Do you play an instrument?

[Isaac Sauvage]

Copying the Shoutbox, newest to oldest:

Gimli: “Just us” is a great name . Relaxed organic no hype or expectations that's what a howl is for us
Gimli: What rug got pulled out?
Gimli: No The Howlers just jam . There are six of us and we each pick to 2 songs and assign parts prior to the howl and see what happens. Today at 11:15 AM
Isaac Sauvage: So... do The Howlers ever get up on stage, there? After having the rug pulled out from under me earlier this year (I was one of the featured at the TexMex joint), a different place has started up karaoke / auditions. Me, I like going to the drum circle as a sort of 'replacement therapy' but it's just not the same. Bah..
xenonph: @Gimli Cool name for band!! My brother wanted to start a band and either name it the Rotten Snots, (I was booger, he was flegm), or Just Us, was another name he came up with. Played mostly folk music also! The Rotten Snots name was more for a joke, but he liked the "Just Us" name. Tuesday at 2:59 PM
Gimli: @I am in a band called "The Howlers" we get together and jam a lot of the old folk and Beatles type stuff. Are wives usually disappear when their ears start bleeding from our discordant Howls Tuesday at 10:19 AM
xenonph: @GeorgeH Nice! I will have to file that particular song in the memory bank, and use it if I ever sing Karaoke again!!
GeorgeH: I only sang Karaoke one time at a bar. After I sang Elvis's "Love Me Tender", every woman in the bar wanted to dance with me, even the wife of the DJ.
xenonph: I have to be drunk to sing Karaoke. And seeing how I don't drink alcohol anymore, my singing career is over! lol Monday at 1:38 PM
Isaac Sauvage: Karaoke is kinda weird... like, sometimes the spirit moves right through me, and I'm dancing & singing like yon lunatic up on stage, and other times it requires more of a cattle prod upon my unenthusiastic arse. In conclusion-- karaoke is stupid! Monday at 3:22 AM
Isaac Sauvage: Oh dear... so the local place now has karaoke.

@Gimli,
Ahoy there, matey,
Just Us! is a great band name!

So 'the rug got pulled out' in the sense that Señor Tequila was one of the many local businesses that closed, earlier this year, largely due to the pandemic. That was the same place where I levelled up many times as a singer, performer and amateur drummer. Practice & public humiliation makes perfect, as they say! In any case, I have so much love & gratitude towards that place, and now it's gone. :-/

Anyway, my story in to music is like this--
I kinda liked taking part in choirs & musicals (like Oliver!) as a kid, but never learned to play an instrument. Much later, around age 30, I figured it was now or never, daggit, and gave guitar a shot. Well, I fell in LOVE, baby. Unfortunately, only a couple years later, CFS/ME made it too hard to play, anymore. By that, I mean that my 'fretting hand' would start to hurt pretty bad in the joints, then lose all feeling if I tried to push it.

My phone just died, but I'll be following up with pics of my Danelectro, uke, mini-djembe, and tamba-drum (it's so great, haha).

I seem to recall @shiva is a guitar player, so let's see some pics or hear some stories, mateys. :D

 

[Gimli]

We are group of 6 gps four of whom are recently retired .

We’ve been howling every 3 months for about 10 years.

2 of the guys are bonified musicians. Gerry plays fiddle and mandolin . Our leader Paul plays keyboard and guitars.

Gerry never prepares in advance and just “noodles “ which drives Paul crazy

Steve plays Acoustic and Base
Peter plays acoustic
Raz plays acoustic and various squeeze boxes (he has a terrible hand tremor so he struggles a bit )

I can strum a bit on acoustic but basically howl not sublime but usually on tune

We all can kinda sing (howl)
We wouldn't sell any records but it is great fun

Paul has another more legit band called “Code Blue” also and has won the local amateur “Battle of the Bands “ and got to open for April Wine at Casino Rama a few years ago.

He prefers the Howlers because we don’t take ourselves seriously and just enjoy organic musical friendship

 

[DanLShane]

I play fiddle and mandolin a bit, but the results are only for those who have not yet had their ears pierced.

 

[AnonTet]

Guitar here. I've started years ago then stopped for almost 2 decades if my memory serves me well.
But after my oldest had 10 years of piano and the youngest started on acoustic and progressing really fast I decided to get back to it.

It helped that I got a '93 Fender player plus and a Marshall Valvestate 8080 in heritage which is the worse way to get something like this but it kicked me coming back to make it justice.

But damn, I lost a lot after years without even a guitar. And I have to say, 2 of my motorcycle accidents really took their toll on my hands.

