Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all :)

I find myself picking at the guitar quite a bit recently. I've been playing since high school so that makes 25 years and I'm competent without being good. I find it really helps me to relax, and I can lose myself in it and work a few things through subconsciously if I have something on my mind.

I also have started piano again, although this time I've given up trying to read music and just play it like a guitar: chords and some melody :D

Anyway, recently I've been playing Stevie Nicks stuff - Landslide and Songbird (good voice training too!), and last night some Elvis Costello (less good for the voice hehe).

What do you play and what songs are you doing at the moment?

Hi Joan, lots of musicians here.  Apparently that's pretty common with transfolk.

I play primarily guitar and bass, but have been known to jam on a keyboard and drums or throw down a vocal.

I mostly like to write my own stuff, but I love playing the classics when the mood strikes which could be any moment when you have ADD!

Rock on, sister!

I was in Drum Corps in High School. I play anything brass (Trumpet, Mellophone, Baritone, Contra, French Horn). I loved the field shows, uniforms and just the feeling of a flawless performance. I remember everything, the stadiums, lights at night, the crowds cheering, it was a great experience. Now I am getting into Bass Guitar. My favorite Bass right now is Adam Clayton of U2. My kids 15 and 16 already have college music scholarships and my daughter is trying out for the Phantom Regiment (Drum Corps International) next year. :)

I am trying (still) to learn the ukulele.  But when I was a teen, I was a veritable prodigy on the skin flute.  :o

I tuba'ed through high school, much to my discontent.

I know how to play a guitar but I haven't touched mine in a looong time.

guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro

Guitar, clarinet, saxophone.
I dont play the wind instruments anymore tho.

Oh, and fruity loops. :p

I play the guitar, actually I was playing it right before I saw this thread haha!

Rock on, Jill! :)

You compose too? I used to do some of that a few years ago. Do you have a home studio too? That process of when a song and arrangement evolves can be amazing, and deeply satisfying.

Jessica :)

I never tried brass and I'm in awe of those that can do it. Add the group performance part to that and it's truly incredible. I find myself drawn to the bass line when I listen to a song. I have an ancient bass guitar with a potentially amp-destroying earthing problem but I can't get anything much out of it.

Jamie :)

Ukulele? My fingers are too big for those. And the skin flute...is that free style or classical? ;D

Willow :)

Tuba! That's a lot of instrument to be be carrying around. Was that the cause if your discontent?

RoadtoTrista :)

I have times where I just don't play anything for ages. I'd been so focused on trying to get something approaching music out of the piano that I ignored the guitar for quite a while, but we've been reunited recently. It's like we we're never apart.

Gwynne :)

Multi-instrumental! I had to google dobro to find out what one was. Now I remember that David Sylvian used one and named a song after it on one of his albums.

Emo :)

Another multi-talent! Fruity loops, eh? I had a battle for a while with Reason but ended up using it as a sampler to trigger from my recording software. Ah, those were the days...

Megumi :)

Another guitarist! What were you playing??

Quote from: Joan on January 09, 2014, 01:54:28 AMWillow :)

Tuba! That's a lot of instrument to be be carrying around. Was that the cause if your discontent?

Yeah, the thing was heavy.and I was the tallest too, usually the centre of the tuba line in forms on the field.

It wasn't really my choice, mom had me do marching band as an activity to be more social. Honestly I didn't see what was social about band; I was there to play my horn.

I play the electric guitar for 4 years now...

recently only I have an issue... japanese songs dont have tabs on the internet , so I have to learn everything by ear... pretty tough work haha

Sorry, a Jessica airhead moment. I don't know if I will ever hear "Trans" Siberian Orchestra the same way now. *giggles* ;)

Used to play the trumpet, but I was bad at it and only did it for school.

Quote from: Joan on January 08, 2014, 06:59:27 PM
I find myself picking at the guitar quite a bit recently. I've been playing since high school so that makes 25 years and I'm competent without being good.

Lol, I'm pretty much the same way. I've played the guitar and electric bass since 8th grade but never got great at either. I played mostly punk rock though, so I really only needed to know 3 chords. Still play every now and then. I also grew up playing the piano and saxophone.

I used to play the flute, but am waaayyy out of practice. I want to learn to play other wind instruments, but don't see the point since I have no one to play with or to. It's also difficult to play them and dance at the same time.

Quote from: Edge on January 09, 2014, 01:11:02 PMI used to play the flute, but am waaayyy out of practice. I want to learn to play other wind instruments, but don't see the point since I have no one to play with or to. It's also difficult to play them and dance at the same time.

Trust me, it's way possible to dance and play a wind instrument. I had to dance and play tuba for the field show Junior year.

Quote from: Edge on January 09, 2014, 01:11:02 PM
I used to play the flute, but am waaayyy out of practice. I want to learn to play other wind instruments, but don't see the point since I have no one to play with or to. It's also difficult to play them and dance at the same time.

Ian Anderson would beg to differ.

I didn't say it's impossible. Just difficult. I have trouble coordinating breathing with jumping around.

Guitar and bass guitar, as well as some hand drums.

Quote from: Edge on January 09, 2014, 03:03:58 PM
I didn't say it's impossible. Just difficult. I have trouble coordinating breathing with jumping around.

just being snarky... and for the record, I can't dance, either

Quote from: Gwynne on January 09, 2014, 05:27:19 PM
just being snarky... and for the record, I can't dance, either

Two or 3 beers (liquid courage) and I think I can dance.

