Musical Ability Poll!

[Flangenimblick]

I've been wondering for a while now, many of the forumites love their music but how many of us can actually play something or sing? And I'm not talking shower singing or smacking a rubbish bin with a stick I'm talking seriosu musical ability.


Oh, and specify what instrument you can play /what kind of singing you do / what your band name is and what kind of music they play!


I can't sing or play at all...most I can do is make a sweet mosh pit!

[Domanskip]

I can play the piano. I did my Grade 8 exam with Trinity in matric, passed, and haven't touched it (the classical piano) since. It was nothing more than an extra subject at school. I mess around with Garage Band all the time and have massive jam session Jazz Odysseys with my friend on his guitar and me on my electric keyboard. Thats all I use that skill for....

[HolyMackerel]

I can play the piano, acoustic guitar, violin, flute. I used to import music to Fruity Loops and add effects - have stopped doing it lately. . .

[Azimuth]

I've been playing guitar for about fifteen years. I've also been a few bands around Cape Town, and the last one was actually quite successful.

I wish my parents had forced me to play the violin and piano when I was a tot, though. :/

[Higushi]

I played piano at school, only did up to grade 4, but have continued to mess around and compose random stuff here and there. I also played flute for a year, which I didn't really enjoy, so I stopped. Now I'm mostly playing guitar, love it to bits, been playing for about 3 years now and got myself a nice new acoustic with pickup last December, and I play almost everyday.

I'm looking to start a band or go solo or something in the years to come. I consider myself able to sing, but then again - I've not really put myself out there for criticism. I'm recording a few songs here and there just on PC with a standard mic, maybe I'll throw some out here sometime and see what people think ;)

[Wesley]

I can play the guitar, the piano, and the recorder. Although I haven't touched either one of them in quite some time, perhaps I should get back into the routine. I'm still looking for the sheet music for the Lugia song from the Pokemon movie as well, anyone got it?

And Azi, its never too late, you know. I mean, you've got so many other talents, why stop there? :-D

[Dizztt]

Heh, my parents did make me play violin and piano as a tot, wasn't keen on it then but am rather grateful now, all kids should play instruments.

Not to shabby with the old violin and have been a solo singer for choir and in the odd play, most terrifying thing in the world. Respect out to all singers in bands, that can't be easy.

[Cleric]

Played piano for 7 years or so, then started teaching myself guitar about 13-15 years ago. Used to be a big shredder, but now I'm more into messing with timing within prog riffs structures.

Also big into fingerstyleson my acoustic, and busy working it into my electric style.

[dammit]

I wish my parents had forced me to play the violin and piano when I was a tot, though. :/

Why? And why don't you just take it up now?

[DXeXodus]

I have been playing guitar for about 8 years now. Have never stopped since I started. I play mostly acoustic guitar. Have a pretty sweet steel-string Ibanez AW flat top. Also getting into drums quite a bit lately. Still got a fair way to go until I can be considered good on the drums though.

Have been the music leader for my church in Table View for about 5 years now and I lead-sing and play in that group. No bands apart from that for me though, but I wouldnt mind starting a mellow type "jack johnsony" band sometime. :)

I fell in love with the guitar and I honestly don't think I will ever stop playing.

Ask me to choose between giving up guitar or giving up gaming and I will be seriously torn between the two.


Why? And why don't you just take it up now?

Picking up a new instrument when you are a wee tyke is so easy. Later on in life it starts getting tougher. Just like languages, etc.

[MrDeVil_909]

Why? And why don't you just take it up now?

Because it would be better to be in your late twenties with 20 years of practice, starting late means you will probably never get to where you want to be.

Been playing guitar on and off for 13 years, just getting back into it now after a hiatus. It's heart breaking to see how badly I've slipped.

And I can sing as long as I don't try do anything to ambitious, I've got a rock voice and can do a mean Black Francis. ;)

[dammit]

Because it would be better to be in your late twenties with 20 years of practice, starting late means you will probably never get to where you want to be.



I guess so, but for me learning piano was an adventure...with no focus on getting anywhere, just better at it.

[Machine]

I've played guitar for 7 years now. I was in a band called Appleshine for 5 years but we were crap due to lack of tightness. We were a sloppy grunge/punk hybrid.

I can sing a bit, I'm not the best but I can hold a tune.

I always wanted to play some kind of metal since I started playing guitar.

I'm hoping to get a technical death metal band going early next year in the same vein as Decapitated, Nile with some weird progressive points like Opeth or The Faceless. I'm going to attempt to make something original :P

Wish me luck :D :D :D

[Higushi]

Why? And why don't you just take it up now?

