Do you play any unusual Instruments?

[cwedl]

I used to play the saxophone and the recorder, but gave those up years ago, I have decided to go for a Xaphoon link (http://www.xaphoon.com) My friend told me about it, it looks like a recorder with a tenor saxophone reed in the mouth piece and sounds very much like a saxophone. I have purchased one, waiting now.

Do any of you play unusual instruments?

i.e. not mainstream like Pianos, guitars etc.

[bartelby]

I'm currently constructing an 'instrument' that consists of 6 small elelcrtic motors, each with a speed controller and kill switch, and a guitar pickup.
You can use the speed controllers it alter the pitch of the noise from the motors.
With all six running you can get harmonies and chords.

Plus I'm building a 4ms Pedal's (http://www.4mspedals.com) Triwave Picogenerator and Noise Swash.
I also have a Sirkut Electronics (http://www.sirkut.sinkhole.net) Synth Noise Box on it's way to me.

[Abstract]

I play the recorder. :o

[mad jew]

When I'm feeling really musical I'll often tap my fingers on the table to some sort of beat. I suck at keeping pace though so people glare at me and I stop. :(

Doesn't really count, does it...

I'd love to be musical but I'm just not. I've got no sense of rhythm (a whole other problem for my sprinting) so instruments (wacky or otherwise) are kinda out of the question.

[tombo]

I play the Viola

it's cool, I dig it.

Viola players are usually pretty hard to find so it comes in handy when I get asked to play in stuff to earn my money. :)

[iGary]

I'm so tempted to take this thread right down the gutter. :D

[rockthecasbah]

I really just want someone to say "I PLAY YOUR MOM!!!! SHE'S AN UNUSUAL INSTRUMENT!" That would make my day. Well I guess I just made my own day :D .

[Duff-Man]

Duff-Man says....I am not especially skilled at them but I sometimes like to play around on my dulcimer and autoharp.....oh yeah!

[scem0]

I play the kazoo.... But I suppose that doesn't really count either.

scem0

[MattG]

I used to play the saxophone and the recorder, but gave those up years ago, I have decided to go for a Xaphoon link (http://www.xaphoon.com) My friend told me about it, it looks like a recorder with a tenor saxophone reed in the mouth piece and sounds very much like a saxophone. I have purchased one, waiting now.

Do any of you play unusual instruments?

i.e. not mainstream like Pianos, guitars etc.


Nothing unusual, just guitar. But, I plan on buying a banjo and a mandolin one day.

[feakbeak]

I'm so tempted to take this thread right down the gutter. :DOh, just go for it. I already know what you're thinking! :)

[DaiKirai]

I built a theremin and have been wanting to purchase a harpsichord.

[CanadaRAM]

If I was to try another instrument, it would be a pedal steel or one of these:
http://www.stick.com/instruments/

[cwedl]

I really just want someone to say "I PLAY YOUR MOM!!!! SHE'S AN UNUSUAL INSTRUMENT!" That would make my day. Well I guess I just made my own day :D .

Good for you! The sound would be interesting? :p

[puckhead193]

I sorta know how to play the DIDGERIDOO. When i went to australia i bought one and the guy gave me a quick 10 min lesson...

http://aboriginalart.com.au/didgeridoo/
Ignore the mess, i know i gotta clean, (like my old windows 98 Pc) i'm still shocked how that thing works, any ideas on how to kill it, so it will force the rents to get a mini :p

[Jovian9]

Kaoss Pad
Electribe Sampler

(though these require some music being put into them before you can actually "play" them)

[Squire]

I play the sax (or, at least, used to regularly). I own a black lacquered Yamaha YTS-875 and it is sweet. But I was always a baritone sax guy. It's not unusual in that a lot of sax players have played bari, but it was actually my specialty.

Claim to Fame: Played bari in the horn section for one gig with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Now, I want to buy a Yamaha WX-5 electronic wind controller. Anyone have experience with these?

