Who has a musical side?

[electromagneticpulse]

Hey all! :D

I was just wondering who here plays a musical instrument, whats your favourite genre of music/band/song

I'll start the ball rolling :)

I play bass guitar as my main instrument as i find it fun, i also play guitar and a bit of drums when i can get near some.
My Fav:
Genre would be punk
Band would be Pennywise
Song would be broken (by pennywise)

*pushes the ball*
So who's up next? :D

[pumpkinpie]

I've played the saxophone, flute, and piano in the past. I have to say "I used to play the piano and flute," it's been so long since I've regularly played them. And I'm getting dangerously close to being a former saxophone player. I played it mainly in jazz band through high school and college, but it's been over 6 years since then! However, I did buy some new reeds a couple months ago, and I've been meaning to dig the ol' tenor out from under the bed.....one of these weekends I'll get to it!

I like a lot of types of music. What I don't enjoy so much is country, rap, and r&b, and a lot of the overplayed top 40 hits, but I'll gladly listen to just about anything else! FAVORITE performer: Arturo Sandoval, Latin Jazz trumpeter. If you EVER hear of him playing near you, drop everything and go! Even if you're not a jazz fan! I promise, you will be blown away! :D

[Normandy6644]

I play guitar. I'm working on getting some of my songs available to stream, so you should be able to hear me pretty soon!

[Parrothead]

Sometimes, I just have to sing, no matter whose ears I hurt (my own included) :wink:

I can listen to just about any type of music (except rap and present day top 40 fluff) and my music collection (way too many cds, cassettes and LP's, but still not enough) reflects this.

[electromagneticpulse]

What I don't enjoy so much is country, rap, and r&b, and a lot of the overplayed top 40 hits, but I'll gladly listen to just about anything else!

I like the old R&B where it was rhythm and blues instead of this new rhythm and "bass". But i get a lift every morning with my friend who listens to some of the dance music and techno and its not all that bad. They have some good bass lines in :D

FAVORITE performer: Arturo Sandoval, Latin Jazz trumpeter. If you EVER hear of him playing near you, drop everything and go!
I'll make sure to but i find it unlikely where i am he either has to fill a club or a whole arena that was built for about 35,000 rugby fans.

I play guitar. I'm working on getting some of my songs available to stream, so you should be able to hear me pretty soon!
Hey thats great! make sure to post a link or PM me with it.

I'm trying to get a band together but no one i know wants in :(
I'd be too good for most of the people i know anyway i can play all slap, finger and pick styles. All my friends bands use picks, i think i need to find a better scene :lol:

I do struggle with my guitar from time-to-time. :oops: :oops: :oops: My genre would be rock 'n' roll and bluesy stuff. Believe me though - none of you would ever want to hear it!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Roving Philosopher]

I used to play the French horn and the trumpet. I play piano reasonably well, and have recently taken up the guitar. For playing, I like Jimmy Buffett (so many songs in D :) ). For listening, I like lots of stuff, particularly classical music and 80s music.

[Grizzly]

Bodhran, guitar, tin whistles and recorders.

Decidedly folk, although I do like a capella across the spectrum (baroque to barbershop, bee-bop to doo-wop).

----
Musica delenit bestiam feram
Music soothes the savage beast

[BlueAnodizeAl]

Music is the only thing that makes life tollerable. I'm a big fan of Alternative Rock, Rock, Classical, Movie Scores, A pinch of Country.

Currently the CD's I listen to most are:

Alterbridge: One Day Remains (a welcome change from Creed, Mark Tremonti can really play when he has some latitude).
Creed: My Own Prison
ST: Nemesis
3DD: Away from the Sun
Skillet: Collide
Edit: Pirates of the Carribbean

I am a reformed band nerd; I formally played trombone, tuba, and baritone. I'd love to get back into it, but I've forgotten too much of the technique since I haven't played in six years.

[ngc3314]

Hey all! :D

I was just wondering who here plays a musical instrument, whats your favourite genre of music/band/song


I took up trombone in fifth grade, after almost flunking song flute (~cheap recorder) in fourth grade and taking the hint about finger coordination. Took up bass trombone in high school; I've been with my present horn 30 years last summer. Still play in the orchestra at church and occasionally with a local ballroom-dance band (that paid for my laptop).

Call me elitist, but my favorite music is from years starting with 1, and little enough of it 19. Mahler and Stravinsky, and after that the descent to the maelstrom. Absolute favorites - Respighi's setting of "Ancient Airs and Dances"[1], practically any fugue by J.S. Bach (guilty pleasure - anachronistic orchestration), Mahler's 3rd, Holst suites, and most romantic-era ballet scores. A little Wagner is nice, but there's no such thing.

[1] Didja know that one movement of this was written by Vincenzo Galilei, Galileo's father? I play it in classes to set the mood.

[electromagneticpulse]

I am a reformed band nerd; I formally played trombone, tuba, and baritone. I'd love to get back into it, but I've forgotten too much of the technique since I haven't played in six years.

no one ever really "forgets", god knows if we did i wouldn't remember a thing :D

I wasn't expecting so many people to play multiple instruments its rather cool we have a lot of talented people here apparently both intellectually and musically. Now if i could just be gifted with a a memory and i would be set :lol:

[tlbs101]

I have played trombone since 4th grade, and even after not playing for years after graduating high school, I hadn't "lost" a thing decades later when I decided to play in a church orchestra.

This past summer I picked up the trumpet and am playing the school fight song as soloist for my college alma mater during "away" (US)football games. (I also learned the melody line and trombone parts to the fight song in case another trumpet player shows up at the stadium.)

I can competently play rythmn guitar and have played solo at church to lead the singing. I have also picked up the bass guitar just for fun. I'll sit for hours playing along with CD's of 60's pop and current country music. My wife just bought me a used Fender Stratocaster. I don't know if I have time to learn "lead" guitar.

I played piano from 3rd grad until the start of high school, but was never very good, and I have since lost the ability to play at full speed with both hands simultaneously (so, some "things" can be lost without practice). I own a piano, but seldom find time to play.

I also have an electronic music keyboard and use it for MIDI "data" entry in several productions I have done for church.

I can also play a "mean" tamborine.

[electromagneticpulse]

Now you mention it tlbs101 i also can't play piano half as good as i could but i can still play a keyboard fine, i can only remember one thing on the piano that i can play. Its from the start of one of the CD's in my collection also a tribute to a dead band member.

I used to play lead guitar left handed its rather difficult but now i play mostly rhythm guitar right handed. Lead really depends on what style your playing as does bass. Personaly im not going to try and learn lead right handed as bass is complicated enough to learn as im not into playing the more "pop" songs where its 3 notes a song i have to redo the skill of people like Flea and i even do a good Steve Harris. Saying that i dont have much of a "touch" feeling left in my fingers or right thumb :roll:

I've never taken a lesson since piano and as i quit that after a year im glad i didn't for guitar's. I'd also be paying for 3 sets of bass lessons, i'd also be paying :lol:

I love the deep sounding instruments which is why i'm so into bass but i love the sound of Jazz and Ska music for the use of saxaphones and what not. full of happy moods too :) But i can't wait till i can get a set of drums to thrash it out on.

[Harvestar]

Like many others here, I also play trombone and have since 6th grade. I've just begun taking cello lessons with my boyfriend and we rented a cello. I'm about as far as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" :) I did once learn "Mary had a little lamb" on flute too, but it made my head hurt.

ngc3314, yeah, I too did very poorly with recorder! Though I later figured out "Ode to Joy" on our cheapo one at home.

I was a band geek all through 6th grade to high school and I miss it dearly!!! In college, I played in the Penn State Trombone Ensemble (~30 trombones). I play trombone rarely nowdays, occasionally in my church choir and sometimes for our grad play as an accompanyment to one of our parodied songs.

I love many types of music - classical, jazz (mostly swing, hate be-bop and the later stuff), rock & roll (mostly oldies), Celtic, ambient (like Yanni, David Arkenstone, Tangerine Dream), some good country (like Mary Chapin Carpenter and Kathy Mattea), some good new songs (with good tunes and lyrics), etc.

My favorite group is the Beach Boys. :) My favorite composer is Tchaikovsky.

Oh, and my recent concerts: Sting, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (totally awesome - 3rd time I've seen them!! and some kickin' bass!), Phil Collins, Sarah McLauclalan (sp?), Indigo Girls, and the Dave Steven's Big Band (the big band my old band director started back home :) They're really good!).

