Do you play or have you played an instrument?

[Scepticalscribe]

We had a piano when I grew up. My mom played and sang and both of my sisters learned to play.

I couldn't be bothered, as that wasn't something a boy got into.

Definitely is. ……..

I thought the same thing as well, as the only thing guys got out of piano lessons were accompanying a blues guitar player, playing the classics, or some keyboardist in a pop band...

…...
BL.

Well, I'll let you into a small secret: What guys who think playing piano (or other musical instruments) 'aren't a boy thing' often fail to realise is that women actually are often rather impressed by guys who can play musical instruments proficiently (and yes, the adverb proficiently matters here)…...

 

[sim667]

I can mix..... althought I doubt many people would consider that an instrument

 

[smwatson]

I've played guitar since I was about 6, so coming up to 20 years.

I can strum a piano, can play clarinet ok ish, and passable drummer.

 

[bradl]

Well, I'll let you into a small secret: What guys who think playing piano (or other musical instruments) 'aren't a boy thing' often fail to realise is that women actually are often rather impressed by guys who can play musical instruments proficiently (and yes, the adverb proficiently matters here)…...

That's the part that I realized right as I hit high school. Hence why I ended up taking up the instruments I mentioned. In short, the entire game changes once puberty hits; it isn't a 'boy thing' until the hormones kick in. Then it becomes a game of either catching up fast, or living with the regret that you didn't learn it when you had the chance.

BL.

 

[Mousse]

That's the part that I realized right as I hit high school. Hence why I ended up taking up the instruments I mentioned. In short, the entire game changes once puberty hits; it isn't a 'boy thing' until the hormones kick in.

Aye. T'was my reason for trying to learn the cello. The cute girl next door was a huge Yo-Yo Ma fan (and did not find my Yo Mama jokes funny at all). My music teacher was a patient woman, bless her heart. But after 3 years, even she had to throw in the towel. My classmates dubbed me "El Carnicero de Canciones."

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That's the part that I realized right as I hit high school. Hence why I ended up taking up the instruments I mentioned. In short, the entire game changes once puberty hits; it isn't a 'boy thing' until the hormones kick in. Then it becomes a game of either catching up fast, or living with the regret that you didn't learn it when you had the chance.

BL.

My very point.

However, I will admit - even now, that, all things being equal, - if an individual is accomplished on the ivories, or proficient on the strings, that I will be ever so slightly predisposed to viewing him in a benign light….

And I am sure some of you can still remember Mr Clinton taking out his sax on Oprah……

A guy who can play musical instruments (properly) can still audition for the role of Renaissance Man; and classy, accomplished dudes will usually find an audience…..

Aye. T'was my reason for trying to learn the cello. The cute girl next door was a huge Yo-Yo Ma fan (and did not find my Yo Mama jokes funny at all). My music teacher was a patient woman, bless her heart. But after 3 years, even she had to throw in the towel. My classmates dubbed me "El Carnicero de Canciones."

Well, at least you tried.

But the next time some dude howls about how his mother had hauled him off to unwanted and unwelcome music classes when he was a kid and 'this wasn't a boy thing', do try to bear in mind that she - ever so subtly - might have been trying to or arm him, offer him some hints as to what might play will with those of us who were born with two 'x' chromosomes….

 

[bradl]

My very point.

And I am sure some of you can still remember Mr Clinton taking out his sax on Oprah……

A guy who can play musical instruments (properly) can still audition for the role of Renaissance Man; and classy, accomplished dudes will usually find an audience…..

Didn't catch that one..

However, I did one night, when I was trying to figure out my part for marching band, caught the The Arsenio Hall Show, and saw Clinton playing sax on there, with shades.. From that, I knew I was nailing this instrument, and remembered saying to myself, "it's on!!"

BL.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Didn't catch that one..

However, I did one night, when I was trying to figure out my part for marching band, caught the The Arsenio Hall Show, and saw Clinton playing sax on there, with shades.. From that, I knew I was nailing this instrument, and remembered saying to myself, "it's on!!"

BL.

Well, I seem to recall that commentators and analysts at the time (it was during his first campaign) seemed to think that it enhanced a 'cool' factor.

Actually, my bad: I believe that it was on Arsenio Hall's programme, not Oprah's, that Mr Clinton played the sax…..(as I'm not from the US, I read about it, I didn't actually see it) but am given to understand that it went down rather well….

 

[heehee]

I played violin when I was in HS, but I was really bad at it. I have zero coordination skills, can't even do jumping jacks without messing it up.

 

[TomGolden]

Alto saxophone in Jr & Sr high schools and during college.
Baritone horn for a couple years in high school, just so I could march in the [Tournament of] Rose parade on New Years Day 1985

Yngwie Malmsteen is my favorite musician / guitarist. I finally got to see him for the first time, last summer when he came to Long Island on his current world tour. If you really want to read a truly awe inspiring story, read his new autobiography Relentless. Whole new level of awe and admiration for him.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Has anyone here ever played one of those wonderful old church organs? The kind that might fill the nave of a medieval cathedral with spine tingling sound (think something on the lines of J. S. Bach's 'Toccata & Fugue'?)

 

[ejb190]

Has anyone here ever played one of those wonderful old church organs?

A coworker of mine's brother is a concert organist. Never saw him live, but I heard some recordings. Wonderful sound.

