Musical instruments

[AntLockyer]

I know some of you guys play woodwind, who else plays what?

I play Drums, Harmonica, Guitar and Bass. Bass is the one I concentrate on and I consder myself a bass player right now.

here's my new bass

[alexstar]

I played trumpet for many years and still fantasize about picking it back up. Lately I've been considering taking up the banjo, though it's not easy to find a left-handed model.

[AntLockyer]

Trumpet was my main instrument for years (started at age 9) but I was never that good at it and I just didn't really get music properly until I was much older.

[dashDustin]

alto sax, clarinet, baritone

[jonnycomelately]

I sing. I used to play the piano.

[jmoote]

I played trumpet for many years and still fantasize about picking it back up. Lately I've been considering taking up the banjo, though it's not easy to find a left-handed model.

I've never understood the motivation for left handed instruments, just because someone is left handed. You don't see many left handed pianos, do you? Most instruments take both hands more or less equally to play in a normal fashion (banjo certainly included) so what difference does it make when you are starting a new instrument with no frame of reference for which hand does what?

Myself, I play the bass.

[dashDustin]

true, no frame of reference, but for me, my left hand can't do things the right can, and vice versa. For instance, I'm left handed. In my younger days, I was given a left-handed guitar. Putting my right hand on the frets and trying to finger it was absolutely ridiculously hard. Picked up a right-handed guitar. Much easier, more natural. Odd, I guess, since I'm left handed.

I consider it to be a lot like whether or not someone rides goofy.

[happycampyer]

I've never understood the motivation for left handed instruments, just because someone is left handed. You don't see many left handed pianos, do you? Most instruments take both hands more or less equally to play in a normal fashion (banjo certainly included) so what difference does it make when you are starting a new instrument with no frame of reference for which hand does what?

Myself, I play the bass.

It has always seemed odd to me that for stringed instruments the dominant hand is generally the one that is used to pick, strum, bow, etc. I'm left-handed and took up the guitar as a kid (age 10 or so?). Since it was so long ago I don't recall what drove me to learn on a left-handed guitar, but it must have felt more comfortable (given how limiting it is to play a left-handed guitar).

[chasea]

I'm originally from Memphis, TN, where everyone plays something. Took two guitar lessons in the 4th grade. It was enough to realize I wanted to be a drummer. Picked up drumming at age 11 and I've been playing for 19 years.

I currently have a band in Brooklyn, NY. My band from Memphis, solo project of local hot shit Alicja Trout, is playing its first gig in about 2 years on the 26th. I'll let you know how that goes.

Left handed drummers are the devil. The devil.

1958 WFL badge Ludwigs. Somewhere in the midwest, 2006.


DW Collectors Series. Brooklyn, NY, 2008.

[HSTFixed]

I took 7 or so years of piano lessons from age 7 till around 14. I've been a Drummer since third grade. That makes it about 18 or 19 years. When the school band teacher had people pick instruments I though drums were a no brainer and looked questionably at the kids grabbing Clarinets. Even in third grade (probably cause I hadn't heard Benny Goodman yet) I wondered why the hell someone would want to blow into that wierd thing when they can play drums!

Fast forward to now and I've got a bachelors degree in Music Performance with a focus on Jazz Drumming.

Don't really consider myself a "jazz" drummer as much as just a drumset player. I can rock out in various different styles. never messed around with a guitar but can plunk out a funky bass line or two. Wish I stuck with piano lessons. I'm merely competent now and not a pianist which I could have been. Hated it when I was doing it though and you couldn't pay me to practice.

Good to see that fellow salonista's are rocking out on live instruments. There's no substitute for live music.

[jmg]

It has always seemed odd to me that for stringed instruments the dominant hand is generally the one that is used to pick, strum, bow, etc. I'm left-handed and took up the guitar as a kid (age 10 or so?). Since it was so long ago I don't recall what drove me to learn on a left-handed guitar, but it must have felt more comfortable (given how limiting it is to play a left-handed guitar).

FWIW left-handed bowing is *extremely* rare - you see the occasional fiddler who plays that way, but for the most part the right arm is the bowing arm. It's only in the case of guitars and other plucked/strummed instruments that left-handed specific models are even made.

