Where Are Our Musicians? If You Play(ed) An Instrument...Tell Us About It

OneEyedDiva

OneEyedDiva

SF VIP
Location
New Jersey
No matter whether you are a hobbyist, a professional or something in between, let us know what instrument(s) you play or played. I'd enjoy seeing pictures too, if you have them (even if it's just of your instrument(s). Have you ever gigged or do you just play for your own enjoyment? @PeppermintPatty and @ChiroDoc I know you two gigged in the past. Still would like you to weigh in, perhaps with some stories about those times.

My instrument is the Yamaha Clavinova. It has hundreds of instrument and synth sounds, as well as hundreds of rhythms in many genres. I recorded most of the songs I've released on this (that's what the floppy disks are for) and the one I had before it. The only time I played publicly was decades ago when I played the organ and was director for one of the choirs at my mother's church. I was always so nervous when playing in public, so quit after a few months.

Clavinova.jpg
 

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I used to play the acoustic guitar, the violin (left-handed), and the mandolin (same fingering and scale as the violin). Since becoming ill with an autoimmune disease I now just play the acoustic guitar, and I'm going deaf, so I can't enjoy the music as much as I used to.

I also have a flute, a clarinet, and an alto sax, none of which I've ever played in public.
 

BJintheUK said:
Forgot to say that I've got several of my own songs up on Youtube, but if I gave you a link to them you'd know my real name, so I doubt if I'll ever do that. However, you're welcome to look for left-handed guitarists who play acoustic fingerstyle guitar, and who were/are fans of Cat Stevens and Paul McCartney! (big clues!!)
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Very cool that your music is on YouTube. I'm sorry your ailments have limited your ability to play and hear music the way you used to. One of the instruments I love to use on the Clavinova is the Spanish guitar. I love tenor sax too. The Clav's tenor sax could be better, but I have used it. Check your messages BJ.

@Rae I can just imagine how you felt ! I started piano lessons when I was 10 and only took them for 2 years because my first teacher bored me and my favorite teacher, who used to play for the church, moved to New York. I never played in a recital back then. I started taking organ lessons as an adult.
 
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Used to play acoustic guitar, but not great and only the simple chords without the flat finger added. For a while I played in a tiny church with another woman, cause they had nobody else and that was always fun when that preacher wanted to sing a song and us yelling: No! That's too difficult! Lol.
 
I took piano lessons for a few years as a kid. That gave me my musical foundation, reading notes, understanding the keyboard etc. One of my great life regrets was giving it up, but as a boy, too many other things were more interesting.

Starting in middle school, I played the clarinet all the way through college marching band. Still have it but haven't played in years - cork and pads are probably all shot by now.

Picked up guitar in high school and have always had one but never got beyond just chord playing.

Always wanted to play bass, but never did anything about it until retirement. Our community jam group was a bunch of guys with guitars and I decided that we needed some bass - not just another rhythm guitar. So I bought my first one (the Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat) and started teaching myself with the aid of online courses. Then I bought another (the Squier Classic Vibe Mustang, and just this week I got another one, the Epiphone EB-0/SG. That's probably going to be my "project" bass where I will try upgrading, bridge, pickups, tuners, etc.

I tried to load a picture of my guitar wall - but it's too large to upload, so here are marketing pictures of the three; Rumblekat, Mustang, and SG

Allen Woody.jpg

mustang.jpg
sg.jpg
 
I play alto and soprano saxophone as well as Roland keyboards. I have 3 Yamaha saxophones and one vintage SML 75 year old . Two sopranos and two altos.
I took piano lessons when I was a child and took music classes in high school from grade 9 to 13. I played in the school band, the stage band and senior bands. We played semi professionally in the stage band and were on our local tv station every Christmas in our senior band. These are my two oldest saxophones.
IMG_1410.jpeg
This is my newest soprano sax
IMG_2999.jpeg

And this is my newest alto sax
IMG_1841.jpeg
I donā€™t have anything On YouTube but do have
some stuff on Smule.
 
Dr.Colosso said:
Used to play acoustic guitar, but not great and only the simple chords without the flat finger added. For a while I played in a tiny church with another woman, cause they had nobody else and that was always fun when that preacher wanted to sing a song and us yelling: No! That's too difficult! Lol.
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I feel ya Dr C. I had told our pastor that I did not sight read that well, so to give me the hymns for the next Sunday so I could practice them. One Sunday, he pulled one out of his hat and I was lost! Good thing we also had a regular pianist who was more seasoned and knew all of the hymns. He covered for me, so smoothly that the congregation probably thought he was supposed to be playing that hymn.
Dr. Jekyll said:
I took piano lessons for a few years as a kid. That gave me my musical foundation, reading notes, understanding the keyboard etc. One of my great life regrets was giving it up, but as a boy, too many other things were more interesting.

Starting in middle school, I played the clarinet all the way through college marching band. Still have it but haven't played in years - cork and pads are probably all shot by now.

Picked up guitar in high school and have always had one but never got beyond just chord playing.

Always wanted to play bass, but never did anything about it until retirement. Our community jam group was a bunch of guys with guitars and I decided that we needed some bass - not just another rhythm guitar. So I bought my first one (the Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat) and started teaching myself with the aid of online courses. Then I bought another (the Squier Classic Vibe Mustang, and just this week I got another one, the Epiphone EB-0/SG. That's probably going to be my "project" bass where I will try upgrading, bridge, pickups, tuners, etc.