One could say that piano is the best instrument to play when you are young and developing in your musical abilities, it gives you a very broad perspective over music and makes it a lot easier to latch onto other instruments later. Also, when you are younger, look at all the great composers (Beethoven, Mozart and many others) who started playing when they were very young, your brain develops much faster and is more susceptible to learning music, while when you are older, your brain's development has drastically slowed down, making it impossible learn as much as you would have if you had started young.

[SCUD]

I've been playing guitar for about fifteen years. I've also been a few bands around Cape Town, and the last one was actually quite successful.

I wish my parents had forced me to play the violin and piano when I was a tot, though. :/

Would you mind sharing the name? I might of unknowingly seen you play :P

[onona]

I've been playing guitar since I was 13 (so that makes the total 16 years now), and bass since I was 15 or 16. Bass is my main instrument and I played it in quite a few bands when I was younger. I also play drums - darabuka, djembe and regular drums too.

[Takiro]

I play in a band. Currently I do lead vocals and rythym guitar, but I can play lead too. I'm quiting that band any day now though.

[wir]

I've been playing piano for a few years now. I recently did my Grade 5 piano exam at school. My parents are military about my practice of it though, which is :/

I just love picking up nifty little tunes and teaching them to myself. I could play 'Still Alive' at one stage. Also have the main Morrowind theme memorized. \m/

[Sven]

I used to be a drummer. While I was in a band. After I was kicked out (I was actually quite happy to leave) I sort of... gave up. Nothing to play for, really.

[dammit]

One could say that piano is the best instrument to play when you are young and developing in your musical abilities, it gives you a very broad perspective over music and makes it a lot easier to latch onto other instruments later. Also, when you are younger, look at all the great composers (Beethoven, Mozart and many others) who started playing when they were very young, your brain develops much faster and is more susceptible to learning music, while when you are older, your brain's development has drastically slowed down, making it impossible learn as much as you would have if you had started young.

Yes, fair enough, but I often think its better to have grown up a bit before making decisions as to whether you'd be interested in doing any of that. Some people just aren't and yet their parents force them to take piano lessons forever and doesn't engender any love for music in the end. I'd rather have free choice to do it or not than to be a brilliant pianist (for eg) and hate every minute of it.

Though, I think I've gone completely off topic. :P

[Lysis]

And I can sing as long as I don't try do anything to ambitious, I've got a rock voice and can do a mean Black Francis.

I was led to believe that the rock 'rasp' was something which could be learnt.

Anyway I used to play the piano; I wish I had not stopped. I don't think I do a bad job of singing; I was in my school's Scholar Cantorum (spelling?) before I decided I had had enough.

[MrDeVil_909]

I was led to believe that the rock 'rasp' was something which could be learnt

Of course, anything can be learned.

@ dammit: I think it is better to be given the opportunity when you are younger. In retrospect some encouragement to learn piano would have been beneficial for me, for someone with no interest in music a bit of encouragement wouldn't be harmful.

[dammit]

Of course, anything can be learned.

@ dammit: I think it is better to be given the opportunity when you are younger. In retrospect some encouragement to learn piano would have been beneficial for me, for someone with no interest in music a bit of encouragement wouldn't be harmful.

Too true. Heck I would have loved to learn piano when I was younger, but instead I was sent to ballet lessons :(

[PAPABEAR]

I can play electric and acoustic guitar.

(I can sing but judging by my parents' reaction ,its not legal in this country)

[Q-Man]

I sing, though I did start learning how to play guitar this year (it's actually pretty tough :/ but I think it's the age thing again...). But I sing all the time and in different styles; I sing in choir, tenor, and can reach high notes that make people go O_o. But I've been singing since I was 5 or so, and never stopped. I dabble in writing my own songs, too - which is why I decided to learn guitar, so I could compose music to go with it. Definite wip though.

I'm with Azi on this one, I also wish my parents had lead me in the direction of some classical instruments: violin and piano in particular.

[hawk]

I play piano :D

[Oeaks]

I've been playing piano for around 4 years. I've also had an on and off thing with guitar. I'm about to end my piano lesson, and I think that I'll start something else next year when I've settled down (most likely bass).

I'm also "in" a band, though I made myself more of the manager. We recently played at my schools music event. I was, for some reason, singing :/

Still was worth it.

[Gazza_N]

I did piano at school, and taught myself some basic guitar, although I wasn't that spectacular as a musician. I haven't played either instrument in years. I can also sing reasonably well, but I've never really applied it anywhere other than in the shower. ;)

[The Dash]

Jews harp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jew's_harp) \m/

Its harder than it looks okay :p

[biffman]

I play the guitar.( Electric and a Nylon string classical guitar.)
I play left handed. My classical guitar is just an upside down right handed with the strings the other way around.

