Multi-instrumentallists!

[werdmaster]

How many instruments do you play?

I play:
Drums(favorite)
Congos
Guitar(s)
Bass
Keyboards
Mandolin
Violin
Banjo
Recorder
Flute
Sax
Tuba
Piano
Turntables
4 layer Xylophone (88 key)

I play professionally, in three bands. A six member art rock band(Guitar soloist), a 4 member Punk group(bass and keys, sometime Mandolin) and a 3 member(<--those three also play in the other two) progressive death metal cover band (cream covers mostly)band(drums).
We're pretty on demand, for like parties and festivals... anywho, let's hear all the multi talented peoples stories!

A lot of my instruments are gifts or handy downs, but the Guitars and Drums are MINE.

 

[peanutbutter12]

I play (literally) everything except guitar (which I am learning right now... slowly. eheh). Even play the Degerido.

CJ

 

[stonetoflesh]

How many instruments do you play?

a bunch:
guitar, bass, mandolin, ukelele, folk harp, hammer dulcimer, zither, chromatic harmonica, reed flutes, silver flute, oboe, clarinet, gnomeophone, piano, organ, synthesizers, melodica, didgeridoo, drumset, marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, crotales, gongs, timpani, tabla, mbira, boobams, various brazilian percussion, various afro-cuban percussion, various middle eastern percussion, various african percussion, junk percussion, voice, overtone singing...

Here's the catch of it all, though: Of all the instruments listed, how many of these do I really feel proficient enough to go out and audition for a gig? Probably just the percussive and keyboard-based instruments, and even then that's a stretch depending on the particular instrument! Similarly, I can hardly call myself a "guitar player" or "bass player" even though I know most of my chords, can improvise around the neck, etc.-- I'm just not comfortable enough with the instrument, and I don't really have enough time to devote to practice without neglecting other important pursuits.

I think it's just that I love to play different instruments and I'll try anything I can get my hands on. It widens my palette of sounds to choose from as an improviser and a "composer" and that's really enough for me.

I play professionally, in three bands. A six member art rock band(Guitar soloist), a 4 member Punk group(bass and keys, sometime Mandolin) and a 3 member(<--those three also play in the other two) progressive death metal cover band (cream covers mostly)band(drums).

You must be busy... seems like you've got a nice variety of music to keep you going, I wish I had time to devote to a bunch of different projects. Here's where I'm confused though-- you say you play Cream covers in your progressive death metal band? As in the 60s supergroup Cream? Sounds pretty crazy!


So how do you guys balance practicing all these different instruments to maintain performance-level ability? My answer: I don't... Between work, a relationship, and other commitments I actually practice on a handful of instruments (organ, synth, drums, vibes, tabla, a little guitar) and rely on intuition and memory for most of the rest. Pretty sad, but I guess that's the way it goes...

 

[werdmaster]

Well, we're all home schooled or self employed. I have a lot of spare time.

Yes, the Cream covers are all Death Metal with a Progressive twist, it's alot of fun.

Balance? Eh. I'd say that Guitar, Bass and Drums I'm way better at than the others, but I do play the others occasionally, the Punk group has lots of ballads (odd, I know) and ska crossovers. But even then, I'm just a wiz (and I'm humble too!)

 

[R2_Wildfire]

WOW! I'm a multi-intrumentalis but you all beat me by a long shot. I am still trying to form a band but haven't found reliable musicians. Anyway, I play

guitar
keyboards
bass guitar
drums
trombone
sing

 

[jugglindrummer]

WOW! I'm a multi-intrumentalis but you all beat me by a long shot. I am still trying to form a band but haven't found reliable musicians.

heh same here cept i just started playin at me church

drums ( me main instrument obviosly)
guitar
bells (these are what i play but i can play the xylophone some)
piano
i sing in the shower, does that count?
so many stinkin percussion instruments:
bongos, congas, um.. the steering wheel, doumbek ( i don' think that's how you spell it) bye the way, for you drumset players, when you're bangin on the steering wheel DON'T use the gas and brake pedals for your bass drum and hi-hat pedals!
workin on the timpani
tambor
udu ( that is such an awesome instrument!) ( for those of u who don't know, it's sort of like a clay jar but it sounds awesome
im currently designing a 4 octave drumset

 

[stonetoflesh]

udu ( that is such an awesome instrument!) ( for those of u who don't know, it's sort of like a clay jar but it sounds awesome
im currently designing a 4 octave drumset

udu... sounds similar to ghatam, the north indian clay pot that's played like tabla. played one a couple times, not enough to really get a feel for it though.

