How many musicians on Kiwibiker?

[riffer]

One thing I've noticed is how many motorcyclists also seem to be musicians (and IT professionals, come to think of it).

How many of you guys play music, what sort of music do you play, and what are your favourite instruments?

I'm 37, been playing guitar since I was 6.

I've played in bands off and on since 1977, playing predominantly in punk rock, heavy metal and hard rock bands, playing both rhythm and lead guitar.

My gear of choice:

1980's Gibson Les Paul custom
1980's Ibanez Blazer - restored
JCM800 Marshall Head and Quad
Roland GT-3 COSM effects unit.

:spudguita:rockon:

[Quasievil]

I Play Guitar, a washburn acoustic electric, been slack lately but getting back into it, love the Kiwi stuff dobyn etc

[SPORK]

One thing I've noticed is how many motorcyclists also seem to be musicians (and IT professionals, come to think of it).

How many of you guys play music, what sort of music do you play, and what are your favourite instruments?

I'm 37, been playing guitar since I was 6.

I've played in bands off and on since 1977, playing predominantly in punk rock, heavy metal and hard rock bands, playing both rhythm and lead guitar.



Yeah!

I have been playing guitar for, oh, nigh on 3 years now. Started with my mum's old acoustic, then moved on to my ESP EX-260! I love it, I know why it is pretty much James Hetfield's main guitar shape, it has awesome access to the frets and all. I play mainly heavy metal, instrumental guitar stuff like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and, one of the best bands that have come out recently, The Darkness! They are more than just a gimmick band, the singer/guitarist Justin Hawkins is really talented. :cool:

I mostly play rhythm, but with a healthy dose of lead. I play most of my lead stuff from Joe Satriani and the like. Me and my brother have frequent jam sessions, and he has a friend that is extremely good on drums, and my cousin plays bass, so we have a right little band going (even though it isnt a band)

Just my 2 cents

[Two Smoker]

I play music with my knee sliders........:mellow:and blipping the throttle on the bike makes nice music..... and i can toe/heel extremely well, which in the right car makes nice music

Other than that, i played drums for a couple years..... (many years ago)

[toads]

Well I sort of play guitar and piano, being left handed had to teach myself, and probably do it all wrong, I love music, mainly blues, and rock but like quasi love NZ music, dobbyn and others.
cos of my teenagers I've got to quite like some contemporary stuff and they have got to like some of my stuff too, Lynard skynard for example. One day I'll get proper lessons but for now I just mess around. I have an old woodward piano and a kasuga classical 6 string.

[James Deuce]

I've played drums for 27 years.

I currently have a 5 Piece DW kit, 20"x18" Bass drums, 12", 14", 16" toms, and selection of Premier, pearl, and Pacific Drums Snare drums, and about 15 cymbals to allow for different gigs.

I've recorded 6 albums here and 1 in the UK, done television and radio work, but I mostly love working in a band environment writing, performing, and recording orginal music.

There is very little in the music world that I don't like, but manufactured bands sometimes get my goat, especially when they massacre a cover of a song I particularly like.

[Ms Piggy]

I sing but I haven't sung in a band or anything for years. I used to sing all the time at church and used to be in a band but when I left church I've just never got back to it. I miss it!

I lead a waiata twice last week at Uni and got some encouraging words, so I'm seriously thinking about trying to get into a choir or maybe start by getting some professional lessons - do any of you musos have any suggestions?

[Posh Tourer :P]

I try to learn guitar occasionally, and have played trumpet for a few years. I prefer jazz, but I'm not good enough at it....

[StoneChucker]

I play the piano, from around the age of 8, but it's been a long time since I've even touched one! I have a guitar, but I've only managed about 5 chords. I hit a hurdle when I got to bar chords, since my accoustic has a very high string height from the neck (there is a musical term for that height, I know), and I just can't seem to push them all the way down. I'm thinking of getting an electric, or easier to play electo-accoustic, that is when I have a bit of spare cash, oh, say around 2015 :crazy:

Anyone want to donate a piano to me? :shifty:

PS: I am trained in IT, a "microsoft systems engineer", but I don't work in the field.