[Master258]

can't really play anything but i love music
mostly classic rock and oldies
Beatles all the way

[electromagneticpulse]

My favorite group is the Beach Boys. :) My favorite composer is Tchaikovsky.

Oh, and my recent concerts: Sting, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (totally awesome - 3rd time I've seen them!! and some kickin' bass!), Phil Collins, Sarah McLauclalan (sp?), Indigo Girls, and the Dave Steven's Big Band (the big band my old band director started back home :) They're really good!).

You can't beat beach boys have to say my favorite song would have to be surfin' bird. simple lyrics and great tune :D

As you brought up concerts i'll mention a few of mine: American Head Charge & Rammstein, Stone Sour, Saliva, Stone Sour, Murderdolls, The Darkness, The Wild Hearts, Motorhead. I almost got to see Iron Maiden but my lift canceled (so i didnt pay for the ticket :D) but instead of going to lots of concerts as i have to travel im going to save up and go to leeds festival with some friends next year. Should be my favorite band there if they keep their trend going *crosses fingers* :lol:

Im not really in a good area for concerts as i've traveled to birmingham, leeds and manchester several times to see bands but damage to my hearing in my left ear was totally worth it for near front row Motorhead and front row enough in the Darkness concert to get to shake Justin Hawkins hand.
Its kind of funny i spent about £5 on the ticket and they had just hit big and then their newer tour dates where about £20. Lucky me :lol:

[worzel]

Yep, fingers sore after a good session with the Hanon book. One day I'll get round to learning something musical :)

Im not really in a good area for concerts

<gloat>I live next to Hyde Park so I get a few decent concerts free 8) </gloat>

[electromagneticpulse]

Yep, fingers sore after a good session with the Hanon book. One day I'll get round to learning something musical :)

Im not really in a good area for concerts

<gloat>I live next to Hyde Park so I get a few decent concerts free 8) </gloat>
:evil: :evil: :evil:

well we had Bryan Adams and Elton John at the KC. Okay i wouldn't have gone to see Elton John my brother did, i question him sometimes, but he said he was good. I'd have liked to see Bryan Adams live but i was in leeds uni, or was it sheffield uni #-o, but i was seeing motorhead at the time so i support my decision.

One downside is you'll have to put up with the bad concerts too, i pray Macy Gray comes to Hyde Park on her next tour. Her albums out on the 7th :lol:
I'm sorry no one should be forced to listen to that :D

[Maksutov]

Hey all! :D

I was just wondering who here plays a musical instrument, whats your favourite genre of music/band/song


I took up trombone in fifth grade, after almost flunking song flute (~cheap recorder) in fourth grade and taking the hint about finger coordination. Took up bass trombone in high school; I've been with my present horn 30 years last summer. Still play in the orchestra at church and occasionally with a local ballroom-dance band (that paid for my laptop).

Call me elitist, but my favorite music is from years starting with 1, and little enough of it 19. Mahler and Stravinsky, and after that the descent to the maelstrom. Absolute favorites - Respighi's setting of "Ancient Airs and Dances"[1], practically any fugue by J.S. Bach (guilty pleasure - anachronistic orchestration), Mahler's 3rd, Holst suites, and most romantic-era ballet scores. A little Wagner is nice, but there's no such thing.

[1] Didja know that one movement of this was written by Vincenzo Galilei, Galileo's father? I play it in classes to set the mood.
Man, if you play the trombone, you gotta love Mahler's Third, especially Part I, which is, for the most part, a trombone concerto! :D

[mickal555]

I used to play clarenet (3 years) Saxamaphone (4 years) I also have a pratice chanter (a bag pipe with out the bags).

I've got to go back to class I'll say what bands I like at lunch

[The Supreme Canuck]

I play the violin and my favourite genre is classical music.

Everyone I know thinks that I'm either boring or stuck up because of it. Shows what they know. :roll:

[worzel]

<gloat>I live next to Hyde Park so I get a few decent concerts free 8) </gloat>
:evil: :evil: :evil:

One downside is you'll have to put up with the bad concerts too, i pray Macy Gray comes to Hyde Park on her next tour. Her albums out on the 7th :lol:
I'm sorry no one should be forced to listen to that :D
Well I'm a 5 minute skate away from where I can hear them so they are optional :)

Oh yeah, favourite piece of music, Mendelsson's violin concerto in E minor, that or Buddy Holly's greatest hits (they're about the same length).

My favourite instrument would be the violin, except that I can't get mine to make any nice sounds despite years of guitar playing :( So wish my parents made me learn violin when I was 4 instead of preaching all this hippie "don't pressure your kids" rubbish - was I really supposed to know what was good for me back then? :-({|=

[paulie jay]

I've made a comfortable living playing music as a professional for many years! I've played over 1800 gigs, so music really is my life.

I primarily play electric bass, though I also do pro-gigs as a guitarist (electric and acoustic). I also play piano, am a cunning user of Hammond B3 (this qualifies as separate from other keyboard instruments because the player needs an instinctive feel for when to engage the rotating Leslie speaker!), and I play a bit of drums, though not with any breathtaking skill. I have an old saxaphone with which I pretend to myself that I'm learning, though in reality I haven't touched it in months.

I have many favourite artists - couldn't really narrow it down to a top 5 but I'll try...

Elvis Costello
The Beatles
They Might Be Giants
This Is Serious Mum
Kate Bush
The Who
Dave Brubeck
Parliament
Incognito...

See, I'm not even good for a top 5 (and I'm still missing about 20 other favourites...)

Favourite genre: As long as a song is well written I don't really care what style it is, though I'm not the biggest fan of country music. I will literally listen to anything, no matter how old or how new. I'm not a musical snob
:wink: Though Motown is a particular favourite!

Favourite song?? Gee, I couldn't even give my favourite 100 albums, let alone a favourite song! At this very second I'm singing Shipbuilding by Elvis Costello, but check again in 5 minutes and it will be soemthing else!

[ngc3314]

Hey all! :D

I was just wondering who here plays a musical instrument, whats your favourite genre of music/band/song


Mahler's 3rd

Man, if you play the trombone, you gotta love Mahler's Third, especially Part I, which is, for the most part, a trombone concerto! :D

Oh yeah. Most trombonish thing I know of in all of classical music. Also feels real good because you needn't be shy about overwhelming anything else. I once heard an arrangement of that first movement with all the orchestra parts done by a group of 20 backup trombonists.

[Andromeda321]

I play violin in my college's orchestra, 2nd violin 6th chair which is nice when you remember I'm a freshman and not a music major. It's cool because a few weeks ago we got to play in Severance Hall, which is where the Cleveland Symphony plays.
In general, I've been playing for ten years and in high school was concertmaster of my school's chamber players (we weren't big enough to call ourselves an orchestra) and a strings group that ended up playing in Heinz hall (where the Pittsburgh Symphony plays) last spring. Fun stuff!
:-({|=

[Brady Yoon]

I play a little of the piano and trumpet.

[EvilBob]

I butcher my guitar. My wife gets scared if I play her Strat - she thinks I'll break it...

In a former life, I used to play the accordion. The world's coolest instrument.... :roll:

[Maksutov]

Hey all! :D

I was just wondering who here plays a musical instrument, whats your favourite genre of music/band/song


Mahler's 3rd

Man, if you play the trombone, you gotta love Mahler's Third, especially Part I, which is, for the most part, a trombone concerto! :D

Oh yeah. Most trombonish thing I know of in all of classical music. Also feels real good because you needn't be shy about overwhelming anything else. I once heard an arrangement of that first movement with all the orchestra parts done by a group of 20 backup trombonists.
Wow, I'd love to see that arrangement, especially to find out which player got those rhythmically and structurally important bass drum parts!

You're right, most conductors spend a good part of their lives telling (and yelling at) the brass to play more softly. Not in the Kräftig. Entschieden. Once those eight horns get underway, you know it's going to be a brass (and percussion) festival!

I remember when there were just two recordings of the Third in the catalog, Bernstein and F. Charles Adler. Therefore, it was most gratifying when the Tilson Thomas (Best Classical Album) and Boulez (Best Orchestral Performance) recordings of the Third each won a Grammy earlier this year. The Third has become something of a touchstone for conductors proving their mettle.

