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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: CodeChef on Sun, 16 January 2011, 19:32:05

Title: Musicians
Post by: CodeChef on Sun, 16 January 2011, 19:32:05: Any musicians on Geekhack? I don't consider myself a musician; I don't make music, I just play it :) Guitar for 3 and half years, bass for one... I also do quite a bit of electronics work with that stuff (amps, pedals, controls, etc.)

So yeah, I can't be the only one!
Title: Musicians
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 16 January 2011, 19:39:08: I play a little guitar for fun...haven't picked it up in a while though. I used to love playing drums too but haven't done that in even longer!
Title: Musicians
Post by: CodeChef on Sun, 16 January 2011, 19:52:45: Maybe if you obsessed less about Cannoli you would play more guitar! :P
Title: Musicians
Post by: HaaTa on Sun, 16 January 2011, 19:58:45: I'm a classically trained pianist and singer, does that count?

Oh, and I like karaoke :biggrin:
Title: Musicians
Post by: msiegel on Sun, 16 January 2011, 20:45:26: everyone, make sure to do your warm up exercises :)

[insert stiff pianist joke here]

/oblig. sorry not a musician ;)
Title: Musicians
Post by: typo on Sun, 16 January 2011, 21:28:34: i play electric bass. i played with some well known acts on tour and in the studio. i still play in the studio sometimes.

ahh, electronics. my degree is in ee even though i spit code for a living.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Apocrypha on Sun, 16 January 2011, 21:58:45: Picked up electric guitar a few months ago, got an Ibanez RG370DX for $225. I'm pretty crappy so far, have a friend teaching me some basics and I try out random songs on my own time. Far from a "musician" though.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Orphagn on Sun, 16 January 2011, 22:13:09: Played Piano since I was 8, guitar and cello since I was 13, though I haven't been keeping up with them lately.
Title: Musicians
Post by: kill will on Sun, 16 January 2011, 22:22:22: i play the turntable
Title: Musicians
Post by: iMav on Sun, 16 January 2011, 22:32:24: I played low brass through college (tuba, trombone, euphonium). Kick around the trumpet every once in a while (teaching my kids). Harmonica is the only thing I play consistently these days.
Title: Musicians
Post by: NAVIWORLDINC on Mon, 17 January 2011, 14:26:20: Piano for 19 years, Guitar for 12 years, Bass for 6 Years, Tenor Saxophone for 4 years, Mandolin for 2 years... Next up on my list will be the Cello.
Title: Musicians
Post by: RoboKrikit on Mon, 17 January 2011, 14:27:08: I can't sing, so I play sax.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Brodie337 on Mon, 17 January 2011, 15:23:06: I play bass... Waiting on my new baby to arrive!
(http://basscentre.com.au/uploadedFiles/1295062511671-2650.jpg)
Title: Musicians
Post by: Jerri on Mon, 17 January 2011, 15:37:42: I play electric guitar since 2004. Never learned it, all self taught. But i have a lot of fun to play the guitar in my free time :).

My favorite gear is my Ibanez RBM and my 2203 Marshall. The Setup is very 80s, i know. In the signal chain between guitar and amp i've got usually a '79 Tubescreamer.

(http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/8094/guitarw.jpg) (http://img709.imageshack.us/i/guitarw.jpg/)

(http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5940/bodytq.jpg) (http://img40.imageshack.us/i/bodytq.jpg/)

(http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/906/2203halfstack.jpg) (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/2203halfstack.jpg/)

Jerri
Title: Musicians
Post by: woody on Mon, 17 January 2011, 16:00:33: Quote from: typo;279646
i play electric bass.

Weren't you the one wearing out keyboards too fast?
That should explain it then - your fingers have very rough skin. I lack the proper term which describes what's formed on one's finger after prolonged string playing.
Title: Musicians
Post by: HaaTa on Mon, 17 January 2011, 16:08:44: Calluses?
Title: Musicians
Post by: woody on Mon, 17 January 2011, 16:12:34: Seems to fit the description.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Arcanius on Mon, 17 January 2011, 17:04:53: I'm actually studying to become a professional bassoonist, already play with the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. :)
Title: Musicians
Post by: Oqsy on Mon, 17 January 2011, 19:47:05: Guitar, Bass, Drums, Tenor Sax, and aux. percussion (I'm a mean motherfu43r on a set of maracas!)