[k14]

I used to play the Violin, Piano and Saxophone, but stopped playing when I was around 16 or so. Played the Violin for 12 years (since I was 4) and did some exams, but got sick of it. Don't play anything now.

[Indiana_Jones]

Started learning the piano this year :niceone:

-Indy

[Joni]

I was in a band for many years - did some session work as well in studios... was fun.

Sing & play bass

[Blakamin]

Played guitar and bass for a few bands.
these days i prefer the engineering side of things
did an SAE course in the early 90's

[Motu]

I don't have a musical bone in my body - but that doesn't stop me! Our place is full of instruments and I have an alto sax and a 1924 Conn C Melody sax,and a left handed bass.Pulling in the clutch to keep the engine alive going down on the dirt track killed some nerves in my plucking fingers,so bass playing stopped...I see it sitting on the stand,my coffee is on the amp,it's a wet sunday,hmmm.....Tooth work has affected my 'bite' and playing the sax is frustrating,the C Melody has a broken spring and needs repair,I'm looking forward to test driving it,it's got such a nice sound.

Music just seems to go with bikes.....I've often tryed to explain what happens when you are riding on the edge,beyond your limits....just plucking skill out of nowhere...like you just know what to do,surpasing your own abilities and what the bikes capable of...I feel it comes through me,not from me......then watch I a live guitar solo,or a jazz sax solo,it's the same thing....well,that's how it seems to me?

[Quasievil]

MMMmMM waiakto Rally song fest ???? you know camp fire sing along:gob:

[SPORK]

...I hit a hurdle when I got to bar chords, since my accoustic has a very high string height from the neck (there is a musical term for that height, I know)...

Yeah, you are talking about the action. I used to have some trouble, but then my fingers got stronger, and I can do them now no sweat. Get an electric anyway though, so you can shred people up!

[Hitcher]

There wasn't enough musical talent to go around in my family, so rather than do an equitable divvy-up, my sister got the lot! Piano lessons went really well until I was supposed to use two hands at the same time... I have about as much rhythm as a father of 17 and sing like one of the rejects from NZ Idol. In school choir I was always the wannabe baritone with the partially broken voice who got hidden in the back row. However I am a sucker for a good tune and a clever lyric (although I don't always hear them right, but that's usually due to the singer's piss poor diction, rather than my bad ear!).

[aff-man]

Hmm been playing drums for about oh i dunno 5 years now. Got the good old pearl forum 5 piece with some pretty good cymbals. Looking for a band to join at the moment(well have been for about a year now hahahahaha)


Oh and i have a set of the mighty bongo's. maybe if i can transport them i can bring them on the waikato rally.

[James Deuce]

Hmm been playing drums for about oh i dunno 5 years now. Got the good old pearl forum 5 piece with some pretty good cymbals. Looking for a band to join at the moment(well have been for about a year now hahahahaha)


Oh and i have a set of the mighty bongo's. maybe if i can transport them i can bring them on the waikato rally.

Stop LOOKING for a band and get off your arse and form one. Then provide the motivation to keep it going. Looking for a band is a bit like looking for sex. Just do it, cope with the 300:1 rejection ratio and you'll end up with compatible band mates. No freaking excuses now either. And no endless practices. Practice in public and fall on your arse sometimes. It's the only way to learn.

[aff-man]

Yip tried forming a band .....twice. First time just fell apart cause guys got board. Second time we had a good group of muso's but then the guitarist left and the new guy that the others brought played a different style. Pretty soon it was death metal band. I like playing a bit of everything but i just got bored i suppose. :spudwhat:

[James Deuce]

Yip tried forming a band .....twice. First time just fell apart cause guys got board. Second time we had a good group of muso's but then the guitarist left and the new guy that the others brought played a different style. Pretty soon it was death metal band. I like playing a bit of everything but i just got bored i suppose. :spudwhat:

That's only a couple of people dude - excuses I say. If the musical direction skews from what you are after in the band YOU formed, fire the dude causing the problem, or even better be REALLY, REALLY, clear about what you want from YOUR band when you recruit people. Don't take the first monkey that turns up unless they are the right person of course. Now stop arguing with me and don't post again until you have a band together (j/k).