[Maksutov]

Hey all! :D

I was just wondering who here plays a musical instrument, whats your favourite genre of music/band/song
Musical instruments:

Piano
Organ
Recorder (soprano and tenor)
Balalaika
Guitar (acoustic and electric)

Music:

Classical (everything from chant and des Pres through the B's to current stuff (Adams, et al), with a strong focus on Mahler and Ives)
Ragtime (Joplin's Gladiolus Rag is a magnificent piece of music of any genre, and used to be one of my favorites to perform.)
Jazz (especially progressive, give me that good old 5/4 meter, man!)
Rock (1970 and earlier (exception: Zappa. In "Toads Of The Short Forest" (from the album "Weasels Ripped My Flesh"), Frank explains, "At this very moment on stage we have drummer A playing in 7/8, drummer B playing in 3/4, the bass playing in 3/4, the organ playing in 5/8, the tambourine playing in 3/4, and the alto sax blowing his nose."); i.e., interested more in substance than fads, cults of personality, and posturing)

[Nicolas]

I play keyboard, program drum computer, played organ until mine broke :( , play acoustic bass, some recorder, and have very little experience on acoustic guitar and some kind of lute/guitar crossover that doesn't have its own name. My acoustic bass is custom built, massive 3 kgs (the organ is 100 kgs but that's my floor's problem :) ), and plays unlike other basses. It is more like a low sounding guitar, and mostly used for quite slow melodic bass lines. I use the keyboard to play its own sounds or custom soundfont banks (including the Titanic bank for the sf2 whizzes)

I listen to about anything, can't really put names on favorite songs. My own creations are in a style in between of folk, new age and electronica. I play own creations, together with some classical, mike oldfield, white stripes, moby... just everything I can.

I can't read notes. My main instrument is the keyboard/organ. On the recorder and bass I'm still practising though able to get some nice melodies, on the guitar I'd need lots of practice and hence my own guitar.

[jrkeller]

I've played flute for 34 years. Bad instrument to play as a grade school and junior high kid because of all the teasing. Great instrument to play when you're in high school and college since I was the only guy in a section with 20 girls.

Have played on occassion:

Bass
Snare drum
Bass drum
Cymbals

[Nicolas]

Have played on occassion:

Bass
Snare drum
Bass drum
Cymbals

You mean you really played the snare drum, bass drum and cymbal as separate instruments, or you just mean "Have played on occasion: Bass (guitar) and drums" but want to be specific on what kind of drum setup? It's just that I can't imagine someone playing just one of the parts of a drum kit.

[Careless]

I have played trombone since 4th grade, and even after not playing for years after graduating high school, I hadn't "lost" a thing decades later when I decided to play in a church orchestra.
Wayyyy different from me. I picked up a trombone after 4 years of not playing and it took a minute just to get a real (let alone decent) sound out. While I think I could still get positions right, I know i've lost the ability to make it sound good.

[Yorkshireman]

Before my 20s I didn't play anything at all. Music lessons at school were mostly singing or being taught about the instruments of the orchestra - without ever actually being able to handle any. It all passed me by.

Then at University I got into folk music and picked up Mandolin, then acoustic guitars. I never graduated to electric, but I do still play these instruments. Get me a campfire and a bottle of red wine and I'm away!

This autumn I'm finally learning to play keyboards. So far.... I can play the white keys. I have hope though, I'm actually starting to be able to read music now.

Favourite Music Genres:
Folk (Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Nick Drake, Kate Rusby, Show of Hands, Altan, Oysterband, loads of others)
Rock (Zepellin, Rush, Yes, King Crimson, Pink Floyd - very proggy oriented)

Favourite Classical: Most popular classics. Rodrigo, Holst, Mozart, Vivaldi, Grieg have all passed my CD player.

[Nicolas]

If you can only play the white keys, you can do amazing things. Scottish bagpipes are often translated to only white keys. I can play the whites and the blacks, but I don't often play them together. For the Pink Panter of course, you need to :) . If i want a song to be shifted half a note, I have a digital transpose function. Handy, because I'm not that good at transposing myself. But if you play some white chords and white melodies, you really are a looooooooooong way. I only know one white/black combi chord, and play both white and black in about 5% of the pieces I play, and these aren't the most complex ones. Using blacks once in a while can do miracles to the mood though. Play a song white all the time, and then suddenly shift to blacks, the change in expression is amazing, not just "higher" or "lower". Blacks can do really good things when used, but you can make equally amzing things without them. It depends on what you want to do and in which order things are thought to you.

[jrkeller]

Have played on occassion:

Bass
Snare drum
Bass drum
Cymbals

You mean you really played the snare drum, bass drum and cymbal as separate instruments, or you just mean "Have played on occasion: Bass (guitar) and drums" but want to be specific on what kind of drum setup? It's just that I can't imagine someone playing just one of the parts of a drum kit.

Growing up my next door neighbor and best friend was a really into drums and everything that went with them. Music was a huge part of lives, and still is. He'd let me play a lot; so I learned by doing. I was never really good at the drum kit.

I filled in for marching and pep bands on the bass drum, crash cymbals and snare drums.

[ngc3314]

You're right, most conductors spend a good part of their lives telling (and yelling at) the brass to play more softly. Not in the Kräftig. Entschieden. Once those eight horns get underway, you know it's going to be a brass (and percussion) festival!

I remember when there were just two recordings of the Third in the catalog, Bernstein and F. Charles Adler. Therefore, it was most gratifying when the Tilson Thomas (Best Classical Album) and Boulez (Best Orchestral Performance) recordings of the Third each won a Grammy earlier this year. The Third has become something of a touchstone for conductors proving their mettle.

Reminds me of one rehearsal with the concert band in college:

Conductor (stopping): "Bill, you're too loud."

Me (injured dignity): "How could you possibly tell? Everyone is playing fortissimo!"

Conductor: "I can see you smiling around your mouthpiece."

Funny, he never seemed to mind when I was doubling the tubas (tubae?) on the marching field...

I first heard Dennis Wick doing the solo part on a Nonesuch recording, still my favorite both from hearing it first and from the power of his playing (he wrote a whole book...). After this thread, I may have to go home, down into the basement, turn up the volume, and annoy dog, cat, and family tonight.

[George]

Gee, e.m.p., you could have a heck of a band if you could round these folks up. :)

I picked-up rhythm guitar at age 42. In about 10 years, I should be ok, based on observed progress. Since I'm in a band, my progress has accelerated. "Lifeline" is the band (contemporary Christian). I like great guitar songs - Ventures, Clapton, Hendrix, etc. We compose some, too.

Scottish Rhapsody - favorite classic.

[worzel]

If you can only play the white keys, you can do amazing things. Scottish bagpipes are often translated to only white keys.
...
Blacks can do really good things when used, but you can make equally amzing things without them. It depends on what you want to do and in which order things are thought to you.
By just using the black keys you're using a pentatonic scale. Much celtic, rock, blues, county and eastern music is based on either the major or minor pentatonic (with maybe the odd accidental chucked in here or there) so you'll find a lot of tunes on those black notes.

To transpose to the white keys just play C D E G A for the major pentatonic or A C D E G for the minor, then add D# for the blues scale.

Just about every electric guitar solo you'll ever hear uses this scale with lots of bending, it works out to two notes per string in every position (without the "blue" note) so is really easy rattle off at speed.

[Nicolas]

To Worzel,

Sometimes I play melodies completely black because I feel they fit better in that scale. Someone who can play only white, can play only black too I think (at least I can). The difficulty to me is combining both.

The combining of white and black keys is extremely useful, but you can do other nice things without them (without digital transpose too). I mean with this statement that the fact that you don't master the black/white combi doesn't mean you can't play piano. You just can't play ANY piece (you can't play lots of them, but you still can play lots of other things).


To JRKeller:
I completely forgot about marching bands. With this in mind, playing 1 part of the drums suddenly completely makes sense :) I had this vision in my mind of someone sitting behind a complete drumkit, and hitting just one part of it like a madman #-o

[Robert Andersson]

Electric guitar. I've been in a few metal bands over the years.

Favorite music? No perticular gengre, I don't care much for arrangement (not entirely true). I'm extremely picky, though. It must have powerful melodies and brilliant harmonies, and certain music styles lend themselves more to those criterias. Generally, I like pre-"Black Album" Metallica, preferably live.

[Nicolas]

Robert Andersson names Metallica. I hear a lot of people saying things like "metal is just about hitting the strings as fast as possible". Metallica plays speedmetal, correct. But if you've ever seen them performing "One" live, you'll never forget the ease in which they play MELODIES fast, biting, correct and still have the time to sing and watch the attitude at the same time. This is amazing. You might not like the music, and lots of speedmetal is indeed quite simple "as fast as possible", but some metal groups (like metallica) master their instruments better than many professional players wish they ever will.