Squire

[MacFan25863]

I'm a Bari and Bass Clarinet guy...nothing too unusual (though contrabass would be cool...)

[homerjward]

i play bari sax as well, although i started on alto and sometimes dabble in soprano. always wanted to learn clarinet but havent gotten around to it yet. but yeah, nothing unusual :o

[Balin64]

My girl and I have been going through a tough time, so I've been playing my ding-a-ling a lot... a lot of effort for one drawn-out note. :D

[WinterMute]

If I was to try another instrument, it would be a pedal steel or one of these:
http://www.stick.com/instruments/

I'm seriously thinking about buying a Stick, I have a friend who plays one (he's in Covent Garden most Saturdays, busking) and I really like them.

I've played his 10-string a few times and I like the Grand 12-string model as well.

They're a bit pricey though... :eek:

I have a 5-string Warwick Thumb bass currently.

[sjpetry]

I play the saw..........no I don't but I have seen it played (does that count). :o


I play the Guitar like a million other people. :( :cool:

[irmongoose]

Well I used to play the French Horn...




irmongoose

[Duff-Man]

I play the saw..........no I don't but I have seen it played (does that count). :o Duff-Man says...the musical saw is a great instrument. The best example I have of it is on the track "The Old Homestead" from Neil Young's "Hawks and Doves" record...has such an eerie sound to it, not all that far removed from a theremin actually....oh yeah!

[rainman::|:|]

not really unusual, but the flute. although, i can play pretty much any flute variant, inc those cool ceremonial flutes like in Kill Bill 2... which are kind of cool...

[JeDiBoYTJ]

Im learning how to play an Ocarina. its a fun little instrument...thing :p

[lem0n]

i play the soprano sax, flute, bit of clarinet (and piano and guitar) but i' trying to convince my teacher to let me learn the oboe!! (heard oboists go crazy all the time :D )

[polyesterlester]

I play the sax (or, at least, used to regularly). I own a black lacquered Yamaha YTS-875 and it is sweet.

Nice. I play a black lacquered Henri Selmer Paris Super Action 80 Serie 2 Alto Saxophone and a nickel-lacquered Vespro Soprano. But keeping this on track, I also play the alto recorder, the didgeridoo, and the xaphoon. The Xaphoon is my pride and joy now.

[iMeowbot]

I'm not sure that home-made electronic toys are unusual, but some of the sounds they make can be odd.

At any rate, these people (http://www.flutenveg.com/) scare me.

[Squire]

Nice. I play a black lacquered Henri Selmer Paris Super Action 80 Serie 2 Alto Saxophone and a nickel-lacquered Vespro Soprano. But keeping this on track, I also play the alto recorder, the didgeridoo, and the xaphoon. The Xaphoon is my pride and joy now.

I just checked out the Vespro models. Very cool. I've been admiring soprano saxes for years. I used to play one but never actually owned one. I'm kind of keen on the sterling silver Yanagisawa models but I'd have to throw my two kids on eBay to afford one.

The WX-5 (mentioned in my previous post) is actually quite affordable at about 600 bucks US. I figure one of them will get my musical passion going again (and won't disturb the neighbors in the process).

Squire

[sebisworld]

I play the saw..........no I don't but I have seen it played (does that count). :o :

I own a saw, and I have played around with it quite a bit. I wouldn't say that I play it quite yet though. It's kinda hard when you're not blessed with the an ear for these things :-)

[mike3k]

I sort of play the kora (http://coraconnection.com/), djembe, and talking drum, but I mostly just admire them where they sit as decorative items.

[dsharits]

Duff-Man says....I am not especially skilled at them but I sometimes like to play around on my dulcimer and autoharp.....oh yeah!
I play the dulcimer (http://www.cybozone.com/luthier/instruments/dulcimer.html) too!