Keep at it 'til you find the right people. It is harder than getting married.

[aff-man]

Keep at it 'til you fund the right people. It is harder than getting married. :killingme :killingme :killingme

Will do, any takers here???

[ching_ching]

Spoons. Practice 3 times a week. Getting pretty awesome.

ching (aka Mr Spoons)

[Ms Piggy]

Spoons. Practice 3 times a week. Getting pretty awesome.

ching (aka Mr Spoons)

Yo Mr Spoons - Got that bike down yet? ;)

[shandawg]

dj drum and bass (8 years) :Punk:
write d&b, dub etc 6 yrs :headbang:

Can't play any "real" instruments though :shit:

[Milky]

Looking for a band is a bit like looking for sex.
Practice in public and fall on your arse sometimes. It's the only way to learn.
wouldnt you get arrested for that rather quickly? :laugh:

[MikeL]

Music just seems to go with bikes

And with just about everything else.
I think when it comes to music there are 2 kinds of people: those who play and those who wished they could. The difference between listening to music and making it is the difference between sitting on a bike and actually riding it...

As for me, it was piano lessons at the age of 5, terminated after 6 weeks when it became apparent that I was more interested in making my own than in practising scales. Some years later, I began to teach myself. I still prefer making my own music...

[What?]

One thing I've noticed is how many motorcyclists also seem to be musicians
The late Cozy Powell rode an RC30. Serious bike for a serious drummer. Apparently he was pretty bloody quick, too.

[riffer]

The late Cozy Powell rode an RC30. Serious bike for a serious drummer. Apparently he was pretty bloody quick, too.
Yeah, a dreadful pity that one so talented behind the drum kit and on two wheels dies behind the wheel of a Saab. :(

[Devil]

Had played bass in metal bands for a few years, just getting rid of the last of my gear now as I dont use it. (Musicman Stingray5 for sale :D )
My main rig was:
Musicman Stingray5 bass (vintage sunburst, black scratchplate, maple neck).
Sansamp PSA-1 preamp
Peavey CS1000X (1000w power amp)
Ampeg SVT810E 8x10 cab.

DOOOOOOOOOMY DOOOOM DOOOM.

[riffer]

"They keep me locked up in this cage..." - Sanitarium

See, Metallica are bikers too! You're not too far wrong there madcat.

James Hetfield (singer and rhythm guitarist) is the only member of Metallica that regularly rides motorcycles.

A self-confessed bogan and hot-rod freak, Hetfield owns a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air and a Harley Davidson chooper, both of which he customised and rebuilt himself.

[riffer]

A correction. His motorcycle was built by Jesse James (West Coast Choppers) to his specifications.

[vifferman]

One thing I've noticed is how many motorcyclists also seem to be musicians (and IT professionals, come to think of it).

How many of you guys play music, what sort of music do you play, and what are your favourite instruments?:spudguita:rockon:Yeah, well.... err... I'll come clean.
I'm an IT professional, and I also occasionally massacre the guitar (Washburn acoustic, or one of my sons' electrics). Started playing about 15 years ago, I guess.

I always wanted to learn a musical instrument, but figured I'd be useless at it. While it was just a dream, it was safe; if I actually started playing and couldn't then BAM!! the dream's lost. I was talking about this to a girl I worked with who played the cornet, and she said "Hey! I've got a guitar you can borrow." So then I had no choice. I figured, "If I can tune this sucker, then that's a good start", and after a few hours, I got there, and was away. Then the guitar got repossessed a few weeks later (it wasn't hers, just borrowed), and I had to decide whether to commit or quit. So, I bought my own (Yamaha), and it sounded SO GOOD after the crappy cheap classical one, that I was really away. Then that got stolen when our house was burgled, and it was a few years before I got around to replacing it.

