Who Plays an Instrument?
thanks
Yes, Al, I know he flubbed some of the words, but I have forgiven him for that. I have "fixed" the lyrics on my own sheet music. I have tried to sing this song while accompanying myself on banjo with fair results. I can't sing as well as he does, but I try. I hope some of the others will listen to him. Thanks for the link.
Oh, I knew a few Hawaiians when I was in the Navy, and they seem to have a knack for beautiful melodies and playing the uke, of course.
Oh, I knew a few Hawaiians when I was in the Navy, and they seem to have a knack for beautiful melodies and playing the uke, of course.
Last edited by samwarg on Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
still trying to get it right
you're so young!
I didn't know you were such a youngling, Yov. You seem much wiser than your years, but then I'm coming to expect that of Tolkien fans.
still trying to get it right
-
BrianIsSmilingAtYou
- Posts: 1233
- Joined: Wed Dec 14, 2005 6:01 am
- Location: Philadelphia
I know how to play guitar and piano, but I have not kept up at it, and am extremely rusty on both.
However, I can pretty easily pick out a melody that I've heard on a keyboard.
Someday, I'll get back to playing.
Maybe I need to try writing lyrics and write music for them. I've been writing poetry of late, but most of it is generally not suited to a musical interpretation.
BrianIs AtYou
However, I can pretty easily pick out a melody that I've heard on a keyboard.
Someday, I'll get back to playing.
Maybe I need to try writing lyrics and write music for them. I've been writing poetry of late, but most of it is generally not suited to a musical interpretation.
BrianIs
AtYou
All of my nieces and nephews at my godson/nephew Nicholas's Medical School graduation. Now a neurosurgical resident at University of Arizona, Tucson.
lyrics, music
You sound like me, BrianIsSmilingAtYou. I've written poems, but none I could set to music.
That beautiful child's smile will cause me to sleep peacefully tonight.
That beautiful child's smile will cause me to sleep peacefully tonight.
still trying to get it right
ukulele
I forgot to tell y'all about it, but I got a new ukulele for my birthday a while back. It's an "Applause" and it plays really great. It's tiny little neck makes me appreciate how the late Iz could've played his so well with his huge fingers.
still trying to get it right
-
Voronwë the Faithful
- At the intersection of here and now
- Posts: 46165
- Joined: Mon Nov 21, 2005 1:41 am
- Contact:
I can play the vocal chords. 
And so can everyone else, though to varying degrees of satisfaction.
I find if I am accompanied by a dishpan of hot soapy water, I can warble out definitely the first verse of a song and odd bits of second and third verses, sometimes combined. What else am I to do while washing dishes? The kitchen window in front of me doesn't seem to mind.
And so can everyone else, though to varying degrees of satisfaction.
I find if I am accompanied by a dishpan of hot soapy water, I can warble out definitely the first verse of a song and odd bits of second and third verses, sometimes combined. What else am I to do while washing dishes? The kitchen window in front of me doesn't seem to mind.
play the vocal chords
That's great that you play the vocal chords, Kam, because not everyone can. I say that because my wife can't match pitch or carry a tune.
I have a relative (my late first cousin's grandson, whatever that makes him) who plays a kitchen sink. No kidding, I'm serious. He's a kind of nomadic wanderer (Some might use the word "bum") that hitch-hikes around the country carrying his instrument on his shoulder and playing it where ever he can find an audience. A white porcelen double sink, really. He uses it like those carribean drum barrels by finding different areas that create different pitches and banging on them real fast with his hands. He's really very good at it and it sounds much better than one would expect. My family, including me, is wierd, yes.
I have a relative (my late first cousin's grandson, whatever that makes him) who plays a kitchen sink. No kidding, I'm serious. He's a kind of nomadic wanderer (Some might use the word "bum") that hitch-hikes around the country carrying his instrument on his shoulder and playing it where ever he can find an audience. A white porcelen double sink, really. He uses it like those carribean drum barrels by finding different areas that create different pitches and banging on them real fast with his hands. He's really very good at it and it sounds much better than one would expect. My family, including me, is wierd, yes.
still trying to get it right
The kitchen sink?? How clever! And I thought my brother-in-law was nifty when he played his teeth! 
I can play a bunch of instraments, but I am master of none. I have a piano, a guitar, a ukelele, a mandolin (tuned as a uke...i can't play a mandolin
) and a clarinet. I also have a little ocerina and can play the first couple bars of "Concerning Hobbits".
I really should practice more, especially my piano. I read music, but I can't sight read very well. I enjoyed reading this thread, maybe it will motivate me. (I'm SO not self motivated...