[ReanimationLP]

My girl and I have been going through a tough time, so I've been playing my ding-a-ling a lot... a lot of effort for one drawn-out note. :D

T....**********....M....I....

[mactastic]

I don't play, but have always been amazed by Future Man's Drumitar (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2004-08-05-drumitar_x.htm)

[Counterfit]

I wish I could play the Contiuum (http://www.jordanrudess.com/wizlog/archives/2005/03/jordan_playing_1.html), but I can't.

I do, however, play the euphonium. 5 points to whoever knows what it is (NO GOOGLING!) :D






And thus, my triumphant return to the MacRumors Forums

[Squire]

I wish I could play the Contiuum (http://www.jordanrudess.com/wizlog/archives/2005/03/jordan_playing_1.html), but I can't.

I do, however, play the euphonium. 5 points to whoever knows what it is (NO GOOGLING!) :D[/size]

Smaller than a tuba, larger than a french horn. A baritone?

Squire

[mactastic]

Anyone here seen or played with a bass flute? I saw Matt Eakle play one once and it was quite impressive.

[jbembe]

We were listening to R.E.M.'s "Eponymous," I believe it was, the other day at work and I found out that my coworker plays Air Tambourines. Quite interesting. :p

[mduser63]

Not terribly unusual, but I play (or am learning to play) the bagpipes. I used to play Ocarina a little, that was before my little brother threw it at the wall and it shattered into tiny pieces.

[Fiveos22]

Its not been said yet, and its not terribly exotic, but I play violin.

Too bad I'm getting out of the habit and moving into just writing/arranging chamber music.

[faintember]

Well i mainly plax the sax family (bari is my main axe though): Alto-Selmer MK VII, 1976, Tenor- Selmer Super (Balanced) Action 1956, Bari- Selmer MK VI low A 1965

Just threw that out there for all the other saxophonists in the thread.

As far as weird instruments go.... Theremin, Opheclide, Serpent (yeah i own a serpent....impulse buy...long story :p ), and keytar (i guess this really dosent count as an instrument, but strapping on a hot pink keytar and taking the stage is a feat of courage, or stupidity...)

I am currently working on building a facial hyper-instrument (see. Laetitia Sonami's (http://www.sonami.net) Lady's Glove for an example of a hyper-instrument) for use with Max/MSP.

Oh yeah, to whoever posted about the Euphonium; it is a conical bore shaped brass instrument, typically using 3 to 4 valves or pistons to effect air routing, akin to the Tuba (simular to an F tuba) but closely resembles a Baritone horn, although the Baritone horn has a tubular bore.

Jeez i am such a music geek...

I also play my ding-a-ling too. Mines a super-contrabass ding-a-ling :eek: , how about yours? :p

[Squire]

I'll gladly take that Mark VI bari off your hands if you want. ;) That's a lot of money tied up in saxophones.

Squire

[faintember]

I'll gladly take that Mark VI bari off your hands if you want. ;) That's a lot of money tied up in saxophones.

Squire

Sure Squire...just send me a cashiers check for ....WAIT i am not gonna sell my baby!

Yeah it is a lot of money. Here is the story.

The MK VII was bought for $700!
The Super (Balanced) Action was bought for $50 at a antiques store that had NO idea what a valuable and rare tenor they had. (Alas it was sans the original neck, but Ponzol custom made one for me :D)
The MK VI Bari...well lets just say i sold a car to buy it.

The only thing i really want saxophone wise that i dont have is:
An Selmer Electric Tenor (made with a mic pickup, and amp attached to the Bb, B key guard, circa late 60's early 70's i believe)
and a Grafton Alto. Why? B/c they are so rare, especally the un-cracked ones.

The way i look at it is all the horns are investments (as are most of my instruments). They are great to play, and i will continue to play them and loan them out to my friends that need a loaner for a gig, etc, and they will never loose their value, unlike stocks..hehe.

They just dont make em like that anymore.

