What instrument(s) do you play?

[Durnehviir]

I've been playing violin and a flute that looks like a recorder for 2.5 years.

[Olwaye]

I am a bass player, I have been playing for around 12 years, 4, 5 and 6 strings bass, fretted and fretless.
I can drum a bit and a beat ( sorry to easy to pass, I'll go and whip myself in a minute) if my life depends on it.

I mostly play blues, rock'n'roll and metal, although I enjoy working on jazz and classical parts as well.

And, no I am not a frustrated guitarist, I actually choose to play bass, much cooler, "thunder in the guts" as the great Lemmy puts it.

[Lord Eydvar]

I've been playing violin and a flute that looks like a recorder for 2.5 years.

So you mean you're playing a Recorder, but not the crappy plastic type most people think of.

[Zephyr]

I've been playing guitar since elementary school, but there were a few years when I didn't play much. One of my uncles has been playing a long time, so I usually jam with him at family get-togethers. Most of my playing is just practicing what I already know, so I've been at the same skill level for a long time.

[ReeceH]

I actually just purchased an electric guitar over the weekend. It's my first instrument I have played since primary school (which was over 10 years ago now ). So far I have only practiced a few times, but I feel like I am (very slowly) improving.

[Goldbrand]

I actually just purchased an electric guitar over the weekend. It's my first instrument I have played since primary school (which was over 10 years ago now ). So far I have only practiced a few times, but I feel like I am (very slowly) improving.

Trust me, it'll pay back every minute spent on it in awesomeness.

[Jabberdave]

I played trumpet from 6th through 10th. I've been playing bass since I was 11.....so 31, almost 32 years now. I can read and play piano and guitar. I'm pretty much self-taught on everything other than the trumpet. Bass is my true love. I've played everything from country (not this pop-country of today) to some mild jazz and blues, rock to metal. Metal is my favorite, but country puts the most money in your pocket after a show. And country is the easiest to play. Sometimes I would feel bad that I made $75 for three hours of sitting on a bar stool playing simple 3 chord progressions. But not so bad that I ever declined the cash.

[Greenlantern]

I play ukulele. Got one for Christmas last year, practiced on it for a while, got to be pretty decent. So, I sold that one, which was a pretty crappy one. Almost like a toy. Then I bought a much better quality one, and went from a soprano uke, to a tenor, (if anybody knows what that means. )

But anyway, I've been slowly progressing, and having a ton of fun.

I also have tried to teach myself guitar, but it's just really aggravating to me, and I don't really have the patience to sit there and learn an F chord, and other hard chords like that.

[Avron the S'wit]

Ukulele! High five!

[Greenlantern]

Best. instrument. ever.

[Avron the S'wit]

I'm much like you: I bought it for myself (albeit it was my first instrument ever!) and got pretty decent. Musicman actually gave me my beginner's lessons, and nowadays I Google some on the web to learn some more. I was thinking about actually signing up for a little class, because I love the ukulele. It's not very difficult and the best part is you can take it anywhere! Woohoo!

[skullclutter]

I took piano lessons for a number of years as a kid, then gave it up to pursue other interests. These days I sing - been getting some vocal training.

[Unionhack]

After practicing every so often for the last few months, I can now say that I play the bass with at least some proficiency. I have a general idea of which frets are which notes and what-not but I still have yet to get a hang of playing along with chord structure. Most of my playing is simply hitting up tabs to improve my fingers and technique and it's helped tremendously in those aspects.

[Greenlantern]

I had a dvd that I used to teach myself. Now that I know the basics, I have learned, and am in the process of learning several songs.
I also want to get into fingerpicking... Jake Shimabakuro got me wanting to do that.

[Unionhack]

I play with my fingers exclusively. Can't stand using a pick, it makes me feel like I have no control for some reason.

[Linkuya]

A little piano, a touch of guitar. I'm very rusty though.

[BetaB17]

I use to play alot of piano.. but I never learned how to read notes.. still Fur Elise was my favorite and still can play by heart.. but overall very rustic.. Aside from that, a bit of guitar, drums, and ironically not bad playing as a scratch DJ despite never learning how to play. Still, I'm not all big into music

[Br3admax]

I play the violin. Or at least I used to.

[Vendetta]

My gosh this thread is two years old. I forgot making it O-o

[Jeelius-Tei]

I can play some songs on the piano. And what I can play on the piano, I can transfer to the guitar without reading the sheet again. I also like to sound out songs, by ear only.

[TopHatKat]

As a few may know, I'm trying learn guitar. I had a teacher years ago, but I honestly didn't enjoy going. Now, however, I have had a renewed interest. I'm kind of learning freestyle right now. I don't plan to be in a band or teach, just to play for fun. However, music theory is extremely nonsensical, even though every one I tell that to says I'm crazy. I mean seriously. Why use duplicate letters when you could use numbers? There's an infinite amount of them. I'm not talking tabs. Instead of E, why not 1. Then 2. 3. And so on. Anyone else agree? Perplexes me that letters were chosen. Sharps and Flats could have been 1.5,2.5, etc. Anyway, after I get very experienced, I would really like to learn Metallica songs. Pink Floyd is my favorite band, but Metallica just seems like it be more fun to learn. See you guys in about 10 years!

[Musicman247]

In music theory intervals are represented by numbers. Triads can also be represented by roman numerals relative to the key. The problem with using numbers for notes is that you have different names for the same note depending on how it's used. In the key of A flat the black key between C and D is a D flat. In the key of D it's a C sharp. The note serves different purposes and is written differently in each key. That nuance would not be possible if using numbers. 1.5 would always be 1.5, which doesn't aid the musician when interpreting the music.

[TopHatKat]

In the key of A flat the black key between C and D is a D flat. In the key of D it's a C sharp.

What does, "In the key of..." mean? I feel like my mind is about to be blown. Not in a good way. Yeah, I know everyone's probably laughing at me now, but may as well ask stupid questions as a beginner. If that's even a stupid question. I don't even know what constitutes a smart/dumb question. I'm doomed. I'm trying to learn guitar fast enough so I can enter the competition of the month with a song. We'll see how well my chimpanzee brain will work.

[Jeelius-Tei]

I am not sure, but I believe that you can play songs in different keys. C is the default key for many songs (middle C).

[Musicman247]

A Key is a designation given to a set of notes that make up a scale. The key is named after the note that is tonic (the first note) in the scale.

Key of C Major = C Major scale: C D E F G A B C
Key of D Major = D Major scale: D E F# G A B C# D
Key of A flat Major = Ab (flat) Major scale: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

The key designates what notes will be played (barring accidentals) in a piece. Keys change often in classical, romantic and other older music. Today's popular music (pop music) tends to stay in one key with a possible key change in the middle which resolves back to the original key, or one at the end that does not resolve, but stays in the new key.

If you note the scales written out above you can also see how they start and end on the same letter. That is why we have the rotation of 7 letters to designate notes; after 13 half steps you end up on the same note, but at a different octave. Why call that something completely different when it is the same tone but higher or lower? So they kept it simple and said any time this note is played, no matter how high or low it is, it will always be this letter name. (as an aside, octaves were first used with string instruments like harps. They discovered if you made to strings, one twice as long as the other, you would get the same sound but at different tone levels. They call them octaves because there are 8 whole tones between them)

Music is much more complex than most people think, but all this kind of knowledge is not necessary to enjoy or produce music.