Posted by Andah1andah2 on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Yes, I am a TRAIN WRECK right now (at least in relation to instruments). I have this itch to play something else (in addition to fiddle). I have to say the fiddle holds true. I have not wavered on my fiddle interests. My genre to play in fiddle is all over the place but I'm ok with that.
The issue is my fancy wanders from one instrument to another. One day I love classic country, then bluegrass, then old-time and I'm looking at guitars, then steel guitars, then mandolins.
I sold my resonator banjo a month ago because I wasn't into playing 3 finger anymore and bought a Goodtime open back. I had some clawhammer skills from earlier. Well that lasted for a little while, now I don't pick it up much.
Then I started on the lap steel for that cool sound. I researched that for a while (you've sen the posts I'm sure). Then my mind switched to acoustic guitar to strum and sing country songs. I researched that for a while and almost bought a Recording King RD-10 all solid wood. I think I was more excited about the guitar than playing it. Today I'm thinking about selling the Goodtime and going for a mandolin. You can sing with the mando and its tuned like a fiddle.
I'm in a whirlwind and I can't get out! Help, my heads on a swivel and I can stop! By the time you read this I'll probably be buying a contra-bassoon.
9 comments on “I am an instrument train wreck!”
richdissmore Says:
Sunday, November 13, 2011 @8:43:12 AM
i try to buy any instument that i,m interested in now i have most of them for sale get them try them then sell them thats what i do
mudbug Says:
Sunday, November 13, 2011 @9:38:03 AM
Stew, many of us relate, as there are so many cool instruments, each with their own tonal identity. The thing is, your cramming into a short time what some of us went through over the course of years, being smitten with an instrument, spending time with it and then still having interest or losing interest as the case may be. The thing is, we all only have so much time, and you might be better off concentrating on one ( or two ) at a time. I feel for ya bro. Good luck. P.S. I still go through that with genres.
FiddleJammer Says:
Sunday, November 13, 2011 @2:35:39 PM
Like I just said on the Will playing the mandolin hurt my OT fiddling" thread:
"Whenever I've put some time into another instrument or another style, I've discovered something new to bring back to the fiddle or jamming in general. Well worth the time, in my opinion. Plus, you will now be more adaptable if there are 'too many' fiddles.
I played old time last evening with some friends, and marveled at how each of us would put down one instrument and pick up another. A very flexible group, and if I do say so myself, none of us has suffered from learning more than one instrument. We've only expanded our horizons."
Quitchyer bellyachin and go borrow and/or buy and/or sell some instruments. :-)
cardinalwookie Says:
Sunday, November 13, 2011 @2:47:01 PM
I collect instruments of varying types and still want more. I guess I differ from you in that I imprint on my purchases and could never part with them. I guess I'm a bit of a hoarder. I still have a hankering for odd stuff and have urges to try either a koto, a gakaku, a kaen, a didg or a theremin (if you want random suggestions). The saw is interesting either (and a lot cheaper).
Contrabass anythings are not anything I have ever considered (I suspect you may have been joking) as their use is limited to backup to whale song and they look ridiculous (check out a contrabass flute). If you wnt to go down the silly route try a sub contrabass uke.
BC Says:
Sunday, November 13, 2011 @3:34:38 PM
I feel for you Stew. I write that as I am looking around the room at my "collection". Like Mud said, there are so many cool instruments- and so little time. I read your thread on steel and I immediately thought "Hmm, how cool would that be". Good luck whatever you do.
robinja Says:
Monday, November 14, 2011 @12:56:48 PM
I'm pretty good at resisting my impulses, but I will also admit that your lap steel post got me thinking. I also think from time to time about getting an Autoharp (horrors!) What can I say, I love the Carter Family? I agree with FiddleJammer that, unless you totally neglect the fiddle, playing another instrument will improve your overall musicianship, which will, in turn, improve your fiddling. I also will add that a guitar is a good thing to have around the house. A lot of people know how to play (albeit maybe not all that well), and you might find a jam partner just by displaying it in the house. Just by learning some basic guitar back-up, I have gotten to jam with some great musicians, where I really couldn't contribute much fiddle-wise.
Andah1andah2 Says:
Monday, November 14, 2011 @1:58:48 PM
Yep, well I bought that guitar above after doing some research. We will see, but I look forward to giving it a go and strumming to some tunes. I might keep the banjo, I might not. Stay tuned.
bj Says:
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 @6:48:40 AM
Anything that brings back Guitar Death Grip (which is pretty much any fretted instrument, even if it's small with double course strings) is out of the running for me, so I've learned to resist. I might be swayed by a nylon stringed uke though . . . and I do play various flutes and whistles.
To each his or her own. For me the fiddle is really IT. I don't get a whole lotta hankering to play anything else for more than five minutes, which only requires trying the instrument out, thankfully, and not outright purchasing it.
Did you know you can crosstune a guitar?
S_Heriger Says:
Sunday, November 27, 2011 @8:06:41 AM
I believe in scratching just about any musical itch when it comes to experimenting with other instruments. Although I'm a lifelong guitar player, I never loved it the way I love the fiddle, which now consumes a good chunk of my daily time. I can pick out some stuff on mandolin fairly well, and it's a natural complement to a fiddle because of the tuning, and while I love to hear others play mando, I would rather put my heavy practice time into a fiddle. The only other instrument that's really caught my fancy is the viola, which to me makes the most sense, as I will always be able to play it just about as well as I play the fiddle...just minor adjustments to make. I'm really enjoying playing some of the more somber music I know (laments, airs, etc.) on the viola. So as long as your wandering interests don't affect your practice time with your 'true love' instrument, then by all means go for it. It'll only enhance your musical journey. IMHO.
You must sign into your myHangout account before you can post comments.
Newest Posts
'The Buffalo Song' 1 day
'James Price RIP' 1 day
'Chin rest vs chest rest' 4 days
'Bergonzi' 5 days
'Done Gone - Jesse Milnes' 6 days