[Counterfit]

Alright, 5 points for getting it right faintember! :D




I'm also docking you 10 points for owning a serpent. WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?! :mad: :p

[faintember]

Alright, 5 points for getting it right faintember! :D




I'm also docking you 10 points for owning a serpent. WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU?! :mad: :p


-5 is where i belong :D

I studied early instruments in a music hist class, and fell in love with the serpent sound. So fast foward 2 years. In Virginia at a bluegrass festival and ran into a guy with a really strange mandolin, so we started talking. He turned out to be a collector and offered to show me and a few friends his collection. There was the serpent! I asked about it and he said he was looking for a grandfather serpent, so i asked if he wanted to sell his. One check later it was mine!! Muhahahahahahahaha! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!1111ONE11111!!!11!!!!!!!

Ok, im done. :cool:

[Mr. Anderson]

I used to play the Clarinet and Tenor Sax in school and a couple years ago I actually could still play the clarinet - but it seems to have gone missing....

But I also used to play the bagpipes or started to...didn't get very far, although I have a chanter still and can make strangled cat noises with it :D

D

[faintember]

But I also used to play the bagpipes or started to...didn't get very far, although I have a chanter still and can make strangled cat noises with it :D

D


Wanna join my band Mr. Anderson??? We play for free 40's of Old English 800 on Thursday nights, and we usually get booed off the stage fairly quickly. Whadda ya say, eh??? :cool:

[Squire]

An electric tenor, eh? Cool. I think I mentioned this in an earlier post but whatever. I'm planning on buying a Yamaha WX-5 wind controller this summer. Pretty stoked about that. I'll probably order the Patchman Turbo VL chip, too, and get one of my buddies to bring it over for me. Ever played a WX-5? I'm going into this sort of blind. (Ever heard of a Softwind Synthophone? That might be a nice addition to your arsenal.)


They just dont make em like that anymore.

True, but kudos to Yamaha for crafting the nicest tenor I've personally played: my YTS-875 Custom w/black lacquer finish. That said, it's very difficult (close to impossible) to beat a perfectly restored Mark VI. (Oh, I went into a music shop over hear with a buddy of mine when I saw a Mk. 6 bari in the window. I asked him the price. He smiled and told me it was 8 million won. That's just a shade under 8 grand US. That rustic look can be very deceiving.)

Squire

[faintember]

An electric tenor, eh? Cool. I think I mentioned this in an earlier post but whatever. I'm planning on buying a Yamaha WX-5 wind controller this summer. Pretty stoked about that. I'll probably order the Patchman Turbo VL chip, too, and get one of my buddies to bring it over for me. Ever played a WX-5? I'm going into this sort of blind. (Ever heard of a Softwind Synthophone? That might be a nice addition to your arsenal.)


True, but kudos to Yamaha for crafting the nicest tenor I've personally played: my YTS-875 Custom w/black lacquer finish. That said, it's very difficult (close to impossible) to beat a perfectly restored Mark VI. (Oh, I went into a music shop over hear with a buddy of mine when I saw a Mk. 6 bari in the window. I asked him the price. He smiled and told me it was 8 million won. That's just a shade under 8 grand US. That rustic look can be very deceiving.)

Squire

Here is a link to the Selmer elec. Tenor.. the "Varitone (http://www.saxophone.org/varitone.html)".

I've played with an WX-5, played being the key word. They are pretty cool if ya have the change to buy one. I would suggest if you really like the WX-5 to get a rack mount MIDI sound module to give you a lot more flexability in sound choices. Yeah the Synthophone is pretty cool, but as far as interactive MIDI instruments id rather build my own, strange one..lol, but i wouldnt mind having a earlier analog Synthophone.


Dont get me wrong the new Yamahas and Selmers are great, i just like the feel/sound of the older Selmers.