If I play keyboard, I mostly have to stick with what I practised or I will loose myself in my keys. The slightest distraction will let me loose my way too. I hope I ever master my instrument like they do, to be able to play like you talk, while you talk. Artists they are, as much as a piano virtuoso is.

[electromagneticpulse]

Gee, e.m.p., you could have a heck of a band if you could round these folks up. :)

I picked-up rhythm guitar at age 42. In about 10 years, I should be ok, based on observed progress. Since I'm in a band, my progress has accelerated. "Lifeline" is the band (contemporary Christian). I like great guitar songs - Ventures, Clapton, Hendrix, etc. We compose some, too.

Scottish Rhapsody - favorite classic.

Yeah but as you said "at age 42" you picked up rhythm, at age 14 i picked up a bass (electric) and im now 16. To say i've taught myself and can play the 3 ways (pick, finger, slap) and then several types of each depending on who wrote the song and depending on what i want to play like. Personally i like using my fingers/slap its more fun then using a pick especialy as i have to spend a few pounds on them every month to get some new ones as i break them all (infact all 3 corners to them as their symmetrical) :lol:

I did play in a Christian band but we had to split because "people" preffered the organ.

I might have a little group going soon, one of my friends in college is a great singer and her boyfriend is a lead guitarist. Who needs a drummer anyway :D It'd be kind of original though i don't know any bands with a female singer in the area, failing that i could sing while playing bass as she knows rhythm.

Oh and im currently learning Ska picking on bass :D

[Blades]

FAVORITE performer: Arturo Sandoval, Latin Jazz trumpeter. If you EVER hear of him playing near you, drop everything and go! Even if you're not a jazz fan! I promise, you will be blown away :D

I saw Arturo in concert a few years back. Phenomenal trumpeter, blends jazz with Cuban rhythms. A movie was done about him not too long ago. The title escapes me at the moment. Mr. Sandoval is definitely worth listening to.

I played Baritone since 4th grade and began on valve trombone in high school. Some of my best memories of school on through college had to do with holding that horn. Unfortunately with a small town there is not much oppurtunity to play anymore. I miss it.

As far as what I listen to: Classical, Jazz (big band mostly, none of the light stuff), and classic/progressive rock.
Beethoven
Carl Orff
Dvorak
Count Basie
Woody Herman
Maynard Ferguson
Rush
Pink Floyd
Queensryche
Dream Theater

The list goes on.

[electromagneticpulse]

Robert Andersson names Metallica. I hear a lot of people saying things like "metal is just about hitting the strings as fast as possible". Metallica plays speedmetal, correct. But if you've ever seen them performing "One" live, you'll never forget the ease in which they play MELODIES fast, biting, correct and still have the time to sing and watch the attitude at the same time. This is amazing. You might not like the music, and lots of speedmetal is indeed quite simple "as fast as possible", but some metal groups (like metallica) master their instruments better than many professional players wish they ever will.

I'd have to agree i play some Metallica (bass) and its difficult. When i used to play lead (left handed) it was the first song i learned to play, quite a feat to be honest i found it almost impossible to play at their speed. Now looking back im amazed i learn't to play it... wish i could play it right handed :D

The bands i dont like would be this "Nu-Metal" thing i mean its just screaming for the sake of it. Slipknot hit good its what people wanted... we have Slipknot we're happy why do we have "Nu-Metal" on a live pipe all the time. One reason im glad i can no longer get Music TV. I just stick to the free online radio's like the online digital radio's.
Saying that about the screaming i'm currently listening to Anti-Flag, yes they shout/scream but their amazing lyrics to amazing music. I'll finish this up as i've just reached Minor Threat in my play list :lol:

[ChesleyFan]

I've been playing guitar for about two months now, ever since I began taking lessons for Art credit at school. Really getting into it; I try to play at least a hour or two a day.

My favorite genre is country (sorry, but it is).

As far as artists go, Brad Paisley is tops, and his songs "I'm Gonna Miss Her" and "Whiskey Lullaby" are among my favorites. And I know a lot of people can't stand him, but a side of me really likes Toby Keith, too. But I really can't think of any artist I don't like.

Also a big BNL fan, thanks to my best friend. They're the reason I wanted to learn guitar to begin with.

[worzel]

To Worzel,

Sometimes I play melodies completely black because I feel they fit better in that scale. Someone who can play only white, can play only black too I think (at least I can).
True, but the point was that any tune that fits on the black keys can also be played on the white keys (in several different positions actually) and learning to so do will teach you a lot. Just about every tune has pentatonic phrases and learning where they are when you're playing in C or Am (i.e. on the white keys) will help you to play by ear a lot better. Hope that doesn't sound patronizing, I don't know how much you're hiding :)

The difficulty to me is combining both.
That's what practising scales is for :)

[Master258]

i also like
The Rolling Stones
Bob Dylan
Simon and Garfunkel
Led Zeppelin
Steve Miller Band
Jimi Hendrix
ACDC
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Clash
The Doobie Brothers
The Eagles
i'm a man of many musical tastes

[mathyou9]

... i love music
mostly classic rock and oldies
Beatles all the way
i also like
The Rolling Stones
Bob Dylan
Simon and Garfunkel
Led Zeppelin
Steve Miller Band
Jimi Hendrix
ACDC
Lynyrd Skynyrd
The Clash
The Doobie Brothers
The Eagles
i'm a man of many musical tastes
DITTO, DITTO, and DITTO!

I play piano (can't sight read music, though.) I know a lot about music theory, so I can only play rhythm [guitar] chords on piano. Playing chords is not all that impressive, but when it is used as accompaniment to when I sing, [non-musically inclined] people think I am a really good piano player. :)

I have a big fat book that contains every commercially released Beatles song fully transcribed (all instruments, including drums.) It's great (Hey Jude is always fun to play in a crowd because everyone helps out with by singing in the four-minute fade out.)

I can play a few Rolling Stones' songs; Ruby Tuesday, She Smiled Sweetly (which I submitted to OLGA here (http://www.olga.net/dynamic/browse.php?printer=0&local=main/r/rolling_stones/she_smiled_sweetly.crd)) and Angie to an extent.

And I can't pass up Led Zeppelin. I especially enjoy playing Bron-Yr-Aur (not to be confused with Bron-Y-Aur Stomp) on piano. It is one of the few songs that requires me to play beyond rhythm chords (most Led Zeppelin songs require more than just chord accompaniment, otherwise they don't sound that great. This only goes to show that Led Zeppelin plays at a higher level because their music depends more on the lead section rather than the chord progression.)

[EvilBob]

Robert Andersson names Metallica. I hear a lot of people saying things like "metal is just about hitting the strings as fast as possible". Metallica plays speedmetal, correct. But if you've ever seen them performing "One" live, you'll never forget the ease in which they play MELODIES fast, biting, correct and still have the time to sing and watch the attitude at the same time. This is amazing. You might not like the music, and lots of speedmetal is indeed quite simple "as fast as possible", but some metal groups (like metallica) master their instruments better than many professional players wish they ever will.

Can't argue with that. It may look simple (musically), but playing accurately at that speed is really tough! And singing (or even Hetfield growling) at the same time? Forget it!

[bearcub]

I've been playing the drums since 4th grade or so. Did the marching band thing in HS (cymbals freshman yr, snare last 3 yrs), in fact I was part of the 1st place drum line my senior year at the national finals. Also played concert band and pit band for a couple of the plays the school put on.

Stopped playing during my hitch in the Air Force, but got started again back in '86 and have been playing fairly steadily ever since.

I've been in a number of bands since about '95, from a 3 piece classic rock cover band to a 10 piece party band (motown, swing, rock - playing in a band with a horn section is a blast!) and am currently splitting my time between 2 bands right now. A blues band and a rock/blues/country/originals band. My photo (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/babbalbum/detail?.dir=/7fff&.dnm=ca94.jpg) in the BABB album shows my current drumset.

I have been flirting with the guitar lately, but about all I can do is thump out a few chords.

I also take voice lessons so I can sing without chasing everyone out of the club/bar when we perform.

Favorite music? Pretty much anything if it's done well. Though I really like swing, jazz, reggae and good ole classic rock.

Favorite artist/band? too many to list, though I agree with almost everything in Master258's list.

