Ask HN: How many of you play music? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: How many of you play music?

29 pointsbart81 comments

I think that most of people have the common passion - music.

Many people just listen and enjoy. But I would like to know, how many of hackers actually play the music and which music style?

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Acoustic guitar, mostly gypsy-jazz style (Django Reinhardt) and a lot of fingerstyle.

I play with some gypsy-jazz bands in Chicago and post YouTube videos here: http://youtube.com/adrianholovaty -- more than 12,000 subscribers! :-)

Co-creator of Django here, everyone. "Mad props" to you, Mr. Holovaty, for Django. Oh, and your guitar playing is great.

I've been playing guitar for quite some time now. How did you go about learning gypsy-jazz? Do you recommend learning "simpler" forms of jazz first? I could use a challenge.

I'm a classically trained musician (Royal College of Music) and played professionally for a couple of years before getting into software development. My brother is also a musician turned developer and this seems to be a common career path among former college friends.

I play all sorts of music (not just classical) and will listen to most things.

A life without music is truly empty.

I play bassoon in orchestra and piano on my own (though I'm very rusty at the latter).

My main musical outlet these days is traditional dance music, primarily from Ireland (with a strong focus on South Sligo) and Newfoundland. I play whistle reasonably well and I'm working on learning wooden flute and one-row button accordion. I write tunes in this style as well.

This has been asked before: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=428776

and my comment from that thread: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=428969

Thanks for the link I found: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=429043 to be an interesting take.

I have zero intrest in Music and don't link CS with Math. While I was well above average in math, relative to the average person, I am a far better programmer and consider it a compleatly seperate toppic.

PS: My college DiffEQ teacher got annoyed when I said I had little intrest in getting a masters in Math. I wonder how many programmers have the talent, but lack the intrest.

The Knuth comment was very interesting. I majored in Math and everyone in the math department played some sort of instrument, even if it was the stereotypical "nerdy kid forced to play the violin". Since I left school and been in industry I'd say maybe 1 in 50 I meet play an instrument. However, probably 4/5 of programmers I meet are bicyclists, or at least at own an overpriced bike.

I sing in a couple opera companies in New York City.

I'm a drummer and I'm saving up for this bad boy: http://www.yamaha.com/drums/drumproductdetail.html?CNTID=568...

Oh, and I would rather stab myself with a fork than play punk.

Some would argue that fork-stabbing and listening to punk have roughly the same psychological effects, so you might not be far off there :)

I don't play drums but that's a nice looking set, love the colors.

I've got a maple custom absolute and I think it's pretty sweet, but that PHX looks sick... how new is that?

"Oh, and I would rather stab myself with a fork than play punk." good for you, but music should be emotive and a 20-minute Neil Pert drum solo is hardly emotive. If you equate technical mastery of an (needlessly expensive) instrument as the sole determining factor of musical enjoyment, I feel sorry for you. I cannot see the appeal of some technical wizard like Yngwie Malsteen. It's really, boring music at its core. Instrumental competence does not mean good song writing.

Technical wizardry may be boring to you but a lot of people really enjoy it. I agree that instrumental competence does not mean good song writing but the high of music is where those two skills intersect.

There is nothing boring about a Buddy Rich drum solo.

I agree, but this is a harder problem than it sounds. What's satisfying to the musician and what's satisfying to the listener are often different. Many musicians are interested in things that are hard or unusual to play. But most great music is simple or at least has an emotionally accessible, simple core. To have both an intellectual/technical engagement with the instrument and an emotional engagement with the listener is not always easy. The intellectual side is seductive, especially for the hacker type of musician.

The greatness of punk rock was that it swept aside (or more precisely pissed all over) bombastic competence in favor of immediate vitality, which is much closer to what music is all about. But something like that inevitably becomes a formula and then you have the worst of both worlds: stupid and boring.

I play primarily drums, though often I putz around on whatever gut-harp is within arm's reach. When I was playing in a band, we were a two-piece grind/death band; we were also another two-piece doing instrumental rock. I also play in a roughly annual Halloween Misfits cover band with some other rock dudes from the area. (Confidential to sofal: if punk is easy to play, you're playing too slow. :)

Gear: I have a Mapex Saturn 3pc (24x22 kick, 15x15 mounted tom, 18x16 floor tom) with a 14x7 Ludwig Black Beauty snare. More of less is more. :D Also, whatever cymbals I haven't killed yet -- right now it's Sabian crashes and hats, 24" Paiste ride, 18" Wuhan china.

I play my desk, the hand rest on the chair... i even play with my laptop keyboard when i'm on a role coding.

And i'm proud of it too :-)

In our software office of 14, 4 do not play a musical instrument

I currently play guitar in a rock band called Shipyards (www.myspace.com/shipyards). We're based in NYC.