That MK VI you saw was not that bad of a price. Mine was more than that, but mine also is a gold laquer model, which was pretty damn rare in those years. Yeah my MK VI looks pretty bad, although it has 85% orig laquer. Bari's are just magnets to get scratched, dinged, etc. Thats why my Bari case has a WIDE LOAD sign on it. :p

[Les Kern]

Just the guitar (30 years!) and the Mgukbah. I lived in Malawi for a few years and this instrument was used pretty much exclusively in the southern part of the country. It's sort of like a recorder, but it's bent and has two pipes. While you play one pipe orally, the other pipe uses farts as sort of a bass drone, like the drone on a banjo. An accomplished player could keep a sustained note for up to 30 seconds by tightening their o-ring. They were revered and called "Ngala nahl aganna bey mgelan mgukbah", or roughly translated: "Dear one with the mgukbah wind of the gods".
It's a great ice-breaker for a first date.

[Counterfit]

-5 is where i belong :D

I studied early instruments in a music hist class, and fell in love with the serpent sound. See, here I was wondering "How in the name of God is that possible?!", then I remembered this : Well i mainly plax the sax family That explains everything. :p

I'm going out on a limb here, but if anyone cares what horn I play, it's usually my Besson Sovereign. Late 70's/early 80's. Sometimes I play my Besson baritone (which is a real baritone horn!). It just happens to have a S/N in sequence with my cousin's Besson baritone. They were both found in a closet in Johnston RI. I used to play my father's Yamaha YEP-321, which he bought way back in the day when that was their professional model. The S/N is under 1000 :eek:


Also, I play(ed) the bass trombone in Jazz Band at school this past year. I think I might get bumped to 2nd bone though :( . It's the school's horn, and what a beast it is. Conn 83H, two independent rotors, bore like a 10 gauge shotgun ( :p), and a really nice rose brass bell.

[jim.]

I play the Viola

it's cool, I dig it.

Viola players are usually pretty hard to find so it comes in handy when I get asked to play in stuff to earn my money. :)
Me too, tombo. It is rare that you find a violist. I don't understand why more people don't play it, since it has the best tone, and is sized much better to the player than the other orchestral instruments. Alas, my nice bow needs to be rehaired desperately, and I can't find a quality servicer in Charlottesville.

Besides the viola, I can also play the mandolin, guitar, hammered dulcimer, and bouzouki. All stringed instruments because I stink at winds...

Jim

[faintember]

Counterfit:

yeah us sax players are a weird crowd. :p

As to the bass bone, ever heard "Variations on Barnacle Bill the Sailor"??

If not you should check it out. Totally a show-stopper of a piece and a technical feat. Basically imagine the Popeye the sailor man theme, in various octaves (can we say treble clef to pedal tones?) in some crazy variations.

Note: i did play a little baritone horn in HS just to fill a spot in the freshman band. It was fun. And you can put a alto sax mouthpiece on a bartione/euph. and make some strange sounds. If you have a sax mouthpiece/reed laying around you should try it... hehe

[ProjektJ]

I'm currently learning the berimbau

[DeSnousa]

I play the air guitar :p sorry could not resist. But on topic i learning to use a classical guitor, not that unsual. But what is, is when you watch me trying to play :cool:

[faintember]

I'm currently learning the berimbau

Really? Where did you find a good berimbau?

[mms]

Piano (like the 53453923495853 other people around that play)
Saxophone (Keilwerth ST90 Series I Alto, Selmer S90; old school Conn)
friend's didgeridoo

[jim.]

I've seen a lot of digeridoo players in this thread. Have you guys mastered circular breathing? I tried to get it going for a few months, I just couldn't keep a good airflow. Any tips?

I guess any oboe or english horn players could weigh in on that too.

Jim

[katie ta achoo]

Me too, tombo. It is rare that you find a violist. I don't understand why more people don't play it, since it has the best tone, and is sized much better to the player than the other orchestral instruments. Alas, my nice bow needs to be rehaired desperately, and I can't find a quality servicer in Charlottesville.