I took piano in elementary, started trumpet in jr. high, and switched to baritone/euphonium in 8th grade. Discovered my senior year that I had a nack for French horn, but never did much with it. Still play my euphonium at church once in a while. I've been trying to get an ensemble together for a while, but that's not happening...

 

[CmdrLaForge]

I play the Blues on Guitar

 

[Tsuchiya]

I played the flute as a kid (mostly so I could recreate the Green Rangers call for the Dragonzord), but stopped way too soon.
I'd love to learn piano or cello.

 

[AustinIllini]

Played trumpet from middle school through half of college. I play electric bass and dabble with guitar, but I'm not very good at guitar.

 

[0098386]

I used to play the piano. Started late at age 13 and only had lessons for a year. Really enjoyed it but I just couldn't grasp sheet music. Carried on playing by learning songs by ear, learning from piano rolls in old midi programs. Played a bit of guitar too. Was in a band that became a tiny bit famous after I dropped out!

I used to record and sequence my own music for my games. But I can't do that these days. It's not easy!

 

[filmbufs]

When I was a kid, I 'played' the drums. That eventually led to banging on a school desk like it was a drum kit. Which led to banging on the car's steering wheel like it was a drum kit. Which led to discovering the Djembe, a hand drum, which I bang on like it's a drum kit. I think I see a pattern here.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

Started off playing the recorder, if we're going for full disclosure. Ended up playing the violin for a while but eventually gave that up to play guitar and joined a band as a teenager. Have also dabbled a bit on the drums from time to time, but neither my parents, when I was younger, my landlord when I was in Uni or my wife will allow me to bring a set in to the house.

Boring buggers.

 

[johnson102]

Piano when I was young, gave it up to play table tennis. I regret it but I was twelve and sport was my greater obsession.
Bought a guitar when I was 20 and have taught myself since. Have my on and off days but love every second.

 

[jpross123]

I personally play the drums. I've been playing for 8 months now and I love it! One of my best friends has been playing off and on for 7 years now, and when I went over his house and finally had the courage to get behind the kit, I was hooked!

I listen to a lot of classic rock (Boston, Toto, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, The Eagles, and the list goes on), so that's typically what I like to play on the drums. I've been 'attempting' to play some John Bonham, but I've got a lot more practice to go. I can play When the Levee Breaks pretty good now.

I borrowed by friends spare Ludwig kit until I finally got my own Tama Double Bass set!

 

[ardchoille50]

I learned to play the piano in high school choir, I also played the trombone and bassoon in high school band. During my years in the Navy, I learned to play the guitar, banjo and mandolin - bluegrass music has always been a favorite of mine.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I play a bit of piano. My brother on the other hand plays the guitar like a demon. He's ludicrously good.

Remember to put weights on your ankles, especially if you're working on double bass. And no cheating with the pedal cranked right next to the bass drum; only maggots do that. Get the technique and foot strength.

Play along to a metronome with kicks only. If your feet are solid, the rest will follow.

 

[jpross123]

I play a bit of piano. My brother on the other hand plays the guitar like a demon. He's ludicrously good.

Remember to put weights on your ankles, especially if you're working on double bass. And no cheating with the pedal cranked right next to the bass drum; only maggots do that. Get the technique and foot strength.

Play along to a metronome with kicks only. If your feet are solid, the rest will follow.

Ive heard of the weight trick to help with speed, lol. I actually played after I went to the gym yesterday, and it helped too! I usually warm up my feet to a metronome, playing a simple beat and going from quarter notes, to 8th and 16th. I'm still working on triplets, for some reason they are more difficult to me.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Ive heard of the weight trick to help with speed, lol. I actually played after I went to the gym yesterday, and it helped too! I usually warm up my feet to a metronome, playing a simple beat and going from quarter notes, to 8th and 16th. I'm still working on triplets, for some reason they are more difficult to me.

Triplets are tricky. Just try to group and count them quickly out loud. ONE two three FOUR five six, ONE two three FOUR five six. Example is assuming quaver triplets around 100-120bpm and 4/4 of course. Pretty easy to count them in that way, with the ONE & FOUR being on clicks 1 & 2. Then again on clicks 3 & 4. Count them in sixes.

Once you're saying it out loud it'll be much easier for the feet to obey.

 

[Tucom]

I'm a drummer as well! Incredibly cool - when I read your post I was enthralled with memories of when I first started playing; I've been playing for about 9 years now, though I haven't touched a kit in a while - about a year. Coincidentally, it was Rock Band back in 2007 that REALLY skyrocketed my love, passion, and involvement for and with drumming through the roof - and it's an incredible practice tool. Really, really helps you get the syncopation and different styles of rhythm and beats down. Definitely give it a shot if you haven't already.

I have a practice pad that I still practice my rudiments on, however - traditional, marching snare grip usually in the left hand for this, but sometimes I'll switch back over to matched - Traditional grip is *SO* fun - almost impossible to learn, but once you finally crack it it's very, very fun to play with.

Would love to get an actual kit again; I played the actual drum kit in my high school's Steel Drum band - had live concerts in front of hundreds of people and I was rocking the kit leading the group of about 40 melodic steel pan players on stage - including my drum teacher himself.

Probably one of the greatest time's of my life.


This thread is awesome - keep drumming man!