What other instruments do you play?

Patrick Janka · Post by **Patrick Janka** » 10 Nov 2011 9:55 am

Just curious what else y'all play. Did it help you transition to steel easier? I just picked up the steel, and I'm glad I know how to read music, theory, etc. It let me hit the ground running. I love learning new instruments and styles. Back in college I played lute and cornetto in the Renaissance Ensemble. I'm currently shopping for a sitar, tablas, and sangari. I currently play:

Guitar
- acoustic Alvarez & Ibanez
- electric Fender Tele & Hamer Californian
- classical Alvarez
- flamenco Francisco Navarro

Bass
- 4 string fretted Ibanez SR400
- 6 string fretless custom Carvin XB76F

Piano
- electronic/synth Yamaha PSR-520
- acoustic upright Yamaha

Trumpet
- custom Roy Lawler, silver, bell raised 10 degrees

Drums
- 7 piece Pearl Export with Evans and Remo heads, Zildjian/Paiste/Sabian cymbals, Iron Cobra Pedals

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 10 Nov 2011 10:04 am

Began messing around with great-grand-dad's Hawaiian guitar at age 2, mom's piano at 3, another grand-dad's harmonica at age 4, ukelele at age 6, began piano lessons at 8, flute at age 10, trombone at 12, tuba at 14, string bass at 15, guitar at 16, saxophone at 17, at age 19 I got my first pedal steel guitar and that's when the real trouble began...

Patrick Janka · Post by **Patrick Janka** » 10 Nov 2011 10:14 am

Do you still play all those? The only instrument I learned in my past that I don't currently dedicate time to is the violin. My mom forced me to learn it around age 4 or 5, but once we got a family piano gave me the choice which to play and I decided I'd be more relaxed sitting than standing with my neck contorted.

Atom Schmitt · Post by **Atom Schmitt** » 10 Nov 2011 11:12 am

Ha, I also play trumpet. We just added Ring of Fire to the set list... which means I have to bring YET ANOTHER instrument to every gig. Right now it's PSG, a Tele, and a J45. And then a constant juggling act all night long. Sigh. That's the country band, anyway. When I play with other groups I'm usually either playing just a Tele or some combination of guitar and trumpet (or flugelhorn) if it's a jazz gig or a recording session that calls for it.

I've always noticed a strange trend of people who play guitar also playing trumpet. Good to see it's still alive and well.

I also play a little piano and used to play some drums, but I'm fine with letting those slide for the most part... although I guess I did just dig this up (on which I played keys as well as guitars): http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=6795655

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 10 Nov 2011 11:21 am

Although not good enough to play in a full time band situation:

Keyboards
Rhythm Guitar
Dobro

Tim Fleming · Post by **Tim Fleming** » 10 Nov 2011 12:16 pm

Wow, I may have met my match!

Guitars
Grestch Tennessean
Fender Telecaster
Epiphone Sheraton

Basses
Fender Precision
Fender Jazz Fretless
Fender Aerodyne Jazz
Hofner Beatle Bass
Harmony H-22
Ibanez Acoustic
Musicman Stingray 5 string

Trumpets
Olds Super
Blessing Super Artist

Sitar

Washburn B-16 B@nj@

Oh, and the big upright bass

Lastly, Emmons D-10 9X8 PP

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 10 Nov 2011 12:24 pm

I play a swine-a-phone.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 10 Nov 2011 1:51 pm

Pedal steel is my main instrument, but I've played;

Roland EP-7 electric piano
Accolade acoustic guitar
Goya acoustic guitar-nylon strings
I've also got a Morrell lap steel

Main instrument-Jackson BlackJack Custom pedal steel with three pedals, four knees.

Brett

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 10 Nov 2011 3:01 pm

To answer your query more fully, Patrick, I still own all of these but the sax and the ukelele, plus another grand-dad's violin that I have never messed with. For a solo product I put together fifteen years ago I sang and played everything but the tenor sax - which was handled with uncommon genius by Mr. Dan Fincher - and programmed some drums and other horns that I could not otherwise pull off alone.

I performed on sax and flutes with our latin show "Felicidades" in the mid-1970's, until our bass player joined the Hare Krishna, at which time I bought his gear and reverted to being a bassist. Since then I have always worked with superb horn players and have been satisfied to listen to them go. While I was playing bass and steel with the songwriters' workshop "Sky River" in the late '70's I was also playing bass with the Marylhurst Symphony and our drummer was the timpanist. Talk about eclectic...

The trombone I only fool with a bit at home now but I do occasionally work up enough tuba chops to haul around a sousaphone on the 4th of July

Other than the steel I play a bit of keyboards and guitar now and then but rarely on stage, once in a while the flute makes it to a gig, but if there's a dollar for a bass player I'll be there for you and ready to play most anything, just tell me the key and play

I really enjoyed weaving the piano and steel with the B3 and bass on this one back in 1996 http://www.pdxaudio.com/lesson.mp3

Hope you enjoy...

