Do you play an unusual musical instrument?
By Woodpigeon
@Woodpigeon (3710)
Ireland
May 15, 2007 6:25am CST
Sure, lots of people play the guitar or the piano or the clarintet, but have you learned (or tried to learn) to play anything a little off the beaten path?
I was made to play the tin whistle and recorder as a child. I loved the violin but gave it up. I tried my hand at the autoharp and the harmonica, with unequal success.
I have now got a Chanter, which is what you start on before learning the Warpipes, or the Scottish Bagpipes. It is very difficult, and hard work but it is so much fun!
What about you, what do you play or what have you tried to learn? Anything out of the ordinary?
7 people like this
11 responses
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
15 May 07
When I was young, I wanted to learn how to play bagpipes,as I won some free music lessons in some kind of contest at school. They didn't have bagpipes, or anyone who knew how to play them so instead, I ended up taking guitar lessons, which I didn't like at all. I still wouldn't mind learning the bagpipes. I like the sound they make.
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
16 May 07
I love them too. There is something eerie and melancholy about them, and they fit so well with that Scottish (and Irish) mist.
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
15 May 07
My partner is the musician in our house and when I asked him your question he replied, off the top of his head, a digeridoo. When I stopped giggling and he had another think, I suggested dulcima and mandolin as he loves stringed instruments. I am trying to learn to play guitar, with little success, I guess I will have to stick to singing - lol
@dragonokiefly (862)
• United States
16 May 07
I have tried to play one at the Medieval Fair and they are not easy at all. I love the sound they make but I can't see spending the money if I can't play it. I don't even know of anyone that could give me leasons.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
19 May 07
They do sound cool, don't they? It is your lucky day, because I found a lesson and a cd tutorial for you!
http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/059041/details.html
This is the description, "Thought to be one of the world's oldest woodwind instruments known, the didgeridoo was unique to the Aboriginal people of Australia. Didgs are now widely played by people wishing to use the instrument's ability to invoke images of a tribal past, through their primal drone sounds." It claims to teach you and to ship in 24 hours, if you want to give it a whirl.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
15 May 07
A digeridoo would be hard to get air through, too, I bet! They make such a cool, deep, mourneful sound, I love them! Iam still at the cats in a bag stage with my chanter, I am afraid!
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
10 Jun 07
I have tried things here and there but I am not really adept enough to even dare tell what I have tried.
I can sing though. Is our voice an unusual instrument? After all, it is unique. :P
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
11 Jun 07
I thnk it would be considered an instrument. I think I need to get mine tuned, though!
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
19 May 07
Not the tin whistle! Ack! No! I know some people can play it well, but I am so glad none of my kids like playing it, tank god!
I wonder where your neighbour gets his reeds? I have one that came with it, but I understand there are diffrent types. I wonder what he would recommend?
1 person likes this
@dragonokiefly (862)
• United States
16 May 07
I have played my fair share of "normal" instrument but one thing one of my choir teacher's taught me, and I don't know if you could really count it as an instrument, is how to play a comb with waxpaper. I used to be quite good but not something you "play" for the rest of your life lol.
1 person likes this
@dragonokiefly (862)
• United States
19 May 07
LOL.. you wrap a piece of wax paper around the prongs part of the comb, hold it real tight and kind of hum like you would with a kazoo. If you don't do it right it will tickle your lips.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
15 May 07
Ah yes, the granny used to play the concertina and she would teach no one. We never knew what she was doing with all those little buttons and she wouldn't say. It was lie some magic out of the dark arts, bless her!
@Sir_bobby88 (8231)
• Singapore
10 Jun 07
Well i don't play any unusual muscial instrument as it is unusual , i don't think anyone will be teaching such instrument out there yea ....
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
10 Jun 07
Strangely enough, the classes for the chanter are not as common as those for the tin whistle or the piano ;-)
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
15 May 07
I play both the piano, and the clarinet neither of which is unusual, My Boys tell me my best instrument,,,is ummmm well it shall remain nameless here, just suffice it to say, I adore vegetables all kinds and now that I am somewhat older they play havoc with my digestive system ...LMAO I will let you fill in the rest.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
16 May 07
I think all three of those instruments, especially the third, are very common!
@killahclaire (3665)
•
16 May 07
I once applied to play the harp but they knocked me back and I had a few recorder lessons but that isn't exactly too chaqllenging.
Apart from that no...I don't know why I bothered replying!
1 person likes this
@castleghost (1304)
• United States
19 May 07
The only musical instrument that I have ever tried to play is a guitar. I taught myself how to play what I do know. I never had an interest in learning how to play anything else. I bought my soon to be step daughter a flute because she asked for one but their isn't anything unique about that.
@arsonizta (944)
• Philippines
19 May 07
I play piano, and I tried the Harmonica, but I didn't learned much. i think I haven't played any unusual instrument, but I always want to try the double bass. I think its really cool.
1 person likes this
@Woodpigeon (3710)
• Ireland
10 Jun 07
I would actually love to learn to play the harmonica. My gran's brother could play it very well, self taught, but I have never had much luck.