For someone who never played drums, I was OK on guitar hero back in the day too :D

But i'm really way to far from calling myself a guitarist. And even if I was i'm too nervous to even consider playing live :D

 

[xenonph]

My brother started teaching me to play the guitar when I was about 7 years old on an Acoustic.
He said if I could learn to play an Acoustic guitar well, playing an Electric guitar will be a breeze.
I think I have only played my guitar once since he passed on 4 years ago.
I can play Electric and Acoustic Guitar, (Rhythm and Lead).
Bass, Keyboards, Flute, Drums, (Actually I can play just about any musical instrument you put in front of me.)
We played mostly Folk and Country music. My brother wrote his own songs.
But I also can play Hard Rock and Classic Rock, from Master of Puppets by Metallica to Johnny Be Good by Chuck Berry.
The weird thing is I have never been able to read music tablature, but have a pretty good ear. (I can tune a guitar by ear.)
Maybe not anymore as I think I might be losing some hearing lately. (And my eyesight is fading! Can't read date on penny!)
I guess this happens with age.
Great topic!
Carry on.

 

[GeorgeH]

I used to sing in the church choir and lead congregational singing. Nothing else other than my bass voice. I have 16,000 songs on my iPod.

 

[shiva]

I stopped playing years ago, too busy plus a long tern relationship gets in the way....

I may get back into it if I ever find the time, but still have some of the gear. A lot of crap still I have never thrown out, but I kept the ones I loved and used, so here is a list.

2 Schecters (solo 6 hellraiser, omen extreme)
2 Hagstroms (super swede(big heavy bitch BTW, but the best) xl500)
BC Rich (Mockingbird NJ which is a neck throu)
2 bass (ones a jap wall hanger, other is a Mann korean, which was my first guitar)
Peavey classic 30 (modded with celestion and new tubes. So good I got rid of my other amp)
Bunch of pedals, my favorite is my metal core with the custom twilight mod.

Assorted crap and parts.

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

I stopped playing years ago, too busy plus a long term relationship gets in the way....

"NEVAIR!"
--said the French commandair!

Okay then, phone resuscitated, and a couple pics:

1) Uke, Danalectro, Fender, and super-wonderful ToneWorks pedal-effect system. On top of there is a nice Focusrite unit which converts analogue feeds in to digital (so that your PC can be the next step in the process), and an Ableton unit which I enthusiastically bought for US$100 but sadly still don't know how to use right. :/

2) There's an African steel ball-bearing noise-maker sitting on top of my tamba-drum hovering over Peruvian panpipes, next to an Indonesian... glockenspiel, would it be?? Which stands upright, looking down on a Peruvian tamba, sitting on a mini-djembe. (aluminum, so it's nice and portable! still makes a big sound, tho! :D)

Anyroad, thanks for all the replies, mateys! ^^
Mind if I followup with some Q's?

Oh, btw-- let's see your stuff!

 

[xenonph]

On top of there is a nice Focusrite unit which converts analogue feeds in to digital (so that your PC can be the next step in the process)

Speaking of the PC being the next step in the process...This reminded me of when I archived VST files years ago!!
You use these with your DAW. (Digital Audio Workstation.)
All sorts of fancy plugins for free!! Make just about any sound you can think of!!
Anybody ever use these, or hear of these?

I found a couple sites just now that I will share with you.
First the Instruments plugins...
https://plugins4free.com/
Has Drums, Instruments, Synths, and you name it!!

Then we get the effects plugins...
https://www.audiopluginsforfree.com/free-vst/

Find free DAW's here... (They have list to choose from.)
https://bedroomproducersblog.com/2015/11/11/free-daw-software/

I have a huge collection of these archived from years ago!!
Looks like I need to go back and archive the past 10 to 15 years of new plugins!!

Nice instruments @Isaac Sauvage !!!

 

[Gimli]

Here is low tech /high tech conundrum.

I am truly amazed how good an Iphone recording of a jam session sounds using the garage band app with a little added reverb totally unplugged

It’s the same with the iphone camera functionality. You’ve got all these great shots that previously could only be accomplished by SLR 35 mm cameras or whatever.

How many of you guys just use a portable water proof blue speaker streaming Spotify as opposed to your old stereo systems ?

 

[Gimli]

Ok putting my neck on the ole block here .

Here is a recent recording from a howl that I will likely remove when I am sober.

One of the bands close friends died recently by “m.a.i.d” (medical assistance in dying) following a protracted course of A.L.S or “Lou Gehrigs Disese”.

Anyway he died listening to Bruce Cockburn’s “All the Diamonds” which is a bit of an anthem for our group…

At our recent howl the boys did a great rendition of that that we didn’t record.

We also did a Cockburn song called “Closer to the Light”. Which is a little morbid but celebrates the mystery of life and death and that sometimes what we perceive as a step into darkness may actually be a step “closer to the light”…who knows.

