Musicians show your faces!

mandolin mostly
mandola occasionally
mandocello infrequently

 

Cool!
A mandocello is similar to a bazuki? 

Cool!
A mandocello is similar to a bazuki? 

   Sort of, sizewise.  I'm fairly sure that the bouzouki is tuned GDAE, an octave below the mandolin GDAE(not that the tunings aren't changed according to use).  The mandocello is CGDA (both strings in same octave), on octave below the mandola.

There also are mandobass(es), but those are mostly curiousities.  Interesting to look at but not half as practical as the string bass.

Mandolin orchestras were 'all the rage' in the early 20th century - it's rather interesting to see the diversity of these instruments in their heyday.

I played the cello for 20 years, but haven't played in a long while. My cello didn't make the move to the UK, sadly (I sold it before I moved). I'd like to learn a new instrument, but I'm not sure what. Something I can play in a group, I think.

 

Cello skills would translate well to the mandolin and fiddle.     I

  Sort of, sizewise.  I'm fairly sure that the bouzouki is tuned GDAE, an octave below the mandolin GDAE(not that the tunings aren't changed according to use).  The mandocello is CGDA (both strings in same octave), on octave below the mandola.

There also are mandobass(es), but those are mostly curiousities.  Interesting to look at but not half as practical as the string bass.

Mandolin orchestras were 'all the rage' in the early 20th century - it's rather interesting to see the diversity of these instruments in their heyday.

Yes, a bazuki (at least the celtic version, not sure about the greek bouzouki) is tuned an octave below- at least that's how my Dad plays his and when I play his, how I play it.   
I just youtubed mandolin orchestra- awesome!!! How fun!!!

I sing (musical theatre is what I'm finishing my degree in) and I play guitar. 

guitar (i play by ear, can't read music) but i haven't got access to one anymore. my dad is an excellent musician and has about eight martins and ovations at home. sure do wish i had one now! i'd love the beastie to grow up in a musical household like i did.

bodhran. took lessons from jackie moran, who is an all-ireland champion, at old town school of music in chicago. i kick ass, thank you very much.  

bodhran. took lessons from jackie moran, who is an all-ireland champion, at old town school of music in chicago. i kick ass, thank you very much.  

Oh that is so cool. I have a few folk CDs from the Old Town School of Music and I love them!!  Awesome, just awesome!

I played the cello for 20 years, but haven't played in a long while. My cello didn't make the move to the UK, sadly (I sold it before I moved). I'd like to learn a new instrument, but I'm not sure what. Something I can play in a group, I think.

Wow, you sold your cello!  I love the sound of cello.  One of my favorite CDs is a celtic harp / cello duet.

Wow, you sold your cello!  I love the sound of cello.  One of my favorite CDs is a celtic harp / cello duet.

I'd stopped playing, and when I moved to Maine 5 years ago, I promised myself I'd play. I took lessons for a year which were really expensive, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I did when I was a kid and in every youth orchestra and symphony in Pittsburgh. So when I left for the UK it had been over 4 years since I'd played it, and I was comfortable at that point giving it up.

I'd stopped playing, and when I moved to Maine 5 years ago, I promised myself I'd play. I took lessons for a year which were really expensive, and I didn't enjoy it as much as I did when I was a kid and in every youth orchestra and symphony in Pittsburgh. So when I left for the UK it had been over 4 years since I'd played it, and I was comfortable at that point giving it up.

I see--I do understand what you mean.  I gave up painting (something I'd done for years and even have my degree in) and was comfortable with that.  There are only so many dreams one can follow!

Just feel like bumping this way up, because we have lots of new faces and you never know who may be lurking 

guitar (i play by ear, can't read music) but i haven't got access to one anymore. my dad is an excellent musician and has about eight martins and ovations at home. sure do wish i had one now! i'd love the beastie to grow up in a musical household like i did.

bodhran. took lessons from jackie moran, who is an all-ireland champion, at old town school of music in chicago. i kick ass, thank you very much.  

I'm obviously am not a musician, the closest I got was playing on the linoleum, so when I read the above I thought you were saying 'eight martinis"

I'm obviously am not a musician, the closest I got was playing on the linoleum, so when I read the above I thought you were saying 'eight martinis"

i have never played a single martini. pints of guinness or strongbow, however, i am proficient on.

I grew up singing in school chorus from age 7 to 17 (ended with being a high soprano). 

My husband is the more accomplished musician.  He's been playing for over 20 years on guitar and has his own band with a CD coming out (on their own...not signed).  He's toured (in a well-known band as well as a guitar tech for bands), so I'm a bit jealous of how much he's travelled, but so proud at the same time.   

Managed to miss this when it was first up. I started playing violin when I was 9 (wanted to start earlier but my school programme started in 4th grade) and played in the school orchestra and a youth symphony in addition to taking private lessons for about 8 years and going to a couple of music camps. When I got to uni I hated the violin teacher there, so I switched to viola and played that off and on for the rest of my time in the US. When I moved to Scotland I brought my violin with the intention of learning to fiddle, but instead ended up playing viola in the chamber orchestra. I just can't cope with improvisation! I was in the chamber orchestra for 5 years but was starting to get annoyed by the limited repertoire (Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert, rinse, repeat), then I was saved by 1) the conductor retiring so I didn't feel as beholden to the group and 2) a Baroque orchestra starting up. I have always been a Bach devotee, so this was perfect for me, and I've been playing in that group for the last year and a half. I've also played in pit orchestras for musicals in high school and a couple of Gilbert and Sullivan shows here.

Wow, great thread

Let's see.  I've sung in various school and other choirs since I was in elementary school.  Haven't sung much since I left school (other than in the car/shower/to accompany myself on guitar) but it's one of my favorite things to do.

I played the flute in elementary and middle school, but I haven't played in years and have no desire to pick it up again.

I got a cheap acoustic guitar (Ibanez) when I was in high school.. probably 7-8 years ago.  I took lessons for a little while (i.e. a few weeks), then my teacher quit and I never bothered to continue with anyone else.

Fast forward to February of this year..  My visit to London was coming to an end.  During all the time I spent in London over the past couple of years, I met a lot of people who were musically inclined, including my then-boyfriend who I was staying with on the visit.  (He, in particular, has been playing guitar for something like 20 years and has several beautiful expensive electric guitars and he's really great at it.)  I'd always meant to get back to my acoustic one of these days, so before I left I asked him to teach me a couple of chords so I'd have something to start from when I got back to the US.  It was really difficult at first, but it's been great so far -- I got my guitar out of the basement when I got here and I've been practicing regularly ever since.  I'm definitely still learning but I'm really happy with the basic things I know, and it's so much fun!  I guess I just thought learning guitar was one of those things that was beyond me, but now I know it's up to me if I really want to learn.

I really want an electric guitar now!  But I'm going to be good and wait till I return to London to buy one.  I fear it getting destroyed on the journey over 

By the way, I'm really impressed with the harp players in this thread!  That would be so cool to know.