What Do You Play?

[The Cartoon]

For the musicians of Toonzone. Weather it be the kazoo, bagpipe, or guitar, post about what instruments you play, or are learning how to play. Experienced musicians can provide advice to the members just starting out. This thread can also be used for explaining the progress in your musical career.

 

[musicntoons15]

I'm currently learning to play the guitar. It's pretty awesome.

 

[defunctzombie]

When I was in 4th grade I played the violin, in 5th the flute, and in 9th the trombone. Now sadly it's only the rock band instruments.

 

[Classic Speedy]

From 5th grade to the end of high school, I played trombone in band. In high school, I also added baritone to my repertoire.

I got burnt out on band in eight years so I didn't take it in college and haven't touched a musical instrument since.

 

[Wonderwall]

Back in elementary school they forced us for 2 or 3 years to play the recorder. Worst class ever.

In the 8th grade I was really getting into Metallica and so I picked up the guitar( although I had owned an acoustic guitar since I was 6 I never played it ) and tried to learn on my own through tabs unsuccessfully. After I kept breaking my strings I figured that being a musician was not the type of artist I was meant to be

I can still play the opening notes to Nothing Else Matters though

 

[Darklordavaitor]

Currently picking up guitar and keyboards and slowly learning to write my own music.

It's taking a while for me since I don't get enough free time to focus on it enough, but one day I'll finally write a fully-formed song of my own.

 

[Desensitized]

Drums. I haven't played in a while due to lack of space, though. I really love the instrument, it's tons of fun to play.

 

[SpongeJosh]

I've played guitar for a few years now, and have also dabbled in keyboard since before that, as well as the flute, recorder, and ocarina.

 

[ToonFaithful]

I played the tuba from 6th grade to 7th grade. I was pretty good at it too, only thing that kept me from playing it was it's heaviness. Such a pain taking it back and forth from school to my home.

 

[Manga4life]

I can play a little bit of the guitar and bass, I'm not that good at it but I can strum some songs and make it sound pretty decent, I am more or less better at the drums, or at least I'm more passionate about playing the drums. I'm no musician by any means but I enjoy playing some instuments and jamming alongside my friends every couple of months or so, we have a jam session coming up in a week or so and I believe I'll be on drums so that makes me kind of happy.

 

[The Cartoon]

Played drums since I was in 4th grade. Lately I've only been playing percussion, mostly mallet instruments. I haven't had my drum set since I was forced to leave it behind in my move to California. But I'm still decent at it, and trying to get back into it soon.

 

[adoptedBatpuppy]

I'm efficient in piano and can play some songs from Sound of Music Movie, Disney Princess themes, Batman theme, but generally prefer to play Sonatas and classical stuff.

 

[OnePark]

I can actually play the harmonica quite well. My uncle taught me on a vacation and I continued playing it. Haven't truly played it in years because of the situation I'm in.

 

[Zach]

I joined my school band in the sixth grade and played clarinet for three years before quitting. When I rejoined my junior year, I couldn't really play anymore and thus was relegated to playing auxiliary percussion - cymbals, triangle, and such. By the time I graduated, I had managed to get a music scholarship to study percussion in college but abandoned the major after a year. I'm thinking about getting back into music next semester.

I also play the guitar, but I'm not very skilled at it as I'm entirely self-taught. I can play some chords and a few rock solos. (I know the solos to "Californication" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and "Freedom" by Rage Against the Machine and can play most of the solo to Pearl Jam's "Alive." I used to know the first of half of the "Sweet Child O Mine" solo.) I recently played rhythm guitar for a play featuring the music of the Beatles and it went fairly well.

I want to be a professional musician, but I've neglected my talent these past few years. I'm competent with a drum set and once I get my own I'm going to dedicate myself to it and see if I can become a session musician or something. I know a good bassist and we're trying to put together a band.

 

[Urusei Yatsura]

I've played Alto Sax for 5 years, currently in my high school marching band, and I'm taking Music theory next year to learn how to compose and harmonies and all that.. so I'm pretty involved.

I used to play a little piano, but I stopped after I moved.

 

[dothesmartthing]

I play a trumpet, and I've been doing so since sixth grade. I used to play a violin back in fifth grade, but I thought the trumpet would be an easier task for me.

 

[Lord Mawdryn]

I started on drums as a kid, but that didn't last very long because my parents realized that drums were actually loud.

Went to keyboards, but that fizzled out quickly.

Wanted to play electric guitar, but wound up with an acoustic guitar. Did nothing for me, 'cos it really wasn't what I wanted to play at the time.

