We know some of the guys here can play other instruments.
I played cornet in the Casterton Vice Regal band for 4 or five years when I was a kid. I picked up a geetar when I was about 14 or 15, as my old man could play a bit of country. Ive also played the fool quite a bit. Then the harp ( seriously ) at age 37.
I know someone (mikil?) played oboe, carolyn the violyn, and we all know Oldwailer plays some tasty geetar.
I think it helps your progress in a lot of different ways if you have previously played an instrument.
Hi Tryharp, I'm the one who plays piano. I did the Associated Board Grades in the UK when I was a kid, but didn't get round to doing Grade 8 until I was 28. I also play a 'bit' of guitar, and I do mean a bit.
I've met a few harp players who used to play other instruments. I think that once they - and me - get used to the idea that you can carry around such an amazingly expressive instrument in your pocket, and you get past the initials hurdles of making some good sounds on it, then it can easily take over and become your main musical obsession.
Edit: I still play the fool quite a bit. Unlike the instruments, it can sometimes take a lot of practice NOT to play well. ---------- 'If it sounds GOOD to you, it's bitchen; if it sounds BAD to YOU, it's shitty' - Frank Zappa
Last Edited by on Mar 20, 2009 4:28 AM
Played Trumpet and Trombone in High School band class (badly). Played Bass in bands in the 80's. In the mid 80's I worked in a music store and dabbled with Mandolin, Violin (sounded like I was kill cats) and Banjo, mostly for knowledge of the instruments I was expected to sell. I even rented a Tenor Sax for a couple of months to get familiar with woodwinds. I really wish I had spent more time on the Sax, I really like the sound of it on some of the Blues albums I've been listening to lately. Picked up Guitar (more seriously) after I quit the band scene in the late 80's. Bass is kind of a boring solo instrument! ;) Had a harmonica back then just in and out really bad Dylan stuff. Got more serious about the harp about 2 or 3 years ago, started really progressing after I found Dr. Gussow "Givin it all away" :) I'm at a point now where it's probably 60/40 Harp/Guitar ratio. I have finite amount of practice time which has shifted toward the harp being my primary instrument. It's just so damn easy to find practice time when the instrument fits in your pocket! Just try that drummers!! :P
Sorry Mickil, I knew you were a well trained musician, someone on here plays the oboe? As you say, the harp is very addictive. I'm not sure there is another instrument that you can play such a range of music, from - old time tunes, blues, german oom pah pah for which it was created, irish, country, and with a few overblows chucked in, some arabic prayer time stuff. Are there other instruments that can cover that range, and get away with it competently.
I currently play about 50/50 harp and guitar ... you would have to pry my strat out of my dead hands and remove the harmonica from my pocket before I give up either. My grandfather plays competative fiddle (at 96 years young) ... I gave it a go .... and went back to guitar. Fortunately my uncle has taken it up quite well. Someone has to keep the old jigs and reels alive! (It wasn't going to be me ... that's the devils instruament!)
I started on Trombone at age 13 and played until last August. I played in big bands for about 25 years. Got first harp about 25 years ago but only got serious on it around 2 years ago. In August I gave up the big band to play in a blues band and have only had the 'bone out of the box about 3 times since then.
I play a bit of guitar - mainly try fingerstyle blues stuff but I'm pretty shit. Plus I hammer at the piano the odd time but I'm even worse at that. Harp's definitely the only instrument I can confidently say I can "play."
Unbelievable. I had no idea harmonica hero existed. And for the record, I'd rather listen to your fingerstyle blues, however bad you think it is, than listen to some wanker on "guitar hero" expert level.
Wait a minute....I posted the above before I actually watched the vid...this is an SNL bit right?
OK the jokes on me......good one.
Last Edited by on Mar 20, 2009 7:39 AM
I played guitar for almost 20 years before picking up the harmonica in the last few months. I can also play some basic stuff on my Dad's bass...Wish I had more time to invest in learning this particular instrument! I also enjoy lead/backing vocals when performing with a band; however, I'm not much on performing as a solo act (guitar/vocals) or karaoke...I'm too self conscious!
"I currently play about 50/50 harp and guitar ... you would have to pry my strat out of my dead hands and remove the harmonica from my pocket before I give up either."