Piano as a kid.

by the way, I really dislike saxophone. It's such an ugly sound they make. I think I started playing it in Jr. High because Lisa Simpson was a tenor player... if I could do it over again I'd play trombone. Trombone players get all the *****in' parts.

Not a valid youtube URL
Title: Musicians
Post by: Keymonger on Mon, 17 January 2011, 20:08:31: Acoustic guitar for about two years. I also have a harmonica.

I've been thinking about picking up the oud. It sounds very nice indeed.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Pylon on Mon, 17 January 2011, 20:21:47: Bass drum, triangle, and cymbals (some percussion basically). Learning a little glockenspiel. Formerly played trumpet.
Title: Musicians
Post by: keyboardlover on Mon, 17 January 2011, 20:26:48: Quote from: Keymonger;280130

I've been thinking about picking up the oud. It sounds very nice indeed.

My friend has one. Can't play it for **** though. :D
Title: Musicians
Post by: Arcanius on Mon, 17 January 2011, 21:07:03: Quote from: Oqsy;280126
.... because Lisa Simpson was a tenor player...

Actually, looking closely at her sax, it's a bari. Notice the loop at the neck. :)
Title: Musicians
Post by: Oqsy on Tue, 18 January 2011, 00:10:37: hmmm I think you're right.

edit: nope... she clearly plays both depending on what images you refer to. sometimes it's a tenor (curved but not LOOPED neck) other times it's a baritone (the looped neck you mention).
Title: Musicians
Post by: typo on Tue, 18 January 2011, 01:18:59: to the person that is getting the warwick. i am pissed at their price escalation. they are great bass's. the problem is their price has gotten out of hand for a mass produced instrument. for half the price of a thumb nt you can get a mtd. sure, the mtd is a bolt on but you get the idea. my sales guy cannot even discount a warwick to a decent point anymore. thats not to say it is not a great instrument. probably the best production bass.

i play paino too. well, i was trained to. it is not my instrument of choice. electric bass is. btw, i hate warwicks bootsy bass. washburns bootsy bass was just like the one he really plays.

oh, and i don't dig floyd rose. that trem with the locking nuts works better if you don't manhandle it. the floyd is out of tune as soon as i tune it. you guessed it, i play guitar too lol.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Jerri on Tue, 18 January 2011, 02:44:53: Quote from: ripster;280212
Tortured tubes = heaven!

Precisely! But i'm more a EL34 guy, i like that a bit tighter and sharper sound that come with'em. You got more preamp tubes in this little thing than i've got in my 2203. What you gonna do with that? Rock the next Heavy Metal festival? :-). Blue dog, hm sounds to me like some G12-H30 Celestion?

Ok i'm a 80s/early 90s metal freak, i love my 2203, because i wanna sound more like a guitar, not like "satan is storming the castle". My one is built in '83, the cab is from about '85 with 4x G12-T75.

Got 2x Tung Sol ECC83/12AX7 in V1 and V2, and a JJ ECC803S for the V3. Power Amp tubes are 4x SED Winged C EL34 ;).
Oh yeah and of course to be in heaven, amps master volume is about 9/10. That tortures the SEDs and the last stage of the JJ (phase inverter) enough ;).

---
Saxophones, hmhm, i like that kind of sound. Also like the sound of a violin much. I can't stand pianos to long, but i don't know why.

Jerri
Title: Musicians
Post by: Brodie337 on Tue, 18 January 2011, 04:43:14: The Warwick is actually secondhand... Its a 98, one of the last wenge necked ones before they went to ovangkol like my Corvette $$. In Australia, prices have been pretty stable for a looooong time, i.e. pretty expensive.

That said, when you compare the price of a Thumb to say, a Fender CS bass, the Thumb seems to justify it more, with the exotic woods and whatnot.