Saw this really cool cat named Mark King do amazing things with a bass guitar and the rest was history. I've been playing bass for quite awhile now, but I've also gone back to keyboards and an acoustic guitar over the years. These days, though, I'm pretty much strictly a bass player...

 

[Adam Tyner]

Two mini-electronic toys: a Korg Kaosillator and a Korg Monotron.

My first keyboard - a Casio CTK-401 my grandparents got me for Christmas back when I was in high school.

A miniature gong I gave my friend Scott for Christmas a million years ago.

Sleigh bells, a tambourine, and not-homemade maracas that I got as a Christmas present from my friend Alan.

A set of maracas my kid sister Hannah made me out of a toilet paper roll and I-don't-know-what.

Also a Fender guitar Christmas ornament and a Hasbro Power Tour toy guitar.

At some point, I decided I needed a banjo and a mandolin. So, yeah, I have a banjo and a mandolin.

Two cheapie basses -- a Kramer Focus 420S and a Rogue VB100 violin bass. The faux-Hofner has flatwound strings to be as Beatles-esque as possible on a budget.

Also in this shot is my second electric, a BC Rich Virgin. (My first electric, a cheap Strat copy, is such a wreck that I don't have it out anymore.)

I have an electric lap steel for some reason too.

Somewhere in the background are a couple of effect pedals and a 75W Spider IV amp. After taking this picture, I bought a Fender Mustang III modeling amp, but I haven't snapped a photo of that yet.

A slightly better shot of my BC Rich. I kind of love the widow headstock.

The Kramer's pretty routine:

There's an electric kazoo, a darbuka (thanks, Alan!), a First Act lap harp (thanks, Alan!), Yamaha electronic drums with two foot pedals, a melodica from the '60s, a professional-grade, nickel-plated steel slide whistle (because, really, who wants amateurish slide whistle action?), a Magnus electric chord organ (which may or may not have been used on the Galactic Heroes' first album?), and some First Act electronic drum sticks (thanks, Alan!).

My two Moogs -- a Micromoog from 1975 and a Little Phatty Stage II from 2009, so...yeah. Spans quite a number of years. The Little Phatty is a model with all blue LEDs for anyone keeping track at home. There's also the 10W bass amp I use for my keys and my accordion in the case.

Accordion Numero Two-oh that I got for a Christmas present from my grandparents a few years back. It's smaller than my first accordion, but it's also not cartoonishly massive, doesn't have orange keys, isn't crumbling apart, and sounds pretty terrific. I also have an Oscar Schmidt autoharp my mother had to use for a class in college close to thirty years ago.

Three or four PS2-era Guitar Hero controllers are off in a closet somewhere along with my first Rock Band guitar. Pictured here are the Rickenbacker guitar controller from Rock Band: The Beatles and the Guitar Hero: World Tour controller. I also have two fake drum kits...one from GH:WT and another from Rock Band 2 (with the pro cymbals). My Rock Band 1 kit fell apart. I still have the cymbals from Rock Band 2 if anyone wants 'em.

I kind of buy everything in any way related to Rock Band, so I have the keytar (on a stand because I'm lame; and it is a fully-functional keyboard with MIDI out), a mic on a stand, and the newly-released Squier...a fully-functional electric guitar that happens to have MIDI out.

An Epiphone electric ukulele (with a Les Paul body style!).

My Rickenbacker 4003 with a Big Muff stompbox and a Fender Bronco 40 modeling amp.

...and now I have a Moog Opus 3 to join my other Moogs.

 

[Harmonie]

OMG a music section... Why didn't I see this earlier?

I play the bassoon and have for nearly four and a half years.

Before that I played trumpet, but I never really cared for it. Then I played clarinet for a while, but I didn't care for it either.

Since I'm a music major I have had to learn piano too, but honestly I'm not that great at it. Good enough to pass tests but other than that... =( It makes me sad, I'd love to be able to play it proficiently.

 

[Zach]

OMG a music section... Why didn't I see this earlier?

I play the bassoon and have for nearly four and a half years.

Before that I played trumpet, but I never really cared for it. Then I played clarinet for a while, but I didn't care for it either.

Since I'm a music major I have had to learn piano too, but honestly I'm not that great at it. Good enough to pass tests but other than that... =( It makes me sad, I'd love to be able to play it proficiently.

During my short stint as a music major I struggled with my piano classes. I guess I understand why universities require them but I wasn't too enthused with it.