Anybody else play an instrument?

[Joan]

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

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?

[Jill F]

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!

[Jessica Merriman]

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. 🙂

[Jamie D]

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

[Lauren5]

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

[~RoadToTrista~]

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

[MadeleineG]

guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro

[Emo]

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

Oh, and fruity loops. 😛

[Megumi]

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

[Joan]

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?

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??

[Lauren5]

Willow

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.

[FalseHybridPrincess]

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

[Jessica Merriman]

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

[Xhianil]

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

[FinallyMe84]

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.

[Edge]

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.

[Lauren5]

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.

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.

[MadeleineG]

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.

[Edge]

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

[Constance]

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