Les Anderson · Post by **Les Anderson** » 10 Nov 2011 3:52 pm

10 in total.

Steel guitar, console-non-pedal (some pedal)
Bass, (electric and upright)
acoustic guitar,
electric guitar,
Harmony bass voice,
chromatic harmonicas (bass, chord and 280 super solo),
piano (a real one),
Pan Flute
some second class 5 string banjo work.
I scratch around on a fiddle but would never play it on stage.

Oh yes, does winning a whistling contest count? In other words' I play the lips: is that one or two instruments?

John Coffman · Post by **John Coffman** » 10 Nov 2011 4:00 pm

the kazoo

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 10 Nov 2011 5:42 pm

Just 2 besides steel-lead guitar,and bass.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 10 Nov 2011 5:46 pm

Oh yes, does winning a whistling contest count? In other words' I play the lips: is that one or two instruments?

I think that's only one instrument, Les, technically it would be a double-reed

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 12 Nov 2011 5:18 am

This is actually an important topic as we are talking endlessly about Steel players not being able to get gigs...

Sadly I now list Steel at the bottom of my Instrument list as I discuss gigs with others.

Here is how I promote my self serving interests

Fender Telecaster ( implies lead guitar)
Vocals , front and harmony
Flat Top
Bass
Dobro
Mandolin
Pedal Steel
Blues,Rock,Country,Bluegrass
Fender amps

t

Mike Perlowin · Post by **Mike Perlowin** » 12 Nov 2011 5:56 am

None anymore. I haven't touched a guitar or mandolin in years. I only play steel now.

Paul Wade · Post by **Paul Wade** » 12 Nov 2011 6:32 am

play fender tele with B bender. spilt steel&tele
50% of the time on gigs

p.w

Papa Joe Pollick · Post by **Papa Joe Pollick** » 12 Nov 2011 7:05 am

While the only insturment that I might be qualified to call my self a player on is guitar, I have made a stab at several others...But steel is my favorite and still elusive.When I would apply for a gig I'd say Lead guitar,front and harmony vocals,can double up on steel and harp..

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 12 Nov 2011 7:14 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:I play a swine-a-phone.

Erv is that closely related to the Swine-ette?

I envy ya'll's talent. Guess I been lazy and lack commitment. I play acoustic guitar for home use(play and sing for the grand kids)Got into the pedal steel at age 25. That's when confusion set in!

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 12 Nov 2011 7:22 am

My parents forced piano lessons on me from 2nd-8th grade. I know how, but my fingers haven't done anything meaningful on a keyboard in thirty years. I'm very grateful for the knowledge of how music works.
A couple years before pedal steel, I started out with Dobro.
I can play rudimentary, but clean, Tele, but don't own one.
If I had a bass rig, I can hold my own in a country or bluegrass setting, and would need practice for a blues or western swing act.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 Nov 2011 8:37 am

Bent,
If it involves a pig and a rubber band, it is the same instrument.

Larry Robbins · Post by **Larry Robbins** » 12 Nov 2011 8:50 am

Pedal steel,non-pedal steel,dobro,banjo,flat top,Tele's,mandolin,fiddle ,Bass and Ukulele

Ruth Iseli-Dahler · Post by **Ruth Iseli-Dahler** » 13 Nov 2011 4:39 am

When I read your words, Lane, I thought I might use copy/past: it's my story:
Played piano all my life and finally keys in a band - but it never was my satisfaction. Played transverse flute, pipe flute, acoustic guitar, (drums), just for checking it out, self teached.
Started with Dobro and 3 months later with Pedal Steel Guitar - and finally found my passion.
It's good to have all the theory background from the piano - but I know many of you don't have it and don’t miss it.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 13 Nov 2011 5:19 am

I find many who don't have it would like a greater understanding of how music works, even if they've no use for reading. Hell, if it weren't for a desire, eventually, to play Für Elise, I'd have no need to read.

Joey Gaskins · Post by **Joey Gaskins** » 14 Nov 2011 3:19 pm

Blessed or cursed? Hard to say, but steel, dobro, lead, rhythm, or bass guitar, mandolin, and piano,

Tony Kotula · Post by **Tony Kotula** » 15 Nov 2011 10:13 am

Born and raised in Motown...over the yrs.. I've learned if you play in country band in the metro area you better be able to rock or play some r&b to survive with the exception of the urban cowboy era. Besides pedal steel I also play lead guitar and slide guitar. I am blessed with a steady 3 night house gig. We cover classic and new country...and anything from BB to ZZ...
I've also played just straight blues gigs with bands.. I am a blues nut but love the country!!
Now if I can only learn to play guitar with my finger and thumb picks on would help the constant back and forth between the 2 instruments. Anyone else have that problem?