Besides the viola, I can also play the mandolin, guitar, hammered dulcimer, and bouzouki. All stringed instruments because I stink at winds...

Jim

I'm another violist. :)
I haven't touched it in a while though... tendinitis! :(

[Counterfit]

I guess any oboe or english horn players could weigh in on that too.

Jim You could also ask tuba, trombone, or euphonium players about it (but not me :(), considering those are much more similar to a digeridoo than those stinky double reeds.

faintember: I own no such devilish piece of equipment :p

Also, my parents own every member of the recorder family. That's: bass, tenor, alto, soprano, sopranino, garcline, and one really tiny one that's slightly larger than a toothpick. But you can't play that one. Heck, my father can't play anything above the soprano, because his fingers are too big.

[faintember]

I've seen a lot of digeridoo players in this thread. Have you guys mastered circular breathing? I tried to get it going for a few months, I just couldn't keep a good airflow. Any tips?

I guess any oboe or english horn players could weigh in on that too.

Jim

have you tried the age-old straw and a cup of water trick???

If not here it is: place straw in cup of water, blow into straw creating bubbles, inhale while blowing into straw, continue.

Another way would be to fill your cheeks with air while blowing into the straw, use your cheeks to push the air out while inhaling, repeat ad. nausum

That said i could kinda do it a few years ago when i was playing 4 or 5 gigs a week, but everytime i inhaled the pitch went flat. :( I cant do it at all anymore.

Maybe you should ask Kenny G, he has the worlds record for the longest held note, and his latest album is BRILLIANT!!!!!!!! (no, its not, i just felt like getting a jab at Kenny G while the getting is good..hehe)


Counterfit, are you inferring that i own any sort of "devilish instruments"? hehe

I do know a percussionist that still has an original vibra-slap, that is, the jawbone of a dead cow. :p

[Counterfit]

Maybe you should ask Kenny G, he has the worlds record for the longest held note, and his latest album is BRILLIANT!!!!!!!! (no, its not, i just felt like getting a jab at Kenny G while the getting is good..hehe) That's the only thing he's ever done that could ever actually impress me. Well, that and playing at Newport, but I hear he was an ass about that so he can go **** himself.


Counterfit, are you inferring that i own any sort of "devilish instruments"? hehe It would be up to you to do the inferring, my reed-sucking friend. Of course, I'm just plain stating that the saxophone is the work of the devil. made of brass but played with a reed? BLASPHEMY! :eek:

[Jaffa Cake]

I sorta know how to play the DIDGERIDOO. When i went to australia i bought one and the guy gave me a quick 10 min lesson...I had a didgeridoo lesson last night and just couldn't get the hang of it. It's all in the lips, apparently... :(

[faintember]

That's the only thing he's ever done that could ever actually impress me. Well, that and playing at Newport, but I hear he was an ass about that so he can go **** himself.


It would be up to you to do the inferring, my reed-sucking friend. Of course, I'm just plain stating that the saxophone is the work of the devil. made of brass but played with a reed? BLASPHEMY! :eek:

You are right, on both accounts! hehe.

Actually i like throwing "songbird" quotations in while improvising. It really gives that funk chart a totally new "feel". ;)

[Dagless]

i got some panpipes and 2 ocarina's but i cant really 'play' them. got some strange mexican 6-holed ocarina that has a different note system than regular ocarinas too.

i like to make beats with my fingers too. always drumming away getting on peoples nerves :o

ooh! playing the short strings between the machine heads and the top of the neck on an electric guitar! im pretty good at that, but in a non musical way :cool:

[inlimbo]

I play the Tabla. "The what?" I hear you say. Its a indian hand drum played with the fingers. If you watch The Simpsons you would have seen Apu playing them with Paul McCartney singing "Im Sargent Peppers loney hearts club man. I hope you will enjoy my show." Or when Apu's niece (?) plays them in a school talent show while singing "and i'll never have that receipe again!!! ohhnh NOOO!!!" :D

http://www.buckinghammusic.com/tabla/images/smldl.jpg

I also have a harmonium (another Indian instrument) which I dont know exactly how to play. :o

http://www.indianmusicalinstruments.com/Mini%20Harmonium%20(Playable)f.jpg

[Lacero]

Do my armpits count?