I used to play in a band called First Aid Kit (before the swedes used the name) and before we broke up we had the amazing experience of spending a month opening for Finch (punk rock from California) playing to between 300 and 1000 kids.

I've played guitar since I was 12 and start with Metallica and Nirvana. I also play drums.

Tenor and Soprano Sax, Electric and Acoustic Guitar, Flute, plus lots of synths, sampling, electronic production. Style is mostly rock in a broad interpretation of the meaning of the word. This is a before work in the morning, after kids go to sleep at night activity, though. If I could just give up on that sleeping part in between....

I don't play but I compose quite a bit (mostly random electronic styles) for my own personal listening.

I've been an amateur composer for a decade, and picked up guitar recently.

On a side note, coding VSI instruments and then utilizing them in my music can be really gratifying. (And sometimes annoying too, when after dozens of man-hours it still sounds like aliased hell.)

I've played Irish Traditional music on the tinwhistle for over 20 years. I've taught it in schools that are part of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and qualified to compete in the All-Ireland. (And never stood a chance. I'm agog at how much musical talent there is in Ireland.)

Not in a band presently, but do some recording for fun. Sample: http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/379399/So%20Far%20Beyond.mp3

I am not a hacker by any means, but I do have a band. If you want to check us out I would love to hear your thoughts: www.myspace.com/augustmoonis or you can download our whole EP for free here: http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/album/august-moon/strategy-truck/

Unfortunately we never play shows (tonight is the first in 6 months) since I have moved off to Chicago from Louisville, KY where we originate. But it is always fun when we get a chance.

I play guitar and drums. I did the band thing 15 years ago and had some local success with a band called Uncle Knucklefunk. Our high point was opening up for Ace Frehley (who had no desire to even say hi to us by the way, which was devastating for our other guitar player whose idol was Ace.)

Now I play drums more than guitar, just because I enjoy it more. I have two boys who are both amazing on drums. The funny part is that I didn't teach them much. They learned by playing Rock Band and they're both better than me now.

I play guitar. I'm always in a band or two. Mostly synth-rock bands. Lately, I've been trying to put together a cuddlecore-twee-grindcore thing with a lot of moog. We'll see how that goes.

I sing. I took voice lessons for many years, and was "president" of my high school choir for two consecutive years. I love jazz and adult contemporary. I sang two songs at the Green Mill Lounge in Chicago: "Come Fly with Me" and "Summer Wind." I can also play guitar; I took lessons when I was a teenager. I also taught myself the electric bass, including the slap-and-pop technique. And, I taught myself the piano, which I love but don't play as much as I would like.

These days the instrument I play most is acoustic guitar, primarily out of convenience.

In the past (and when time allows) I've made almost anything into an instrument, and recorded styles that range from classical to noise.

For me the music I make has more to do with the context in which it is made than a purposeful selection of style, instruments and genre.

Does Rock Band count? I'm Expert on guitar and bass. ;)

More seriously, I do sing some and I took a few years of African drums.

Guitar, electric and acoustic. I'm very much out of practice these days - my two year old son is the priority. He already has musical taste - he comes over and mutes my strings whenever I play!

I love playing some of those old Celtic tunes I grew up listening to in Cape Breton, meant for violin but nice on guitar as well.

I play drums, trumpet, accordion, guitar, bass, keyboard, banjo, and whatever else I get my hands on.

Putting together a complex song with audio software -- wiring together effects and virtual instruments and tweaking MIDI programs and settings -- feels remarkably similar to working through a medium-sized software project.

I play music in many different styles; from electronica to folk. When I recently bought a banjo, my girlfriend forced me to count how many musical instruments I had. I lost track around 14... The only problem is that with my time divided between them I never have a chance to get very good at any of them.

guitar. punk rock. krylls.com.

there, i got the url in. sweet.

I play keyboards, guitar and just started learning the drums. Plus I'm typing this from my studio full of equipment. Synths, samplers, drum machines etc, mostly used for house and breaks tracks.

Also played the trombone in school until I was kicked out for improvising all the time.

play carnatic violin and sing (south indian classical)... used to hate it in school.. what an idiot!!!

I play piano, and I kind of have my own style. I can read music, but I generally take a melody, syncopate it, and add my own harmonies and nuances as I play it, by ear. Lately I've been taking guitar tabs, transferring them to the piano, and then tinkering with those.

Tangential question - can any of you recommend the best way of going about learning how to play the piano. Is the only way a tutor? I've picked up playing guitar for following tabs and YouTube videos, but don't seem to be having the same luck with piano.

Organ, piano, bassoon; used to play the first two at weddings/funerals/receptions and substitute-play at various churches. I'm not so good at the bassoon.

My favorite is chamber music, but I haven't even had time for jam sessions the past year or so...

I tried and I'm horrible. I'd really like to be a good musician but I spend my time programming and reading and drawing and writing and not doing music, so I'm not good at that (also I'm naturally awful). I'm a good programmer, but very bad at music.

