OT: Any musicians here?

[marshaeb]

No instruments, but I sing. I'm in a community choral society (mostly do the "big" works... oratorios, requiems, etc.) and a women's a cappella quartet (mostly do madrigals, motets and Anonymous4-type music), and I have to say how thankful I am for kind, understanding people. I'm not officially a hosehead yet (working on it -- have the diagnosis & titration but am holding out/badgering for an auto machine -- doc requested a meeting w/ me tomorrow -- for those of you so inclined, please pray, especially for me to think straight and speak well -- neither is my strong suit these days), and I just haven't been able to stand through practices or concerts because of exhaustion, as well as back and joint problems. But these great people have no problem with my using a stool. Singing is my lifeline and my therapy. If any of you have shyed away from getting involved in such things because of standing issues, ASK. Things aren't like they used to be and, at least in my experience, people are far more accommodating.

[crossfit]

I am not a musician but my husband is. He played bass when we first met, then spent 15 years playing doumbek professionally and just recently has started picking up his bass again. My daughter has sung professionally but isn't doing so now. My son plays some piano but, like me, he is more a dabbler than a musician.

[Organplayer]

I am a professional church musician. I play the organ (my degrees are in organ performance), sing and teach voice and I also do the recital thing.

Being on cpap has returned me to full functionality. I am thankful for it every day.

Kevin

[rubberchimp]

I played Saxophone for many years at school, but haven't picked it up for ages.. I've got an electric guitar and a bass that I play (poorly) on and off for my private amusement and I occasionally dabble with keyboards.

Played Sax with school bands etc, never performed publically or in a group with the others.

[ColinP]

I'm learning to play the Great Highland Bagpipes. Oddly, though I wouldn't have chosen CPAP as a training method, it may be helpful in learning to sustain the pressure the pipes require.

That's great. There is nothing like the pipes...

I've been playing the pipes for just over thirty years now, and funnily enough the only other person I know face-to-face who uses CPAP is another piper in the band. We even have the same doctor - who said that he thought that us both being pipers wasn't significant, but I suspect the thicker neck you get from blowing those things year after year doesn't help.

I have also played sax in the past, and am planning to learn some bass guitar sometime. The family has two guitarists, two saxophonists (excluding me), one flautist and a drummer, so we need a bassist. To be fair one of the guitarists is also one of the saxophonists.

[Guest]

STUPID QUESTION:

I've only dated ELECTRIC guitar players in the past, so I don't know this one.

Do ACOUSTICAL guitar players use picks? I know picks are really personal, and everyone has their fave.

But I was just wondering. A small, inexpensive gift for someone I know who plays acoustical guitar.

As for me - I was given 6 years of piano lessons - still can't read the bass clef.

I got a year of recorder. Can't remember the fingering.

I got a year of Flute. My band teacher recommended me for a brass instrument (check out those lips). I hovered between last and second to the last chair all year.

Mom moved me to OBOE. Again, note my lip size. It was a nightmare for me, the band teacher, and my oboe teacher. Interestingly enough, my BFF played French Horn, I tried his, WAS INSTANTLY SUCCESSFUL, and my band teacher, a french horn player, attempted to talk my mom into this. She was having none of it.

I still like the sound of the oboe, but couldn't possibly do that ambucher anymore. Can't even spell it.

I sang choir for two years. Sucked massively.

Now I just ignore most music. I only own 20 cd's, and half of those are audiobooks. I do love it when other people play music. And I try really hard to only sing when I'm alone in the car.

LOL,
Babs

[DreamStalker]

STUPID QUESTION:

I've only dated ELECTRIC guitar players in the past, so I don't know this one.

Do ACOUSTICAL guitar players use picks? I know picks are really personal, and everyone has their fave.

But I was just wondering. A small, inexpensive gift for someone I know who plays acoustical guitar.

As for me - I was given 6 years of piano lessons - still can't read the bass clef.

I got a year of recorder. Can't remember the fingering.

I got a year of Flute. My band teacher recommended me for a brass instrument (check out those lips). I hovered between last and second to the last chair all year.

Mom moved me to OBOE. Again, note my lip size. It was a nightmare for me, the band teacher, and my oboe teacher. Interestingly enough, my BFF played French Horn, I tried his, WAS INSTANTLY SUCCESSFUL, and my band teacher, a french horn player, attempted to talk my mom into this. She was having none of it.

I still like the sound of the oboe, but couldn't possibly do that ambucher anymore. Can't even spell it.

I sang choir for two years. Sucked massively.

Now I just ignore most music. I only own 20 cd's, and half of those are audiobooks. I do love it when other people play music. And I try really hard to only sing when I'm alone in the car.

LOL,
Babs

Classical guitarists generally don't use picks ... and I guess for accoustical some do some don't ... depends on lots of things. Besides my Gibson SG, I also have an Alvarez-Yairi accoustic and sometimes I use a pick and sometimes I don't.