[buffalo]

Me too, tombo. It is rare that you find a violist. I don't understand why more people don't play it, since it has the best tone, and is sized much better to the player than the other orchestral instruments.
Jim


mmmmmhmmmmmmm.... :)
well i play the cello. It's fun to play but I'm not too fond of orchestra music though because the music isn't too fun.

[UberMac]

Well...I play the Sax. Mainly Alto (Selmer Series III - which incidentally the BBC bought for me through a bursary scheme)...also have a yamaha yss475 soprano.

Have dabbled in other things, I always like to bring back instruments from countries I travel to...I have a didgeridoo (which i can play AND circular breathe), erm a snake charmer (cant play well at all :( ), Sheep Charmer, Djembe and a harp from Mexico...

On the cricualr breathing front if anybody wants some tips get a glass of water and a straw. Pop the straw in the water and puff your cheeks out. Then squeeze the air out of your cheeks WITH YOUR HANDS and breathe in throught your nose at the same time. After you can make a continuous stream of bubbles try to squeeze your cheeks out with your muscles, not you hands. You'll get there. It's really handy for sax playin once you can do it.

Now all I would like to have a go on (or own if it's fun) is a Yamaha WX5. I think they look like sooooo much fun!

[inlimbo]

On the cricualr breathing front if anybody wants some tips get a glass of water and a straw. Pop the straw in the water and puff your cheeks out. Then squeeze the air out of your cheeks WITH YOUR HANDS and breathe in throught your nose at the same time. After you can make a continuous stream of bubbles try to squeeze your cheeks out with your muscles, not you hands. You'll get there. It's really handy for sax playin once you can do it.

Always wondered how you did that! cool! Funny how all these foreigners play the didge :)

[Yebot]

Banjo-ukelele.

It's a four-string ukelele tuned D G A E but its got the drumskin body of a banjo.

It may have a more-correct name than 'banjo-ukelele.'

[katie ta achoo]

Do my armpits count?

*suppressing giggles*

Yes. Yes they do!

..It sounds better than a french horn on a good day.

buuurrrnnn!

(The french horns are the violas of the brass section, haha)

[faintember]

(The french horns are the violas of the brass section, haha)
The French Horn has strings and reads alto clef????
</sarcasam>
Personally the horn (many horn players do not like the term French Horn, however i think they should call it the Freedom Horn :D) is my favorite brass instrument. And violas are underrated. Along with oboes they make a nice bonfire. :cool:

(note i have written for all the above mentioned instruments, so dont flame, lol)

[Counterfit]

I play the Tabla. "The what?" I hear you say. Its a indian hand drum played with the fingers. If you watch The Simpsons you would have seen Apu playing them with Paul McCartney singing "Im Sargent Peppers loney hearts club man. I hope you will enjoy my show." Or when Apu's niece (?) plays them in a school talent show while singing "and i'll never have that receipe again!!! ohhnh NOOO!!!" :D

http://www.buckinghammusic.com/tabla/images/smldl.jpg

I also have a harmonium (another Indian instrument) which I dont know exactly how to play. :o

http://www.indianmusicalinstruments.com/Mini%20Harmonium%20(Playable)f.jpg
I've actually seen these both in use. A few months ago, there was a player who came to my school with his sister to give a demonstration. He usually plays with 15 tabla, but due to temperature issues, he only had one out and in use (that and he had to be at PPAC in a few hours). His sister was with him, and played the harmonium. He kept saying "and that was just your stuff, I haven't even gotten to my stuff yet" I think he meant that he was playing in something resembling a European style, rather than an Indian style. Anyways, he apparently learned from a dude (guru) who was somehow involved with George Harrison. The guy who came over (I wish I could remember his name :() has recorded with Bela Fleck, and others.
As for the harmonium, I think you play it somewhat like an accordion. Sorta anyway :p

