Other Instruments

NorioDS

What other instruments do you play?

What do you find compliments guitar the best?

What else would you LIKE to learn to play?

How does the theory differ from your "other instrument" and guitar?

NorioDS

I'd love to learn to play the harmonica and the saxophone. I'm also interested in the piano (I think it's a must for any musician).

I had a chat to a guitarist that has a piano background. He says that the theory covered in piano is less geared towards modes and scales and much more focused on chord theory. I suppose that makes sense as piano isn't really a solo instrument but, of course, modal theory applies to any instrument so I still think it's very important.

As for the sax and harmonica, I just feel that those 2 are the only other instruments that allow a musician to really express pain & love as well as the guitar does. Of course, I think those 2 SUCK for expressing anger but I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

A mate of mine's brother is in a metal band with bagpipes. I wanna hear that!!!

AlanRatcliffe

I played drums in a rock band for a few years. I never really got past competent on the drums. but they taught me a lot about working with the rhythm section - how to fit in as part of it and how to work "around" it. Also a lot about programming realistic drum parts.

Instead of keyboard, I picked up MIDI guitar and eventually married a pianist/keyboardist. I regret that I wasn't forced into learning the piano at a young age - it's such a good instrument for learning about music, everything is laid out in a logical fashion and there are no repeat notes to confuse things. It also teaches you how accompaniment and melody work together. It's on my "to do" list, but: Every year is getting shorter, Never seem to find the time.

I play a bit of bass In a limited way too (after all, what guitarist doesn't?).

arjunmenon

Hi guys,

Reading your posts regarding learning the piano just took me down memory lane..and looking back i feel deeply pained that i didn't continue my piano lessons (which i quit thanks to my music teacher freaking me out with her underarm hair ? and knocking my knuckles when i goofed up)

As with all good things, thanks to the incessant nagging (in hindsight, i'll change that to support) from my mother, who desperately wanted me to learn any sort of music (just to show my grandparents that i wasn't born with cerebral palsy or with the intention of deafening them...at that time :-\), i picked up the guitar and have never looked back...thankfully ?

However, i'm extremely impressed by Alan's list of talents and Norio's drive. Love to hear who you guys rate as tops on bass, drums, keyboards, violin, saxophone etc etc

Cheers

AlanRatcliffe

my music teacher freaking me out with her underarm hair ? and knocking my knuckles when i goofed up

That woman gets around! Seems like she taught everyone! ;D

Love to hear who you guys rate as tops on bass, drums, keyboards, violin, saxophone etc etc

That's a topic all by itself I think. Maybe you should start that one in the General forum (and who knows - maybe you'll win a prize?). ?

NorioDS

Yup, start that one up as a new topic but please put it into "Other Instruments".

WantzChas

I NEED to learn and play a banjo. Anyone who wants to sponser me a banjo?

Explorerlover

I've just started out with the banjo.... ;D.....but I want to play the hammered dulcimer aswell.

trungboyshigh

Well i wish i could be better at playin with my own vocal chord... Dont u sometimes wish u could have a four octave vocal range or be a better vocalist/singer...

henrebotha

I think oud is pretty high up on my list at the moment - I've got Anouar Brahem and Omar Bashir to blame for that. Tabla as well. When I get to the point of having a home studio, I will definitely acquire a drum kit and learn to play it, but not right now - it would kill my poor parents! ? I kind of want to play the flute, but I have a lot of issues with the key system (used to play sax), so that puts me off. I'd also like to pick up some vaguely Middle Eastern reed instrument like duduk.

That said, I should learn to play the guitar first. ?

Heath

you think guitar is hard try the violin . so many things to master on such a small instrument . harmonica is easy and so is the flutte .

henrebotha

I would venture to argue that getting soul out of a harmonica is as difficult, if not more than, doing the same with a violin.

Also, I forgot to mention that - I do want to pick up violin and cello at some point, again probably when I've got a home studio up and running. I have my (I think) maternal gread-grandfather's violin lying around the house, but it needs a setup and a new bow and strings.

Bob-Dubery

Norio wrote:
What else would you LIKE to learn to play?

I am becoming increasingly fond of the fiddle (not so much the violin, but the fiddle).

If I had the time and opportunity to learn another instrument I'd probably go for accordion - preferably a button accordion.

Double bass is waaaaayyyyyy cool.

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
I play a bit of bass In a limited way too (after all, what guitarist doesn't?).

It's strange but still true that a guitarist playing bass does not sound like a bass player. A good example for me is Stephen Stills - who when he plays bass tends to sound like Stephen Stills playing a baritone guitar in a slack key tuning.

henrebotha

Are there construction differences between violin and fiddle, or is it more of a matter of different setup configurations/string guages/string materials?

As for the bass thing: I don't want bassists to sound like bassists! ? (Well, in some genres I do, but I'm talking mostly about rock/metal here.) I love Justin Chancellor and Chris Wolstenholme and Jesse Keeler and the guy from Lightning Bolt because they're not content with just pumping out low-frequency sine-like tones - they play the thing as if it's an instrument with its own unique voice, which it is.

Bob-Dubery

henrebotha wrote: Are there construction differences between violin and fiddle, or is it more of a matter of different setup configurations/string guages/string materials?

My understanding is that it's mostly down to the right-hand technique. You see the bow "wobbling" a lot more with fiddle players.

Some fiddle players fit a bridge with a flatter radius to facilitate double-stopping.

henrebotha

Cool, that means it's one less instrument I have to buy. ?

Bob-Dubery

henrebotha wrote: Cool, that means it's one less instrument I have to buy. ?

If you want to check out an uber violinist who can also fiddle with the best of them, then check out Mark O'Connor who does a lot of classical stuff but also has a reputation as a top bluegrass player. An amazing player. I have not heard him play guitar, but I believe he is fairly frightening on that instrument as well.

AlanRatcliffe

henrebotha wrote: Are there construction differences between violin and fiddle?

Yes - Nobody cares if you jump on a fiddle. Seriously though, no difference in construction that I know of. It's all down to how you play it. Itzhak Perlman calls his Stradivarius a fiddle.

As for the bass thing: I don't want bassists to sound like bassists!

You're in luck then - they frequently don't these days. ? They are mostly frustrated "lead" guitarists.

The mark of a really good player for me is someone who can do something really interesting while still holding down the traditional role of the bass, underpinning the music. Tony Levin, Jaco Pastorius, John Entwhistle and Billy Sheehan spring to mind. Don't give me someone who goes wheedely-wheedely-whee in the upper registers of a six string all the time. Same with drummers - if they can't do it with a single pedal, kick, snare and hats, they can't do it.

Bob Dubery wrote: If you want to check out an uber violinist who can also fiddle with the best of them, then check out Mark O'Connor

+1. Used to play with the Dixie Dregs.

Wizard

And once again Alan pops up with a teasingly insightful comment about violinists ...
mmm ...