TELI-HO, release the hounds.
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Post by Mojo on Feb 16, 2011 9:30:01 GMT -5
This may come as a surprise to you guys: I love Teles.
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Post by 469roadking on Feb 19, 2011 22:26:55 GMT -5
There's always room for another Tele........or Strat or Andy or Martin or Taylor or Gibson or Suhr or G&L or ..................
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Post by lesblues on Feb 20, 2011 5:31:42 GMT -5
My musical ability has never been something to write home about. At school I gave the trombone a try I think I lasted a term or two before giving it up because it clashed with my Rugby time! After that and when I discovered Rock n Roll a friend and I decided to form a band. As I was the least musically talented of us, obviously I was elected bass player. I ended up with a rather nice late 70's Fender Mustang that was a joy to play (short scale) and sounded really nice too. It was great, all I had to do was play whatever notes/rhythm the guitarists in the band told me to play. Had a lot of fun but never actually became a musician. After a long hiatus I decided to try to learn to play guitar. I started out about 4 years ago with a Yamaha accoustic from a pawn shop. My first electric, purchased after seeking advice from Mojo on his last forum, was a Tokai Les Paul copy. Now I have a Sheraton and an American Fender Telecaster too. The funny thing is that 90% of the time I play on my Sheraton and the other 10% is the Tokai. I just Love the humbucker sound and the versatility of the semi- hollowbody, so the Tele spends most of it's life in it's case. However today I took it out on a whim, mainly because It doesn't seem right to have it and not play it. And do you know what? It is a beautiful guitar, the neck feels lovely and is sooo esay to play. The sound is clear and bright and a delight to listen to. It is like having a new guitar all over again. I guess the Sheri will be staying in it's case for a wee while now.
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Post by 469roadking on Feb 21, 2011 11:29:24 GMT -5
My musical ability has never been something to write home about. At school I gave the trombone a try I think I lasted a term or two before giving it up because it clashed with my Rugby time! After that and when I discovered Rock n Roll a friend and I decided to form a band. As I was the least musically talented of us, obviously I was elected bass player. I ended up with a rather nice late 70's Fender Mustang that was a joy to play (short scale) and sounded really nice too. It was great, all I had to do was play whatever notes/rhythm the guitarists in the band told me to play. Had a lot of fun but never actually became a musician. After a long hiatus I decided to try to learn to play guitar. I started out about 4 years ago with a Yamaha accoustic from a pawn shop. My first electric, purchased after seeking advice from Mojo on his last forum, was a Tokai Les Paul copy. Now I have a Sheraton and an American Fender Telecaster too. The funny thing is that 90% of the time I play on my Sheraton and the other 10% is the Tokai. I just Love the humbucker sound and the versatility of the semi- hollowbody, so the Tele spends most of it's life in it's case. However today I took it out on a whim, mainly because It doesn't seem right to have it and not play it. And do you know what? It is a beautiful guitar, the neck feels lovely and is sooo esay to play. The sound is clear and bright and a delight to listen to. It is like having a new guitar all over again. I guess the Sheri will be staying in it's case for a wee while now. like the man said.......teles rock baby
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Post by Mojo on Feb 21, 2011 12:40:48 GMT -5
I tried a very cool old National the other day at www.Buckdancers.com. It had a resonator body and a 4-string mando neck... $1200 cool, I might add
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Post by 469roadking on Feb 28, 2011 23:28:58 GMT -5
Lap Steel....thats one that's always intrigued me. I think that would be a cool instrument to play. Anybody try one?
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Post by Mojo on Mar 1, 2011 0:09:27 GMT -5
I tried - can't figure it out. Between the multiple fingers picking, the slide bar that's now parallel to the ground and the darn muting, that's too much for my little brain
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