Did you/do you play an instrument?

Question

Which one? My kids started summer music today. Oldest is playing bass clarinet and youngest is playing viola. 🥰🎵🎷🎻 I was a choir girlie so this is new territory for me but they love it!

nolabels · Accepted Answer

I always find it interesting to hear of the different types of instruments that youngsters choose to play when in school.

It takes all kinds of instruments to make up an entire school band or orchestra, each one contributing its own unique value to the entire ensemble.

Bass clarinet and viola are both interesting to me.
I'd like to have a viola, also, in addition to my other instruments, but a guy has to draw a line somewhere in how many instruments he has.
That's what my wife says, anyway.

I tried clarinet and trumpet in school, but neither one grabbed me, nor my mother's long-suffering ears, either.

I took up acoustic guitar at 14 and still play, then adding electric guitars about 25 years ago.
I have about 10 guitars, I guess.
I lose track of how many I have.

As a result of a budding friendship about 30 years ago, with a coworker who also happens to be a famous local musician in my town, I got interested in playing the fiddle, which I can play to some extent without having people running for the hills.
I'd trade one of my three fiddles for a viola.

Somehow, although I don't really consider myself to be a banjo player, I've managed to acquire 4 completely different styles of banjos.
I plunk on them for a few minutes every once in a while, then put them back on the stand.
They're pretty to look at.

I also have my dad's and my grandpa's piano accordions, but I can't play them worth a lick.
Grandpa's accordion is 100% handmade from 1910.
He was a professional piano teacher and practicing musician, so that accordion has millions of miles on it.
My dad's accordion is from the 1940's, pearl colored with glittered gold accidental keys instead of them being the standard black.
I used to love to hear him play beautiful waltzes and other classical works when I was a little kid.
He passed away very young at 42.
They're beautiful, but nope, I never got the hang of playing them.

My latest musical passion of the last 6 years or so is building and playing cigar box guitars, CBGs.
They're so much fun to me.
I've built 4 of them, with all of them being of different tunings, so I play different types of music on the different CBGs.
I installed pickups on them, so they sound wild plugged into an amp.

Illness has pretty much kept me from building any more of them over the last few years, but that's okay.

Thanks for posting this question, allowing me to express myself regarding the subject.

Cheers to all!
🎶🕺🎶🤪❤️😊👍🎶⭐🎶🕺🎶

Here's a smokin' hot example of a CBG in the hands of a modern-day blues legend.
I hope that "dear reader" checks it out and digs it as much as I do:

matchrestore · Accepted Answer

I played piano and saxophone. I stopped after middle school though. I too was in choir, and stayed in choir through high school.

My 6 year old has started drum lessons. He's really enjoying it, and he's reading the music notation and keeping rhythm really well. It's surprised me how quickly he's picking it up!

Cinematic Lily · Accepted Answer

Oh, that's so wonderful to hear that your kids are diving into music! 🎶 I have a sweet spot for art and creativity in all its forms. I used to play the piano when I was younger—those moments at the keys always felt so magical. Plus, it really helped with my focus and artistic expression. Your oldest playing bass clarinet and youngest on the viola sounds like such an adventurous and enriching journey for them!

It's amazing how music can influence a child's development and enhance other artistic abilities, too. I bet you'll find yourself getting more and more intrigued by their musical adventures. Who knows, maybe you’ll find yourself picking up an instrument and joining them! 😊🎹🎻

NamerOfStars · Answer

Not when I was younger, but the past few months, I've been teaching myself the harp. Interestingly, when I went on the search for sheet music (since anything beyond the most basic aspects of reading it elude me due to its inefficiencies, I'm stuck with music I already know the sound of), and found that for some reason, even works that have been in the public domain for as long as there's BEEN a public domain often have sheet music that isn't, and so finding free stuff online is a pain in the butt.

But there are libraries, and so I looked up the Dewey Decimal numbers for sheet music, to find that the harp, like guitar, is listed under "plectral instruments". I thought that meant "played by plucking", but it actually means "played with a pick". I was curious, since every harpist I've ever seen just uses their fingers, but I've ordered a set of picks online, and am awaiting them now.