I'm glad I did take the leap. I'm still a crap guitarist, but that's from not spending enough time practising. If I hadn't got into it, then maybe my sons wouldn't have either. One is a very talented musician (guitar and keyboard), and the other is just very keen, and makes up for lack of talent with enthusiasm. Now he enjoys playing with a band he formed with some mates - mostly metal, and covers of bands like Metallica, the Chillis, DejaVoodoo, etc. It's really good to see the pleasure he gets from it. (By the way - he's not in the IT industry, but the other one is.)

[Eddieb]

Yeah, well.... err... I'll come clean.
I'm an IT professional, and I also occasionally massacre the guitar (Washburn acoustic, or one of my sons' electrics). Started playing about 15 years ago, I guess.

Sounds much like me. I have a semi acoustic and Strat replica. Still love playing them but don't get much oppotunity. Never really had any lessions and usually just turn the stereo up and figure out whatevers playing.

Would love to be able to play some lead though. even just a bit.

[riffer]

Sounds much like me. I have a semi acoustic and Strat replica. Still love playing them but don't get much oppotunity. Never really had any lessions and usually just turn the stereo up and figure out whatevers playing.

Would love to be able to play some lead though. even just a bit.
There's only one way to get good on guitar. Play every day, even if its only for 5-10 minutes.

I have an acoustic guitar in the lounge for that very reason. It's a 30 year old Diplomat acoustic. I got it for my 7th birthday from my parents. Diplomat were the "budget" division of Yamaha back in the 70s. Still, it's lasted well considering.

It's got a nice narrow neck and the action, while not the same as my Les Paul (shit there's not many electrics with action as low as a fretless wonder) is still good enough for everything except fast lead work.

Anyway, I tend to just play around with it until someone gets hacked off cause they can't hear the telly but hey, even if its a couple of minutes at a time in the ads it still makes a difference. :yes:

[phil_elvey]

Man, there are a lot of muso's here! Well I can add my lot to the list:

Main instrument: Drums - played for eight years now. My perfect day is to go out for a primo ride and then come back and have a bash on the bangers for an hour or two. Kit at the moment is very modest due to constantly moving (including countries) - one of those mass manufactured asian ones. Looking to upgrade soon. Best kit in the past was a Pearl.
Jim2: you are the man! You'll have to show me some stuff some time (just don't tell me when you and your family are going away for the weekend or you might come back and find some extra marks on your heads!)

Other instruments: started on the piano, also played the trombone for a few years

It is interesting that the CN6 noted both musicians and IT pros, because it is highly possible there is a link there. One of the conductors of a production I was in once used to go on about how music is related to maths. She reckoned by learning music at a young age, you are actually teaching your kids pretty advanced maths and so these kids do well at school and (if they haven't gone off the rails and rebelled from society) will go on to do tertiary education. Bit of a generalisation I guess but there is definately some sense in it.

[nicko]

Played the piano as a kid...but got into the guitar when I found out I could play songs that I heard on the radio.

Now have a Yamaha steel-string acoustic, an Ibanez Joe Satriani signature electric (JS100) and a Marshal VS265 amp. My fingers are too dopey and slow to play any lead Satriani but god loves a tryer.

[Motu]

I have an acoustic guitar in the lounge for that very reason. It's a 30 year old Diplomat acoustic. I got it for my 7th birthday from my parents. Diplomat were the "budget" division of Yamaha back in the 70s. Still, it's lasted well considering.

It's got a nice narrow neck and the action, while not the same as my Les Paul (shit there's not many electrics with action as low as a fretless wonder) is still good enough for everything except fast lead work.


My daughter has a semi acoustic Diplomat,F slots and stuff like that,looks like they copied it on tracing paper cause it looks backwards.It needs some serious work now - splitting body and distorted neck,so she just has it around as an acoustic to pick up.When the Diplomat became unplayable we got her a cheap Les Paul copy,I knew she wouldn't be happy with a Strat lookalike,everyone has one of those,but a classic looking Les Paul with humbuckers is right up her street (60s freak) My other daughter has the Strat copy,in left handed.