A 4-octave drumset sounds pretty cool... is it going to be chromatic? What kind of mix of drums are you going to use? octobans/toms/timbalitos (or whatever those drums Terry Bozzio uses for his a-minor scale). I bet gigging with that thing would get real old real fast... At least it'll be fun to play!

 

[stonetoflesh]

jugglindrummer,
do you mean the steering wheel of your car while you're driving? I do that all the time... Sometimes if I'm at a long stop and a nice tune is on I'll just throw it in park real quick and use the pedals too!

 

[jugglindrummer]

chromatic? yes. And terry bozzio uses piccolo toms i believe

 

[jayadeva444]

Umm...

Guitar
Bass
Keyboard
Harmonica
Kazoo (does it count? I think so)
Trumpet
Ukelele
Mandolin
Dulcimer
Baritone
Trombone
Drums (can keep a beat, that's about it)
Recorder
Violin (a little)

and probably more I'm forgetting. I'm told I can sing, I don't neccesarily agree.

 

[LivingWorship]

OK I'm a mere mortal it seems!! With some proficience, I can:
- drum (8 years)
- play basic percussion
- play bass (definitely my strongest instrument - 6 years)
- play acoustic guitar (6 years)
- sing

With very little proficience (and I mean really little) I can play:
- keyboard
- electric guitar (chords no problem but I struggle with bar chords... and I'm still feeling my way with solos)
- violin
- cello
- recorder
- piano (basic melodies and chords, plus some piano riffs like Coldplay etc...)

 

[CoCoChiCa33]

hmm....
Proficiently:
Piano, Keyboard, marimba n all that similar stuff, Trumpet, Drums *does vocals count??*

Not-so-proficiently:
clarinet, flute, electric guitar, bass, whatever else i pick up i can pretty much play with a natural knack... although i may not know what im doing!

*Danielle*

 

[TerabyTe]

I play guitar and bass guitar, since they're so alike.

 

[xr022kbKr02h]

lol...looks like i m a nothing compared to you guys here...

i play:
piano(my mostttt fravorite of all)
guzheng ( a chinese instrument)
zong run (another chinese instrument)
drum ( the chinese big one, not the western one)
recorder (every kid in singapore learns it in school)
organ ( i will be a real nut if i can play the piano but not the organ)
my voice??? ( although i sing really badly)

 

[Triscuit]

Wow, lots of you guys can play many more instruments than I can. I play the guitar, trombone and keyboard.

 

[guitargeek]

Woah, everyone else has me beat! I play guitar and drums. I've been playing guitar for 9 years, and its the instrument I'm most comfortable on. However, there's always a lack of drummers, and so the only band I'm in I'm the drummer for. I've played drums for 4 or 5 years, I don't really remember when I first bought the kit. I'm not very good, but the band I'm in is just regular rock stuff, so I just need to remain solid.

 

[skaaat]

Bass Guitar
Keyboards
Drums & Percussion
Voice

I play these things pretty proficiently. Don't play guitar unfortunately... I've never really gotten around to learning how to. There are so many guitar players in the world though, it's rarely a problem . I never really picked up any wind instruments either. Still, it is fun knowing how to play multiple instruments!

 

[rachelg2004]

Well I'm not as talented as some. I can play piano (grade 6 RCOM - Royal Conservatory of Music), bass guitar, oboe, accoustic guitar (just learning). Other than that I can hold a beat on the drums and play the sax somewhat.

 

[prototyp3]

Lots o' talent here, I'm impressed.

I just play the baritone, bass guitar, and mess around on turntables (if one considers that an instrument)
Anyone else here spin records?

 

[Christ_seeker99]

Man, you guys are awesome.. hehe I can play some drums, and the bass (my strongest), lol and a little song or two on the piano, and I play around with the guitar sometimes.