[Maksutov]

You're right, most conductors spend a good part of their lives telling (and yelling at) the brass to play more softly. Not in the Kräftig. Entschieden. Once those eight horns get underway, you know it's going to be a brass (and percussion) festival!

I remember when there were just two recordings of the Third in the catalog, Bernstein and F. Charles Adler. Therefore, it was most gratifying when the Tilson Thomas (Best Classical Album) and Boulez (Best Orchestral Performance) recordings of the Third each won a Grammy earlier this year. The Third has become something of a touchstone for conductors proving their mettle.

Reminds me of one rehearsal with the concert band in college:

Conductor (stopping): "Bill, you're too loud."

Me (injured dignity): "How could you possibly tell? Everyone is playing fortissimo!"

Conductor: "I can see you smiling around your mouthpiece."

Funny, he never seemed to mind when I was doubling the tubas (tubae?) on the marching field...
LOL! That was good. Those tuba players can get away with murder, what with the low expectations for their intonation, and that huge mouthpiece that covers half their face!

I first heard Dennis Wick doing the solo part on a Nonesuch recording, still my favorite both from hearing it first and from the power of his playing (he wrote a whole book...). After this thread, I may have to go home, down into the basement, turn up the volume, and annoy dog, cat, and family tonight.
Did that Nonesuch album look anything like this?

http://img123.exs.cx/img123/272/M3JH.th.jpg (http://img123.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img123&image=M3JH.jpg)

Outstanding performance by Wick. And one heck of a conducting job by Horenstein. Nothing like Mahler played back at concert volume. :)

BTW, what do you think about middle and eastern European trombonists? To me the amount of vibrato they use often seems excessive.

[darkhunter]

instruments:
guitar (electric and acoustic)
jaw harp

music:
most kinds--leaning toward metal, country, and classical

[Ari Jokimaki]

Couple of weeks ago, after 20+ years of playing quitar, I bought a bass quitar. You could assume it's pretty easy transition, but it's surprisingly difficult. Frets are wider and strings are further apart, so I feel very clumsy and do lot of rookie mistakes when I play. I'd like to learn to play it with fingers, but the tip of my forefinger gets sore, so most of the time I have to use a pick.

I like my rock hard and progressive, some of my favorite bands are: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Jeff Beck, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Allan Holdsworth, ZZTop, Van Halen... So it's mostly old stuff that I listen to.

There's too much great music out there, so I cannot name a favorite song.

[Nicolas]

Hope that doesn't sound patronizing, I don't know how much you're hiding

Well, I'm hiding nothing and lots...

I don't really know music theory. Everything I can I learned through practice and experimenting. If I play a melody, and I would like it lower or higher, I just try. If I want chords on it, I search for those that fit. Not the most efficient way, but I like the results. I don't have a single piece of sheet music from my own recordings, it's all in the head (or was in some cases). I can't write sheet music, I can't read it.

So you don't sound patronizing at all to me when explaining something about music theory (the danger is going too fast for me, but save yourself the pain of explaining it all to me, unless we want to surpass ToSeek's post number soon :D ). If I ever have questions about music theory, I know where to start. Saying "if you can't even name your chords or transpose a melody yourself, you can't play" would be patronizing (not that anyone here said anything like that). I know that I can play, my recordings tell me so. I'm not that good a player, not a good composer, a bad arranger, but I sure can play. And it goes beyond ye good ole "Marry had a little lamb". The thing is that I just don't know WHAT I'm doing :P (no, I do, but I can't name the beast)

[AstroSmurf]

I used to play the cello when I was younger (quit sometime during my university years). These days, I can't play in my apartment because the building is not very good at keeping noise inside, and I'm not good enough to feel like "entertaining" my neighbour below :oops: I also played with an oboe a little, but nothing came of it.

My interest nowadays is mainly into choir singing - mostly medieval and renaissance music, but also some Gregorian chants. We're not good enough to record it, but maybe sometime in the future. I've considered taking classes in solo singing, but there simply isn't time.

Fave music ... tough choice. Surprisingly, I don't buy much music, and I seldom actually 'connect' with something. Pop maybe? No Doubt, Evanescence, Garbage, various medieval-music bands that noone here would know about ;)

[Maksutov]

To Worzel,

Sometimes I play melodies completely black because I feel they fit better in that scale. Someone who can play only white, can play only black too I think (at least I can). The difficulty to me is combining both.

The combining of white and black keys is extremely useful, but you can do other nice things without them (without digital transpose too). I mean with this statement that the fact that you don't master the black/white combi doesn't mean you can't play piano. You just can't play ANY piece (you can't play lots of them, but you still can play lots of other things).
What I'm getting from this is that you can play C Major, A Minor, and one pentatonic scale based on C#. Is that right?

[worzel]

What I'm getting from this is that you can play C Major, A Minor, and one pentatonic scale based on C#. Is that right?
Wouldn't that be F# for the major pentatonic and Eb for the minor? Or are you getting all modal on us ;)

[Maksutov]

What I'm getting from this is that you can play C Major, A Minor, and one pentatonic scale based on C#. Is that right?
Wouldn't that be F# for the major pentatonic and Eb for the minor? Or are you getting all modal on us ;)
Hey, look at all the Vaughan Williams recordings I have. That should answer your question! :D

Actually I was just referring to the way most folks play five sequential notes pentatonically...they use the black keys and always start with C#.

[worzel]

I can't write sheet music, I can't read it.
Maybe you should learn, sight reading may take years to develop but just being able to read and write music is about as difficult as learning the alphabet - and is invaluable for recording and analysing ideas (or even just checking that there isn't an extra beat in that weird bit in the middle).

Saying "if you can't even name your chords or transpose a melody yourself, you can't play" would be patronizing (not that anyone here said anything like that).
It would also be completely wrong, many of the great artists never had a clue about the theory. Many classically trained grade 8 pianists haven't got a clue beyond their "reproducing piano" impression.

The thing is that I just don't know WHAT I'm doing :P (no, I do, but I can't name the beast)

You might suprise yourself at how much you do know. For years I played trumpet in my school band and orchestra, I could sight read just about anything I was physically capable of playing (one note at a time makes it a bit easier than the piano) but knew no theory at all. I could play a lot by ear and made up quite a bit of stuff too (composed wouldn't be the right word). Then I got myself a piano and the theory all just "made sense", like learning grammar, to a certain extent it was just a formalization of what I already "knew".

[Nicolas]

I wouldn't know which scales I can play as I don't know scales. "do" is called C, that's about my knowledge on the subject :) I play whatever keys I want, so probably I don't stick to a scale when playing. I use all of my keys once in a while, of course some more than others.

About the analysing of parts, I record them digitally. I analyse the inputs, the value (event) lists and the digital sheet music (from which I can't read the notes unless you give me 5 hours for 5 seconds of music :), but I can see discrepancies in form or height). From these sources, I get the info I want and can handle :). With my knowledge of music, getting al the info would just be overkill, I wouldn't know what to do with it. Now I record in a very organic way, I just try and listen till it sounds nice. Through experience one learns to do this process directed, it's not that I do it in a completely random way :). I like the results, and I learn on the way. If I ever find time to get into music theory, it probably will all make sense.

[worzel]

I wouldn't know which scales I can play as I don't know scales. "do" is called C, that's about my knowledge on the subject :)
"do" is only C when you play in C, see :)

About the analysing of parts, I record them digitally. I analyse the inputs, the value (event) lists and the digital sheet music (from which I can't read the notes unless you give me 5 hours for 5 seconds of music :), but I can see discrepancies in form or height). From these sources, I get the info I want and can handle :)
Do you mean those piano roll things, and volume graphs etc. That's really doing it the hard way you know, especially if it's all from live recordings. Musical scores abstract away all that detail and give you a much cleaner view of what's going on, an aweful lot is left to interpretation.

[Maksutov]

BTW, re that black key pentatonic sequence starting on C#, one wonders if Irving Berlin played that one day and found the beginning for his song "Always". F# was the key he could sort of play the piano in (to the exclusion of all others), he preferred the black keys, and C#, D#, F# G#, and A# are the first five notes of that song played in F# Major. :-k

[worzel]

BTW, re that black key pentatonic sequence starting on C#, one wonders if Irving Berlin played that one day and found the beginning for his song "Always". F# was the key he could sort of play the piano in (to the exclusion of all others), he preferred the black keys, and C#, D#, F# G#, and A# are the first five notes of that song played in F# Major. :-k
Don't know the song but it looks like it could be "Vincent" as well, linking us nicely back to astronomy :) you know, "starry starry night"

[Nicolas]

Nono I don't mean volume graphs and the like. I only use wave representations to monitor clipping etc. With "...from which I can't read notes..." I mean that "I" can't read them, because I'm not trained in it, but it is the same as an ordinary paper music score. I have the following: digital music scores which indeed give a nice representation of the "flow" of the music. This "flow" I can read, because it's a natural representation. To find parts of the melody and alter things like shifts in them, I use this one. What I have too is a MIDI events list, in which I can numerically set volume, note played, starting point, length etc. This I use when I want a note to be played longer at the end of a melody, or to analyse volume changes etc.