[mm1za]

My 2 major instruments are piano and clarinet. Been playing piano for the last 13 or so years and clarinet for the last 9 years. Have UNISA Grade 8 for both instruments. I've been playing in orchestras for the last 6 years and am currently playing in the university orchestra.
I can't imagine my life without music, even though I'm not studying it. (Am currently studying toward my degree in BSC Softwware Development). I'm really glad my parents gave me the opportunity of learning musical instruments at a young age!

[Lysis]

Of course, anything can be learned.

Hmm, I feel that I must explain myself, as upon review my words seem as though they are detracting from an ability which obviously comes naturally to you. I did not mean in any way to insinuate that possesing the 'rasp' is nothing special, I was merely wondering if it was something which could be learnt; mainly because learning such a thing is an idea I have entertained :)

[MrDeVil_909]

Hmm, I feel that I must explain myself, as upon review my words seem as though they are detracting from an ability which obviously comes naturally to you. I did not mean in any way to insinuate that possesing the 'rasp' is nothing special, I was merely wondering if it was something which could be learnt; mainly because learning such a thing is an idea I have entertained :)

Ah, ok. Seriously, if I can do it anyone can. :p Pick a style of singer who's voice is closest to your natural pitch, get a few lyric sheets, and go from there. I can do anything from Leonard Cohen to Black Francis/Frank Black who was the singer for the Pixies, and this isn't a boast, just an illustration of how easy it is.

Good luck.

[Domanskip]

Forgot to mention, one thing I'm really proud of is my ability to play the Windwaker and Spirited Away theme songs on piano. I was playing them like 15 times a day at one point.

[Kensei]

I play the piano - never did formal grades for it so I cannot compete in any form of comparison.
Played for about 10 years I guess - had an aptitute for learning a song and then changing to suit my style - sucked at classical because I didn't want to do it. I prefer more...er... mainstream songs, like from Broadway shows.

Also play the drums, although I have not played in a long time - I will point out also that I can read sheet music for drums. Comes from being taught by an orchestra teacher. Found drums too boring though and tended to get bored after playing one song, methinks that something like Rockband or Guitar Hero 4 would make it look more glamorous

Never felt the urge to learn guitar.

Sometimes think I can sing but never really attempted singing in public

Kinda enjoy writing lyrics but they never seem to be as profound or catchy as the stuff currently on the market

[.dB]

Piano, 9 years. Initially forced into the lessons by the parents and then just started enjoying it. Thanks mum, D:

Other than that: I jam my acoustic a lot, I consider myself pretty decent but I'm not as dedicated to it as I am the piano. Started toying with drumming like a year ago and I really love it, but I don't have the cash to buy even a beginner kit at the moment so **** sucks.

[Kensei]

Piano, 9 years. Initially forced into the lessons by the parents and then just started enjoying it. Thanks mum, D:

Other than that: I jam my acoustic a lot, I consider myself pretty decent but I'm not as dedicated to it as I am the piano. Started toying with drumming like a year ago and I really love it, but I don't have the cash to buy even a beginner kit at the moment so **** sucks.

Pots and pans work wonders :D

[onona]

Found drums too boring though and tended to get bored after playing one song, methinks that something like Rockband or Guitar Hero 4 would make it look more glamorous

More glamourous? As awesome as Rock Band/ Guitar Hero drumming is, it cannot even begin to compare to the exhiliration of playing on a huge kit. Really loudly. I absolutely love drumming; it's good for relaxation and it helps me clear my mind after a stressful day at work. I usually drum for at least 1-2 hours every day and I never get bored of it myself.

[MrDeVil_909]

More glamourous? As awesome as Rock Band/ Guitar Hero drumming is, it cannot even begin to compare to the exhiliration of playing on a huge kit. Really loudly. I absolutely love drumming; it's good for relaxation and it helps me clear my mind after a stressful day at work. I usually drum for at least 1-2 hours every day and I never get bored of it myself.

Your neighbours must love you. :p

[G8crasha]

I would hope I can sing, but some people might think otherwise :)

[onona]

Your neighbours must love you. :p

Haha, I should have mentioned that I don't own a normal kit anymore. I live in a flat so it would be absolutely unacceptable to bash on acoustic drums - I pride myself on being a Nice Neighbour?.

[Kensei]

More glamourous? As awesome as Rock Band/ Guitar Hero drumming is, it cannot even begin to compare to the exhiliration of playing on a huge kit. Really loudly. I absolutely love drumming; it's good for relaxation and it helps me clear my mind after a stressful day at work. I usually drum for at least 1-2 hours every day and I never get bored of it myself.

I have martial arts for that ^_^

[Q-Man]

I have martial arts for that ^_^

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g61/Q-Man_2006/122696973047.jpg