Can you play an instrument?

ROAAAR · 06-03-2015 3:28pm #1

I'm sure there'll be loads of people ready to make a joke about playing their flute, so let's get that out of the way

I play a few instruments but would only really be solid playing the guitar and even at that it's something I'll constantly be trying to master my whole life. In the future I hope to take some drum lessons. I've been at a couple of small gigs and a good drummer is something that really impresses me.
I'd be interested to know what instrument people would like to be a master at if they could just pick one. The guitar is obviously very popular but even from just having a look on YouTube some of the rarer instruments played are really amazing to listen to when you hear someone play it brilliantly.

Generic Dreadhead · 06-03-2015 3:29pm

Yes i can

Lapin · 06-03-2015 3:33pm

I can play three!

The symbals, the tambourine and the triangle !

GLaDOS · 06-03-2015 3:34pm

I played a bit of bass but haven't picked it up in a while now, just stopped making time for it.

WoollyRedHat · 06-03-2015 3:35pm

I used to play guitar, but I got too strung out.

06-03-2015 3:35pm

No.

And all these talent threads lately make me feel very inferior

brummytom · 06-03-2015 3:35pm

Yeah, play a few. Mainly play Irish trad, so I love this time of year now. Started on piano when I was about 6, then took up the guitar, mandolin then tenor banjo. Can't beat just picking a guitar up and then realising you've spent hours in your own little world.

Maximus Alexander · 06-03-2015 3:36pm

Used to be fairly handy with a guitar but being a grown up means I can't find the time for it anymore and my ability is declining all the time. Breaks my heart.

WoollyRedHat · 06-03-2015 3:37pm

brummytom wrote: »

Yeah, play a few. Mainly play Irish trad, so I love this time of year now.

Do you play for pay? Heard there's a nice bit of money to be made out of it playing around the bars.

blue note · 06-03-2015 3:37pm

I'm okay on the cello. Played a little piano too and a few chords on the guitar to impress the ladies. That never worked!

Ruu · 06-03-2015 3:38pm

A little bit of tin whistle.

BBJBIG · 06-03-2015 3:39pm

Yeah ! I play with me aul Flute on a regular basis ....

brummytom · 06-03-2015 3:40pm

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Do you play for pay? Heard there's a nice bit of money to be made out of it playing around the bars.

Yeah, not as much as I'd like to though. I don't know about Ireland, but I'd imagine it's similar to over here, the money's decent enough for doing something that's embarrassingly easy.

ROAAAR · 06-03-2015 3:40pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

No.

And all these talent threads lately make me feel very inferior

Don't be silly! Things always appear like that but I'm sure you're not giving yourself enough credit. It's a pretty strong Irish trait

.
Is there an instrument that you think you'd like to learn?

I can't quite think of the name of the song, but it was some boyband backstage on the late late show with a trad band and I remember the thin whistle player being pretty brilliant. I must look for it actually..

BizzyC · 06-03-2015 3:41pm

Drummer here, also play a bit of guitar.

I'd love to be able to play something like piano without having to spend years learning to play it....

Nucular Arms · 06-03-2015 3:42pm

Bass and drums..

Or drum and bass if you prefer!

The Diabolical Monocle · 06-03-2015 3:43pm

ROAAAR wrote: »

I'm sure there'll be loads of people ready to make a joke about playing their flute, so let's get that out of the way

We're more mature than that here if you give us a chance.

Anyway Ive a pink oboe, tried playing it but didn't work out.

Adamantium · 06-03-2015 3:45pm

My flute.

AnonoBoy · 06-03-2015 3:46pm

I play triangle for a reggae band. It's pretty casual. I just stand at the back and ting.

sadie06 · 06-03-2015 3:47pm

Yes, I play a few instruments (piano, guitar, whistle, percussion) but I would call myself a master of none, though I can play to a decent busky accompaniment/performance standard.

Mastered my vocal abilities. That whole '10,000 hours to become an expert' idea definitely holds water. You have to put in the work, and I did with singing.

x43r0 · 06-03-2015 3:49pm

A good few years experience playing my banjo string

Nucular Arms · 06-03-2015 3:49pm

Oh, and I can play the star wars theme music on harmonica...

IvySlayer · 06-03-2015 3:50pm

I can play Three Blind Mice AND Hot Cross Buns on the recorder

Duggy747 · 06-03-2015 3:50pm

Guitar, though I haven't played in about a year or 2.

I can do the solo to Freebird perfectly without missing a note...............well...................on Guitar Hero anyways

Pataman · 06-03-2015 3:51pm

As much sax as I can get

sadie06 · 06-03-2015 3:52pm

Pataman wrote: »

As much sax as I can get

Is this you?

The Diabolical Monocle · 06-03-2015 3:52pm

Duggy747 wrote: »

Guitar, though I haven't played in about a year or 2.

I can do the solo to Freebird perfectly without missing a note...............well...................on Guitar Hero anyways

fly high freee bird yeaahh .... hang on, I can get this.

Pataman · 06-03-2015 3:53pm

sadie06 wrote: »

Is this you?