I don't use piano rolls as available in fruityloops, it indeed is a pain to see melody in them. To see melody, the music score is the best, to see the hard data, nothing beats the event list in my opinion. But you really need the music score to find your way in the event list fast.

So I agree with you, the "lack" of info on the scores gives you a clean view on the melody, it kind of plays it graphically. If you want to alter data, you need hard data, which is found in the event list, but lacks all the feeling of the music. So one can only use this if one already knows what has to be altered from hearing or from seeing it in the score.

If you've ever used it, I work in Emagic Logic, so you know which tools I use.

[Maksutov]

BTW, re that black key pentatonic sequence starting on C#, one wonders if Irving Berlin played that one day and found the beginning for his song "Always". F# was the key he could sort of play the piano in (to the exclusion of all others), he preferred the black keys, and C#, D#, F# G#, and A# are the first five notes of that song played in F# Major. :-k
Don't know the song but it looks like it could be "Vincent" as well, linking us nicely back to astronomy :) you know, "starry starry night"
It's a famous melody and lyric, but being from the 1920s, is probably unknown to many younger people today. Here's a link to the lyrics and a MIDI of the tune (http://oldkunnel.net/always.html) (in C Major if these old ears still work).

"Vincent": nice homage to the one-eared guy from McLean.

[mathyou9]

I don't really know music theory. Everything I can I learned through practice and experimenting. If I play a melody, and I would like it lower or higher, I just try. If I want chords on it, I search for those that fit. Not the most efficient way, but I like the results. I don't have a single piece of sheet music from my own recordings, it's all in the head (or was in some cases). I can't write sheet music, I can't read it.
Nicolas, kudos to your music skills. I suggest that you learn some music theory wholly to [substantially] augment your musical talent. Your musical skills would definitely sky-rocket with a knowledge of some theory. I cannot sight-read music, but after six years of playing piano, I cannot imagine playing piano without my knowledge of music theory.

I am like you, if I have sheet music in front of me, I need lots of time to learn to play only a few measures. But I know some music theory so I can more easily know which chord to play without much thought or which keys to play if I transpose. Once I sat down and tried to play Bugler's Dream (the Olympic Games theme that we are all familiar with.) The melody was fairly easy to determine (but monophonic tunes by themselves are rather dull, i.e., playing a tune intended to be polyphonic in a monophonic fashion is rather dull.) Anyway, I was able to play the [correct] chords off the top of my head while playing the melody. Result, people think I am a good piano player, when in fact, I am simply playing the melody and the chords are just second nature. And when chords and chord symbols become second nature, you can play almost any sheet music that comes with chord symbols already printed on it (e.g., most pop/rock is like this.)

I recommend Scales and Modes in the Beginning (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0898981514/qid=1099571125/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-5559098-3277768?v=glance&s=books&n=507846). Even though it is written especially for guitar, it is full of usful information, so the principles are just as applicable to the keyboard.

[Robert Andersson]

Robert Andersson names Metallica. I hear a lot of people saying things like "metal is just about hitting the strings as fast as possible". Metallica plays speedmetal, correct. But if you've ever seen them performing "One" live, you'll never forget the ease in which they play MELODIES fast, biting, correct and still have the time to sing and watch the attitude at the same time. This is amazing. You might not like the music, and lots of speedmetal is indeed quite simple "as fast as possible", but some metal groups (like metallica) master their instruments better than many professional players wish they ever will.

Can't argue with that. It may look simple (musically), but playing accurately at that speed is really tough! And singing (or even Hetfield growling) at the same time? Forget it!
You cannot possibly say that Metallica looks simple. Take a look at any of the songs on ...And Justice for All, most of them are musically delicate masterpieces (especially Blackend, One, To Live is to die and the titile track), more so than one notices by just listening. It is also not only guitars that are important, but how guitars, vocals and drums are all interdependent. Unlike many bands, where they come up with a riff then put some drums for the sake of it and then come up something to sing, with Metallica it seems like a single entity.

Another note about speed, you can't make "fast" music by simply playing fast; the tempo of a melody/riff is intrisic in that it doesn't sound right if you play it slower or faster than it is supposed to be. The speed in Metallica is used to build up intensity, and that kind of intensive songs are very difficult to compose; believe me, I've tried.

[worzel]

(in C Major if these old ears still work).]

You have perfect pitch? Jealous!

[Nicolas]

The speed in Metallica is used to build up intensity, and that kind of intensive songs are very difficult to compose; believe me, I've tried.

Making enough variations to avoid having the same riff 40 times a minute, but still keeping a unity in the song, to start with...

I never considered Metallica's music "simple" either, if you just listen how "One" evolves, 7.5 minutes of (speed) metal and never repetitive, it just keeps evolving, changing, growing...

What keeps striking me is that the distorted "rock" guitars in things like Avril Lavigne have zero melody in it, and it always are the metal bands like metallica who get this blame... [-X

[electromagneticpulse]

The speed in Metallica is used to build up intensity, and that kind of intensive songs are very difficult to compose; believe me, I've tried.

Making enough variations to avoid having the same riff 40 times a minute, but still keeping a unity in the song, to start with...

I never considered Metallica's music "simple" either, if you just listen how "One" evolves, 7.5 minutes of (speed) metal and never repetitive, it just keeps evolving, changing, growing...

What keeps striking me is that the distorted "rock" guitars in things like Avril Lavigne have zero melody in it, and it always are the metal bands like metallica who get this blame... [-X

I have to say a lot of metallica sounds simple. But if you look at the little fillers they put in or the slight changes it lets you see that even non classical music is an art form. But metal isn't really one of my most loved types of music as their often just thrash bands with no talent, less so in the early days but now its like pop-punk. The early days of pop-punk with bands like Lit and Blink 182 they are still great bands who didn't sell out and go big commercial bands but Avril Lavigne sounds so poor theres no past in it or anything its just written for money imaki"]I bought a bass quitar. You could assume it's pretty easy transition, but it's surprisingly difficult. Frets are wider and strings are further apart, so I feel very clumsy and do lot of rookie mistakes when I play. I'd like to learn to play it with fingers, but the tip of my forefinger gets sore, so most of the time I have to use a pick.
After a while of playing your fingers will be fine you wont even notice it. One piece of advice would be to keep playing it like a guitar once your playing it how most people play bass its really hard to learn more dificult stuff. IE iron maiden, red hot chilli peppers, anti-flag, nofx, metallica... basicly all the new music is [searches for a polite way to put it] poor at bass lines.

I like writing music and writing lyrics but im not good at combining the two so i stick mainly to the music. Plus its a lot easyer to write the music down then it is to write the words down as i can't even tell what note i talk in i just know "higher" and "lower". I've learnt to tell notes on guitar etc now but my first music lesson ever consisted of been told im tone deaf... lets just say it went down hill from there for that lesson :lol:

One odd thing i managed was to remember a tune from the game duke nukem, not the main theme but one of the little tunes from one of the missions. It annoyed me for hours and i like asked everyone i knew what it was from and no one knew and then it suddenly hit me but remembering a tune from a 1996 game thats 8 years and i can still remember :o I can't remember weeks ago let alone years!

[ngc3314]

I first heard Dennis Wick doing the solo part on a Nonesuch recording, still my favorite both from hearing it first and from the power of his playing (he wrote a whole book...). After this thread, I may have to go home, down into the basement, turn up the volume, and annoy dog, cat, and family tonight.
Did that Nonesuch album look anything like this?

Outstanding performance by Wick. And one heck of a conducting job by Horenstein. Nothing like Mahler played back at concert volume. :)

BTW, what do you think about middle and eastern European trombonists? To me the amount of vibrato they use often seems excessive.

Pardon my delay - but after reading your post when I got to work, I noticed that among the CDs in my office was the 3rd done by the Hot-Dog Philharmonic under Abbado, and there was no one else around to complain... and then I had to do a class. But yes, that was the Nonesuch album I had in mind. Glad I plunked down for 12-inch woofers when I was in college for that one.

