# What musical instrument do you wish you could play? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491 "2003-01-03T21:04:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/41 "2003-01-06T23:40:11Z")
I find its sounds very soothing, but alas, I can’t read a note of music and envy those of you who do. I play drums, some guitar, and I bought myself a keyboard which is sitting behind me now with a pair of jeans draped over it. I think I’ll take **Sam’s** advice and go for some piano lessons this year. Quasi ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/42 "2003-01-07T00:00:49Z")
Guitar. I’ve got one, I’m just waiting to have the money to take lessons. Also violin, but it isn’t as useful 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/43 "2003-01-07T01:58:55Z")
I’ve always wanted to play the pangolin. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/44 "2003-01-07T04:48:23Z")
\*\*Accordian \*\* [Lawrence Welk] Nothing gets a party going like the swingin’ tunes of an accordian. ::::ooohhhh, bubbles:::::::::::::::::::::::::: ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/45 "2003-01-07T05:41:25Z")
I’ve always wanted to play upright bass. It just kinda reeks of cool. ---
**Author:** ![High\_Priestess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee7513/32.png) [@High\_Priestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/High_Priestess)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/46 "2003-01-07T09:26:53Z")
DRUMS. I air-drum _constantly_, but I probably lack the stamina for such an activity, not to mention the ability to maintain different and varying beats with each limb. Guitar, too, although I’m currently learning that on my own. ^^ I’ve got some idea of what I’m doing and some background in music, as I used to play the violin and the piano. ---
**Author:** ![Contrabass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Contrabass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrabass)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/47 "2003-01-07T20:33:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by My Darn Snake Legs \* > \*\*I’ve always wanted to play upright bass. It just kinda reeks of cool. \*\* The double bass is definitely cool… The instrument I’ve long wanted to learn to play is the Pipe Organ. What a monumental instrument to control! Problem is, I can barely play a piano. So I guess the pipe organ is out for me… ---
**Author:** ![gouda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c77e96/32.png) [@gouda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gouda)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/48 "2003-01-08T02:40:53Z")
Since we’re wishing, I don’t just want to be able to play these instruments, I want to be able to **play** these instruments. I mean I want to be able to pick up a tune and play it by listening to a few notes… In this order: The guitar, for all those parties where just the close friends hang after everyone else has left… it’s always my favourite part of any party… The piano, because it’s a very classy instrument, and because ever since I managed to play Do-A-Deer, I’ve wanted to learn how to play the piano… The sax, because I want to. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/49 "2003-01-08T03:44:20Z")
Just for oddity’s sake, I’ve wanted to learn how to play the [crwth](http://www.taylorviolins.com/crwth_page.html) since I discovered the word while skimming the dictionary. Really, though, I’d like to take guitar lessons. I’ll probably start them this year, actually – I’ve had an acoustic guitar since high school, and taught myself basic strumming long, long ago. I’d like some formal lessons so I can be good enough to really play a song, though. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/50 "2003-01-08T13:59:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Interrobang!? \* > \*\*Just for oddity’s sake, I’ve wanted to learn how to play the [crwth](http://www.taylorviolins.com/crwth_page.html) since I discovered the word while skimming the dictionary. > \*\* Ok, if you want to go that way, I would REALLY like to play the rebec! Little nasally sounding 3-string violing-type instrument, but very cool! Alternately, I’d love to have a hurdy-gurdy. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2003, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/51 "2003-01-08T15:27:48Z")
Yet another piano man. I want to be able to play the American songbook and sing along. All those wonderful Cole Porter songs…and the Gershwin songs…and the Rodgers and Hart songs…and the Johnny Mercer songs…well, you get the idea. Also, I’d like to be able to play the Hammond B-3 Organ, with a Leslie speaker. I’d make that fucker scream. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/52 "2003-01-09T00:50:12Z")
Either the oboe or the “English horn” (cor anglais) ---
**Author:** ![Toddly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/53 "2003-01-09T01:04:20Z")
If I could play any instrument it would be an electric guitar. A good clean blues guitar that has a lot of feeling. My 2nd choice would be the violin for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![TheOnlySaneOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@TheOnlySaneOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOnlySaneOne)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/54 "2003-01-14T02:25:53Z")
Anything…seriously, I’d take the glockenspiel, as long as I could play something. Sadly, I have but a tiny ear for music. For some reason, I can tell when others are wrong, but never myself, especially in voice. _shrugs_ The top choices would be drums, electric guitar, or to be really, really good at the piano. _sighs_ But I lack the patience, equiptment and skill to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/55 "2003-01-14T02:30:56Z")
Piano, bass guitar, mandolin. For now I’ll just focus on regular guitar though. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491/56 "2003-01-14T05:51:51Z")
I’ve always thought it would be cool to learn **Pedal Steel Guitar**. Love the sound of a well-played pedal steel, and you look _cool_ playing it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-musical-instrument-do-you-wish-you-could-play/146491.md?page=2)