I howl the first verse and choruses .
Steve on acoustic and second verse , Paul keyboard, Gerry Mandolin , Peter and Raz singing on chorus.

 

[xenonph]

Ok putting my neck on the ole block here .

Here is a recent recording from a howl that I will likely remove when I am sober.

One of the bands close friends died recently by “m.a.i.d” (medical assistance in dying) following a protracted course of A.L.S or “Lou Gehrigs Disese”.

Anyway he died listening to Bruce Cockburn’s “All the Diamonds” which is a bit of an anthem for our group…

At our recent howl the boys did a great rendition of that that we didn’t record.

We also did a Cockburn song called “Closer to the Light”. Which is a little morbid but celebrates the mystery of life and death and that sometimes what we perceive as a step into darkness may actually be a step “closer to the light”…who knows.

I howl the first verse and choruses .
Steve on acoustic and second verse , Paul keyboard, Gerry Mandolin , Peter and Raz singing on chorus.

You must have sobered up real quick, as I see no recording link.

Edit:
I guess I was too fast.
Listening now and I love it!!

Double Edit:
Damn that was great!!!
I would never delete it!
I need to hear it again!!
Magnificent!!

 

[GeorgeH]

It is pretty good. I never knew you were a musician too.

I had no problem playing it. When I click on the attachment, it opens an audio player on a new tab of my web browser.

 

[Gimli]

It is pretty good. I never knew you were a musician too.

I had no problem playing it. When I click on the attachment, it opens an audio player on a new tab of my web browser.

I am not a musician but I love music and I am sure you all resonate with the vibe and what a gift is to participate in music in whatever way we can . sometimes it therapeutic to just howl with friends

 

[xenonph]

That song takes me back to me and my brothers jamming days!
Exactly the type of music we played! Love it!
Listened to song about 10 times in a row and can't get enough!
Reminds me of Blind Faith's "Cant find my way home".
Thanks for sharing this @Gimli !

 

[Gimli]

That song takes me back to me and my brothers jamming days!
Exactly the type of music we played! Love it!
Listened to song about 10 times in a row and can't get enough!
Reminds me of Blind Faith's "Cant find my way home".
Thanks for sharing this @Gimli !

Thanks Xeno I am glad you can relate!

We crash and burn a lot but try keep it real

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

Ok putting my neck on the ole block here ...

I howl the first verse and choruses .
Steve on acoustic and second verse , Paul keyboard, Gerry Mandolin , Peter and Raz singing on chorus.

Are you kidding me? Bob, that was amazing!

I mean I love the 'Dead, but talk about a ripe opportunity to toss aside your medical career and reinvent yourself as a beloved folk-rock singer, and... well, why not, right? (maybe just sleep on it, yeah?)

Seriously, matey-- there are absolute *hordes* of us people who love & miss Jerry, and... dude! Are you serious, Bob..?

Okay, side note: one time my younger brother Paco strong-armed me in to attending a Phish concert, refraining 'they're just the like the Dead, they're just like the Dead!'

Good lord, what a complete bag of nonsense that turned out to be.
Sorry y'all, but there is only *ONE*.
I mean I'm open to possibility and all, but Phish?

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

Also, for the record-- I'm a complete idiot upon sheet-reading. (just like The Beatles and many others)

As in, give me 10k years to remember the notational symbols and the notes they represent on the scale, and I *think* I might get it right, maybe... one day?

In any case, it sounds like you're naturally good at this stuff, Charles?
Well, could you please teach me?!

 

[xenonph]

I will have to dig the guitar out of storage shed in parking garage.
That is where I stored it when I moved from upstairs apartment to place on ground floor because I was scared my dad would fall down stairs.
Well this new apartment is half the size of old one, so I had to store alot of things out there!
We can start the lessons the next time you call me!
I need to build my calluses back up on fingers anyways!
It is not an expensive big name guitar.
But I can make it hum like it is!
I am no expert at it, but know enough to get by.

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

Perhaps we could wear our respective guitars as hats?
For me it would work nicely, what with my thinning top.
:D

 

[AnonTet]

What I have around the house:

- '93 Fender Player Plus (american) - similar to Hank Marvin's one with maple neck and no gold harware and... with noiseless pickups. I KNOW, but I won't change them because the guitar has sentimental value
- Fender Valvestate 8080 from around the same year (also inherited). I had it restored as some pots were not ok and I love it.

- Yamaha Pacifica 612V II FMX FR (2022)
- Vox Valvetronix 40x with VFS5 pedal - Amazing little amp if you ask me

- Line6 Relay G10s to avoid more cables across the room (wives... pfff :D)
- iRig HD2 to connect to PC (as for software, I have ToneRoom (free) and Amplitube... can be free :D)

- Kawai kawai cl25c (oldest "kid")
- APC 8C CW acoustic guitar (youngest kid) - This one is portuguese made

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

@AnonTet,
Well, if you're 'done playing' and all, do your girls seem interested, at least?
Something, something... family tradition?