) I do play the vocal chords pretty good (especially in the shower, I'm awesome in the shower! 
). I also play the lips...... 
I can play a bunch of instraments, but I am master of none. I have a piano, a guitar, a ukelele, a mandolin (tuned as a uke...i can't play a mandolin
) and a clarinet. I also have a little ocerina and can play the first couple bars of "Concerning Hobbits". I really should practice more, especially my piano. I read music, but I can't sight read very well. I enjoyed reading this thread, maybe it will motivate me. (I'm SO not self motivated...
) I do play the vocal chords pretty good (especially in the shower, I'm awesome in the shower! ). I also play the lips...... Texas, Land of the Free, Home of the Tumbleweeds....
piano
I wish I could play a piano, Traz. My youngest son took lessons for about four years and claims he hated it. I'm hoping that someday he'll change his mind and go back to it.
I play several stringed instruments too, but the only one that I'm very good at is the guitar, and playing it is getting harder for me because of pain in my hands. Arthritis, I guess.
I see that you're just next door in Texas. I live in Arkansas. Howdy neighbor!
I play several stringed instruments too, but the only one that I'm very good at is the guitar, and playing it is getting harder for me because of pain in my hands. Arthritis, I guess.
I see that you're just next door in Texas. I live in Arkansas. Howdy neighbor!
still trying to get it right
Howdy neighbor!
I love the piano. I took lessons for 4 or 5 months when I was about 11 until we moved, so I just have the basics. A friend of mine took lessons for years and she says she hated it too, but enjoys it now. I hope your son will find again the enjoyment of it.
It's too bad about your hands. I'm starting to get arthritis in my right hand and it's painful. So far it doesn't affect my piano playing (so no excuses for me). Maybe you could get your son to give you lessons?
I love the piano. I took lessons for 4 or 5 months when I was about 11 until we moved, so I just have the basics. A friend of mine took lessons for years and she says she hated it too, but enjoys it now. I hope your son will find again the enjoyment of it.
It's too bad about your hands. I'm starting to get arthritis in my right hand and it's painful. So far it doesn't affect my piano playing (so no excuses for me
). Maybe you could get your son to give you lessons?Texas, Land of the Free, Home of the Tumbleweeds....
-
PrinceAlarming
- Interferes With Natural Selection
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:18 am
- Location: The Colonies
I play the guitar. I've never had lessons, but I like it. I'm more into the simple folky sound than anything else... I too prefer acoustic over electric. When you get down to it, they are almost completely different instruments.
I have two guitars. One Takamine Electric Acoustic that needs a little work, and some no name brand acoustic I got for $25 at a yard sale. It sounds great and I like the crappy action.
My baseball coach always used to say, "If you practice under the worse conditions, game day seems that much easier." He would drill us on the most filthy, pitted, bumpy field in Boston... And when we played games on the nice manicured fields of the local schools, we were always ready for anything.
Playing on a guitar with high action makes playing a good guitar even easier on the fingers.
I have a couple of my songs up on MySpace...
http://www.myspace.com/commoners
I have two guitars. One Takamine Electric Acoustic that needs a little work, and some no name brand acoustic I got for $25 at a yard sale. It sounds great and I like the crappy action.
My baseball coach always used to say, "If you practice under the worse conditions, game day seems that much easier." He would drill us on the most filthy, pitted, bumpy field in Boston... And when we played games on the nice manicured fields of the local schools, we were always ready for anything.
Playing on a guitar with high action makes playing a good guitar even easier on the fingers.
I have a couple of my songs up on MySpace...
http://www.myspace.com/commoners
guitars
You've got a nice sound PrinceAlarming. I like a lot of different kinds of music but am only somewhat competent at playing acoustic guitar. As for that high action, you know that can often be easily fixed. Even expensive guitars can come with bad action and require shaving down of the saddle or truss-rod adjustment. You can do it yourself if you get a little training first, and that is easily obtained online. When I was a young fellow I would trade a guitar off, not knowing that its' high action was adjustable.
Another thing about getting used to a bad playing guitar is that you're likely to fret to hard on the strings when you pick up an electric guitar or an acoustic with light action.
Another thing about getting used to a bad playing guitar is that you're likely to fret to hard on the strings when you pick up an electric guitar or an acoustic with light action.
still trying to get it right
-
PrinceAlarming
- Interferes With Natural Selection
- Posts: 93
- Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:18 am
- Location: The Colonies
saddle
Sure, you can buy a different saddle, but it will need trimming too in order to establish the correct string height. Most cheap guitars come with a plastic saddle, but you can upgrade them by replacing it with a bone saddle. The nut also can be replaced with a bone nut.
still trying to get it right