Playing on several instruments

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FullMetalGuitarist

Posts: 88
Joined: Aug. 22 2011

Playing on several instruments

Addressing this question mainly to amateur musicians , but I'd like to hear pro's opinion as well.

How many people here play , in addition to a flamenco guitar, another musical instrument such as an electric guitar, violin , flute etc. ?

Do you think a person should focus only on one instrument or try himself on a variety of musical instruments ad music styles?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 16:38:04

rombsix

Posts: 7816
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

quote:

Do you think a person should focus only on one instrument or try himself on a variety of musical instruments ad music styles?

If you have the time, it would be great to take up more than one instrument because you would be able to achieve a good level of playing each instrument. If you have little time, then you will end up just fiddling around with several instruments rather than being good at one.

Cheers!

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 16:42:28

Rmn

Posts: 308
Joined: May 14 2011

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

klarinet, violin, percussion, drums, bass, all sorts of guitar and south american stringed instruments. have a lot of high quality analog synths as well

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 16:47:26

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

As a kid I would spontaneously get not too bad sounding stuff out of piano.

If in the mood ( and only then ) I can deliver up to pretty well on percussion. ( Got standing ovation.

)
Also dipped toes into harmonica, - without achieving anything worth mentioning.

Guitar is my true love.
-

My cousin performs on a bunch of wind instruments, including the weirdest ethno flutes. Plays the charanga and a fine guitar.

He is a much better explorer than I am.
The guitar alone is enough of a challenge to me.

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 17:32:02

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

To the title: You better do one thing very good than many things average. I think Confucius said something like that. ^^

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 17:51:24

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

In addition to playing flamenco guitar and classical guitar, I also play a little piano. And one of these days I'm going to get myself a full-size piano.

Ramon

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Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 18:38:44

chester

Posts: 891
Joined: Oct. 29 2010

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to Doitsujin)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Doitsujin

To the title: You better do one thing very good than many things average. I think Confucius said something like that. ^^

That depends on what you consider 'one thing'. You can look at playing music as the 'one thing' and it doesn't matter how many instruments you play.

I think you should play everything and anything that you like playing. Don't worry about playing something because you think it's going to help you with something else, just do it out of love.

I play (or have played) in addition to the nylon string - electric guitar, trumpet, oboe, sax, and harmonica. There's nothing like the nylon string (for me anyway).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 19:31:12

elroby

Posts: 142
Joined: Mar. 25 2007

[Deleted]

Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at May 5 2012 4:15:43

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 19:47:00

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to chester)

quote:

That depends on what you consider 'one thing'. You can look at playing music as the 'one thing' and it doesn't matter how many instruments you play.

yeah, agree. ;)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2012 22:17:56

etta

Posts: 343
Joined: Jan. 20 2010

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

Fiddle, bluegrass guitar, and play bluegrass, jazz, blues and rock on the banjo. When I returned to flamenco after many decades, I found that the facility I had developed with my right hand on the banjo was a plus for relearning flamenco guitar. I did find some interest in Spain in the five string banjo; Pedro Maldonado Jr. was especially interested and wanted to talk banjo while I was into his guitars.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2012 15:26:38

Ricardo

Posts: 14848
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

Understanding percussion is good for any musician or discipline.

At the same time I admit that too many people involved in flamenco think banging on a cajon is fun and easy....and that is really annoying to me.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2012 16:24:46

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

Etta,

I have always been wondering about what the difference could be between playing fiddle or violine.
Care to explain?

Gracias,

Ruphus

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2012 19:14:33

ArtZumer

Posts: 67
Joined: Aug. 4 2010
From: Brisvagas

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to Ricardo)

I think its entirely plausable, especially if the instruments are of the same family (e.g. strings)

quote:

Understanding percussion is good for any musician or discipline.

At the same time I admit that too many people involved in flamenco think banging on a cajon is fun and easy....and that is really annoying to me.

So true, I bought a cajon a while ago and failed miserably. I've just started learning the Hang Drum which is in my opinion the perfect match between melody and percussion.

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“I’m retired now so the practice is down to just 4 hours” - Julian Bream

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2012 22:27:53

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to ArtZumer)

this is not advice for anyone else...each to their own...i guess if i was passionate about 2 instruments then it would be 2

but...i dont wanna spread my attention between 2 or 3 or 4 instruments ...i wanna just get the best i can at one, there is plenty there to keep me occupied ...I spend every spare moment on just one and still feel like i don't have enough time with it...i also do palmas a bit but that's not really another instrument ...the practice still counts towards flamenco guitar

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 23 2012 22:35:00

Adam

Posts: 1156
Joined: Dec. 6 2006
From: Hamilton, ON

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo
At the same time I admit that too many people involved in flamenco think banging on a cajon is fun and easy....and that is really annoying to me.

Banging on a cajón is totally fun. Killjoy

Dude, more than one instrument? Christ, some of us have day jobs, ya know! I barely have enough time to practice flamenco...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 24 2012 5:05:38

FullMetalGuitarist

Posts: 88
Joined: Aug. 22 2011

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to Adam)

quote:

Dude, more than one instrument? Christ, some of us have day jobs, ya know! I barely have enough time to practice flamenco...

Yeh , with that I have to agree . . .

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 24 2012 7:21:35

Ricardo

Posts: 14848
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to Adam)

quote:

Dude, more than one instrument? Christ, some of us have day jobs, ya know! I barely have enough time to practice flamenco...

Hmm....what's this "day job" thing I keep hearing about....and people "going to work" ????....strange, I know nothing about this weird thing, sounds REALLY bad....well back to napping or practicing, eating, or having sex with my wife, which ever I feel at the moment.

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www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 24 2012 13:28:27

gaash

Posts: 74
Joined: Jul. 29 2011

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

I play electric and piano as well ... once you know one, adding others is much much easier..

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 24 2012 18:14:15

britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

napping or practicing, eating, or having sex with my wife, which ever I feel at the moment

Eh, amigo! You missed out: 'having a glass of wine. . . ' Or does that come later?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 26 2012 17:59:59

orsonw

Posts: 1941
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

Understanding percussion is good for any musician or discipline.

At the same time I admit that too many people involved in flamenco think banging on a cajon is fun and easy....and that is really annoying to me.

Here is El Piraña one of the cajon maestros. There are some good cajon/palmas moments below, especially under the falsetas.
I think that Guadiana as well as being a great singer is a very good palmero and can of course be seen as a young man in many performances doing palmas along with Bobote.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 3 2012 21:16:18

ArtZumer

Posts: 67
Joined: Aug. 4 2010
From: Brisvagas

RE: Playing on several instruments (in reply to FullMetalGuitarist)

A couple of months ago I saw Paco Pena when he came to town - his cajon player was probably the most astounding percussionist I've ever seen - anyone know his name?

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“I’m retired now so the practice is down to just 4 hours” - Julian Bream

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 4 2012 22:24:11