Can you play a musical instrument?

[Shaun]

Mine doesn't count really. I can "sort of" play piano/keyboard, by ear - I can't read a note of music, never got my head around it - and I can't use both hands either (that's what sequencers were invented for weren't they? ).

I just wondered if any of you play a musical instrument, and can you read music, or do you play by ear?

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Angelfishsolo]

That is an emphatic NO from me.

 

[ttcycle]

I'm an ear bassist.

Ear guitarist but not so good at that

Have a drum kit that hasn't been set up at home - just never got into it (became a cyclist instead)

Prefer singing as that's what comes easiest for me.

Used to play piano when I was really little and had the violin inflicted upon me - used to read some music but that was a long time ago.

I'm all in the intuition and the ear as you say Shaun!

 

[vernon]

I can read music and play the Uilleann pipes, low whistle and tin whistle.

I have a set of Northumbrian pipes that needs re-reeding and I need some tutoring as they require a totally different technique to play.

 

[JohnHenry]

I play the buffoon as if born to it.

 

[mcshroom]

I suppose Grade 3 cello counts

I can read music (standard and gregorian [square note] notation) and am a pretty decent tennor.

 

[Norm]

Keyboards for me, I can read music but it does not come naturally and I'd rather learn by ear. I'm a bit mathematical with music, I learn by the shapes of the notes that you play, which makes it difficult to play to the sheet music but it means that I can still play almost everything that I've ever played.

I love playing for fun, I don't think so much of it when I'm forced to play. I played in a band for a few years, I think it's about 3 or 4 years ago that I quit because the others wanted to do more and more performing, with all the commitments (see what I did there? ) that go with it.

My son is a fantastic (if I do say myself) drummer. Unfortunately, we don't have a room in the house which is large enough to leave his kit and the piano set up permanently.

 

[Night Train]

I learnt to play recorder and piano at school which also meant learning to read music.

At 16 I taught myself to play electric bass and guitar and applied my piano lessons to a synth.
By 17 I was teaching 'rock school' at a youth drop in centre and in a band while at college.

I rapidly figured that I had no ear for music or rhythem and can't keep to a beat even when I am counting.
I am better at making and teaching then I am playing musical instruments.

Having joint the local Am Dram I have been coerced into developing my singing voice, I have a reasonable bass voice but it needs a bit more practice.

 

[Fnaar]

I can get a tune out of various instruments, but I wouldn't claim to be good at any of them. If you heard me play one or two tunes on the piano, you'd think I was excellent at it, but ask me to play summat else and I'd have to shuffle off the stage, mumbling apologies.

 

[on the road]

I can play guitar. I've got a keyboard and can play the odd note or two on it but need to start learning to play it properly, I can also read music an all self taught.

 

[Hacienda71]

I played the violin from the age of 6 until 18. Was quite proficient toured in Europe with the orchestra I was in. The lure of wine, women and nightclubs put a stop to it though. 20 odd years on I do regret stopping but I was never dedicated enough to make a living out of it. I still play occasionaly to prove to my kids I can still do it

 

[snorri]

I can't play anything, there was only one musical instrument in my school, a piano, and pupils were never allowed to touch it. I feel a little envious now of young folk with opportunities to learn to play various school instruments.

 

[Bayerd]

I play trombone, and have done for 30 of my 39 years. I once hoped I'd be able to make a living out of it but had to settle for playing to a decent amateur standard instead.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I'm a guitarist, but can find my way around most fretted stringed instruments. In descending order, I'm pretty proficient at the mandolin, the 5 string banjo, the uke, the bouzouki and the, er, kazoo.

 

[asterix]

No. When I was at school they taught me that I could barely tell one note from another. I still can't understand why I like listening to music.