[echelon_john]

I bang away on guitar. In a band in HS, College...now solo performer in my barn.

Mostly punk rock/fast chords. Never had any desire to play lead.

Currently sitting on a U.S. Telecaster, Jap Strat and a custom like a les paul dc made by a friend.

Looking for a Les Paul to round things out.

[Yodelinpol]

You can get away with sitting on the Tele but i wouldn't sit on the Les Paulish.

I used to throw my Tele down nightly but I only do that a few times a year now.

It has been glued and screwed and shimmed so many times it really is a miracle it is still hanging in there.

Play it like you stole it I say. And if it don't have lots of your blood on it it ain't yours.

[ergott]

In order of competence,
bass trombone, tenor trombone (yes, they are different animals), electric bass, euphonium, tuba, classical guitar, french horn a smattering of the rest of the band instruments and piano.

Electric bass and bass trombone are my gigging instruments. I've done a few gigs on tuba, euphonium and French horn, but I'm not a regular on them in any way (tough when you don't own them). I like low frequencies.

-Eric

[ergott]

It has always seemed odd to me that for stringed instruments the dominant hand is generally the one that is used to pick, strum, bow, etc. I'm left-handed and took up the guitar as a kid (age 10 or so?). Since it was so long ago I don't recall what drove me to learn on a left-handed guitar, but it must have felt more comfortable (given how limiting it is to play a left-handed guitar).

All valved instruments are played with the right hand with the exception of the french horn. Go figure.

-Eric

[conorb]

I'm left-handed as well and play the guitar right-handed. It just felt more natural to me.

Here's my partcaster that I put together last year:



And my Heritage H150:



I also throw a baseball left-handed and bat right-handed, play tennis left-handed, shoot a gun right-handed, shoot a bow and arrow left-handed, golf right-handed.

It's crazy.

Conor

[caleb]

All valved instruments are played with the right hand with the exception of the french horn. Go figure.

-Eric

While you push the valves with your left hand on a horn, the fine work of playing it is done with the right. At least that's what my instructor used to say. I don' think I ever "got" it.

[ergott]

While you push the valves with your left hand on a horn, the fine work of playing it is done with the right. At least that's what my instructor used to say. I don' think I ever "got" it.

There's quite a bit of tone shaping and intonation adjusting you can do with the right hand. Then again there are a million alternate fingerings as well.

-Eric

[Rico]

I used to "blow" harp for some blues bands.
Keep a complete set of Lee Oskars.
Diatonic,Natural Minor,Harmonic Minor and Melody Maker. I'm not much good on Chromatic.
Why?
You have to.
Cross harp is a 4th up and you need one for each key.
The sharps and flats are necessary because many guitar players tune down 1/2 step.
Once got a gig by showing up and jamming. Asked what key. The band replied," A." I blew a couple riffs on the D and it sounded awful.
I switched to a C# harp and they were like, "WOW! You're the only one who has sounded good. You got the job!"
I said , "Thanks. And next time tell me G# as you guys are tuned down 1/2 step."
I also hack on guitars.
Have an original BB King Lucille with ebony and mother of pearl fret board and varitone. It is the Cadilac of guitars.
Also a Fat Telecaster. The bridge pickeup is standard Tele but the other is a Humbucking forthat fat Gibson sound. My favorite.
And a flame maple Taylor jumbo. A great rhythm guitar. Nice chunky sound. Maple attacks loud and hard but dies out quickly.

Finally I love amps.
Blow harp thru a Fender 4x10 Blues Deville. A Bassman on steroids.
A 60's Vibrolux.
And an original 57 Deluxe wth worn out tweed and other road patina (Spilled beer, a burn mark or two etc.....)


Don't play out anymore as my wife got tired of me staggering in a 4:00 or 5:00 AM. And it kinda puts a damper on the morning ride. But I still miss playing to a packed house. Nothing like a crowd's energy to get you high!

[AntLockyer]

I said , "Thanks. And next time tell me G# as you guys are tuned down 1/2 step.

:) funny.

Of course I'd be a smart ass and play 3rd position on a G