Wailing Hard

frogus23 · Post by **frogus23** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 4:07 pm

Do you play a musical instrument? Which one?

How long have you played for, and how important is it to you?

Can you really wail??

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 4:14 pm

I used to play Irish accordion, but it's been years. Did it moderately well, too. Was part of a (very) amateur band for a bit.

As far as I know, you could really hurt your lips if you wail on an accordion.

Darth Zenemij · Post by **Darth Zenemij** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 4:22 pm

I played The e flat alto saxaphone, Have been scence, oohhhhh 4 grade. It was one of the most important things to me ever. Could I wail... Don't remember what I was capable of myself.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 4:52 pm

[QUOTE=fable]
As far as I know, you could really hurt your lips if you wail on an accordion.[/QUOTE]

LMAO! My dad plays accordion, I told him that, he's laughing by my side now...

I learned a bit (a very little bit) of Bombardino (something between the tube and the trupet) and used to play on my old school martial band. Also, I learned Violin after I entered the university, cause I really like the sound of that - but I'm not very fond of music, so I left it after "dominating" the basics.

frogus23 · Post by **frogus23** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:07 pm

@Darth, is this an innocent pleonasm or can you get alto-saxes that are tuned other than Eb?

@Fable, what's the difference between an Irish and non-Irish accordian? I twiddled with one recently that had three layers of black keys (dunno what you call them) for major, minor and seven chords, I think...It was from Germany.

I always regretted never learning any music as an infant, so I'm now teaching meself the guitar...I've been playing about six months IIRC, I started with nylon strings and now have steel ones. I wouldn't really say I can play, but I know all the most useful chords and three scale shapes, and am currently painting skeletons on my guitar to lend me voodoo energy.

I think kids should definately learn music young, it is inexhaustable joy.

Darth Zenemij · Post by **Darth Zenemij** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:17 pm

No there is no other type of alto that can be tuned other than E flat, It is just a habit, writting E flat.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:19 pm

I play the didjeridoo. I'm not particularly good yet - I've still to get the hang of the circular breathing and I'm going to have to get some beeswax to sort out the mouthpiece sometime in the near future - but I'm learning new noises all the time.

and there are some rather odd waily noises you can make down it. so yes, I can wail a little.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:26 pm

[QUOTE=frogus23]@Fable, what's the difference between an Irish and non-Irish accordian? I twiddled with one recently that had three layers of black keys (dunno what you call them) for major, minor and seven chords, I think...It was from Germany.
[/QUOTE]

It's not a technical difference, but a difference in style. In the US, at least, when you say "accordion," people think of all those horrid Italian accordion teachers who transcribed with a complete lack of taste everything from classical pieces to truly godawful pop stuff--most notably, "Lady of Spain," one of the genuine Worst Pieces of Music in the World.

Whereas Irish accordion arises out of a pretty fine musical culture. The stuff sounds good on the instrument, and the instrument fits well in a specific band configuration.

The standard, or Italian, accordion fits best in a trash compactor.

frogus23 · Post by **frogus23** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:47 pm

@Robnark, didgeridoo is a ****in radical instrument, you will be the joy of hippy bonfire solstice parties for ever

@Fable, having been raised on Planxty, I would like to assert that Irish is not necessarily any less gruesome to listen to than Italian in the field of accordian, or anywhere else. I think accordians are lovely in some Irish music indeed, but they really come into their own in dub

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:53 pm

Well, my dad used to play and jest (what was a miracle for him, such a serious guy) with an accordion on his hands. Dunno if thats the italian model - may be, or not - but he would keep playing those german traditional songs, together with some of his onw music therapy learned songs.

Yes, my dad was supposed to be a music therapist

He also plays the guitar, flute and knows a bit about the piano. A friend of his used to teach him something on organ playing - you know, those great organs they use to play at cathedrals - but my dad never liked it much, at least not to play it, he preferred to listen to it.

If I'm not mistaken one of our friends here in GB has a mother who plays organ on the church...

My mother sings on a church chorus too, and their group is kinda famous in local marriages and ceremonies.

Robnark · Post by **Robnark** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 6:08 pm

[QUOTE=frogus23]@Robnark, didgeridoo is a ****in radical instrument, you will be the joy of hippy bonfire solstice parties for ever

[/QUOTE]
damn straight. lovely looking thing too. it's only bamboo, so it's not all gnarled and wonky, but classy decoration.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 6:43 pm

[QUOTE=frogus23]@Fable, having been raised on Planxty, I would like to assert that Irish is not necessarily any less gruesome to listen to than Italian in the field of accordian, or anywhere else. I think accordians are lovely in some Irish music indeed, but they really come into their own in dub

[/QUOTE]

Never liked Planxty's singers, but the accordion in Silly Wizard was phenomenal. Those early albums of theirs were great, before they became a bar band and decided to play everything at double speed just to show they could.

