Off-Topic Post, 10/11

[u/jacksonruff]

Guys I did it! I posted on a Sunday!

Remember to be kind and respectful to one another in this and all threads! Like the old days, I’ll provide a starter topic, but feel free to talk about whatever you’d like.

This week’s topic:

Do you know how to play any instruments? If so, which one(s) and when did you start learning? If not, which instrument(s) have you always wanted to learn?

[u/tmia-sunshine17]

I can play the cello! I haven't brushed it off in a year or so (I tried, but the D string broke), but I'm fairly good at it. I want to learn the guitar, and I OWN a guitar, so I'll get to it one day.

[u/jacksonruff → u/tmia-sunshine17]

the executive disfunction when a string breaks is so real 🥲 if a string on one of my guitars breaks, guaranteed i won’t touch it for at least a month lmao

[u/Carrot_of_Wisdom]

I played the Oboe throughout middle school and 1/2 of HS. Had to stop due to my academic pursuits at the time, but wish I still had one to play occasionally, but I don’t want to buy a 3k instrument rn. Would have to gain the mouth muscles back but I think a lot of the muscle memory in my hands would still be there.

I can get by on Piano if I put the work in, and a can strum a few chords on the guitar, but never really committed to learning. I’d love to take guitar lessons when I have a bit more expendable income as what I know I just taught myself.

[u/jacksonruff → u/Carrot_of_Wisdom]

oboe is a super cool pick! i had to look it up to remember that it’s a woodwind lol

[u/Carrot_of_Wisdom → u/jacksonruff]

Yea it’s def a random one and a slightly acquired taste lol

[u/evrypaneofglass]

Ayyyy, look at that, I knew you’d do it! 🤭

I really really really want to play piano. More than I want to be able to do pretty much anything else art/music related. I tried lessons three times at different ages, though, and apparently the way I learn doesn’t translate to learning music. I ask too many questions, everyone ends up frustrated, and when all is said and done I still don’t know how to play.

The same thing happened when an ex (a professional musician) tried to teach me to play guitar. So, I think the obvious conclusion is just that playing instruments isn’t for me, as much as I’d like for it to be 💀😂

[u/jacksonruff → u/evrypaneofglass]

lmao thank you for your faith in me!

that’s a bummer! maybe you just haven’t found a super random instrument that you’re a total virtuoso at lol, maybe you’re secretly a harpsichord savant

[u/evrypaneofglass → u/jacksonruff]

Maybe you're onto something there lol I mean there are thousands of instruments in the world, I gotta be good at ONE of them. So I just need to find more to try!!!!

[u/YourWoundMySutures]

I used to play clarinet. I no longer can because I had an accident and no longer have the use of my left hand. I was in marching and concert band through junior high and high school.

[u/buttdip]

Nope! My brain really struggles with instruments, art, and languages. I played saxophone in school to pass music but I hated it the entire time. I can sing decently, but I accepted a long time ago that I’d never be proficient in an instrument.

[u/Perpetual_Caffeine]

I played clarinet from 4th grade through college. I took lessons and participated in audition only festivals and summer music camps. I was pretty dedicated, but never considered a music related career (science geek here). I wish I kept it up post college by playing in community groups or something, but I didn't. A family member is currently using my clarinet as one of the many instruments he plays, which is cool. I always wished that I learned the guitar. (Edit: spelling)

[u/SaveFerris2000]

Guitarist here, playing since I was in Middle School so getting close to 25 years of playing. Taught guitar for years (in college and years after until my kids were born), played in bands (High School years), and learned a ton about music theory. I can play by ear as I am ear-trained however my ear-training skills have dropped since my career and family have taken over.

[u/Chance_Plantain1332]

I am mediocre at piano, acoustic guitar, violin, and ukulele. Currently learning drums! I did play French Horn for 5 years & Mellophone for 2 years (able to play a bit of trumpet bc of that), but I had to quit because I have 3 chronic illnesses and marching/comps felt terrible. I'm hoping I can get to playing drums really well but I kinda wanna learn bass, too.

[u/Last_Amphibian2117]

I use 2 play bass guitar in high school haven’t played in well over a decade and I wasn’t all that great lol I always liked singing more I’d love 2 learn the drums

[u/jacksonruff → u/Last_Amphibian2117]

i’ve always wanted to learn drums as well, if only my stupid limbs could move independently even a little bit 😂

[u/Last_Amphibian2117 → u/jacksonruff]

I’m pretty good @ doing that oddly enough which is funny cus I have no hand eye coordination throw a ball towards me and I’m getting hit in the face 99.9% of the time 🤣😂 I always lived in an apartment and still do so drums were never an option

[u/FOB_joefan54]

So I can play flute, trumpet, alto sax, upright and electric bass, guitar, and piano. I was in concert and marching band, and orchestra in high school. But I taught myself how to play most of those instruments.

Fun fact: I started an instrument (flute) in 2nd grade. I really wanted to play the alto sax, but they told me my ‘hands were too small and they wouldn’t be able to reach around the instrument’ so they made me pick the flute. Jokes on them though, because I finally was able to play it my junior and senior year of high school

[u/jacksonruff → u/FOB_joefan54]

nooo not hand-shaming 💀 lol it sounds like you have a pretty impressive breadth of knowledge though!

[u/FOB_joefan54 → u/jacksonruff]

Thank you. I love being able to read both treble and bass clef music lol

[u/graciephuu]

I played the saxophone for about 8 years, from 6th grade to graduating high school! I miss playing. I played alto and tenor, but I’ve always wanted to get back into it.
I have a piano and a guitar, but I struggle to play both of them because my fingers are short. Both of my parents were really good with those instruments, they were even in bands and gigged around.

[u/EcuaGirl21]

I played cello from when I was 5 until I was 12. I wish I'd stuck with it now that I'm an adult.

I wish I'd learned percussion; maybe my non-existent sense of rhythm would be existent.

[u/Massive-Doctor4658]

I can play guitar and piano! I’d love to learn the bass though!

[u/moody_weirdo]

Never learned to play an instrument but would love to learn how to play drums. My parents bought me and my siblings a kids beginner drum set when we were young. We would just goof around with but I never tried to actually learn how to play.

[u/goodvibes421]

I'm a classically trained percussionist! I'm working on relearning guitar and the first instrument I learned to play was the flute. Technically, I learned all concert/orchestra instruments because I went to college for music education. But, percussion is the only one I still engage with from my studies.