Any other multi-instrumentalists out there?

[SantoUno]

I always respect anyone who can play at least one instrument, but I feel that being able to play more than one is an admirable feat in it's own right.

Dedicating yourself to practice one instrument in order to play it well already requires a large commitment and investment of time, but having to distribute it across other instruments really is a great quality.

For me, after playing electric guitar for almost 6 years now I am attempting to create a new solo project after practicing bass and keyboard for a good amount now. I am also gathering the last few drum pieces I need to start playing drums daily.

I've been practicing bass nonstop for about a week now, including some guitar practice at the end. Since I have more than enough experience to play any new songs I come up with on the guitar, I am focusing most of my time on bass, then once I can master my songs on bass, then I'll move on to drums. Lastly, add some intricate keyboard melodies and my music will be complete.

So now I'm wondering if there is anyone else who also experiences the rigorous practice of playing several instruments? If so, what is your primary instrument and which other instrument are you currently practicing the most?

 

[Stilkon]

My primary instrument is my 5-string bass. I also play piano and trombone, though to much lesser extents.

 

[Oinodaemon]

Primary instrument: my voice, I enjoy singing. I also play guitar, bass, piano, trumpet, and harmonica. I've also been working on a solo album, lol, but I have NO idea how to write drums.

 

[PunkyMcGee]

I play the drums, and a little bit of guitar. but after a wrist injury I haven't been able to practice.

 

[SantoUno]

My primary instrument is my 5-string bass. I also play piano and trombone, though to much lesser extents.

I've always wondered how 5-string basses work. Do they have an additional top or bottom string? Also, doesn't it provide even less space between strings? For me the most difficult thing about playing bass is that when I continuously strum the A string I keep accidentally hitting the E string so I have to seriously train my fingers to strum in an upward motion so that my fingertips don't hit the E string.

 

[auwdioslave]

I've been playing guitar for about 12 years. 8 Years ago I took up the drumsticks and now I'm primarily a drummer. I still play the guitar and occasionally bass guitar.

I've also been singing in a choir as a baritone for over 10 years now.

 

[Romidude]

Piano, Guitar, I could figure out a bass in a minute or two, and I do compose a lot of electronic music.

 

[SantoUno]

Primary instrument: my voice, I enjoy singing. I also play guitar, bass, piano, trumpet, and harmonica. I've also been working on a solo album, lol, but I have NO idea how to write drums.

Years of listening to music and analyzing their drum beats and rhythms enabled me to pick up the drums pretty easily. As long as you familiarize yourself with popular and common drum beats them I'm sure you could start playing drums with ease as well.

 

[Richardplex]

I'm pretty sick with the triangle if I do say so myself. All those other instruments are below me.

 

[Zac Smith]

My primary instrument is my 5-string bass. I also play piano and trombone, though to much lesser extents.

I've always wondered how 5-string basses work. Do they have an additional top or bottom string? Also, doesn't it provide even less space between strings? For me the most difficult thing about playing bass is that when I continuously strum the A string I keep accidentally hitting the E string so I have to seriously train my fingers to strum in an upward motion so that my fingertips don't hit the E string.

They have an extra low string, and the basses have a slightly wider neck to accommodate for the extra. The normal 5th string tuning is B-E-A-D-G, or if you want you can tune the whole thing to E-A-D-G-C (i think its a C) and have the extra high string instead.

As for hitting other strings inadvertently, you'll get better the more you practise. You develop better picking or fingering techniques mixed with string muting and it becomes less of an issue.

OT: I primarily play 5 String bass, but also 4 string (not a huge difference) Electric guitar, and also a small amount of drums and keyboards. Many years ago I could play violin, but I doubt I could any more

 

[Stilkon]

I've always wondered how 5-string basses work. Do they have an additional top or bottom string? Also, doesn't it provide even less space between strings? For me the most difficult thing about playing bass is that when I continuously strum the A string I keep accidentally hitting the E string so I have to seriously train my fingers to strum in an upward motion so that my fingertips don't hit the E string.

They have an extra low string, and the basses have a slightly wider neck to accommodate for the extra. The normal 5th string tuning is B-E-A-D-G, or if you want you can tune the whole thing to E-A-D-G-C (i think its a C) and have the extra high string instead.

As for hitting other strings inadvertently, you'll get better the more you practise. You develop better picking or fingering techniques mixed with string muting and it becomes less of an issue.

OT: I primarily play 5 String bass, but also 4 string (not a huge difference) Electric guitar, and also a small amount of drums and keyboards. Many years ago I could play violin, but I doubt I could any more

Yeah, he pretty much got it. Although my band plays in D-standard a lot, so I tune my bass to A-D-G-C-F. Also, I have never heard of someone trying to tune their 5-string up to E. However, 6-strings also exist that will have both the low B and the high C strings.