EDIT: And I prefer the sound of the bolt on Thumb anyway :P
Title: Musicians
Post by: Jasonszion on Tue, 18 January 2011, 09:34:34: Play guitar :)

One of my best friends owns this company... Any guitar or bass player should really check out his website! www.elliottguitarsnc.com (http://www.elliottguitarsnc.com)

He builds a sig for Peter Stroud (guitar player for Sherl Crow and Sarah Mclachlan)...

I also do photography and me and the guy I work with a lot just did a demo with Peter down at Huff Studios for Elliott Guitars....

Here is one of the videos that we did a month or so ago... CLICK HERE (http://exposureroom.com/members/Shark/8da1df5a61c34ab8aa444a493dded9fb/)

Also here is one of the photos from the shoot...

(http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/xx91/CaptureLifePhotos/Elliott%20Guitars/IMG_1814.jpg)

P.S. I did not do the photos on Elliotts entry page... just to clear that up...
Title: Musicians
Post by: nathanscribe on Tue, 18 January 2011, 13:51:41: Quote from: NAVIWORLDINC;279971
Next up on my list will be the Cello.

Good luck. I took up cello in my late 20s and took to it pretty well. Make sure yo get a properly made instrument (ie, no laminates) and a decent set of strings. The cheaper wooden bows are OK but good ones get rapidly more pricey. As for learning, I enjoyed the Dotzauer books and exercises, and for pieces to play, the Bach suites are perfect.

I haven't played cello for a few years for various reasons - but I do still have it. I'm an electronic music tech nut, and am currently surrounded by synthesizers and related gubbins. Some of it's the result of lucky DIY attempts, most of it is old, and some of it works properly.

I might change my name too.
Title: Musicians
Post by: nathanscribe on Thu, 20 January 2011, 04:34:30: Ah , the Greta Scacchi segment. Sex and violins.
Title: Musicians
Post by: CodeChef on Thu, 20 January 2011, 19:29:29: My good friend has played piano for 11 years, I'm planning on going over his house this weekend with my bass and just hittin' some jazz/blues stuff. I may record it. Would you guys be interested in seeing something like that?
Title: Musicians
Post by: j_r on Thu, 20 January 2011, 20:23:08: I too am a guitarist... my Les Paul Studio is posted on the computing setup thread. I also have a Roland JC120 amp, but really want a Mesa Boogie (all in due time). Really, I can hack it out on anything with strings. I am a recovering violinist - took too much of a break from it to the point where I am dreading having to relearn spiccato.
Title: Musicians
Post by: msiegel on Fri, 21 January 2011, 13:06:21: say, what do you guys make of this?

102 Key Piano
http://stuartandsons.com/
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/18/132945634/musical-innovation-a-grander-grand-piano?ft=1&f=100
Title: Musicians
Post by: woody on Fri, 21 January 2011, 17:23:56: Quote from: msiegel;282407
say, what do you guys make of this?

A good bonfire?
Title: Musicians
Post by: EverythingIBM on Fri, 21 January 2011, 21:42:23: Quote from: ripster;282564
I heard that on NPR. Actually the most interesting part is Beethoven composed on a 6 octave (72) key piano. Learn something new every day.

However Bach's organ had no stops. Thus, many little Bachs were born.

Bach also the lute-harpsichord:
http://www.baroquemusic.org/barluthp.html (http://www.baroquemusic.org/barluthp.html)
Title: Musicians
Post by: CodeChef on Sat, 22 January 2011, 10:43:06: I don't think it's its that huge of an innovation. Congrats, you added 14 keys. The highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows is not where music is made, not piano-type music anyways... Maybe I can't really comment, I don't know the first thing about piano, nor the second thing about music in general :P
Title: Musicians
Post by: j_r on Sat, 22 January 2011, 14:38:17: I thought the overtones were interesting, more strings peripherally vibrating, but I do agree that the upper register seemed thin. But really it is like playing a 9 string guitar (http://www.conklinguitars.com/index.html); a little esoteric and the pieces composed for it will be pretentiously exhibitionist. Then again, it does fill a specific niche.
Title: Musicians
Post by: low-fi on Mon, 24 January 2011, 14:34:25: I've played guitar for about 12 years (I also love playing drums) and couldn't imagine my life without being in a band. Trying hard to be somewhat succesful in a modest indie scale. I've been playing harsh noise rock for years but someday I'd love to play some "pop music", too. For me, music is the ultimate form of outlet for creativity.