I can only recall a few specific solo things by Eastern European trombonists, and vibrato wasn't what struck me. I have a record of the Albrechtsberger concerto by Gyorgy Zsilcz (umm, spelling is a guess since it's at home) played on a horn that must be close to a sackbut in bore. (My hint from an excursion that way - exhale when putting a sackbut mouthpiece to the lips, thereby insuring the proper amount of remaining air). I'm impressed with the golden, if quiet and "covered", tone he gets out of it. On the other hand, I've heard Boris Batashov's recording of the Rimsky-Korsakov concerto, and feel that he's traded bravado and spirit for the nuance some other players would have used. (Not that it's a criticism - I'd certainly be judged the same way). One thing I do find odd is the French tradition of using small-bore horns even for parts with pedal tones (as in the Symphonie Fantastique). This always soudns funny - as in laughing out loud - to me.

Have you run into Christian Lindberg's Criminal Trombone CDs? Amazing technique - and don't we all steal tunes from instruments with larger repertoires?

[EvilBob]

You cannot possibly say that Metallica looks simple.

You're right there, of course. I was thinking of my wife listening to me play 'Seek and Destroy' and thinking 'That's just pedalling on the E string!' It's not, but it might look that way to the uninitiated.
Most people think it's just one or two notes played at light speed - That's what I was trying to say. But I've been playing Metallica for years, and still only know a handful of songs, and can't play those well either! Each song has so much in it......

[mike alexander]

My son took up saxophone this summer (all right, we MADE him take up saxophone) and he is already, despite shorting his practices, sounding very good, reading the tunes and starting to write his own staffs (or whatever you call them).

I can't read music and can't figure out how to, despite my wife trying to teach me several times. Sanskrit. On the other hand, me darling cannot hum a tune that I can recognize; she has perfect stochastic pitch. Where our kid gets it from, I dunno.

[Master258]

DITTO, DITTO, and DITTO!
thanks man
i have a book called Paperback Songs: The Beatles it's got lyrics to a bunch of songs and cords
Ruby Tuesday is one of my many stones favorite. Sympathy for the Devil wins though.
Led Zeppelin is great and you can probably tell from my sig. i like them.

hey bearcub. What don't you like? i willn't get mad or nothing just interested

i could add The Doors, The Beach Boys, Allman Brothers Band, The Who, and a couple others

[worzel]

my first music lesson ever consisted of been told im tone deaf
You know there's no such thing, right? I mean, maybe there people who are tone deaf, but if you can tell the difference between a "hello" [ I haven't seen you in a while ] and a "hello" [ hey there gorgeous ] then you certainly aren't one of them, and if you like music I'm guessing you're not.

[mathyou9]

Does anyone know the significance of (or what's unique about) the following chords:

Em7sus
Cmaj15

Of course, the above chords, from what I gather, are the simplest (or most logical) interpretation of the actual tones (e.g., the notes for a C chord, an Em aug chord (or would it be Eaug m?) and a G6sus chord are the same; with C being the most logical choice.)

[worzel]

Does anyone know the significance of (or what's unique about) the following chords:

Em7sus
Is it the fact that it is the Em pentatonic scale all played at once? [ EDIT, rats, it doesn't have G, does it. ]

Cmaj15
Ditto for C major?

Of course, the above chords, from what I gather, are the simplest (or most logical) interpretation of the actual tones (e.g., the notes for a C chord, an Em aug chord (or would it be Eaug m?) and a G6sus chord are the same; with C being the most logical choice.)
Yeah, chords are often ambiguous and need to be worked out according to their function in their context. BTW, I think G6sus has an extra note that C and Em+ don't, namely 'D'

[Robert Andersson]

But I've been playing Metallica for years, and still only know a handful of songs, and can't play those well either! Each song has so much in it......
Tell me about it. After about six months of hard work I can finally play whole of Master of Puppets (http://www.mxtabs.net/tab_versions.php?path=Guitar,m,799,Metallica,Maste r+Of+Puppets,3507)* in full speed (mostly 8th notes as down strokes in ~220 bpm!), except the solo which I can only play at ~80-90% speed (parts of it you need to cram in about 15 notes/sec :-?).

Edit: the tab linked is pretty messed up between and including the interlude and the solo.

[mathyou9]

Does anyone know the significance of (or what's unique about) the following chords:

Em7sus
Is it the fact that it is the Em pentatonic scale all played at once? [ EDIT, rats, it doesn't have G, does it. ]
You were right the first time, it does have a G. Here is my interpretation of Em7sus -- First, the Em part (E, G, B); second, throw in the dominant 7th (D); and last, add A to make it suspended. I guess it could also be written as Em7add4. So yes, it is the E pentatonic scale played as a chord, but that's not was I was leaning towards, per se. When I initially asked the question, I had in mind that a Em7sus chord is simply the strumming of all six strings of a [normally tuned] guitar in the open position (E A D G B E, which happens to be the tones in the E pentatonic scale.) So anyone can pick up a guitar and play a Em7sus chord without even trying. :wink:

As for the Cmaj15, it is composed of all the tones in the C Major scale. Again, anyone can play this chord, i.e., simply mash down all of the white keys within a single octave and voila, Cmaj15! :wink:

[mathyou9]

I think G6sus has an extra note that C and Em+ don't, namely 'D'
You're right. Here is the correct interpretation of a chord symbol that is comprised of G C E. G6sus (no 5th). :)

[electromagneticpulse]

my first music lesson ever consisted of been told im tone deaf
You know there's no such thing, right? I mean, maybe there people who are tone deaf, but if you can tell the difference between a "hello" [ I haven't seen you in a while ] and a "hello" [ hey there gorgeous ] then you certainly aren't one of them, and if you like music I'm guessing you're not.

Well we had a test to see if we could tell the difference between notes IE higher lower etc which i didn't do too well on and then there was a singing one which i did even worse on, i was told i only had a "deep" range which might have been because of my weight but my voice has got a lot deeper since it broke so i can't imagine how high the high pitched peoples voices where then... i don't think i would want to hear it either :lol:

I can currently tab a song by ear so i can't be that tone deaf its just a case of finding the right starting note and im set :D Except usualy lead guitar as a lot of people make it complicated and i don't play lead anymore so i wouldn't know all the complicated things :evil: :)

[worzel]

Is it the fact that it is the Em pentatonic scale all played at once? [ EDIT, rats, it doesn't have G, does it. ]
You were right the first time, it does have a G.
I don't think it does. The word "suspend" originated from going from a tonic to a dominant chord and "suspending" the tonic to leading tone line a few beats over the chord change. So a sus4 (or sus2) has no third, so 'Em7sus' should really just be 'E7sus4'
I guess it could also be written as Em7add4.
I guess it should have been for the answer you had in mind :)
I had in mind that a Em7sus chord is simply the strumming of all six strings of a [normally tuned] guitar in the open position
Arggh, I should've got that #-o

[R.A.F.]

Great instrument to play when you're in high school and college since I was the only guy in a section with 20 girls.

:lol: I played the violin in school...and I must agree. :lol: It's also where I got my appreciation for classical music. Favorite composer of all time has to be BACH. Favorite composition, (besides all the "books" of The Well-Tempered Clavier), would be the Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor. An aside...back in the 70's, Anthony Newman recorded the Passcagalia on harpsichord. I'd kill to get a copy of that recording. :)

But, at heart, I'm a wannabe "rock 'n' roll" singer. I've been singing along with records since the early 70's. I'm pretty good at it too...except I could never hope to "duplicate" folks like Geddy Lee...:lol: At the moment, I'm "working on" the newest Ronnie James Dio CD, Master of the Moon. Speaking of Dio...He's like 63 years old, yet he still sounds like he's in his 20's or 30's...an amazing singer! Maybe he did make a deal with the devil. :lol:

Edited to add...just to be accurate, Dio was born July 10th, 1942, which would make him 62 years old.

[iFire]

Uhh... I play flute!

[Normandy6644]

But I've been playing Metallica for years, and still only know a handful of songs, and can't play those well either! Each song has so much in it......
Tell me about it. After about six months of hard work I can finally play whole of Master of Puppets (http://www.mxtabs.net/tab_versions.php?path=Guitar,m,799,Metallica,Maste r+Of+Puppets,3507)* in full speed (mostly 8th notes as down strokes in ~220 bpm!), except the solo which I can only play at ~80-90% speed (parts of it you need to cram in about 15 notes/sec :-?).