Rumbled again:D

GLaDOS · 06-03-2015 3:55pm

BBJBIG wrote: »

Yeah ! I play with me aul Flute on a regular basis ....

Adamantium wrote: »

My flute.

x43r0 wrote: »

A good few years experience playing my banjo string

Fair play OP, called it in the first line :pac:

Green Mile · 06-03-2015 3:57pm

I’m fairly nifty on the guitar, I have an music ear so I found it easy to jump straight to the piano. That being said, I can find the keys by ear but am limited if the song is complexly fast.
I wish I could sing. I know a few tips to sing but it’s just not natural to me and I hear it different to others. I cringe listening back on a recording. If I could pick anything to become good at, it would be singing.

Nero707 · 06-03-2015 3:57pm

Drummer and guitarist, prefer drums tho, much more fun

Toots · 06-03-2015 3:57pm

Clarinet, recorder and tin whistle.

I haven't played the clarinet in years, and I've gotten really rusty at it, almost forgotten how to read music. I really regret not keeping up with it more.

Crooked Jack · 06-03-2015 3:58pm

Bodhran. I dont know if that even counts

strobe · 06-03-2015 4:01pm

Play(ed) guitar. Got really fcking good at one stage, but play far too infrequently now and anytime I pick it up it just irritates me that I'm so rusty. Must just stick it out and get back into playing regularly. Used to happily play away for hours at one stage and feel as mentally refreshed as if I'd taken a good solid 10 hour sleep afterwards.

Would love to play violin. Bought one. It hurts my face though. The way you have to hold it. Gonna try and invent my own non-face hurting way of holding it I think.

Have a keyboard. But it's a cheapo one. Can play a little, but really want to get a proper one with weighted keys. I think I'll do just that.

Can play a couple of tunes on the recorder. What an awful sounding instrument. Who the fvck invented that thing?

AnonoBoy · 06-03-2015 4:02pm

Crooked Jack wrote: »

Bodhran. I dont know if that even counts

This is a thread about music.

So no. No it doesn't count.

ROAAAR · 06-03-2015 4:02pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZPE_PWNx3s

That's certainly one way to sex up the thin whistle!

whisky_galore · 06-03-2015 4:03pm

I picked up the guitar once.

And put it back down again...

endacl · 06-03-2015 4:03pm

Classical guitar to degree level. Also rocky bluesy jazzy stuff on electric. Pro/semi-pro for quite a few years. Also bouzouki, and trad flute, although I'd be better described as a flute owner than a flute player. Tin whistle. Can bluff on piano. Mess about a bit on mandolin. Have recently acquired a guitalele. Sure I can play the tiny little fecker, but can't figure out how to hold it...

endacl · 06-03-2015 4:04pm

Crooked Jack wrote: »

Bodhran. I dont know if that even counts

Nope. 'Fraid not. Marks for effort though!

:pac:

AlteredStates · 06-03-2015 4:06pm

Not to harp on about it.. but I love sax, playing with flutes (seems to be pop here) and partial to a bit of fiddle / triangle. Fav tho has to be the French horn :rolleyes:

So yes I love playing with instruments.

Yakult · 06-03-2015 4:12pm

Stopped playing guitar due to my g-string breaking while fingering a minor.

Was one of a kind.

Lollipops23 · 06-03-2015 4:13pm

Nope, but really wish I could.

endacl · 06-03-2015 4:14pm

Lollipops23 wrote: »

Nope, but really wish I could.

What's stopping you?

Lollipops23 · 06-03-2015 4:15pm

endacl wrote: »

What's stopping you?

Ha, I think I'm prob past learning from scratch at 27!

obriendj · 06-03-2015 4:17pm

I have been playing Guitar on and off the last few years. I am ok but can't seem to step up to playing songs in full. perhaps i need some professional lessons but must say youtube is brilliant!!

everlast75 · 06-03-2015 4:18pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSjA3xzHUKE

endacl · 06-03-2015 4:18pm

Lollipops23 wrote: »

Ha, I think I'm prob past learning from scratch at 27!

Me hole. I've a student at the moment who picked up the guitar at 53. Three years in and he's flying along. Think about it. By the time you're the age he was when he started, you'll have been playing for 26 years.

endacl · 06-03-2015 4:20pm

obriendj wrote: »

I have been playing Guitar on and off the last few years. I am ok but can't seem to step up to playing songs in full. perhaps i need some professional lessons but must say youtube is brilliant!!

YouTube won't spot the simple little change that's holding you back...

Banjo String · 06-03-2015 4:22pm

Whistle, flute, uillean pipes (constantly learning, but getting there)

Guitar (badly)

Oh and the Banjo obviously.

obriendj · 06-03-2015 4:22pm

Lollipops23 wrote: »

Ha, I think I'm prob past learning from scratch at 27!

I only started in my 30s

It's definitely never too late

obriendj · 06-03-2015 4:26pm

endacl wrote: »

YouTube won't spot the simple little change that's holding you back...

But if I go to professional lessons - I will be lambasted for all my bad habits.
- Only use my thumb and first finger to play
- Not using a pic
- Also I think i move my wrist more than I should

If I had to correct that it would be like starting all again.

Can you play an instrument?

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