 

[SantoUno]

They have an extra low string, and the basses have a slightly wider neck to accommodate for the extra. The normal 5th string tuning is B-E-A-D-G, or if you want you can tune the whole thing to E-A-D-G-C (i think its a C) and have the extra high string instead.

As for hitting other strings inadvertently, you'll get better the more you practise. You develop better picking or fingering techniques mixed with string muting and it becomes less of an issue.

OT: I primarily play 5 String bass, but also 4 string (not a huge difference) Electric guitar, and also a small amount of drums and keyboards. Many years ago I could play violin, but I doubt I could any more

Yeah, he pretty much got it. Although my band plays in D-standard a lot, so I tune my bass to A-D-G-C-F. Also, I have never heard of someone trying to tune their 5-string up to E. However, 6-strings also exist that will have both the low B and the high C strings.

Impressive, 5 & 6-string basses sound fun to use.

P.S. The string after G is actually B.

 

[thecoreyhlltt]

i played cello in middle school as well as bagpipes drums and bass guitar, and other various percussion instruments. i'm mainly a drummer at heart but i try not to limit myself to just drums

 

[Stilkon]

They have an extra low string, and the basses have a slightly wider neck to accommodate for the extra. The normal 5th string tuning is B-E-A-D-G, or if you want you can tune the whole thing to E-A-D-G-C (i think its a C) and have the extra high string instead.

As for hitting other strings inadvertently, you'll get better the more you practise. You develop better picking or fingering techniques mixed with string muting and it becomes less of an issue.

OT: I primarily play 5 String bass, but also 4 string (not a huge difference) Electric guitar, and also a small amount of drums and keyboards. Many years ago I could play violin, but I doubt I could any more

Yeah, he pretty much got it. Although my band plays in D-standard a lot, so I tune my bass to A-D-G-C-F. Also, I have never heard of someone trying to tune their 5-string up to E. However, 6-strings also exist that will have both the low B and the high C strings.

Impressive, 5 & 6-string basses sound fun to use.

P.S. The string after G is actually B.

Actually, it is only on a guitar. See, the other strings are tuned to be a perfect fourth interval away from each other, but B is tuned down a half-step from C, making the interval a major third. It's why power chords don't work when using the G and C strings. Basses, however, will tune their high string up to a C to make all the strings a fourth away from each other.

Also: apparently there are 7-string basses, too, but I think that they're regarded as holy relics that only appear to bassists who have proven themselves worthy.

 

[The Diabolical Biz]

I proudly play Piano and Trumpet! Trumpet I play in ~5 orchestras, and Piano I'm doing my Grade 8.

Spoiler: On an unrelated piano note...

I just sightread through the 1st minute and a half of this in about 20 minutes:
...and then it gets to 1:29ish, where those little upwards arpeggiated bits come in...they're 14 chords. 14. 14. IN THE SPACE OF LESS THAN A SECOND, THIS PIECE OF MUSIC EXPECTS ME TO PLAY MORE THAN 14 CHORDS. Y I NO HAVE TALENT.

 

[Zac Smith]

Yeah, he pretty much got it. Although my band plays in D-standard a lot, so I tune my bass to A-D-G-C-F. Also, I have never heard of someone trying to tune their 5-string up to E. However, 6-strings also exist that will have both the low B and the high C strings.

The same tuning Korn use. Also the same my bass is in at the moment, trying to learn bass for Dream Theater's - Panic Attack

 

[The87Italians]

I've played violin for a long time, started guitar a few years ago, and just started bass a few months ago. I'm thinking next I'm going to play a mandolin, I really like the sound they make. And if that doesn't work, fork over the money for a 12 string guitar.

 

[Stilkon]

Yeah, he pretty much got it. Although my band plays in D-standard a lot, so I tune my bass to A-D-G-C-F. Also, I have never heard of someone trying to tune their 5-string up to E. However, 6-strings also exist that will have both the low B and the high C strings.

The same tuning Korn use. Also the same my bass is in at the moment, trying to learn bass for Dream Theater's - Panic Attack

I thought Korn only dropped the bottom two strings to A-D-A-D-G. Still, bravo for trying to learn Panic Attack. It isn't easy!

 

[flashgriffin]

I play quite a few, though in my case my college studies on music composition more or less require me to have knowledge of more than a few instruments. woo composers!

 

[Superior Mind]

I'm a fingerstyle acoustic guitarist mainly but I also play electric and bass too. I played piano for eight years but gave up before moving to the guitar, however I've picked that up again recently. I also played drums for a couple of bands in the past but I've never owned a drum kit so I found that hard to keep up. I've dabbled in a few other things but nothing all that seriously.