Are you a jack of all trades or master of 1?

[Cheap Chick]

So, do you just play one instrument (guitar/bass) or do you play multiple instruments well enough to perform playing them? (if you're a guitar player, I would count things with a difference a "new" instrument - i.e. uke, mandolin, bass)

Do you think being able to play a lot of instruments helps you with your main instrument?

[AdmiralB]

Is "suck" singular or plural?

[Stike]

I used to own a pedal steel. It's got strings but I gotta say it aint nuttin' like a guitar so I'll still stick with a choice of one 'cause I sucked at it. Strange how my one sideman credit on a recording was on pedal steel.

[Buzzy Fretts]

I think Guitar, Piano, and Woodwinds can be considered three very different instruments. I'd be off the scale if I'd list the various woodwinds as separate or if I decided to include the category I would call..... misc.

[doody]

it all depends on what you mean by "passably" I took piano as a kid, played trumpet for 7 years, and play guitar poorly now. So I stink at 3 instuments, pretty much. Wait, does Kuzoo count? 4 then. Oh and I can play "when the saints come marching in" on harmonica.

[Cheap Chick]

I think Guitar, Piano, and Woodwinds can be considered three very different instruments. I'd be off the scale if I'd list the various woodwinds as separate or if I decided to include the category I would call..... misc. 

We have a special surprise for you, ladies and gents, rockin' that midi flute tonight will be none other than Buzzy Frets!!

I think you ought to call all the various woodwinds as individual instruments and vote that you can play a jillion.. and here's a woodwind question... are the fingerings different on say a flute and a clarinet?

Here's a special pic for ya, Buzzy....

[Cheap Chick]

..and, by the way, multi-instrumentalists - do you think you would be better at your MAIN instrument if you had just focused on that or do you think that playing many instruments has made you better than if you had just focused solely on one? Well, huh???

[tomteriffic]

I sort of looked at stuff like mandolin and banjo as separate animals. Similarly, a piano, a Hammond and a synthesizer all use the same key layout, but differ pretty drastically from there in terms of how you play them, at least with any kind of proficiency. Winds, I'd agree that anything with the same basic fingering system probably belongs in a lump-together situation, even though they come in Eb, Bb, C and who knows what other variations key wise.

Having said that, the answer for me was either four (frets, keys, winds, harp), or a jillion.

Edit to add: On part 2 of the question, Pam, I studied piano and organ exclusively for about 7 or 8 years before picking anything else up. Since those are such versatile instruments in terms of harmonic possiblities, styles, etc., I soaked up a lot, which I think benefitted my other instruments later on, since I already knew how music worked in very well laid-out, "black and white" (forgive the pun) terms. From there it was just a matter of applying the theory to whatever instrument was glowering at me at the moment.

[tobereeno]

well, I majored in piano, so I got the whole keyboard thing down. Harpsichords require a different touch, and organs have you using your feet, but the mechanics are the same so that counts as one.

Guitar and Bass, that's two.

Renaissance Recorders, I play them "lefty" for some weird reason, as I am the most non-left handed person on earth

Cello, that's four

Lute, that's five...it's kinda guitar like, but the tuning is different, so I'll count that separately.

ah, dang, I forgot drums - I sat in with a band this weekend and actually pulled it off, so does that count?

[Jeff R]

I kinda play guitar. I kinda play bass. I dabble on the piano at the house and the synth at the studio. I also excel at skin flute and scrotumpercussion.

How many 'zat? Six, or seven?

[SteveB]

Where's the "Master of None" option?

I occassionly feel like playing another instrument, keys, sax, drums, etc, but then common sense comes to play and suggests I should actually get good at one thing rather than sucking on many.

[BruceM]

In my 4 piece band, The Escape Goats, we all play guitar, drums and bass. We've been at it for two years now, and it's definitely an interesting vibe. We change into a different band with each new drummer/bassist/guitarist combo. Of course, "Escape Goats Are For Fun," and we don't play out a lot...3 or 4 parties a year, but we sure do have a great time practicing! And we take time on stage changing positions. I like the variety, and we're all improving at everything.

[Hamer95USA]

Hello Pam,

I saw your posting asking if any of us Hamer Fan Club members is a jack of all trades or master of 1? I would have to consider myself a jack of all trades!! I perform with the Judas Priest tribute "Screaming For Vengeance" . I also gig with my Top 40 band, "No Left Turn" and my corporate band, " Most Excellent", an '80s tribute band. My main instruments are guitar, guitar synthesizer and occasional rock/blues bass (on jam nights). I have a lot on my shoulders to take care of with my three cover band gigs so I don't even consider myself an expert. I just enjoy what I do and take it from there. I enjoy giving input to my fellow Hamer owner/musicians.

Guitar George

[Buzzy Fretts]

Hey Pam,

There's no doubt that I'd be a more proficient player of any instrument if I stuck with one. And I'd definitly be a better artist if I did no music at all.

Maybe I'll be as good as I could have if given enough time. But either way, I enjoyed the feaken ride. The fingering on flute and clarinet are similar and that's a bear. It would be a LOT easier if each instrument were radically different. Its a PIA when each instrument has lots of overlap and lots of subtle (but important) differences.

Most importantly: I may be the Master of None, but my name ain't Jack!

[tobereeno]

I also excel at skin flute and scrotumpercussion.

are there MIDI skin flutes?

[silentman]

none very well

[JohnnyB]

Piano, drums, conga, vibraphone, marimba, mandolin, recorder, bass, other mallet percussion incl. chimes & bells, tympani, guitar

I'm rusty on many of them and marginal on the rest, but I have played piano, drums, congas, vibraphone, mandolin, recorder, and the other percussion in public performances and have played drums, congas, and mandolin (which I can no longer play for squat) for unsuspecting paying audiences.

[Buzzy Fretts]

Multi-lingual AND he play's a Newport. Johnny, you OK in mybook.

[Buzzy Fretts]

Pam I'd be happy to illustrate the various fingering differences on those. But you'd have to hop on a plane to do this right. The alt fingering on the low C just can't be explained in writing.

[doody]

How could I forget Cowbell!!! I've got a fever, and the cure is more cowbell. I gotta have move cowbell!

[robbie]

When I first started doing music I was playing bass but quickly realized that I could not play bass and sing very well so I switched to guitar. Later on I started playing drums in bands (though nothing fancy for sure) and after that went back to bass (to let a real drummer take over). Then I found that I could play bass and sing most everything. I firmly believe that teaching my brain to do four things at once (snare, kick, blah blah) made a big difference. I also have a much better feel for playing bass with different drummers after doing it myself.

Also passable on stage and passable in the studio are very different. I've played tons of different instruments in the studio when I could do it over and over to get it right without worrying about messing up (in front of people). You should have heard some of the overdubs I had on the fiddle ha ha... fingernails on chalkboard anyone?

[JohnnyB]

I firmly believe that teaching my brain to do four things at once (snare, kick, blah blah) made a big difference.  I also have a much better feel for playing bass with different drummers after doing it myself. 

I started playing drums 42 years ago, and I've seemed to have an affinity for bass for a long time as well. My wife (who has a long, rich musical background) has often said that bassists should play drums to become better bassists, and I agree with her. In many bands, it's really the bassist who sets the rhythm, and if his string attack is imprecise or not locked into the groove, the whole band suffers.

There was a series of jazz albums made in the '70s of Oscar Peterson and Count Basie playing together for the first time. The backup band was stellar (Freddie Green, Louie Bellson, and a bassist). Ray Brown played on the first album and you couldn't listen to it without tapping your feet. Someone else played bass on the second one (with no other changes in personnel) and I didn't find the album engaging at all. Not that Ray Brown was a drummer, but man! He had that rhythm thing down! He paced and drove anything he played in.

[Buzzy Fretts]

Ray Brown was a monster in sheep's clothing. Got under your skin when you were looking elsewhere.

I always find myself singing the bass lines in my head when I listen to a lot of what I do. I had my fingers around a 72 p-bass back in HS but it went away before I could really bond. I always wondered if that was where I needed to go all these years. Hmmmm. Now that I have this sweetie in my herd, maybe I'll get a chance to find out. Might have to revise my poll answer in a year or three.

[wyldbil]

I'm a HACK at guitar and bass, but love what I am doing!

[ctrixie]

Classic guitar hack, no mastering of any sort going on here at all! I can keep the beat on a clave. And also there's that extra special percussive element I've been known to add when I knock over the mic stand...