[puckhead193]

I had a didgeridoo lesson last night and just couldn't get the hang of it. It's all in the lips, apparently... :(
yea... i guess i sorta got good lips ;) :p

[katie ta achoo]

The French Horn has strings and reads alto clef????
</sarcasam>
Personally the horn (many horn players do not like the term French Horn, however i think they should call it the Freedom Horn :D) is my favorite brass instrument. And violas are underrated. Along with oboes they make a nice bonfire. :cool:

(note i have written for all the above mentioned instruments, so dont flame, lol)
Owww... bonfire..

Well, a viola IS better than a violin for bonfires. Usually still in the case, hahah.

[EGT]

I play the spoons :o

And the Banjo ...

at the same time!!!

If i was a millionaire i'd buy an Ondes Martenot (ooo, amazing) (http://www.bigcitymusic.com/i/cat/New/1000103_L.jpg)

[runplaysleeprun]

I play the irish fiddle in a few bands around chicago.
its good fun, plus, the drinks are always on the house when playing at pubs.

[spacefreak4]

I play the French horn (go ahead keep laughing), but I also play the Flugelhorn and the mellophone, which nobody has mentioned yet, I don't think.

[Squire]

I play the French horn (go ahead keep laughing), but I also play the Flugelhorn and the mellophone, which nobody has mentioned yet, I don't think.

The flugelhorn is great. I would say-- and this is coming from a sax player-- that it's one of the nicest sounding instruments around.

Totally off topic: There's a very popular jazz song (and I mean so popular that most non-jazz listeners have even heard it) that is just a very simple tune played with a trumpet and sax going back and forth, one playing the melody while the other plays the root notes, then reversed, with a little bit of soloing. (I just described how many jazz tunes?) It's only about 3 or 4 chords. I really wish I could remember the name of it.

Sorry.

Squire

[mac 2005]

I'm unusually bad on the guitar, and I studied clarinet for a number of years. I was equally bad on the clarinet, too.

Does that count?

That said, I'm quite adept with my iPod. :o

[mikemodena]

I'm the lead vocalist for a band... that doesn't sound unusual right?
Well.. I do mostly screaming.. It's not just yelling and screaming its called falsetto.. it's quite an art form. ;) It allows me to sing/scream without blowing out my vocal chords.. I can't explain how to do it.. It was like I just woke up and knew how to do it. I don't know how many people here are into post hardcore/screamo.. but it's quite melodic... the screaming sets up for the singing and it sounds great to me.. but that's just me. My girlfriend hates it to no end and she won't shut up about it.

My band is here: A Scream In Silence (http://www.myspace.com/ascreaminsilence) In the pictures I'm the one in the white polo.

[Counterfit]

The flugelhorn is great. I would say-- and this is coming from a sax player-- that it's one of the nicest sounding instruments around.
If you have a player who also gets a good sound on trumpet, then yes. Otherwise, I generally (depending on the player) find it still a little too "dry".

Totally off topic: There's a very popular jazz song (and I mean so popular that most non-jazz listeners have even heard it) that is just a very simple tune played with a trumpet and sax going back and forth, one playing the melody while the other plays the root notes, then reversed, with a little bit of soloing. (I just described how many jazz tunes?) It's only about 3 or 4 chords. I really wish I could remember the name of it.
Do you remember who played? Where there drums or anything else accompanying the others? Could you identify the style? I bet it's a Dizzy Gillespie/Charlie Parker chart ;)

spacefreak: you're in good company, Louis Armstrong started out on mellophone.