CopperWater · Post by **CopperWater** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 10:10 pm

I hum a mean kazoo, myself. I have also played electric guitar for about 11 monthes. I love my Jackson king V, i havnt let anyone touch it yet, i barely let my friends look at it for too long.

I am not that good, but what I lack in talent, i make up with heavy distortion and feedback.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 10:59 pm

I've played guitar since I was around 14 or 15, so that would be about 17 years or so. Over the years I've picked up a little bass and keyboards from friends, but woudn't inflict my playing those on anyone. The guitar has always been my first love so to speak, and it's a great emotional outlet when you need one.

When I first started, I was obsessive about it. I'd play easily 60+ hours a week for the first two or three years. Not so much these days, but still play when I can. So, when I first started, I had the brilliant idea it would get me girls, but somehow, I got so wound up in the playing that I spent most of my time either holed up by myself or playing with a couple friends.This meant of course less exposure to the girls as I spent all my free time playing. Oh the irony

Aegis · Post by **Aegis** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:24 pm

I can really wail with the right jub. I mean, it's gotta be the right one. None of this 'XX' or 'XXXXX' jugs. Gotta be 'XXX'. Those are the only Jugs I'll wail on!

HiRo11er · Post by **HiRo11er** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:51 am

I play the didjeridoo. I'm not particularly good yet - I've still to get the hang of the circular breathing and I'm going to have to get some beeswax to sort out the mouthpiece sometime in the near future - but I'm learning new noises all the time.

Brothers in arms, robnie...

I first started playing the didg a few years ago, and although I got a nice sound out of it, I didn't really get the circular breathing going. After the initial enthusiasm I put it down and kinda forgot about it.
Then, 6 months or so ago, I got to borrow my buddy's didg, and really got into it again. The only difference was that this time the breathing came to me right away! Now I'm hooked, and still play regularly. I'm sounding good now too; I can hold a flow going for maybe 10-15 minutes before I'm spent and need a couple of minutes to get my breath back...
The sounds that can come out of that thing can put you in a trance, easily. My buddy can go on for (literally) hours without stopping, and it just sounds amazing. The breathing technique also adds to the soundscape, as well, what with the sounds you can produce using your cheeks instead of just exhaling. The only problem is that it's an instrument that's hard to combine with others (except the drums), because it kas a tendency to dominate the sound!

I think that in the spirit of this thread, the didgeridoo is definitely an instrument that wails!

PS: Of more "normal" instruments, I think the barytone (sp?) sax is hands down the most amazing sound in the world... So sexy!

frogus23 · Post by **frogus23** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:00 am

[QUOTE=HiRo11er]Brothers in arms, robnie...

I first started playing the didg a few years ago, and although I got a nice sound out of it, I didn't really get the circular breathing going. After the initial enthusiasm I put it down and kinda forgot about it.
Then, 6 months or so ago, I got to borrow my buddy's didg, and really got into it again. The only difference was that this time the breathing came to me right away! Now I'm hooked, and still play regularly. I'm sounding good now too; I can hold a flow going for maybe 10-15 minutes before I'm spent and need a couple of minutes to get my breath back...
The sounds that can come out of that thing can put you in a trance, easily. My buddy can go on for (literally) hours without stopping, and it just sounds amazing. The breathing technique also adds to the soundscape, as well, what with the sounds you can produce using your cheeks instead of just exhaling. The only problem is that it's an instrument that's hard to combine with others (except the drums), because it kas a tendency to dominate the sound!

I think that in the spirit of this thread, the didgeridoo is definitely an instrument that wails!

PS: Of more "normal" instruments, I think the barytone (sp?) sax is hands down the most amazing sound in the world... So sexy!

[/QUOTE]I wonder if 1/4 of all musicians play didgeridoo or if this is just a SYM thing

Cuchulain82 · Post by **Cuchulain82** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:11 am

[QUOTE=frogus23]I wonder if 1/4 of all musicians play didgeridoo or if this is just a SYM thing

[/QUOTE]
Seriously! If SYM is any indicator, then there will be a real shortage of pianists very soon

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:21 am

I used to be a classical pianist in my youth...started playing when I was 4-5 years old, which is the best age to start if you want to perform at concert level. It was very important to me. I loved to play the great composers. I loved the sound of really good grand piano, such as the ones I got to play on concerts. I can still very distincly recall the feeling of entering a lit-up stage and sensing rather than seeing the audience, sit down and first touching of the keys. It was very special. However, an overambitious teacher who wanted me to fulfil her dreams provoced me to sell my piano and by an electric guitar instead. I grew tired of the guitar after only a year or two, I don't even like guitar music

@Robnark & HiRoller: Nice

I really enjoy the didgeridoo.

Vicsun · Post by **Vicsun** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:23 am

My whistling resembles the wails of a thousand banshees.