As for inexpensive gift ... you can buy a pick for about 25 cents maybe less used ... your friend must really be nice huh?

You could maybe get a cool looking guitar strap?

[silver123]

It depends on the style they play and the player's choice. Some use flatpicks - usually bluegrass, country, rhthym guitarists, some pop. Others use fingerpicks, - usually metal or plastic that fit over the tips of your fingers and a kinda side pick for the thumb - this could be any style. Then others just use fingers or they reinforce their nails with acrylic products.

This is a great magazine for acoustic players, makes a nice present. Plus there is tons of gear listed on the site.

http://www.acousticguitar.com/leveltwo/ ... s-500.aspx

[TheShootist]

Good afternoon everyone

Well it sounds like a very diverse group of musicians in here.......let me add my two cents worth. I play a euphonium in a drum corp I am in. I play a baritone sax in a wedding/jazz band I am in. I play stand up bass in a bluegrass band I am in. I play trombone in a brass choir I am in. And finally I also sing bass in a church choir.

PS Also on the verge about buying a bassoon to play in a orchestra. And if anyone was wondering, yes I do own all this stuff and it is all in my house!!!

gt

[marshaeb]

Hey, Guest (aka Babette),

(aside) Just out of curiosity, what's up with that Guest and Babette thing -- both names always coming up? I don't get it, but then I'm a newbie without a hose. What do I know? I'll tell you what I know. A LOT, thanks to so many people at this site. But I digress....

I have a friend who's a SERIOUS bluegrass musician (no, that is NOT an oxymoron). Plays banjo, guitar, dobro and bass fiddle WELL and is a great singer/entertainer -- and regularly goes to his local nail salon to have them attach LONG acrylic nails (he tried gel, but the acrylics hold up better) to his right thumb and index finger. Those are his "pickin' fingers." He won't let them put color on them, though. Wouldn't go over well in his crowd. And I wouldn't recommend your running out and getting a gift certificate for your friend at "Fifi's Nail Salon" without being REAL SURE it would be appreciated. Just thought you might enjoy the tale.

Marsha

[Guest]

The Guest/Babette thing is because I'm at work right now, and my work server blocks me from logging in. But the websites recognize my IP addy and tells you it's me, so...

Just looking for info right now. Not really PLANNING a specific gift, but just wondered. It's as diverse as electric guitars, I see.

Yeah, a nifty handmade strap is very do-able. I have friends who do cool finger and tablet weaving. Good idea, thanks!!!

And as for the nails, maybe I'll quit passing on the guys with long nails, then. I usually squick out when I see a guy with long nails. Maybe I'll give him the benefit of the doubt next time.

None of my electric guitar playing BF's were believers in long nails.

LOL,
Babs

[Guest]

I love music and love to learn to play different instruments. The current collection consists of:
Piano Accordion
Flute
Violin
Guitar
Piano/Guitar-not currently practicing

Would like to learn:
pan flute
oboe

At the moment that should keep me out of mischeif.

PS - I lust for Accordian players.

Had a great friend who got me hooked on Accordian. He was a devotee of Texas Swing, and had a retro-cow-punk band in Wichita in the 80's. They specialized in Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys, but branched out to the theme from Rawhide and other under-played classics.

I was a life-long Musette fiend though, without knowing the terminology:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bal-musette

Currently contemplating attending a Hurdy-Gurdy Bal in September.

LOL,
Babette La Mauvaise

[marshaeb]

Well, with this guy, few would even let their eyes twinkle, much less let a chortle escape.... he's 6'6" and solid!! But yeah, I think I'd "squick out," too, especially if only two of his nails were long. (Don't think about it too much... the brain only gets more creative with time.) Thanks for sorting out the Guest/Babette thing for me. Makes perfect sense.

Later...
Marsha

[goose]

I settled on Bass Guitar -- I've got about 6 or 7 (lost count)....some with frets, some without, most with 4 strings, one with 5....
My favorite is the Fender Jazz.....

Played R&R, Blues, Jazz.....My left hand is getting so arthritic that it's getting very difficult to play anymore....
Also tried the Doudouk but could never get it to sound good. (double reed Armenian flute)
Have also done keyboards, drums, 6string guitar, brass (coronet, trumpet, tuba, souzaphone) -- just about everything except reed......the doudouk was my attempt at that....wow, what a failure that turned out to be!!!!! (considering sax, but I'm not sure my wind will carry it anymore )

Fun thread!!!
cheers
goose

[mellabella]

A bit late to the game but....in the past have played French horn and double bass.

Right now I am working on a Shakuhachi (mine is made from a PVC pipe!) as part of a meditation practice. It's the most frustrating instrument ever (like a recorder designed by sadists), but it's supposed to be great for developing proper breath control.

Maybe I'll get the same benefits from it folks claim you get from a digeredoo??