What instrument(s) do you play?

[Vendetta]

For anyone on the forums who has any instrumental talent, share it here. It doesn't matter if you just begun or if you're a master, just share what you play and favorite things to play.

I started piano, quit, and started back up again, but if I combined all the years I played, it would be about 4 or 5. I'm still learning, though.

[TheHatOnTheCat]

ive been playing guitar for a couple of years and 2 of my friends play drums so they're teaching me some things

[Valus]

I tried to learn to play the trumpet in 6th grade band, but I had to quit because I had a really old and rusty trumpet, it was my grandfather's and my mother never bought that red book we needed to have in order to even learn how to read music so I was completely lost because I had no idea how to read music and, of course, the teacher assumed we all did so I was pretty much screwed at that point. I'm glad I quit band, though, I didn't want to end up becoming a band geek in high school.

[Sir_Cuthulhu]

guitar: six years. I play jazz, classical, metal, punk, blues, rock n' roll. The stuff I like to write the most usually can be described as experimental, melodic, post-hardcore, with a hint of jazz and progressive rock.
cello: 1 year in high school orchestra. I played classical.
double bass: 1 year in high school. I played classical, rockabilly, and a little jazz
I've also been playing drums for years, but it's never been anything more than messing around on a friend's set every now and then.

[MARS]

I used to play the bass.

[azuarc]

Alto sax, and I took piano lessons. I'm awesome at Guitar Hero though, if that counts.

[BlackavarJr]

I play the piano. I have a keyboard with a ton of features that I'm still trying to figure out.

[HatofMadness]

Im a rapper turned singer, and you can tell that he smoke,
but I dont need my vocal cords, all I hit is C-Notes

[Moeboid]

I'm a fairly competent guitarist. Been playing for the past 11 years and I actually earn a living as a guitar teacher now. Played piano for a bit throughout school, but I never took it seriously. I can still play a few tunes, but I'm not good by anyone's standards.

[zzfallens]

I play the bass. I recently started so I'm not that good at it but I'm ok.

[Wolfie]

Oh boy here we go...
Guitar: six years
Piano: two years on and off
Bass: three years but dont play it any more
Drums: only one lesson not sure if it counts

[Jakarius321]

I started learning piano nearly 2 years ago. I'm doing my grade 3 in the summer. I'm really enjoying it so far and I want to get better!

[Marco]

Now that I think about it, the adult generation in 10, 20, 30 years time is going to be incredibly musical... Recent generations have had many more opportunities to learn to play musical instruments than previous generations.

Anyway, I play guitar. I've got a lovely spanish, quite cheap but a brilliant little guitar and a rather basic beginner's electric which doesn't quite tune up evenly, and a rather stiff acoustic which is my dad's but he never plays. Got lessons in classical for a good 5 or 6 years, but I never really got into it so that stopped, but I play almost every day now.

I enjoy playing classical and playing song tabs, but I want to start playing some Blues tunes. Anyone got any suggestions, nothing too difficult?

[Bruce Lee]

I play guitar, i own a ballin' Statocaster (and a few other guitars) I'm also a regular poster at the strat-talk forums, its a cool place too

[Sonixboom]

Trumpet... for 6-7 years

also rap a little bit

-Sonix

[Jcnator]

I play piano and violin but violin was really boring. I like more piano because its easier and i can play more songs.

[Avron the S'wit]

but violin was really boring.

Really? I wish I had learnt to play the violin, I think it's a very beautiful instrument. Did you think it was boring just because you found the piano easier to play, or was there another reason?

I was always a choir girl, but I do have a lovely keyboard that I haven't learnt to play. I can already play by ear but I don't think that really counts. I wanted to begin but I was torn because I imagined I ought to learn how to read music, whereas my friend who plays piano said not to bother and to merely learn chords. I'm not sure which I should try.

[Jcnator]

No violin is a beautiful instrument. But the place where i took classes was boring. Every class was the same.

"Ok kids, lets rehearse minuet 1" I think i had already learned minuet 1 like 11 times but we still played the same song over and over. But with piano I could learn any song I wanted: first happy birthday, then dust in the wind, then Fur elise the Anime openings all by my self.

[Goblin voice]

I play guitar and I sing... I'm so awesome

[adamflint]

I used to play the saxaphone, but I stopped because of my damn back problems (I was born that way, and having a weak spine is definately not the right track).

[Insanity616]

Well I've played oboe for 5 years now, I'm not fantastic but I'm getting there
I know quite a bit on piano, but I never really played professionally, just for school
I play the marimba and vibes quite well, but thats not very hard to do
I also play a WICKED recorder

[ch00_bakka]

Drums. Drums drums drums. And a little guitar, but only because my school makes me.

[Coupaholic]

Drums. Drums drums drums. And a little guitar, but only because my school makes me.

Ditto!

[the Savage Hippie]

I play guitar (have played for quite some years now)
and then I fool around with my harmonica and sing once in a while..

[Veck]

I enjoy playing classical and playing song tabs, but I want to start playing some Blues tunes. Anyone got any suggestions, nothing too difficult?

Well, the most basic blues riff that every guitarist should know is this one:

D----2----4---5----4
A----0----0----0---0

Chances are you already know some variant of it as it's one of the most well-known guitar riffs in the world, but you should use it to get used to getting the right rhythm and sound. Just play around with different ways of doing it, make up your own playing speed and rhythm, move up or down a string, bring in some more open strings or fifth notes. Then you can start playing around with proper chords and some more complex rhythms. If you want to jump into soloing, you need some scales. I pretty much learned guitar on Es and As, and those scales are frequently taught to students as well, so they would be a good start. Em also has the advantages of being on of the Bluesiest scales ever, and also being incredibly easy to master. Hope that helps. Just ask if there's anything specific you want to know, or if I've been too patronising there with those obvious examples.

Anyway, I've played guitar since I was 11, which gives me five years experience, pretty much. I initially decided to learn it after becoming enchanted by some of the old Blues musicians such as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and B.B. King, but I've since expanded my repertoire to include pretty much all the music I listen to, with the obvious exception of Electronic music, which I would need a freaking guitar synth to even attempt. I've also been playing piano for a couple of years, and I mostly use it as an experimental tool, as I find playing around with notes and chords far easier on it. I've also had a harmonica for a few years (easiest instrument ever) and I sort of do a bit of drumming every now and again. I also do vocals, although I'm not really a very good singer, so I tend to stick to instrumental stuff.