What instruments do you play?

You must have been good. I first learned to play the piano by ear, then took lessons for several years, and got pretty good at that, too.

But how do you play the drums by ear? As I said, you must have been good!

 

Listening to what is being played, figuring out patterns ... taking pitch out of the issue except for those overseeing sets of multi-toms, etc. ...

Reading music is a big advantage, but there are examples of those who cannot and still do well. Phil Collins is a high-profile example.

 

Took piano lessons with my sister when I was in fourth grade, with a neighbor lady who taught piano. I was more into sports and didn't really practice, so the lessons ended for me (my sister, on the other hand, stuck with it and became pretty good). I did learn how to read sheet music, however.

Inspired by various classic rock greats, I desperately wanted a drum set to cram into my bedroom as a teenager. My parents, in their wisdom, got me a $20 set of bongo drums for Christmas instead. I played those until the wooden base cracked.

Then, during the first year of our marriage, Mrs. Coco got me an acoustic guitar to mess around with when I moved ahead of her for a new job (a teacher back then, she had to finish out the school year). I've enjoyed it ever since, and playing/singing as a stress reliever. I'll occasionally turn up at an Open Mic Night.

The real musician in my family is my dad. He played in wedding bands to help pay his way through college, and could play bass, guitar and accordion (this was Chicagoland, so there were a lot of Polish weddings!). He'll still drag his old accordion out to play tunes for the grandkids, and that sucker is TOUGH to play!

 

Does he play any Weird Al?

 

Unfortunately, no ... these days it's mostly Christmas carols and, if asked, old chestnuts like "Beer Barrel Polka."

Although the last time he got it out, he poked around the internet and found the chords for "When I'm 64" and we did a duet with guitar and accordion. It was fun (although he's north of 64!)

 

When I was 6 or 7, my brother was in the band in junior high. We went to the concerts and I thought the kid in back playing the cymbals was really cool. Fourth grade is when instrumental music was first offered in our school district, so like age 9 or 10. They told me if you want to play cymbals, you have to be a percussionist and that means drums. So that's what I did. All the way through junior college. And afterward, as well, since our drum group from JC stayed together to do parades and drink beer.
I think I would have liked to learn trumpet, but I never did.

 

At times in my life, I've played:
Clarinet
Alto Sax
Soprano Sax
Viola
Cello
Organ
Piano

Out of those, I was best at piano. Went to the state piano competition as a junior. Took lessons for 13 years, now I mostly just mess around a bit on a keyboard, but I know I would play more if I could figure out how to get my piano to Texas from Kansas. When my parents moved when I was in college, they left it behind with my cousin, whose kids wanted to learn. After a few years, they all quit, so it's just up there in their house.