The even better part is that I may finally be able to fulfill a childhood dream: I'd always planned to put olives on the fingers of one hand and Bugles on the the fingers of the other and have them fight, to see who would win. But my mother always stopped me, and by the time I was big enough to do so unopposed, my fingers were too large. But now, if I can find some large-pit olives, I just might be able to settle the round-vs-pointy dispute...

WhiteSteve · Answer

Upon seeing the Barbie movie with my lady, and her telling me after the scene with all the Kens playing and singing Matchbox 20 “at” all the Barbies at the beach bonfire that one of her biggest “icks” is men who play guitar trying to serenade women to be smooth…. I IMMEDIATELY decided that I needed to learn to play the guitar at least enough to surprise her with a song😂

And the best part is that I’m on the other side of the state taking care of my dad, so I can just totally learn guitar behind her back without her ever knowing, until that glorious day one day down the line where I pull a guitar out of hiding and just play a song and sing while staring obnoxiously into her eyes. I absolutely cannot wait😂😂😂 She’s going to hate it SO MUCH, lmfao.

So I’ve been just kind of playing around with it for like six or seven months. I can’t do much, but I can play some semblance of A Horse With No Name, so I’m getting the feel for it. I need to learn a way cornier song to sing to her though, lmao, problem is most dudes with cheesy love songs sing high, and I’m more of a baritone. And she’s a little too young for Black by Pearl Jam to resonate with her, but my Eddie Vedder is decent, hahaha.

But yeah, I play acoustic guitar *a REAL little bit*😝

MrOracle · Answer

I began as an alto sax player in 3rd grade, and occasionally played other single-reed woodwinds (clarinet and bass clarinet) before moving mostly full-time to Bari sax in Junior High. I did sub in bass clarinet or other saxes in college, as required for the music (for Concert Band).

I started teaching myself drums in Junior High and would sub in as a drummer on occasion in Jazz Band and for cheerleader performances when they needed marching drums. I also switched from Bari sax to drums in marching band to help fill out the drum line for that part of the competition.

And I also taught myself some piano/keyboards in high school - not really comprehensively but enough to play those parts in a rock band.

I don't play all that often anymore, other than a small, cheap electric drum set once in a while but I do enjoy playing. I also practice bass guitar once in a while, but not enough to reach basic performance minimums - I just have too many other demands on my time these days.

OfMiceandMen · Answer

I play most wood instruments but played the Baritone Sax in a band and won solo awards at the national level in High School. I still break it out once in awhile.

Red_Arrow · Answer

Clarinet for years, a bit of guitar for a while. Accordion long ago which taught me keyboard for other instruments.

MacDaddyRico · Answer

I played Tuba in the concert band and later marched with a Sousaphone.
Then I started learning the Alto Saxophone and made the concert band, but my ears blew out in a marching competition, and I had to stop playing all wind instruments.
So, I traded my sax for a bass guitar, but never could figure out the frets.

Minky17 · Answer

I played clarinet growing up from middle to hs. I also did choir when band season was over in middle school.  In hs - band season was 24/7. I had marching band and then concert or jazz band.

exitseven · Answer

I do not but it is something I would like to do.

Anpu23 · Answer

Bass and bagpipes. Bass in a few bands but bagpipes is a new instrument for me.

Massageman · Answer

Piano from 8-12 yo, guitar for a year when I was about 17, 3 years of organ from Robert Creed (studio organist in Chicago TV studio), some self-study on drums now that two grandsons are into it. I am the teacher for the older one's homeschool in Music Theory.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

We were forced to do Band in 5th grade, so I played percussion only because I couldn't play anything else

I tried the flute and failed miserably and got the cleaning rag stuck inside it. Once the teacher realized I have no musical ability whatsoever, she put me on mallets, then I got scolded for playing with one hand

SotiCoto · Answer

Classifying piano as "percussion" is a bit of a strange take.
I mean it isn't entirely wrong as the hammers inside are hitting the strings, but the fact that it has strings at all qualifies it for that category too. Oh well... probably doesn't matter.

