Musical instruments on board

[Robin]

Well anyone can play a tape or CD, who can play a proper instrument?

I cannot play anything anymore though in my yoof played violin and also guitar (badly, in a band, got sacked for falling off the stage after the interval and free beers).

On board though I have a harmonica (not a kids one, proper job), an Irish Tin Penny whistle (and instruction book) and a kids recorder (and instruction book). Practice times have been severely limited in favour of maintaining nookie points.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Sermons from my pulpit are with tongue firmly in cheek and come with no warranty!</font size=1>

 

[tome]

Funnily enough, I'm under pressure to buy a guitar (which I can only play very badly) from SWMBO. She thinks it's dead sexy, and who am I to argue?

Will probably go for a small bodied nylon strung jobbie, nothing too loud until I've got the hang of it. Which could be many years.

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[dralex]

A harmonica is a really bad idea because you can't play it quietly. There is a rumour that you're meant to soak a new harmonica in a pint of beer before playing it. This expands the wood and makes it easier to bend the notes.

The guitar is definately the way forwards because you can have sing songs after a few beers, assuming you have no neighbours of course. I keep a guitar on the boat as it's one of the few times I get around to playing it these days.

Has anybody ever been in the Ferry Boat Inn at Dittisham up the Dart. The Landlord ( new ones last year) gets guitars out, hands them round and everybody has a really good sing- it's not as corny as it sounds, especially after a few beers.

<hr width=100% size=1>Life's too short- do it now./forums/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[Sybarite]

My six year old has started the violin.

Any offers?


John

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[scarlett]

I used to practise my Sax but only if I was the only person in the anchorage. This limit killed my progress dead and now it sits in the box unused.

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[jerryat]

Hi Robin,

I'm inclined to agree with others, and have taken a guitar with me on a couple of the longer trips, though only a cheap one, as 'a life on the ocean wave' might be fun for the singer(s) but isn't so pleasant for the instrument long term!

The best I ever heard was a good friend of mine who crewed on my boat from the Canaries to Cape Verdes and on to the Caribbean a couple of years ago. He was an orchestral standard, classically trained flautist, and to hear such an instrument, beautifully played as we sat in the cockpit with our 'sundowners', watching the sunsets, is a memory that I hope with never wither with age!

Cheers

Jerry


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[CliveG]

Did you not see the full size keyboard in the saloon table of the Hunter Mystry at the SIBS?

I think it also appered in the PBO this month

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[StugeronSteve]

Used to hammer the drums, like the auditioning drummer in the "Commitments", my musical "influence" was Animal from the Muppets.

Been considering buying a harmonica myself, coz my son tells me that learning "is but a mornings work". It didn't take him long to learn to tell porkies either.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[phanakapan]

when we go off on our long trip,we'll be taking violin (me, orchestral standard), guitar, recorder and/or penny whistle, harmonica, keyboard. I was thinking I could earn a few pennies busking.

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[Phoenix of Hamble]

Jerry,

That sounds fantastic....

I admit to being a bit of a fan of finding a quiet anchorage, waiting for dusk on a warm evening and putting some good mood music on the CD player, turning it up a bit, and relaxing more than I ever manage anywhere else......

I can imagine that a really good flautist would be a magical experience....

Thanks for the great mental picture..... nice way to spend a wet wednesday evening...

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[Sybarite]

If I ever head of solo I intend to bring a trombone with me. I reckon you don't need nimble fingers for it and it will always double as a fog horn.

John

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[Joe_Cole]

Saxophone, but it can be hard to find a suitable place to moor up. It usually means that I end up playing as we sail.

Never yet had to use it when people are partying alongside, but I'm sure that one day I'll be able to use it to suggest that somebody be quiet!

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[PhilF]

I had a nice acoustic guitar on board, but kept whacking the neck on everything, it was either a bigger boat or take it home, so I took it home - shame not enough room to safely stow it either

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[Spuddy]

I've got a dulcimer I knocked up years ago - it looks a bit like awalking stick with a rectangular X section. The idea, apparently , is that the player holds it against a wardrobe which acts like an acoustic amplifier. No wardrobe? well the penny finally dropped and I screwed it to a biscuit tin. Can't do hendrix solos on it though - strictly nasal, apalachian whines.
Also got a concertina - I could play the first three bars of "Jacks on the railway". The memsahib said it got louder the farther away she went.
What about all those half empty bottles and a drum stick?
get into the kitchen and rattle those pots and pans. spuddy

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[AuntyRinum]

who can play a proper instrument?



I can and a great pleasure it's been in many ports at many parties.

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[milltech]

In many of your posts you seem obsessed with "Nookie Points", is this the arrangement and if so how do you score (literally or figuratively as you wish)?

I nice little sing-song with herself, seated around a little stove with a few bottles of beer on hand would seem a better way of preparing for bed than "square mile", "Emerdale Farm", or any other electronic contraption.



<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[milltech]

On the way into Gosport by road there's a music shop on the right, and the guy who owns it has a deal to buy shipping damaged guitars from an importer. They've usually got chips and stuff but are all playable and very well priced so you don't have to worry too much what might happen to them.

I've got a lovely old Gibson and a slightly less lovely old Harmony but I've been thinking of buying one of these things so I wouldn't mind too much if it got wrecked. It's 35 years or more since I played them but I'm trying to harden up my fingers so I can mess about a bit.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[tome]

Thanks for this John. Will slip down that way and have a looksee, though I'll have to bring the other 4 fingers into play before I start looking at Gibsons.

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[milltech]

It's a couple of years since I was there, but the selection was on the right hand side and at the back, but I'm sure if you ask you will be shown.

I've got as far as "You've got to hide your love away", with only an occasional missed note, I could manage "You really got a hold on me" at a sing song if everyone joined in, but my efforts at "I Feel Fine" are complete shite, one note in four. It's going to be a long haul, and I think forever a private amusement!


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[amadeus]

Nine year old with cornet proved very useful leaving Christchurch in fog, and kept him amused on long motor trip round Portland home to Exmouth. Rest of family play Accordion (me) Violin and clarinet, which don't really fare well in salty damp places so strictly fair weather musicians. Harmonica better as easily portable and good cure for seasickness. (Son's favourite - I've got the beastly easterly blues) My ambition is one day to go to Brest and play at the festival but our repertoire is still a bit flaky! Best bit of oneupmanship was at Dittisham on a shared visitors mooring when the boat already tied up tried to frighten us away by warning us they had an eight year old with a violin and we offered to accompany him with far worse.I don't think we are any worse company in an anchorage than loud CD speakers blaring out but we are usually alone up a creek somewhere anyway. My pet hate is penny whistles as the user hasn't practised beforehand and sounds appalling trying to work out the tune as they go. aargh!

<hr width=100% size=1>It's more fun than housework!