If anyone's interested, http://www.veneband.com.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 24 January 2011, 18:18:54: I want to play guitar, but I'm too lazy to learn... So for now I play this:

(http://www.mrdmusicacademy.com/BariSax.jpg)

And my ex-girlfriend plays the tuba.
Title: Musicians
Post by: keyboardlover on Mon, 24 January 2011, 20:27:37: Yea...hopefully your next one will play the trombone.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Tue, 25 January 2011, 18:54:27: I don't know... you have to blow pretty hard to play the tuba :-P
Title: Musicians
Post by: j_r on Tue, 25 January 2011, 21:53:12: Quote
If anyone's interested, http://www.veneband.com.

Thanks low-fi for the post. The music was a pleasant break from the Return to Forever I was listening to.
Title: Musicians
Post by: JBert on Wed, 26 January 2011, 16:01:56: I do mess around with some soft synths and a MIDI keyboard controller, DAW stuff or just a classic guitar. Sadly, I waste too much time on other things to be really good at it.

Now I was thinking of trying out a bass guitar, but then a 9-string guitar called the "Kelstone" (http://www.kelstone.be/index.php) got some commotion today. It seems interesting enough seeing how it comes in a keyboard-like format...

Here's the 'inventor' playing "Hit the road Jack" on two of them:
Title: Musicians
Post by: Jerri on Thu, 27 January 2011, 15:01:47: Damn, sometimes there happen some funny things. Yesterday my Marshall came back with new tubes and i played the amp on full blast with a TS808 in front.
And all came easy to mind, the riffs, the tapping and all kind of that stuff.

A friend listened what i played and said, damn that head blows my Bogner away by far, but why the hell are you playing the mighty morphin power rangers theme.
I thought only.... what the heck do you want from me? Used youtube and damn, i sound polluted my neighbors with the power rangers...

;)
Title: Musicians
Post by: Jerri on Thu, 27 January 2011, 15:15:38: Not really, i gave it to the man i trust for amp work. I bought the tubes, put them in the amp, he biased me the amp (friend of mine) and checked the 6 filter caps and the transformers, and gave it back to me.
(if it's interesting for you ripster,the tubes are: 2x Tung Sol 12AX7, 1x JJ ECC83S, 4xSED Winged C EL34)

Would be a pitty if my old Marshalls gonna blow, only because i use master volume 9 of 10 ;).
Title: Musicians
Post by: RoboKrikit on Thu, 27 January 2011, 15:38:45: Quote from: Jerri;285901
damn that head blows my Bogner away

lololo
Title: Musicians
Post by: EverythingIBM on Thu, 27 January 2011, 19:38:46: Quote from: ripster;285915
I kinda went overboard with the tubes.
Show Image
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5294692930_80e295240a_z.jpg)

What happens when they all wear out? Tubes don't last that long if I'm not mistaken.
Title: Musicians
Post by: EverythingIBM on Thu, 27 January 2011, 19:59:28: Quote from: ripster;286021
You blow more ions into them.

Sorry ripster, tubes are before my time.
Title: Musicians
Post by: D-EJ915 on Sun, 30 January 2011, 16:24:09: I play guitar for my own enjoyment, played brass instruments in middle and high school.

Jerri's guitar is pretty rare, I've got some rares myself:

Jackson Falcon and ESP Maverick. My LTD Ninja-600 Black/Mirror was cheap but is a solid guitar. I run through a Peavey Ultra Plus and Randall 2x12 Greenback cabinet.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Jerri on Mon, 07 February 2011, 10:48:20: Thumbs up for the Greenbacks, i really dig the sound of em, thought first, that it were V30s!
And Thumbs up for the Jackson and ESP H/S Pickup Superstrats! I really dig that ESP, i love Maple necks.

The Ibanez is a very special guitar for me. Got that guitar and then 1 week after i sold my Fender 1976 Strat and my Gibson SG Angus Young, because that little thing blew both of them easily away.
At the beginning the Ibby needed a few tweaks (new pickups and a new tremolo block, and chapstick on the knife edges), but then it was killer.