[riffer]

My daughter has a semi acoustic Diplomat,F slots and stuff like that,looks like they copied it on tracing paper cause it looks backwards.It needs some serious work now - splitting body and distorted neck,so she just has it around as an acoustic to pick up.When the Diplomat became unplayable we got her a cheap Les Paul copy,I knew she wouldn't be happy with a Strat lookalike,everyone has one of those,but a classic looking Les Paul with humbuckers is right up her street (60s freak) My other daughter has the Strat copy,in left handed. I had a '62 Fender Stratocaster, black with white scratchboard, you know, like the one on the cover of Eric Clapton's Timepieces.

Beautiful guitar, one of the first with the narrow radius neck profile, not like those ugly 50's strats with the neck profile at the back that was almost circular.

I pulled out the standard pickups and replaced them with Seymour Duncans and threw 10-52 strings on it, 'cause that was what Stevie Ray Vaughan had on his guitar and I desparately wanted that "fat" sound.

Then Stevie Ray lost his life in that helicopter accident. Pity - I heard he was going to marry a New Plymouth girl and settle down here for a while....

And a few days later my Strat was stolen. Hmmm. Must have been an omen.

My mum and dad's Insurance paid out $2600 on it (back in '87), as it was ripped of from their garage where my band was practicing. So I went out and bought a brand spanking new Jackson - strat body shape, active electronics, Floyd Rose, the works. F*&king expensive guitar. No wonder all I could afford for transport was a CB350 twin and an old VH V8 Valiant.

And then that got stolen at a breakin at my uncles practice room. I'd been doing some session work for his jazz band. With a Jackson metal guitar! You should have seen the look on these guys faces when I turned up with that an a Marshall stack!!! Priceless!

So with the insurance money from that one and a bit I had saved, I bought my favourite guitar, a 1988 Gibson Les Paul Custom. Cause they were a classic, and I could afford it, and Billy Duffy from the Cult played one and he was cool back then, and Thin Lizzy used them too and shit if I could get that sound then I was in...

and I've still got it now.

And I try and play it every day too....


:love2: I love my guitar.

[Racey Rider]

Wondered how long it would be before someone brought up music.
Good to see a few other musio's around.

I started out playing piano when young, but packed it in.
In my late teens I got back into playing music.
Play: drums, bass, accoustic guitar and Saxophone.
Mainly Church stuff, but a bit of "Dire Straits" to warm up the sax never goes amiss.
I Play a lot by ear and do a bit of singing when needed.

Like Jazz and Blues. :yeah:

Don't like Country :puke:

Always told myself, "One day, I'm gunner take that GeTar, & do a bit of Busking" Bring out the Elivis songs ("Thanyou very much!") :2thumbsup
But, that day hasn't come yet!

:rockon:

[pete376403]

(snip guitar stuff) ...and Thin Lizzy used them too and shit if I could get that sound then I was in...

and I've still got it now.

And I try and play it every day too....


:love2: I love my guitar.

So didja play "Whiskey In The Jar" at the gargre night??

[riffer]

So didja play "Whiskey In The Jar" at the gargre night??
LOL. nice one Pete.

Unfortunately any REAL Thin Lizzy fan knows you just can't do it without two guitars.

Kinda like doing "duelling banjos" with one banjo.

... Now watch some smartarse chime in and proclaim he can play all the two part 5th harmonic solos on his own - actually I better watch it with that - last time I said something like that I had to sit by and listen to Phil Knight (Pacifier) prove to me he could play all the guitar parts from Yngwie Malmsteen's trilogy album). After an hour of pain I had to concede...