I tried to load a picture of my guitar wall - but it's too large to upload, so here are marketing pictures of the three; Rumblekat, Mustang, and SG

View attachment 474742

View attachment 474743
View attachment 474744
Click to expand...
Very nice instruments Dr. J. The bass is like the foundation for the house...can't build one without it. Even the simplest bass lines can make a song. My Honorary Son#1 is a self taught bass player, though I think he did take some lessons at Guitar Center. It's never too late to learn piano...especially with all the free YouTube videos available. :)
PeppermintPatty said:
I play alto and soprano saxophone as well as Roland keyboards. I have 3 Yamaha saxophones and one vintage SML 75 year old . Two sopranos and two altos.
I took piano lessons when I was a child and took music classes in high school from grade 9 to 13. I played in the school band, the stage band and senior bands. We played semi professionally in the stage band and were on our local tv station every Christmas in our senior band. These are my two oldest saxophones.
View attachment 474734
This is my newest soprano sax
View attachment 474738

And this is my newest alto sax
View attachment 474765
I donā€™t have anything On YouTube but do have
some stuff on Smule.
Click to expand...

Your saxophones are beautiful Patty! I did listen to a couple of your songs a while back and liked them. I didn't know you played keyboards too. You're quite talented.
 
I started playing guitar in my teens. Played for a few years and then got away from it. Later, I found that playing the guitar was very therapeutic and stress relieving from my high stress career so I picked it back up again. Over the last three decades I have owned and played many guitars both electric and acoustic:

CIMG0454.JPG

CIMG1937.JPGCIMG1244.jpg


Nowadays I no longer play the electric guitar and I no longer use a pick. I play exclusively finger style on one of these two Martins. I probably average playing about an hour most days. I find it is good to for the mental exercise as all the songs are in my head. It is nice to have a musical hobby.

IMG_0683[1].JPG
 
I played the piano (badly) after a couple of years of lessons.

Then in college, I was a bit of a beatnik (well, I thought I was) and played the guitar. Back then if you could play three chords, you could sing just about every folk song. If you played four chords, you were definitely in business. I played 3 1/2........ I had my poncho, my long bangs down to my eyelashes and my long hair to swing around. I didn't need the full four chords.
 
The only instrument on which I received training was the trumpet. I played in my elementary school, through high school, college, while in the Navy, and with small groups through my working years. While in HS I was given a cornet and found I liked it better than my trumpet although both were quality instruments.. I played them both for the rest of my performance years.

I got my hands on both electric and acoustic guitars and taught myself to play finger style. I also taught myself the harmonica. I owned both c and g harps but really preferred the g key.

I inherited my Grandfathers violin and taught myself enough to make music with it but only for my own entertainment.

Arthritis put paid to my playing. I passed my instruments to grandcritters. I miss playing greatly.
 
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My saying is... "I play for my enjoyment and the irritation of others" Currently still have Drums, Harmonica, Guitar and Banjos. I have also played Mandolin and Fiddle. I picked up my grandfathers Mandolin @ 6 and learned a few songs. Started Guitar, Bass and drums, played bass in a rock band in my teens, several gigs. In my late 20s got back into the Old-Time music mostly Clawhammer Banjo but also picked around on other instruments. Have played several square dances over the years. Got the Harmonica as a retirement joke and have learned some tunes.
Now a days my playing is sitting around the campfire with friends.
 
My grandma taught me to play the piano, but I never told anyone because I knew the teacher would ask me to play it in class. I am not a concert pianist by any means. I do have an electric keyboard in my house that I play every now and then.

We didnā€™t watch much tv in the evening besides the news. Gramps would turn on a cowboy show once in awhile and Grandma would read her magazines. I would practice on the piano, hang out with my pal in the farm beside us, go though my baseball cards and later on, I worked on my car or cleaned it. We kept busy.
 
Been There said:
Do you have a piano in your house? I ā€œwasā€ the backup for the piano at our church. I could never play the organ. Too many keys.
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Yes, my piano at home is a Cable Spinet. I play it now and then, just for relaxation. I can play the organ, but I don't enjoy coordinating hands and feet - and very few churches have organs anymore. Seems like they've all moved to keyboards and guitars.
 
I began with the Hand Harp in 4th grade. Played in school shows.
Slow starter I know. I really wanted to fiddle like my grandpa but his fiddle was his pride...no touching yet.
hand harp.JPG
I waited years until my kids were grown and almost backed out when DH offered to
get me violin lessons. My teacher was sweet and very encouraging but I was not sure
of myself and refused to do small concerts. More for my pleasure and to learn the chords
so I could explore for myself.
My violin was broke in a move and I just never got another when I opened my home day care
no time to practice then.

I took an interest in guitar and a friend was teaching me in live video lessons. He would give me a
song to practice and learn. Then after awhile when I would play the song he would say "Doing good, now
you were playing that in such and such chord or note now watch this". He would play the song in different
chords and notes just having a ball. Our lessons turned into me listening to him play. I got frustrated
and hung the guitar up on my wall. I been toying with taking it down and I think after Christmas is done
I will be plunking it again. Probably when DH is not here as he listens and makes me nervous. :ROFLMAO:
I don't like people listening while I am learning...just wait for the final result, you know?
I do know that the guitar is easier for me to play now that I have aged than the violin, and that is fine.

So you can tell, I do it for me and I am a very Nervous Nellie until I am happy with how I am playing.
 
BJintheUK said:
Forgot to say that I've got several of my own songs up on Youtube, but if I gave you a link to them you'd know my real name, so I doubt if I'll ever do that. However, you're welcome to look for left-handed guitarists who play acoustic fingerstyle guitar, and who were/are fans of Cat Stevens and Paul McCartney! (big clues!!)
Click to expand...
OK...that was like cheese to a mouse there for me. I like a good mystery, may be fun!
 
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