AviatorTom · Answer

I can dabble on the piano, though I was a choir boy in grammar school. My 3 kids played brass instruments in high school and college... trombone, French horn and trumpet.

mandyfire98 · Answer

I've always been great at dancing and made a career out of it. I cannot by any means play any instruments at all... Except a skin flute.

MisterWack · Answer

Guitar & Keyboard (Still playing both) & Recorder (Mandatory by 3rd grade, I don’t know how to play now)

Finchie40 · Answer

Yes, I play bass end guitar. But mainly bass ever since I was a kid , I played in some bands for fun but now I just play for fun

lorenzomichael · Answer

Hell yeah I play. I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13 years old and piano since I was 9. My mother got me to learn to play the piano at a young age. but it wasn’t until I saved up to buy my first guitar at 13 that I stopped playing the piano and started to jam on my guitar. I have 11 guitars now and I love them all. Some are really expensive some are not. And if you are a person that does not play an instrument I suggest you pick something and lean to play it.

Charliefretz329 · Answer

I play a few. Used to be real good at the sax but that was eons ago

Paul09 · Answer

Back in high school, I wanted to learn the play the drums. For some reason the music teacher says , id have to start with a clarinet. I didn't get why but I went with it. I got fed up after a few weeks.

BCRanger10 · Answer

I play guitar, but it's been a long time since I've picked it up.

BlkM84 · Answer

Sang choir in high school and college 27 years piano 22 years guitar and bass 16 years on the drums

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I play piano, percussion, and sing tenor in my church choir.

mobiusforniner · Answer

Piano, violin, ukulele, guitar and some clarinet. I love music. It’s my escape.

SweetJoyGirl · Answer

I have always been in choir and percussion. If I am not playing the drums, I am singing.

HawkPerception · Answer

I play a little piano and used to play the sax. I'm currently trying to pick up the guitar.

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

I programme my own drum sections when creating songs and remixes, and can add bass too, but mostly I use midi keyboards with VST add on instruments, such as Omnisphere and Serum!

Yannae · Answer

The Berimbau

imfreeze95 · Answer

I play the Piano, Clarinet, The tenor alto and soprano recorder, the ocarina, the kalimba, drums and a didgeridoo. I also sing. I could also probably learn the pipe organ really quickly.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Life long drummer and singer, here! Also learning bass, keys and tabla.

TeatimewithCowboys · Answer

Been playing jazz guitar since I was 9 so that’s 15 years. Always loved the guitar and the amount you can do with it. Melodic or heavy, heavenly or chaotic, easy going or crack driven. It’s a lovely instrument 😁

Nikki1989 · Answer

Various keyboards and guitar. I started learning piano at the age of 8.

AydenHazor · Answer

I played trumpet for 5 years. When given the choice between band or culinary, I chose culinary

Wiredone · Answer

I don't play any instruments except air guitar.

LiamJHayden · Answer

Several. 6, 7, 8, and 12 string electric and acoustic guitars, bass, mandolin, ukulele, harmonica, and keyboards.

sawno · Answer

I beatbox if that counts.

handsomelad70 · Answer

I tried, unsuccessfully to play guitar and even drums.

mrkdvsn · Answer

In Elementary School and Jr High School, played the trombone.

Darkest-Knight · Answer

Bass guitar for 40 years.

KelsoAlexander · Answer

Ocarina and you can thank legend of zelda for that

Sarah2007 · Answer

I can play only piano

Purpleronnie · Answer

Accoustic & Electric guitar for 16 years

purplepoppy · Answer

Triple harp

Booklover_90 · Answer

Yes. I played the flute in 7th grade. 😊

shortster · Answer

I played an alto sax, trumpet, and piano.

Kelly6 · Answer

@loves2learn 🎹 yes sure

dragoblack · Answer

I specifically play rawhide drums

D_Bone_Steak · Answer

Guitar

GeminiDiamond · Answer

Piano and guitar.

OtterMan68 · Answer

Kazoo

Alpp035 · Answer

I play guitar, piano and violin

HH1488 · Answer

I am bass and cello. I'm not good at either.

paledreams · Answer

Nope 😔👎🏻

Did you/do you play an instrument?

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