h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Wotchit

Welcome to the Guild - tell the world you're a MuG by putting the Guild badge (A434648) on your personal space.

And you might want to look at:
A257302
A378137
A311509

Incredibly, there are no Guide entries on Bob Marley or Shostakovich - fancy writing them..?



Danny B.

1.What instrument(s) do you play, or want to play? Do you sing?
2.Do you have a favorite composer, musical artist, band, or music genre?
3.Is there anything in particular you would like from the Musicians Guild?

Ok... I play keyboard. I sing too. I used to play clarinet. Wish guitars would let me learn to play them and that I could play piano properly too.
I wouldn't say I had a favourite thing at all. I'm pretty open minded and like most music.
Things I want? Erm... Don't have a clue!!!

Aimz xx

I am learning to play the guitar...slowly...when I can find the instruction book and the CD at the same time.

Some of my favourite bands are Queen, Status Quo and Dire Straits and I am also a fan of Paul McCartney and Elvis Presley.

I don't really have a favourite musical genre, although I despise house...or shed...or whatever it's called at this moment in time

I would like any possible advice on learning guitar that anybody can offer!

Hello Aimz and Grousefavour

Welcome to the Guild - your names now appear in lights at the Guild membership page, and there is a Guild badge for you to add to your personal space (A434648)

And you're both trying to learn the guitar Well, my advice would be to just get hold of as many songbooks/tab books by bands and artists you like and learn by playing songs that you enjoy. If you really wany to learn to play, then the best way is someone to teach you

There are many, many guitarists on h2g2, most of them with better advice than mine, I would imagine , so you could try posting to Ask H2G2 (A148907) and you'll probably be swamped with advice



Danny B.

I am a Washtub bassist. Had a family washtub band till our teenage daughters escaped. Now it's a duo. We do mostly, what you would call, humorous folk music. Though it has dashes of country, jazz, blues,and even bluegrass, if the harmonies are right and depending on what my husband feels like playing. We do, as I said , a lot of fun stuff, but also Gospel and western ballads. I also play a variety of rhythm instruments. Frog, mouth harp, washboard, cowbell, bongos, etc., as well as some piano and flute.

Favorite music and composers would be very difficult. From Bob Dylan to Bach and back(or is that Bach and BACH?). I really like Flanders and Swann, and Tom Lehrer.I favor fun stuff because I bore easily.

I would love to learn the bohdran and penny whistle. I hope to talk with other musicians of my elk ( who, by the way, is out in the yard grazing) and share tips and venues and experiences.

Hi Coldjam

Well, I think you're the most unorthodox musician to join the Guild since I took over. We've got plenty of guitarists and violinists and pianists, but not many washtub bassists And what's a frog (muscially speaking - I mean, I know what a *frog* is...)

Anyway, welcome to the Guild. There's a badge for your personal space at A434648.

Have fun

Danny B.

Hey there.
I play piano and bass guitar rather badly, and alto and tenor sax to a fairly decent standard (grade 7). On occasions I also sing in tune, and thats what I like doing bestist. Know a band who needs a singer?

Ok, fav bands and stuff: general things of the "alternative" genre, though Im fairly ecclectic really. I also like Handle, due to it being the best thing on the evil AS music course. My favourite musician of the moment is Avril Lavigne. She kicks ass!

I don't really want anything specific, just thought it would be nice to meet like minded people.

Cheers, Elbow xxx

Hi Elbow

Welcome aboard! Proclaim your MuGness with the Guild badge (A434648)

I have to confess I have never heard of Avril Lavigne How about writing a Guide entry about her..?



Danny B.

Hi Danny B.

Thanks for the welcome. The Frog is a wooden instrument, shaped like a frog, about large fist size or so. It is made out of one piece of wood and has a washboard type ripple effect on it's back. You "stroke" it with a wooden stick and it sounds like a frog croaking. It is basically a deeper, more fun guiro( also called a fish).

Hi

I would like to join the musicians guild:

1. I play the piano (very well, but I suck at sight reading), and I can sort of sing...

2. I like to listen to modern rock/punk rock. My favourite band is Blink-182.

3. Is it possible for the guild to drastically improve my diabolical sight reading skills?

Thanks

The ICBM

Ok, here we go;
1. I play the trombone and am grade 5 through the Royal Associated board and will soon take grade 6 through Guildhall...
2. Well I like almost all music, pop, rock, classical, any and all types...
3. To meet others who play instruments... ummm dunno really, i guess if anyone needs help with the trombone i could help...

~Skenvoy

Hi Skenvoy and ICBM182

Welcome to the MuGs The Guild membership badge can be found at A434648 for you to musicify your personal space.

As for sight-reading... don't look at me, mine's hopeless Still, I'm guitarist, I'm not expected to be able to sight-read You could try asking at Ask H2G2 (A148907), to see if anyone has any tips...



Danny B.

Unfortunately, there's no secret tip to sight reading, it improves with practice. Sight reading piano parts may be easier if you try to visualize vertically versus two horizontal lines. YMMV. In practice sessions, always try to read through something you've never played before.

Ah, practice. That'll be why I could never do it then...

Pianist, mostly, for... uh... since I was seven, so seven years. (Wow.) And the descendant of a pianist/organist/occasional choir director. I sing, but badly. And I played violin for two years. Also dabbled in kazoo.
Favorite classical composers are Bach and Chopin (possibly because Bach and Chopin are the only composers I've played in the last, say, three months, and because Bach's preludes and fuges are, in my opinion, absolutely brilliant, and Chopin just sounds really nice). The record on the turntable (I actually have one; I rescued it from the desk outside my room, where it was in danger of drowning in dust) at the moment is Neil Diamond's soundtrack to Jonathan Livingston Seagull; by the way, I loved that book. Also, the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, and bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, Alien Ant Farm, plus some occasional rap and pop.
All I ask from the Musicians Guild is a piece of cheese, and possibly an outlet for ranting. (Another outlet.)

I'm fairly good at HTML, and am also learning JavaScript (although I don't know if it can be used here). I'm glad to help with maintenance and design, especially during the summer (when I have the most free time).

Eva

Hi Eva

Welcome to the Guild - you'll find the Guild badge at A434648, together with instructions for putting it on your personal space.

Not sure about the cheese... How about instead? And rant away to your heart's content



Danny B.

1. play guitar & mandolin, try to play piano
2. bluesrockreggae
3. errr...........................no, just thought I'd join and say hello

TSF

Hi Snock (if I may be so bold),

I'm about to go looking for a mandolin, can you give me any pointers or things to look out for? Do you play bluegrass then?

Hi TSF

Hello to you, too The badge is at A434648, so let the world know you're a MuG.

Is a snockerty friddle some sort of musical instrument..?



Danny B.

PS. Note to self - must buy a mandolin some day.

Bluegrass? I wish!
I can play some Pogues tunes and a few other bits like the mandolin part from REM - Losing My Religion. Do you already play or just about to start? I dont really know too much about mandolins, it seemed like a good next step after guitar and having briefly learnt violin as a child I thought it might be easy as they share the same tuning.
I had a choice of the one I could afford and the ones I couldn't. I think the Gibson type with the ridiculously curly headstock is the one to aspire to and I'd like to try the Ovation but until I can play well enough to justify the price tag I'll stick with and be happy with my more affordable Westfield. The only useful advice I could give is to find the cheapest one you can, the type they'd sell to schools for about £60-£80 and then STEER WELL CLEAR! The neck does a fine impression of a banana but otherwise it's useless.

TSF