Quote from: Constance on January 09, 2014, 05:35:08 PM
Two or 3 beers (liquid courage) and I think I can dance.

I used to routinely dance on stage during gigs. Alcohol was certainly a motivating factor.  :-\

Drummer/singer 50 years.  Currently playing in a regularly working R&B band.   8)

Quote from: FalsePrincess on January 09, 2014, 07:22:17 AM
I play the electric guitar for 4 years now...

recently only I have an issue... japanese songs dont have tabs on the internet , so I have to learn everything by ear... pretty tough work haha

Ooh really? What bands or songs are you trying to play?

Quote from: Gwynne on January 09, 2014, 05:46:45 PM
I used to routinely dance on stage during gigs. Alcohol was certainly a motivating factor.  :-\

For me, as the dancing gets better the playing goes downhill :D

Quote from: Willow on January 09, 2014, 06:43:57 AM
Yeah, the thing was heavy.and I was the tallest too, usually the centre of the tuba line in forms on the field.

It wasn't really my choice, mom had me do marching band as an activity to be more social. Honestly I didn't see what was social about band; I was there to play my horn.

The things they made us do, eh?

Wow lots of guitarists here! :)

Been playing for too long and I like technical stuff but play a lot of pop-punk too. And I have a bass I use for ska stuff.

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on January 09, 2014, 07:42:05 AM
I don't know if I will ever hear "Trans" Siberian Orchestra the same way now. *giggles* ;)

lolol :)

Quote from: Jamie D on January 08, 2014, 08:49:48 PM
But when I was a teen, I was a veritable prodigy on the skin flute.  :o

Perhaps we should compare notes.  ;)

I used to play the Cello and the Recorder, my spouse plays the Dulcimer.

I bought a plastic Yamaha recorder when I was in high school and tried to teach myself to play it. Unfortunately, I just didn't have the discipline to really pursue it. And I've always loved cellos, but have never studied the instrument.

Quote from: Jamie D on January 08, 2014, 08:49:48 PM
I was a veritable prodigy on the skin flute.

:D :D :D I was wondering when someone would say that.

Quote from: Sarah Louise on January 10, 2014, 11:22:04 AM
I used to play the Cello and the Recorder, my spouse plays the Dulcimer.

Yay for the dulcimer! We had one when I was growing up, but it only had two strings and one was broken. It was never fixed. I would try to strum it anyway, but needless to say I won't be the first trans professional dulcimer player!

Quote from: Joan on January 09, 2014, 01:54:28 AM
Jamie :)

Ukulele? My fingers are too big for those. And the skin flute...is that free style or classical? ;D

I always seemed to have problems with the strum patterns.  ::)

Quote from: Sarah Louise on January 10, 2014, 11:22:04 AM
I used to play the Cello and the Recorder, my spouse plays the Dulcimer.

the Appalachian dulcimer or the hammered dulcimer?

I play Trumpet, Violin, Piano, Drums, Alittle bit of Guitar and I'm currently wanting to learn how to play the Saxaphone

Quote from: Sarah Louise on January 10, 2014, 11:22:04 AM
I used to play the Cello and the Recorder, my spouse plays the Dulcimer.

I have always loved the cello and I really wanted to learn how to play. That slightly mournful tone it produces always did it for me. I even dates a cellist back in HS :)

Quote from: Brandon on January 11, 2014, 11:24:01 PM
I play Trumpet, Violin, Piano, Drums, Alittle bit of Guitar and I'm currently wanting to learn how to play the Saxaphone

That, Brandon, is an impressive list :D

I used to play the trumpet in school which I hated.  As far as self teaching, I've learned a little bit of the piano and attempted briefly (but failed) to learn to play the viola.  I've always wanted to go back to a string instrument and learn to play.  I love classical music, so it would be fun.

However, the instrument that I play nowadays is the guitar (electric and classical).  Though I must confess, I've been a bit lazy as of late.  At the moment, I'm a bit frustrated with trying to master the "chaconne", so I've been going back to electric while I'm still angry at Bach, lol.  Still, there is something about classical guitar that moves me more than any other music. Well, one day I'll be a lesser segovia, lol.  In any case, I have improvement to make on the electric, so my time is still being invested wisely. 

bass!

I played piano since I was 8 because my grandmom died and I got her piano. the last couple of years I also started playing abit of guitar and sing to some of the akkords but it pretty basic nothing special.

currently im playing bad apple and
the next song to learn will be anti-nostaligic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM0UZ7Ynnvg

I started piano lessons about age 5 but quit the lessons the second year because I wasn't interested in 'exercises' but continued playing old ballads for my grandmother, then R&R in a small high school band for a few years (the 'quick learn' style of melody + chords) and, vocally, did a reasonable cover of Gracie Slick. I am awfully rusty after 40 years but much of it comes back if I sit down and work at it (but the voice is gone - it needs LOTS of training now).

I have also  dabbled in 5-string banjo, accordion, b->-bleeped-<-ipes (Great Highland & parlour pipes), steel guitar, and turned my hand to instrument making and repair a few times. I build 'em better than I play 'em LOL!

I am never without music no matter where I am or what I am doing!