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Do any of yall play any musical instruments?

Started by Inkwe Mupkins, May 22, 2010, 12:48:26 PM

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Inkwe Mupkins

I play tuba, alto sax, trumpet, and was learning french horn. If any of yall play sax can u give me some tips on jazz? and if u play trumpet any tips on high notes would be helpful.
Islam means peace.
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Kay

I play just about all of them to some degree.  Started on flute, and switched to french horn which was my major instrument all through college.  I never played jazz on sax, so I can't help you much there...aside from the general advice of learning your scales and arpeggios, as well as the regular chord progressions found in jazz music...to better help you with improvization.    With high notes on trumpet, in the long term it's all about air flow and embouchure control/endurance.  The embouchure, like any muscle, just takes time to build...and will get better the more you play higher parts.  In the short term, more pressure of the mouthpiece against the lips can help...but isn't a good longterm solution for regular playing...as it tires the lips much much sooner, and if you do it too much can bruise the muscles a little.  (happened to me once or twice.  Generally heals in a couple of days, just feels very sore when you play).
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justmeinoz

bass guitar, Electric and acoustic lap steel, and trying trumpet too.( I played sax until I suffered a back injury and found it too heavy to hold comfortably for any length of time.) Main interest is blues/rock with a hope to be good enough to play jazz one day.
I find the highs on Trumpet take work too, although sometimes I can sort of relax and let the music flow more. Just practice I guess.
  My biggest problem is sticky valves, but they seem to be loosening up slowly with use.  I have tried "Ultra Pure" and "Micro" brand oils so far. What do you use Kay and Shaun?
"Don't ask me, it was on fire when I lay down on it"
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Kay

I used all sorts of different kinds of oil when I was playing trumpet.  Generally the brand didn't matter too much.  If the valves move freely when you're not playing, I've found that generally means that your fingers are pressing the valves to the left or right as well as down when you play...so you may need to readjust how your fingers are moving to avoid that.  Piston valves can be kind of finicky that way.  (It's even worse on mellophone)  Just another reason to play the french horn instead (gotta love those rotary valves)...but I may be a little biased.  ;) 
.
Oh...if they're sticky all the time...then you may want to clean the instrument, and if that doesn't work then try lapping the valve.
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Unstick-a-Trumpet-Valve

Quote from: justmeinoz on May 23, 2010, 07:42:08 AM
  My biggest problem is sticky valves, but they seem to be loosening up slowly with use.  I have tried "Ultra Pure" and "Micro" brand oils so far. What do you use Kay and Shaun?
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lightvi

Piano, used to play guitar but never really got into it. Really want to get a violin I love how they sound :).
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Nathan.

Not yet but I have a bass guitar and want to start learning it soon.
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Miniar

I learned to play the piano when I was young, but stopped after two years...
I learned to play the guitar when I was a little older, but stopped after two years...

I have an electric guitar and an electric piano and I "can" read the notes & tabs & chords, and recently got an acoustic (for my birthday) and have been picking it up and playing a little every now and then. I plan to play more this summer, 1-2 hours a day minimum.

I used to sing lots before, but am re-learning the limits of the Testosterone affected voice. It's only been 157 days of T, so it's still shifting a bit, so there's limits to how much I can do with it some days, but I've got decent control so far.



"Everyone who has ever built anywhere a new heaven first found the power thereto in his own hell" - Nietzsche
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Emmik

I went to music high school, where my main instrument was bass. In (rough) order of skill level I can also play guitar, piano and drums.

I've been thinking about learning to play the violin, but I never get around to buying one.

My singing voice has been described as "stop that!", "ouch" and "what is wrong with you?". Usually by me.
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Inkwe Mupkins

Islam means peace.
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V M

Played a variety of instruments... Most often guitar and vocals for 30+ years... Even hung out and played with a few now famous people

Allot of folks liked my original stuff

But alas, fame and fortune were not in the cards for me and playing in top forty bands paid the bills in younger days

Pretty much gave up on it all when I decided to transition
The main things to remember in life are Love, Kindness, Understanding and Respect - Always make forward progress

Superficial fanny kissing friends are a dime a dozen, a TRUE FRIEND however is PRICELESS


- V M
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darkshine

I'm currently playing guitar and using MIDI synthesisers at uni.
Used to play alto sax in the school band for five years, and took piano lessons when I was about four or five.
Oh and I sing too (when no one is around)
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Fenrir

I play classical guitar to a decent standard and recorder pretty darn well. Shame recorder is looked down upon as a child's instrument...
I also played violin for a short time when I was younger, but seeing as all I can remember how to play is 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star', I don't think it counts.  :P
I would love to be able to play piano some day! Or something cool, like a harmonica or a sittar.  ;D
Oh yeah, I sing as well. Wasn't sure that counted as an instrumment!
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Sarah_aus

I've played lots, but mainly keys (piano, organ, keyboard etc), flute, sax, guitar (not well - stubby fingers) clarinet, drums, bass guitar, vocals - though I never really gave it a chance.
Mainly keys and flute
-Tali
"There is a place you can touch a woman that will drive her crazy. Her heart." - Melanie Griffith
"It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives." - Unknown
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Constance


Umbrella

I can play keyboard, but that's it. :P Seems like there's a lot of musically talented people here!
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Dark Angel

Started off playing the violin when I was little. As I got older I picked up a few more instruments. Guitar, bass, and piano/synths. Currently saving for an electronic drum kit and would love to learn to sing.  :angel:

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Hikari

I used to play guitar a bit, I can still do some chords if I need to, but I sold my old guitar ('79 Fender strat) a few years ago. I used to listen to lots of metal, but these days I am more likely to listen to VNV Nation before In Flames (I still like them both though!).

I suppose you could say I play synth but, it is more like USB controller these days. Honestly though, my playing ability is a bit suspect, luckily for me getting a few soft synths working with an arpeggiator, and a virtual drum machine and I can put out something that is somewhat decent.

I love making music, I just wish I was better at it.
私は女の子 です!My Blog - Hikari's Transition Log http://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/board,377.0.html
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justmeinoz

Kay, you were right about lapping the valves. I had a second go at it, as I wasn't happy with the results first time. Plays much better now.
"Don't ask me, it was on fire when I lay down on it"
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Crypt77

Guitar (Both electric and acoustic), drums and hahaha...'turntables' (It's an instrument to me!)
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