Acoustic guitar, recorder, ukulele, djembe. I have a small collection of folk instruments and try to learn to play each one of them at least a little bit, so I can play (or at least produce semi-musical sounds from) things like duduk and rababah :)

I try to play a guitar, but rarely have I the time lately trying to find the time to learn scheme and tcl/tk at the same time during some occasional readings of tao/zen/scifi literature. I try to keep myself busy, it wears off the time :)

I consider myself a composer first, but I code my own laptop instruments and have experimented with networked performance as well. http://www.uwm.edu/~gssurges/

I play guitar in a band. Mostly pop/blues/soul/rock, and a tiny bit of jazz.

I'm a percussionist with a miniscule amount of guitar knowledge. :) As far as style, I've played everything from big band music and hymns through scream-o. I prefer not to lock into a style of anything.

Have a solo band: http://werenotthecoolkids.com

Kind of pop/noise/experimental; to put it another way: a noise band playing pretty melodies.

Trumpet player, played lead in jazz and principal in orchestra when i was in college. Also done some random shows with local rock bands looking for a horn player and church cantatas at the holidays.

I have studied classical violin for almost 11 years, and am in an orchestra. I also like to sing (some mix between songs from musicals, hymns, and classical music, in about that order).

I play 5-string banjo, 3-finger style. It grabbed hold of me and now it just sucks up my time.

But it's worth it. I'm getting pretty good, so who cares about doing actual work. :D

I played trombone through college (jazz band). Now I play bass and sing in a rock/blues band that gigs once or twice per month. I also hack around on guitar.

I play guitar, sing, and compose for the Signals. (http://www.myspace.com/thesignalsuk)

Do you think that bands like Signals would like to auction their unique things (guitar, signed tshirt, special call ... like NIN drummer) to get some revenue?

The standard is to do that to rise some funds for charity. I don't think you can change that into a business, becuase a band who would change from charity to profit would come of too greedy and self-important. You won't be able to sell that to the cool-kids.

I think that you ha ve a good point of view. But I think that it is normal for bands to sell their own stuff on the concerts, etc. http://mashable.com/2009/02/20/josh-freese-album-promotion took it step further and he is selling package for USD 75K. Do you see it too greedy? I think that fans are ok with it, but there is a problem, that similar package can be bought just by few guys.

piano/keyboards - have my eyes on one of these: http://www.clavia.se/main.asp?tm=Products&clpm=Nord_Stag...

by the way, 4 part series on music theory that's worth a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnbOWi6f_IM

Piano, guitar and sing the songs I write. I had the urge to start learning to play when I started hearing songs in my head Id never heard before.

I play the guitar and from time-to-time I lay down some random midi tracks and generally just mess around with various sequencer software.

Electric guitar at the moment. Blues, jazz lately.

I play the computer, using my own programs to make-create music. Playing a standard instrument bores me(too much repetition).

I played Violin for 5 years, but quit two years ago. I just don't have the time to practice anymore, going to GATech.

Vocals, guitar, and keyboards. I semi-frequently record tracks in GarageBand. I ping-pong between rock and trip hop.

I'm an amateur with no formal training; play fingerstyle guitar, sing and beatbox. Love jamming in the street.

Acoustic guitar - mostly folk and alternative rock. And typically it's just for myself or my family. :)

Guitar, bass, keys/electronics (laptop, Tenori-On), and I sort of sing a bit. Used to play violin.

Single reeds and a bit of piano and percussion.

Classically trained, but I do a lot of jazz too.

Classically trained violinist, though my forte is in improvisation (classical, rock, and jazz).

Guitar, bass guitar, double bass, and most low brass. Progressive rock, blues, and jazz, baby.

Jazz Bass - http://duoroyale.com

Violin, saxophone, learning the bass. Mostly jazzy style, but all-around.

Hard rock with red left-handed stratocaster... Crank it up, baybee!! :o)

I'm learning the piano at the moment, I'm learning classical music.

I play piano/B3 organ and bass guitar, mostly jazz/gospel.

Classical violin, as well as acoustic and rock guitar.

I play guitar and bongos for fun with my friends.

Piano (classical/jazz). A little djembe too.

I'm in the middle of a taiko apprenticeship.

drums, guitar, piano/keyboards in that order.

i write melodic alt rock songs and produce hip hop as well.

I play on harmonica, blues mostly

drummer, gothenburg-style metal

Piano. Classical. Used To.

I am an ex-trombone, bass singer, and arranger of the Gamer Symphony Orchestra, an 80-person student orchestra at UMD College Park that plays exclusively video game music. Check us out here: http://umd.gamersymphony.org/

We've done a wide range of songs. Stuff from Mother 3, Zelda, Kirby, Halo, Tetris, the works. We've got recordings on the site. Our last concert attracted 1100 people. I'm very proud to be a part of it.

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