Here Ye' Here Ye' Here Ye' GGiles and ditto for me. Oh and a little 12 string and really nice dobro roundneck for that good ol' acoustic slide blues tone. Don't have my solo act pulled together quite yet but have played with the band (check out an older thread about our CD sessions to hear us on MySpace) and as a duo using all instruments.
I just wish I do as Jon Gindick's T-Shirt says.....
"Quit Work, Play Music" ---------- "Keep it in your mouth" - XHarp
I can play the digeridoo really quite well. Does that count? I also can play a little on a button box accordian (a small one), but I'm not that great. I played the drums for years when I was younger, but haven;t tried to do so in about 10 or 12 years. I've built a cigar box guitar and have learned a basicv blues progression using an open tuning and a slide, but I still suck at it... I'd love to be a real multi-instrumentalist, but I don't have the passion about other instruments as I do about harmonica. I mainly look at them as a way to self-accompany my harmonica playing... ---------- -------------- The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
I like the digeridoo (can't play it, though) for the same reasons that I like the harp. It is basically a very simple instrument, but because it is played with the mouth there are worlds of potential for development. Everybody thinks that these are pretty straight forward, simple instruments: we prove them wrong... go harpfriends....! :)
I played clarinet for many years and found it hard to unlearn the difference in embrouchure needed for a harmonica. I also played contrabass and bass clarinet as well as some bass guitar many years ago.
I started on guitar a little before I started on the harp and I love both equally. The good thing about being a harp player, you can go to a jam session and play a lot more if you're a harp player because there's always a million guitar players and a lot fewer, if any harp players. (I'm currently in the market for a Fender Tele, and damn if they didn't just jack up their prices bigtime.)
I've been a drummer for most of my musical life, And as a kid and adult I've spent time with a guitar but haven't grasped it yet, for the same reason some harmonica music theory still taunts me. Drumming only needed an understanding of time, rhythm, tempo, etc., and there were no pitches or notes or scales like the chromatic/diatonic instruments have.
I play electric guitar, I started about the same time I started playing harmonica (little over a year ago). I also have a banjo, but I never learned to play it.
Well, let's see--got an Old Standby for Xmas when I was about 11 or 12--learned to tongue block using the little hunk of paper that came in the box--the only instruction I had. My mom started me on guitar at about the same time--but it made my fingers too sore, so she got me going with an old lap steel she had--along with a little tweed Fender amp that I wish I still had--I really rocked on that little bugger--country western was the only music I knew about then.
I never really realized at that time that the harp was anything more than a musical toy to take backpacking.
Played Trombone in High School and in the Army for a few months--then Louis Prima's whole band was drafted and they didn't need my level of player anymore--so I was made a clerk and sent off to Germany for the rest of my tour.
A guy in the barracks had this guitar and he had played with the Ventures--so he got me back into it--got back to the states and the world had gone folk--started playing coffee houses and singing and got hooked bad.
Played guitar in a rock band in the 60's--we never got good but we sure got loaded. That's about the time I really fell in love with harp when I went to a Canned Heat concert and heard the Blind Owl. I went right out and bought Tony Glover's Book and became the resident harp player in our band--but we still kept getting too loaded to play much.
Picked up some banjo for a time--still play it just a bit--took up Dobro Lap-style for a time--wonderful music but I couldn't figure out how to really sing and play at the same time--went back to guitar.
Took some piano lessons from a guy in LA who was David Bowie's band manager--I always kept coming back how to guitar though.
I took up Flute for a couple of years--another wonderful instrument--I wanted to sound like Herbie Mann at the Village Gate or Jethro Tull--but the only instruction I could find was teaching Bartok!
Got into harp seriously just a little before Adam started his lessons on YT. I started out with Jon Gindick's book and YT Lessons. I found Adam's lessons when he hadn't even put out #6 yet--just got lucky.
Just Lately I've been adding some slide guitar to my woodshedding--it's a great instrument all on it's own.
Wow! I'm sure that's a lot more info than you wanted!
Last Edited by on Mar 20, 2009 7:23 PM
This is funny because I have been thinking a little bit about music lessons. I can play a bit on guitar ( basic chords and stuff) and a bit more on the piano ( just the normal improvisation on scales). If i do get round to picking up on these music lessons, I'm thinking of doing jazz piano or guitar. I should have started months ago but i cant pick which one i want to do.
