Can you Play Musical instruments ?

[Zombie_Fish]

I've been playing drums/percussion for ~8 years now. Mostly drum kits, though I have messed around on a friend's djembe and cajon as well in that time. I also had lessons for five years and did a fair few performances (both live and recorded). I haven't been as frequent since starting Uni though.

Because I knew I couldn't take my drums to Uni (I do have an electronic kit but the power supply needs replacing), I started learning the bass guitar four years ago. I'm okay at it, but I could do with actual lessons or training vids at some point.

I've also been playing the ukulele for the past year, since the company I used to work for had a ukulele club. It's probably the instrument I play most frequently right now.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I've dabbled in a few instruments but nothing has ever stuck long-term.

I played guitar, just acoustic, for five or six years so that was my longest relationship.

Other than that, I can play at least one or two songs on the piano (I played for a couple of years when I was 7 or 8), the recorder and the tin whistle.

When I was younger, I could play "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias on the tin whistle, I was quite proud of that one. XD

 

[Dizchu]

Electric guitar, acoustic guitar and bass guitar. Intermediate level of skill with electric, mixed results with both acoustic and bass but I play them for recording reasons.

My main strength lies in arranging and composing music, however. I did the soundtracks to all of the projects I was involved with in university.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Makes me sad all these people here who haven't played instruments outside of guitar, bass guitar and percussion. There's so much cooler instruments to learn and listen to than the same three.

I played alto saxophone, but I quit after about three years to switch to tuba because my school band needed a tuba. Brass is so much better than woodwinds will ever hope to be.

Spoiler

I've been meaning to learn double bass for a while -- not a bass guitar, but the big fucking instrument in orchestras. I feel like I can't stray from low instruments now, I like the role in music too much.

 

[Fishyash]

I've been playing piano/keyboards most of my life. I'm trying to make a professional career out of it, and have been enjoying it immensely. I've been getting into composing music too.

I love trying out lots of different instruments though. As of late I've been learning the bass guitar. It's a lot of fun and was easy to get into.

I'm pretty competent on the tabla.

Echoing everyone else who responded, that's awesome man. That instrument's damn tricky so big respect to anyone who can play it well.

 

[Dizchu]

Makes me sad all these people here who haven't played instruments outside of guitar, bass guitar and percussion. There's so much cooler instruments to learn and listen to than the same three.

I can see what you mean but the electric guitar is probably the most versatile instrument there is (apart from maybe the Eigenharp, check it out if you haven't). You can put all sorts of effects on it, there's so many techniques (tremolo picking, downpicking, tapping, hammer-ons, slides, scrapes, harmonics etc.) that I doubt it'll ever get "old". That's probably the appeal most people see in the guitar, it fits into pretty much every genre of music.

 

[sanquin]

I picked up a drum set about 6~8 months ago, and I'm improving quite quickly, even if I say so myself.

 

[Byte2222]

I can play violin, viola, tuba and bass trombone well (i.e. been examined in or currently playing in an ensemble), as well as euphonium and tenor (normal) trombone not as well and sort-of trumpet. I can also sing pretty well and conduct.

 

[blue heartless]

Yes. I am quite familiar with the guitar, bass, clarinet, whistle, harmonica and ukulele. I am by no way of speaking an expert at either of these pieces but I could hold my own in the background.

And a familiar nod to the 5th grade recorder, for the only song I learned to play is Dreidel.

 

[Artina89]

Guitar and Bass are my specialties, and I gravitate more towards playing bass, I just love the sound and the tone of the bass more than guitar.

 

[mysecondlife]

Guitar both acoustic and electric is what I play the most. I find them beautiful to display and that makes it easy access for me.

I played violin during kindergarden and flute in elementary and highschool. Gosh, I remember when I couldn't advance because my school had something called "scale jail" where you have to learn how to play every scale or.... its just like how it sounds.

I also sing marvelously in karaoke according to some people.

 

[CrystalViolet]

I can play piano very well but I'm way out of practice with guitar and violin. I'm a far better singer than I am a musician though.

 

[TheRiddler]

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*blushes* Wow. Thanks, you guys. Made my day.

My dad learned how to play tabla in India when he was young, and I just picked it up off of him as a kid. I try to squeeze in an hour of practice every week or two. I've just about gotten to the point where I can accompany real singers with stuff a bit more complex than the basic teental.

PS: While I'm at it, a friend taught me how to play "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on her ukelele. So there's that too, I guess.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

Makes me sad all these people here who haven't played instruments outside of guitar, bass guitar and percussion. There's so much cooler instruments to learn and listen to than the same three.

I can see what you mean but the electric guitar is probably the most versatile instrument there is (apart from maybe the Eigenharp, check it out if you haven't). You can put all sorts of effects on it, there's so many techniques (tremolo picking, downpicking, tapping, hammer-ons, slides, scrapes, harmonics etc.) that I doubt it'll ever get "old". That's probably the appeal most people see in the guitar, it fits into pretty much every genre of music.

I digress that a guitar is versatile. (Thinking of acoustic guitar here) They're not loud when they aren't boosted, because they're limited to pizzicato they can't sustain notes without doing the harpiscord trick of trilling the note, and a lot of the roles it has is more flexibly filled by the other stringed instruments.

Then again, I'm biased when I say I really dislike the sound of guitars.

 

[Dizchu]

I digress that a guitar is versatile. (Thinking of acoustic guitar here) They're not loud when they aren't boosted, because they're limited to pizzicato they can't sustain notes without doing the harpiscord trick of trilling the note, and a lot of the roles it has is more flexibly filled by the other stringed instruments.

Then again, I'm biased when I say I really dislike the sound of guitars.

That's fair enough! Many of my favourite-sounding instruments are actually woodwinds (and piano, I love piano) but I picked up guitar because it's a portable instrument that works in a lot of different contexts. Also there's the "easy to learn, difficult to master" appeal.

But I can see why this could be a bad thing. Many people that play more orchestral instruments are usually restricted to playing in an orchestra or be seen as a "gimmick" because there's a lack of an audience for it.

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

I can! I play guitar and bass mostly in basically as many styles as I can learn, been playing them for the best part of a decade and about 5 years respectively. Other than that, I can just about play ukelele, banjo, mandolin, tin whistle and ocarina - basically any old folk instrument I can get my hands on I'll have a go on. The only thing I'd really like to seriously learn at the minute is keys and drums so I can do the whole one-man band recording thing (other than a singer but I know a few of those anyway).

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I digress that a guitar is versatile. (Thinking of acoustic guitar here) They're not loud when they aren't boosted, because they're limited to pizzicato they can't sustain notes without doing the harpiscord trick of trilling the note, and a lot of the roles it has is more flexibly filled by the other stringed instruments.

Then again, I'm biased when I say I really dislike the sound of guitars.

That's fair enough! Many of my favourite-sounding instruments are actually woodwinds (and piano, I love piano) but I picked up guitar because it's a portable instrument that works in a lot of different contexts. Also there's the "easy to learn, difficult to master" appeal.

But I can see why this could be a bad thing. Many people that play more orchestral instruments are usually restricted to playing in an orchestra or be seen as a "gimmick" because there's a lack of an audience for it.

Yeah you're absolutely right. My tuba weighs roughly fifteen pounds and the case is so big it doesn't fit in the trunks of small vehicles (it works in the back seats, if I have all three seats open).

 

[Ironshroom]

I am a professional Flautist, Piccolo player, Ocarina player, Pianist, synth player, Guitarist (acoustic and electric), Bassist (acoustic and electric), vocalist and drummer.