Edit: the tab linked is pretty messed up between and including the interlude and the solo.

Yeah, I love Metallica stuff. I spent a lot of time when I first started playing learning all of their music, trying to be a hard rocker. :D I still play plenty of lead and hard rock, and most of the music I write for my band is along the lines of intricate hard rock (power chords be damned!).

[Ari Jokimaki]

Uhh... I play flute!

I really like the sound of flute. Almost anything played with flute sounds just great to me. Can you play any Jethro Tull songs? :)

[Ari Jokimaki]

I'd like to learn to play it with fingers, but the tip of my forefinger gets sore, so most of the time I have to use a pick.
After a while of playing your fingers will be fine you wont even notice it. One piece of advice would be to keep playing it like a guitar once your playing it how most people play bass its really hard to learn more dificult stuff.

Yes, that's one option, but I don't like the sound I get with a pick. Sound is quite ok when I pick gently, but gentle picking just doesn't feel right when you're playing rock and roll. :)

[electromagneticpulse]

I'd like to learn to play it with fingers, but the tip of my forefinger gets sore, so most of the time I have to use a pick.
After a while of playing your fingers will be fine you wont even notice it. One piece of advice would be to keep playing it like a guitar once your playing it how most people play bass its really hard to learn more dificult stuff.

Yes, that's one option, but I don't like the sound I get with a pick. Sound is quite ok when I pick gently, but gentle picking just doesn't feel right when you're playing rock and roll. :)

I meant keep your threat work the same as you would on guitar. By all means switch to fingers but you'll probably find out that sometimes its better just to use a pick. I've spent most of this afternoon (from 12 noon till now at 7:30pm) playing bass. The best thing to do is if your covering play like they do or it wont sound right but mainly it will be easyer.

I honestly don't know how i managed to play for that long a time and my pulse didn't go over 100 once but i've apparently done 500 steps in the past 30 mins of playing. Im not much of a player for standing still :lol:

[darkhunter]

I'd like to learn to play it with fingers, but the tip of my forefinger gets sore, so most of the time I have to use a pick.
After a while of playing your fingers will be fine you wont even notice it. One piece of advice would be to keep playing it like a guitar once your playing it how most people play bass its really hard to learn more dificult stuff.

Yes, that's one option, but I don't like the sound I get with a pick. Sound is quite ok when I pick gently, but gentle picking just doesn't feel right when you're playing rock and roll. :)

I meant keep your threat work the same as you would on guitar. By all means switch to fingers but you'll probably find out that sometimes its better just to use a pick. I've spent most of this afternoon (from 12 noon till now at 7:30pm) playing bass. The best thing to do is if your covering play like they do or it wont sound right but mainly it will be easyer.

I honestly don't know how i managed to play for that long a time and my pulse didn't go over 100 once but i've apparently done 500 steps in the past 30 mins of playing. Im not much of a player for standing still :lol:

And I can't get along with the pick when I play (acoustic or electric)....

[electromagneticpulse]

And I can't get along with the pick when I play (acoustic or electric)....

I find it hard using a pick on them i feel too uncoordinated so i spend more time thinking about which string to pick then picking it. For bass its not that difficult to do as its hard to miss the strings :lol:

I'm learning One and i've got quite far into it without having to find the music for it but im not sure if i should learn James' or Kirk's part. Looking at the sheet music to it i have to say James' part seems harder. Not in the actual playing part as Kirk's is but he plays weird to put it simply, he's got little things put in that don't go with how he's normaly playing like little hammer ons in places where you don't expect.

Maybe i should have remembered what the whole song was played like when i stopped playing guitar :lol:

[EvilBob]

After about six months of hard work I can finally play whole of Master of Puppets in full speed (mostly 8th notes as down strokes in ~220 bpm!), except the solo which I can only play at ~80-90% speed (parts of it you need to cram in about 15 notes/sec :-?).

\:D/

That is a truly impressive achievement, in my books. How's your right arm feel? Not to mention the callouses on your left-hand fingers! (assuming you're a righty, of course!) I think I once managed to get right to the end, but then my arm fell off....

[§rv]

Let's see..... I used to play piano but I quit because I hated theory. As a result I can play the harmonium a bit. I've always wanted to play the tabla but at this moment I cannot play any instrument well.
But hey I dance! That counts right? Right??

My fav type of music? TECHNO!!!! I love the bass and the high it gives me> makes me feel happy :D . I also like chutney, rock and some dub, reggae, soca.

[Harvestar]

Let's see..... I used to play piano but I quit because I hated theory. As a result I can play the harmonium a bit. I've always wanted to play the tabla but at this moment I cannot play any instrument well.
But hey I dance! That counts right? Right??


:) I'm sure it does. What kind of dance? Swing dancing and belly dance are my current favorites (I've taught some swing dance classes :) and even won a dance contest once). And I took jazz and baton in grade school. And I've taken a few Irish dance lessons - that was a whole lot of fun!! And I've been contra dancing. My boyfriend is good at dancing too - he leads really well!! And we've been looking for ballroom dance classes as I think he'll make a great waltzer. :)

[mickal555]

I lisen to Dire straights, Kasey Chambers, Celine Dion, Chet Atkins And Mark Knopfler, David Gray, Dido, Jet, John Williamson (aussie country), Leonard Skynard( one song he sang) ,Mark Knopfler(by hiself), MERRIL BAINBRIDGE, Micheal Sweeney, Petula Clark, Red Ned, Ryan & Rachel O'Donnell( in the celtic cillout albem I'td got titanic, wind beneth my wings, walking in the air, and stuff like that) Sting & The Police, The Corrs, The Commitments and then some....

[Robert Andersson]

After about six months of hard work I can finally play whole of Master of Puppets in full speed (mostly 8th notes as down strokes in ~220 bpm!), except the solo which I can only play at ~80-90% speed (parts of it you need to cram in about 15 notes/sec :-?).
\:D/

That is a truly impressive achievement, in my books. How's your right arm feel? Not to mention the callouses on your left-hand fingers! (assuming you're a righty, of course!) I think I once managed to get right to the end, but then my arm fell off....
It is not like I started playing guitar 6 months ago. I started maybe 13 years ago (half my life). For some reason I haven't really practiced much, and just been playing my own stuff during most of that time. Thus I've been lacking speed and precision. It is a nightmare to have me in a studio :-?.

About six months ago I finally decided I'm going to really learn playing both fast and precise. Metallica is both a bad and good choice for that. Bad, because it is hard to develop good timing, since you generally just have to play as fast as you can, and the way of Metallica riffs is that it sounds crap if you don't play exactly right. Also, I know all songs* by heart and have access to all sheet music. :)

Master Of Puppets was my first choice, since it is a great song but also "simple" (in the good sense); it didn't take more than a few days to memorize it. I made an exact tracker module of it (as well as hacking the tracker program), so I could bring down the tempo. In that way I could gradually play it faster and faster and get the timing right.

How my arm feels? Generally pretty bad. Often, with MoP, I get some pain in the bone of my left index finger. Not sure why, it just comes and goes during the verses.

Currently I'm woking on nailing down ...And Justice for All and Blackend, that are much more complex and pretty hard to play with a single guitar.


*) All songs, that is, up to and including the Black Album.

[electromagneticpulse]

Let's see..... I used to play piano but I quit because I hated theory. As a result I can play the harmonium a bit. I've always wanted to play the tabla but at this moment I cannot play any instrument well.
But hey I dance! That counts right? Right??

My fav type of music? TECHNO!!!! I love the bass and the high it gives me> makes me feel happy :D . I also like chutney, rock and some dub, reggae, soca.

I would say dancing counts and i like some Techno music i have to agree i love the bass in it, my current favourite song from the club scene would be by DJ Fat Cat... after being forced to listen to it every morning and evening in a car the music grows on you :D

[NZborngal]

I love music, but I still have to like the song! Usually they are from musicals such as West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease and Godspell. My three top songs from the musicals are:

1st: I don't know how to love him From Jesus Christ Superstar
2nd: By My Side From Godspell
3rd: A boy like that, I have a love from West Side Story

[Harvestar]

oooh, musicals! I love musicals too. :) My favorites are Miss Saigon, Sound of Music, Singing in the Rain, My Fair Lady, and Grease (among many others - including JCS and West Side Story). :) I still need to see Godspell! And we even played a song from it in marching band my senior year (Day by Day).