[vifferman]

It is interesting that the CN6 noted both musicians and IT pros, because it is highly possible there is a link there. One of the conductors of a production I was in once used to go on about how music is related to maths. She reckoned by learning music at a young age, you are actually teaching your kids pretty advanced maths and so these kids do well at school and (if they haven't gone off the rails and rebelled from society) will go on to do tertiary education. Bit of a generalisation I guess but there is definately some sense in it.Mebbe. There are quite a few musos at work (IT software house), and apparently over 60% of Microsoft employees are musicians.
My kids are all very good at maths, so I'd imagine that the link is quite true. The youngest is apparently quite musically talented (according to one of his teachers), and started to learn keyboards, but gave it away after a few weeks. I think having to live up to his brother, and having his brother rubbishing him all the time didn't help. Shame though, as he's got long slender fingers which look ideal for playing.
The middle son is actually left-handed, and although I tried to get him to play a left-handed guitar, he won't have a bar of it (no pun intended). Would've made it easier for us to teach one another. Because of his keyboard training, he decided when he took up guitar that he wanted to learn it PROPERLY, which meant chord theory, position of all the notes on the fretboard, learning both classical and rock, etc. etc. I went the opposite way, and told my teacher (I had lessons for a few weeks a couple of years back) that I didn't want to learn any theory, don't want to be able to read proper musical notation, just tablature, and that I just wanted to learn some techniques and a few pieces. So I did.
I should really have lessons again, as the discipline was good (the teacher used to give me a beating every week), but having four (4!!) of us doing lessons at one stage was getting a bit pricey...

[Motu]

I'd go along with the music and maths bit - my wife is skilled in both maths and music theory...but can't add a colum of figures,she's also no muso,asked to sit in on a jam she just sits there not knowing what to do.But she can play any instrument,sight read unknown piano music and duet on her clarinet,transposing on the fly,if I ask her for a song,she will just write it down on manuscript paper,straight from her head,in any key,using the pencil to finger recorder notes.She can't believe I can't hear the difference between two notes,multiply in my head...or spell....some of us were just born stupid I reckon.

[vifferman]

She can't believe I can't hear the difference between two notes,multiply in my head...or spell....some of us were just born stupid I reckon.Ehhhh... left brain vs. right brain stuff, I guess.
I've found that I can't play the guitar well if I think about it. When I bought my guitar after several years without one, I couldn't for the life of me remember WTF most of the fingering was for even basic chord shapes. As soon as I tried to play a song I'd known really well, and stopped thinking, I just played. I also have trouble sometimes playing and singing, because as soon as WORDS (lyrics)are involved, the old left brain goes "AHa!! This is my department!", and interferes. Shades of Homer Simpson...

[sAsLEX]

played various saxes over the 7 years at high school, been to busy at work and uni to keep it up, might pick it back up one day though...

[phil_elvey]

a bit of "Dire Straits" to warm up the sax never goes amiss.


Yeah the Straits! :rockon:

[yessum]

I try to pick up my guitar a few times a week to bash out a few tunes. I have a Korean knockoff of an SG :Punk: and a decent little marshall. Also been known to pick up a bass or bash a drum, unfortunately with little or no talent.

[nicko]

By the way, anyone after a learner electric guitar package in Auckland give me a yell. Got a blue Samick electric in good nick with a 10W practice amp, lead, hard case and might even throw in a free lesson ;)

After $300.

Cheers,
Nicko

p.s. Also got a compression pedal and phaser pedal for sale or swap for what ya got.
p.p.s. Anyone know how to repair wah-wah pedals?

[riffer]

p.p.s. Anyone know how to repair wah-wah pedals?
What's wrong with the pedal nicko?

[duckman]

What's wrong with the pedal nicko?

It keeps going ... "Wah wah" apparently ..... ;)

[Joni]

What's wrong with the pedal nicko?

Yeah - let me know as well.

[David170]

Those of you coming back into guitar, here are all the necessary chords

E|---------------------
B|---------------------
G|--------5----2------
D|---5----5----2------
A|---5----3----0------
E|---3----------------- ect.

If you know your scales it's easy. Otherwise just yell and hope for the best. Man I love punk and punkrock, and ska.
Heres some advice for you young'uns getting into music from Floyd at fat wreck chords.

"Do you have some advice to beginning bands??" -Bram
Bram,
Practicing is overrated. Talent is overrated. Precision is not necessary. Never play longer than 10 minutes. When in doubt, smash shit.

There you go

Crappy Epiphone Strat, buzzes
Crappy Jansen Brute Amp
Crappy playing
Crappy Music :eek: