Anyone play an instrument?

[BigCountryMopar]

Playing an instrument has always intrigued me, but not something I took seriously until recently. As a teenager I knew guys who played guitar and drums and some girls who played piano. Around 16 I thought I’d like to learn to fiddle or play banjo. It wasn’t until I was living in Biloxi, making real good money at the age of 20, that I decided I’d buy me a fiddle and learn. I went to Mississippi Music, and bought the best one I could afford, which was like 350/400 dollars. Just so happens they offered violin lessons there so I started going weekly after work. The guy also did piano lessons and told me “ if you’re not born to play piano it’ll be an uphill battle forever and a waste of money”. Well fast forward to 2020, after years of life getting in the way and getting out of the habit of practicing my fiddle, I started trying to learn to play piano. I had, and am still learning, to read music. I practice when I have time, which I try to find daily, and I absolutely love it. I became the interim music director at our small country church last year, and became the full time music director this year. I wanted to start the piano last year, but the music teacher’s words from way back in 2010 always made me reconsider trying to learn. Now I’m glad I gave into our piano player, at the church, and started learning. I’m by no means a Mozart, but I feel like I have taken to it very well. I have a weekly FaceTime lesson with a friend in Arkansas, who has written some famous gospel songs and who teaches piano and has gospel singing schools all over the south. I have started messing with transposing songs from one key to another, and I like the challenge. I’m only playing in two keys at the moment, but it’s fun to play a song written in one key, in another.
So does anyone else play? Those who play did y’all learn as kids, teenagers, or like me an adult? I’m 31, I wish I would’ve started sooner, but I’m just glad I started at all.

 

[Thunderlugs]

After a 40 year intermission...... Back on the drums, ...Seems like I lost a little!!

 

[BigCountryMopar]

After a 40 year intermission...... Back on the drums, ...Seems like I lost a little!!

They say it’s like riding a bike, it all comes back to you.... I guess you’ll be finding out

 

[Thunderlugs]

They say it’s like riding a bike, it all comes back to you.... I guess you’ll be finding out

True, however I'm back on a 3 speed Schwinn, Not the 10 speed I was hoping for!
Oh well,....Paradiddle in the middle!

 

[Richard Cranium]

I played on the Linoleum when I was young.

 

[BigCountryMopar]

True, however I'm back on a 3 speed Schwinn, Not the 10 speed I was hoping for!
Oh well,....Paradiddle in the middle!

Not going to lie, I had to google paradiddle. Looks like a good exercise, definitely above my skill level!

 

[cbodybob]

Learning bass guitar. Have an instructor. About 2 months now. When I practice I can half way make it through a few songs. If I miss a few days to a week which happens it sets me back. Anyway just doing it for fun. My goal is to get good enough to kick a few songs around with some local musicians & drink a few beers. Have some fun. A band? Not likely.

 

[slimt]

I dabble with guitars and mandolins. Play and collect.
I have a couple.

 

[BigCountryMopar]

View attachment 1025283 I dabble with guitars and mandolins. Play and collect.
I have a couple.
View attachment 1025282

Just a couple, huh?

 

[BigCountryMopar]

Learning bass guitar. Have an instructor. About 2 months now. When I practice I can half way make it through a few songs. If I miss a few days to a week which happens it sets me back. Anyway just doing it for fun. My goal is to get good enough to kick a few songs around with some local musicians & drink a few beers. Have some fun. A band? Not likely.

sounds like a good goal to me. My goal is to be able to play any song in any of hymn books, without struggling or needing to practice first.

 

[slimt]

Just a couple, huh?

Im just showing you one room. Ive been collecting for about 40 years. So theres a few rooms full.

 

[Hilljack68]

I played guitar well enough to make the dog howl... so now I just play the radio.

 

[MADCIMA]

I've been playing bass for a short time, 7 years old, I'm 44, the secret is consistency ... even 15 min a day makes the difference, then it depends where you want to go ....
not everyone becomes an expert musician, that's obvious.
some advice, side by side with people who have been playing for a while, they can give you a lot of information, which a teacher does not give you, (the more lessons you do, the more you pay for them)

 

[BigCountryMopar]

I've been playing bass for a short time, 7 years old, I'm 44, the secret is consistency ... even 15 min a day makes the difference, then it depends where you want to go ....
not everyone becomes an expert musician, that's obvious.
some advice, side by side with people who have been playing for a while, they can give you a lot of information, which a teacher does not give you, (the more lessons you do, the more you pay for them)

Our piano player, who is my wife’s cousin, has been playing 60 years. But she is self admittedly not a good teacher. I watch her play, when I can, it helps to get my hand positions better. My “teacher” is fantastic, it is less lessons than him wanting to see what I’ve taught myself this week. He watches and corrects me and then we might try something new. My lessons with him are 39 minutes. But every time I walk by the piano I’ll play a song. I might only have time to play it once but if I walk by the piano 15+ times a day I’ll play that many times.

 

[Thunderlugs]

I have a very close friend, who was a very accomplished studio session Bass player. He comes over occasionally and we Just have a great Jam session, which helps me to advance and learn much of what I had lost and forgotten. Bass and drums work together as the foundation of many types of music. I feel honored to have the ability to spend time with a musician of his Caliber!

 

[Sahara]

I played bass in a few metal and new wave bands in the seventies, but I am not talented, and I was lazy. More into the lifestyle instead of working at my craft. I have a few recordings I dig out every now and then when I feel nostalgic.
My talent was in sound. I have a good ear and understanding of how sound works and could make things sound as good as possible in a given room. Things like phasing and harmonics, to bring out or lose certain tones, and to make sound appear from different places. One common example is the King Diamond song “The Candle”, where part of the organ intro appears to pass under your feet. Or the Kraftwerk song “Antenna” where various sounds pop out from different parts of the room. Drives my cats crazy as they look trying to see what’s there. Anyway...
Life gets in the way, and I had to make the choice between overdosing in a hotel somewhere or getting my **** together and living a normal, middle class life. Middle class won. But I still had this itch to express myself.
I now build from scratch tube guitar amps. I also repair and restore tube amps. I only build a few because each one is a labor of love, only shared with people who appreciate them. Sound and quality wise I put them up against any amp, anywhere on the planet, as far as tone and sound go. I proud of the fact that they look factory built, not like something out of some guys basement. And by built I mean totally built; I lay out the chassis, bend the metal, drill and punch the holes, paint and apply lettering and logo, cut wood on my saw to build the cabinets and finish them. Takes about a week of unhurried work to make one from clean sheet of paper to plugging in.
The photos are two random pix, there’s been others but top one is the first one I built, the “head” unit is my current one.

 

[#41]

Tried but just can't seem to pick it up to the point where it is fun. I'd say it is one of my disappointments in life because I am an audiophile, but I just reason that I'm good at other stuff.

 

[Thunderlugs]

I played bass in a few metal and new wave bands in the seventies, but I am not talented, and I was lazy. More into the lifestyle instead of working at my craft. I have a few recordings I dig out every now and then when I feel nostalgic.
My talent was in sound. I have a good ear and understanding of how sound works and could make things sound as good as possible in a given room. Things like phasing and harmonics, to bring out or lose certain tones, and to make sound appear from different places. One common example is the King Diamond song “The Candle”, where part of the organ intro appears to pass under your feet. Or the Kraftwerk song “Antenna” where various sounds pop out from different parts of the room. Drives my cats crazy as they look trying to see what’s there. Anyway...
Life gets in the way, and I had to make the choice between overdosing in a hotel somewhere or getting my **** together and living a normal, middle class life. Middle class won. But I still had this itch to express myself.
I now build from scratch tube guitar amps. I also repair and restore tube amps. I only build a few because each one is a labor of love, only shared with people who appreciate them. Sound and quality wise I put them up against any amp, anywhere on the planet, as far as tone and sound go. I proud of the fact that they look factory built, not like something out of some guys basement. And by built I mean totally built; I lay out the chassis, bend the metal, drill and punch the holes, paint and apply lettering and logo, cut wood on my saw to build the cabinets and finish them. Takes about a week of unhurried work to make one from clean sheet of paper to plugging in.
The photos are two random pix, there’s been others but one is the first one I built, the “head” unit is my current one.View attachment 1025342View attachment 1025343

That would be called a Valve amplifier if I am not mistaken. A good friend and fellow co worker of mine builds them completely from scratch also. The sound is wonderful.

 

[BigCountryMopar]

I played bass in a few metal and new wave bands in the seventies, but I am not talented, and I was lazy. More into the lifestyle instead of working at my craft. I have a few recordings I dig out every now and then when I feel nostalgic.
My talent was in sound. I have a good ear and understanding of how sound works and could make things sound as good as possible in a given room. Things like phasing and harmonics, to bring out or lose certain tones, and to make sound appear from different places. One common example is the King Diamond song “The Candle”, where part of the organ intro appears to pass under your feet. Or the Kraftwerk song “Antenna” where various sounds pop out from different parts of the room. Drives my cats crazy as they look trying to see what’s there. Anyway...
Life gets in the way, and I had to make the choice between overdosing in a hotel somewhere or getting my **** together and living a normal, middle class life. Middle class won. But I still had this itch to express myself.
I now build from scratch tube guitar amps. I also repair and restore tube amps. I only build a few because each one is a labor of love, only shared with people who appreciate them. Sound and quality wise I put them up against any amp, anywhere on the planet, as far as tone and sound go. I proud of the fact that they look factory built, not like something out of some guys basement. And by built I mean totally built; I lay out the chassis, bend the metal, drill and punch the holes, paint and apply lettering and logo, cut wood on my saw to build the cabinets and finish them. Takes about a week of unhurried work to make one from clean sheet of paper to plugging in.
The photos are two random pix, there’s been others but one is the first one I built, the “head” unit is my current one.View attachment 1025342View attachment 1025343

those look factory built for sure. When it comes to audio equipment I’m at a total loss. We have sound equipment at the church and I have no idea how to adjust it.

 

[t.flatt]

Over 30 years on the guitar for me! I used to play in bands around town. A few friends and I still get together and jam every month or so. Sadly, my garage time has taken over my practice time. Wait a minute, I love it in the garage!