Multi-instrumentalists
 

Essentially, I would be talking more about your one-man bands here, but anyone who can play more than one instrument is technically seen as a multi-instrumentalist. So who are your favourites? I find a lot of them, from the limited experience I've had, tend to crop up in Black Metal and some in Prog Rock.

You have of course Pantopticon, which is basically Austin Lunn (also known as Austin Lundr, as, rather unbelievably, there is also a producer called Austin Lunn, who was involved in the mixing and production of some of the Panopticon albums), who generally writes, sings and plays everything.


Then there's his mate who goes only under the name of Lord Sardonyx (yeah) and comes from Iowa, whose project is called When Bitter Spring Sleeps. Both he and Lunn tend to veer off in the direction of more folkish, traditional and, in His Lordship's case, Pagan Metal directions, with the result that it would appear you can rarely be certain what to get from either, but it is always worth listening to.


In the prog rock arena we have Englishman Andrew Marshall, who performs under the name of Willowglass

American Blake Carpenter, who uses the name The Minstrel's Ghost

and Arjen Lucassen, best known as founder and driving force behind Ayreon


Can't forget the legendary Mike Oldfield

and our own, surely soon to be equally legendary Mondo Bungle

(To be filled in once Mondo gives me a video I can use.

You know who has two thumbs and several instruments?

Me!

Can I have my thumbs back?

With four I am invincible

The difference is WWWP knows how to play those instruments.

Oh you.

Monarque
A one man Black Metal Band from Canada
Very good stuff.

You're all thumbs.

Hope this counts....but for Wintersun's first album Jari did everything except for the drums and I consider that album a masterpiece.

of what

One of your albums or songs for a YouTube. Please.

"Son, I think you're spending too much time on the Youtube and Facespacing."

here's 65

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...QL0SI1kQy_-g0b

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...PQH8utxflKti1e

Muchas gracias.

Well, might as well throw the obvious in

http://images.coveralia.com/audio/p/...ey-Frontal.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...D48517CE3EDCDF

"Hey, man, wanna buy a baby?"

I think the look on the baby's face says "Hide me man! Don't let my enemies get me!" :D

I honestly think that being a multi-instrumentalist in itself isn't really a big feat unless you're exceptional at them. Once you have a strong philosophy of music then it's just a matter of picking up technique (not that you shouldn't try to learn from the instrument). It gets more interesting for me when they start making their own instruments or reinventing them.

Anyway, I like Haino

I have great respect for anyone who can play an instrument, as I know for some people this can be a lifetime commitment, learning, honing your craft, getting better and so on. So anyone who can play more than one instrument instantly gets kudos from me. I tried both guitar and keyboards, and suck at both. Hey! Maybe I'm a multi-non-instrumentalist! :D

How much time did you put into it? Ain't nobody picks up their first instrument as a virtuoso, not even Coltrane or Hendrix. The learning curve varies a lot from person to person of course.

Keyboard I could play, though not well. You heard some of my stuff. Pretty damn awful, right? Guitar? Hell: I couldn't even push the strings down on the acoustic so like, thirty seconds maybe? :laughing: If you're actually interested and this isn't all just leading up to yet another put-down (which, to be fair, I wouldn't blame you for as a) I'm always slagging your music and b) my "music" could strip the paint from walls and send strong men crying for their mommies), the main problem I found was - was - what was it? I can't remem - oh yeah. I have a terrible memory. I would learn songs, then forget them. Even now, put me at a keyboard and I could muddle my way through, but don't ask me to play anything recognisable. Melody, maybe. Chords, no. Also I never got the hang of the two-hands-doing-separate-things style, so could not really be called anything like a piano player.

Serious. I don't like seeing people give up on music.

Muscle memory is huge part of playing too which is why practicing is pretty important. Did you try learning to read music? Even if you use a weird ass notation that only makes sense to you, it can be a big step in dealing with your memory. If you're interested in learning I'd recommend keeping at it and you'll see improvement. I might be wrong but it does seem like you have the time for at least a little bit a day.

Thanks. Nice to see someone take a genuine interest.
But yeah, I tried reading music. Was like trying to learn a new language, which I guess it is. Unfortunately I put my synth away for years and when I eventually went to retrieve it it was busted. Nothing but a few keys work now, the sequencer is ****ed, ain't got the power lead, speakers are wrecked etc. I thought of getting a new one, but then, I think of doing a lot of things.

You could get a simple keyboard that's standalone or one that works with a computer program for relatively cheap. Might be better for learning than a synth so that you don't get caught up in the (very fun) effects.

Maybe try a Ukulele, they're a lot easier on the fingers, they're generally cheaper than a full sized acoustic six string, and they're lighter and easier to handle. Different standard tuning, but the mechanics are the same. Lots of on-line tutorials too.

Kevin Gilbert.

I've had an acoustic guitar in my room for like a decade but never bothered to try learning past the first week. I have stubby fingers that don't want to reach across the frets and hand eye coordination that makes changing even between two chords a challenge.

You don't need hand-eye-coordination for a chord change, dumbass.

Before you build muscle memory I imagine that's what it is.

Eyes play a ridiculously small role.

When people first start out on guitar, they learn by looking at and placing their fingers in proper positions. It's not until your fingers gain familiarity with the instrument that you can finger chords without looking, so I can see his point.

But you'd have to be legitimately retarded for hand-eye-coordination to have any measurable effect on the quality of your playing, even as an absolute beginner.

Well, yeah. I mean, just look at him.

Fair point.

Hand eye coordination, spatial reasoning, dexterity, whatever. Mine is **** and it makes me bad at all kinds of physical tasks. I've been told at work that I look like I'm working in slow motion at times because while making a sandwich I simply can't move my hands as quickly and accurately as at least a decent percentage of other people without starting to **** up even after years of this ****.

I've seen you play video games. You're the kind of player that I wanna grab the controller from and do it myself. Frustrating. So frustrating.

https://i.imgur.com/GCmbI0v.gif

Play drone.