My stuff isn't really worth anything, so when I pass away, I expect the local chipmunks & squirrels to be the next proprietors. Altho to be fair-- some of them can jam real nice!

My brother started teaching me to play the guitar when I was about 7 years old on an Acoustic.
He said if I could learn to play an Acoustic guitar well, playing an Electric guitar will be a breeze.
I think I have only played my guitar once since he passed on 4 years ago.
I can play Electric and Acoustic Guitar, (Rhythm and Lead).
Bass, Keyboards, Flute, Drums, (Actually I can play just about any musical instrument you put in front of me.)
We played mostly Folk and Country music. My brother wrote his own songs.
But I also can play Hard Rock and Classic Rock, from Master of Puppets by Metallica to Johnny Be Good by Chuck Berry.
The weird thing is I have never been able to read music tablature, but have a pretty good ear. (I can tune a guitar by ear.) ...

Right-- on guitar, you start by getting the E in shape (highest bass string), then do... what is it? Fret 5-5-5-4-5 to tune the rest of the strings? Then repeat, carefully zeroing in with each pass. Then you have E-A-D-G-B-E in traditional guitar. (yeah yeah, whatever, Joni Mitchell)

Now, any half-arsed guitarist can do the same, but Chaz-- you're talking about the ability to... just play anything at all, with supernatural pitch and so forth?

https://ww.b98.tv/video/The-Flintstones-The-Flintstone-Flyer.mp4

Baby!

 

[AnonTet]

@Isaac Sauvage

I don't know. I keep telling them, I know you don't want to perform, but never stop playing. It is good on so many levels; concentration, dexterity, cognitive level, you name it.

Personally, I hope i'm far from done, but I never wanted to be a pro player or even good enough to gig around. I have physical limitations so I take this like physiotherapy for my hands and keep the brain out of everyday crap even if only a 30m at a time (just like riding my motorcycle from/to work but cheaper :D ) . Like I said, there is no disadvantages and I hope, this will help me when I'm older too :D

 

[xenonph]

Right-- on guitar, you start by getting the E in shape (highest bass string), then do... what is it? Fret 5-5-5-4-5 to tune the rest of the strings? Then repeat, carefully zeroing in with each pass. Then you have E-A-D-G-B-E in traditional guitar. (yeah yeah, whatever, Joni Mitchell)

Now, any half-arsed guitarist can do the same, but Chaz-- you're talking about the ability to... just play anything at all, with supernatural pitch and so forth?

I usually tune the guitar using harmonics.
I am sure "any half-arsed guitarist can do the same" like you say.
I never claimed to have "supernatural pitch and so forth" on any instrument.
Maybe I should have said...
"Playing music comes natural to me, and I am a quick learner, no matter the instrument, but I am far from being a pro on any instrument."

I did not mean to offend anyone, or try to make them think I am better than anyone else here.
I apologize.
I was just trying to share my personal experience on the topic posted.

Have a great day.
Carry on.

 

[Isaac Sauvage]

I usually tune the guitar using harmonics.
I am sure "any half-arsed guitarist can do the same" like you say.
I never claimed to have "supernatural pitch and so forth" on any instrument.
Maybe I should have said...
"Playing music comes natural to me, and I am a quick learner, no matter the instrument, but I am far from being a pro on any instrument."

I did not mean to offend anyone, or try to make them think I am better than anyone else here.
I apologize.
I was just trying to share my personal experience on the topic posted.

Damn, I'm sorry. For my part, when I posted the above, I felt full of wonder whilst also being in a fairly silly mood. I genuinely felt a bit of awe there, because my ear for pitch is a bit wonky at best, and it sounded like you had some pretty amazing natural pitch.

"Half-arsed guitarist" is in fact a wonderful self-description, because if my dumb arse can get the bass E in good shape, then the simple tuning method above is enough to get all the strings in good shape, particularly when fine-tuned by a couple more passes.

Anyway, it sounds like I came off sarcastically and/or derisively there, and I apologise, Charles.

Also, thank you for letting me know, because I'm no stranger to not getting my meaning across correctly. Bonus pts for insulting a friend.


So I wasn't sure what you meant by tuning by harmonics, but watching this video has been interesting. The system seems similar to the one I use, but I'm not quite understanding how he's pulling his fretting hand off a string whilst the pitch is somehow ringing out the same. I'll have to tune up my rig and see if I can replicate it later.


Btw, I have no idea why I linked the Flintstones video specifically, but I imagine that didn't help. I will confess to enjoying some spiked eggnog that night, and was indeed feeling pretty loosey-goosey. Whoops?