I can play guitar, but can’t do any “recognizable” tunes. All I’ve got is classical music, and I’m not particularly good. Its mostly muscle memory, as I’m pretty sure I’m tone deaf.
I don’t get a chance to play much any more, but I play the piano/keyboards, guitar (electric and acoustic), bass, drums, and trombone. I used to be able to play the trumpet and tuba a bit but I’ve completely forgotten the fingering. I had 8 years of classical piano training and played the trombone in school. Everything else is self taught.
Mrs. Geek and all three Geeklings play at least one instrument.
I appreciate music and musicians, but I’m part of the 89%. As far back as elementary school, when we were given recorders and things like wood blocks, I realized I was useless when it comes to any sort of rhythm or timekeeping, and musical theory was more baffling to me than physics. Since then, I’ve kept my musical participation to listening only.
I suppose I can claim to be able to play the trumpet. I started in 5th grade, and played throughout college, but haven’t really done so since then (20-odd years ago). I have since donated my horns to a Katrina-displaced musician from New Orleans.
I have no real embouchure to speak of any more, but I can still read music, and when faced with a piece of sheet music I will find my right hand banging out the trumpet fingering. So, I suppose with some practice, I could get to the point where I could blat out a tune on a trumpet or trumpet-like instrument.
With some determination, I can pick out a melody line on a piano, or a bass line with a little more concentration. I cannot, however, do both at the same time. I took piano lessons for a few months in my early 30s, and was never able to integrate both hands.
I’m not sure there is such a thing as a recognizable tune on a tuba, but I can play the bass harmony part for a lot of songs. I’m horribly out of practice on it by now, though.
I was first chair trombone in all-state orchestra in high school. Once I got to college I dropped the trombone and picked up guitar. Much easier to impress the ladies at parties with a guitar.