At the end i customized the Seymour Duncan Full Shred Bridge Humbucker, too, because i didn't like the sound in that guitar.

What pickups do you have in the guitars? On the V it looks like an Seymour Duncan Invader!
Title: Musicians
Post by: Lethal Squirrel on Mon, 07 February 2011, 18:18:13: I play piano. Been playing for about 5 years.

Computer keyboards aren't the only kind of keyboards I blow my money on xD
Title: Musicians
Post by: D-EJ915 on Sat, 12 February 2011, 21:11:55: Quote from: Jerri;291254
Thumbs up for the Greenbacks, i really dig the sound of em, thought first, that it were V30s!
And Thumbs up for the Jackson and ESP H/S Pickup Superstrats! I really dig that ESP, i love Maple necks.

The Ibanez is a very special guitar for me. Got that guitar and then 1 week after i sold my Fender 1976 Strat and my Gibson SG Angus Young, because that little thing blew both of them easily away.
At the beginning the Ibby needed a few tweaks (new pickups and a new tremolo block, and chapstick on the knife edges), but then it was killer.

At the end i customized the Seymour Duncan Full Shred Bridge Humbucker, too, because i didn't like the sound in that guitar.

What pickups do you have in the guitars? On the V it looks like an Seymour Duncan Invader!
SD AHB-2 Metal in the ESP, DDn/Invader in the V, X2N in the jackson
Title: Musicians
Post by: EverythingIBM on Sat, 12 February 2011, 22:42:25: Quote from: Lethal Squirrel;291471
I play piano. Been playing for about 5 years.

Computer keyboards aren't the only kind of keyboards I blow my money on xD

Roland A80?
Title: Musicians
Post by: slueth on Thu, 17 February 2011, 06:25:27: @iMav
I just got a pure harp suzuki harmonica last week. Been too busy with school and lazy as hell to learn it.
Do you have any videos or soundclouds of you playing?
Also, how did you learn how to play it? I have this book that I am reading. Can only play simple tunes right now.
The harmonica is simple in some ways, but really hard skillwise when compared to a piano, where you just press a key for a note.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Pylon on Fri, 01 April 2011, 13:45:27: A bit of this now:
(http://www.musser-mallets.com/image/products/M44.jpg)

(it's a vibraphone for those unfamiliar with it - basically, it's a metal xylophone with mellow tone, resonator tubes and a pedal and damper, and it can hold a note for a very long time)

Between playing triplet eighth notes on that(Song for my Father) and typing, I'm guaranteed to get carpal tunnel.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Arcanius on Sun, 03 April 2011, 17:47:44: I believe that drum rolls are not as bad for your hands, because you're not using your muscles so much. Your arms are relaxed. Also, eight note triplets doesn't mean anything. What's the tempo marking?
I'm playing a piece now where you have to articulate sextuplets at Quarter = 100. So... 10 notes per second. takatakatakatakatakatakatakataka. Love double tongue.
Title: Musicians
Post by: Brodie337 on Sun, 03 April 2011, 20:47:06: Just sold my beloved old Warwick Corvette $$ bass :(

Its sad to see the old girl go, we had some good times (Including drunkenly taking out the drummer while tripping over a cable :) )
Title: Musicians
Post by: Pylon on Mon, 04 April 2011, 15:11:57: Quote from: Arcanius;323956
I believe that drum rolls are not as bad for your hands, because you're not using your muscles so much. Your arms are relaxed. Also, eight note triplets doesn't mean anything. What's the tempo marking?
I'm playing a piece now where you have to articulate sextuplets at Quarter = 100. So... 10 notes per second. takatakatakatakatakatakatakataka. Love double tongue.

Actually, I think it's 16th note triplets. And since the accidentals are not raised like on a marimba or xylophone playing Db-C-Bb-Ab-Bb like on Song for my Father takes fast movememnts.
Title: Musicians
Post by: woody on Mon, 04 April 2011, 16:06:29: They're there by accident.
Title: Musicians
Post by: kill will on Mon, 04 April 2011, 16:23:49: i am a record player.