Player Only?

[piper_guitarist]

That would be me. I am an absolutely horrible singer. The few times I’ve tried karaoke I’ve gotten booed off stage.

Luckily I only play for myself at home so it’s not an issue. The few times I do play out and about it’s with a small group and someone else does the singing so it’s not been an issue for me.

[dwasifar]

Originally Posted by catt

Yes that's true for horns...although not for concertinas, accordions, pipes (with regulators), bowed strings (where dyads are constantly employed)... But, all of those "non-polyphonic" instruments are generally loud. Harp, guitars...not so loud, and don't shape notes as do winds, reeds, bowed strings.. and generally don't lead (in Irish sessions, for example, where this distinction is a traditional consensus).

Regarding bowed strings, I am aware of dyads, but I didn't know they were classified as chords. My knowledge in this area is layman-level; I listen to a lot of classical music but I don't play any. I was proud of myself just knowing the word "pizzicato" without having to look it up.

Are concertinas, accordions, and pipes with regulators still considered melody instruments in spite of being polyphonic?

I'm learning all sorts of new things today.

[opencee]

I don’t even sing in the shower.

.

[catt]

Originally Posted by dwasifar

Regarding bowed strings, I am aware of dyads, but I didn't know they were classified as chords.
.....

Are concertinas, accordions, and pipes with regulators still considered melody instruments in spite of being polyphonic?

I think most folks associate "chord" with three or more pitches/notes. However some are quite ardent in support of including dyads as well (I'm not a terminology nor taxonomy devotee, so I'll go either way ). However, to better qualify this point, I'll tell you that I sometimes play three notes simultaneously on fiddle

On the latter, yes in ITM free reeds and pipes are typically considered melody instruments - given they play single line melody along with fiddles, flutes, et al.

Of course, any instrument can be a "melody" instrument to greater or lesser effect.

[pickinray]

I play and sing. My "style" of music is influenced by singer-songwriters like Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Dan Fogelberg, Paul Simon, Richard Thompson, Bruce Cockburn, etc. I am not a great singer, but I think I'm adequate for the most part. At least my dogs and cat don't mind my singing! I don't have the patience/talent to learn how to play intricate instrumental tunes, although I do appreciate those who do. And I enjoy listening to great instrumental players like Alex de Grassi, Will Ackerman, Laurence Juber, Pierre Bensusan, etc.

[51 Relic]

For me during the week it's 100% solo guitar including practice . On Sunday's during worship it's playing as a duo with a keyboard player then during Communion it's solo fingerstyle guitar . As I'm now retired this keeps me busy each day

[catt]

No doubt we all do love instrumental guitar in some genre. Personally I rocked as a kid and played all that zeppelin and all .. for years my favs were bron yr-aur and of course BMS and Kashmir got me into bensusan and eventually Irish trad ...zep III turned me completely on - had to learn banjo, mndln, pedal steel...turned me on to folk music and all the great fingerstylists in all the idioms. Those guys on the windham hill label turned me on to Hedges, metheny, i was already into towner, then the brits, blues, and crazy for flamenco..

[Tycobb73]

Almost Anyone can learn to sing

Almost anyone can learn to sing and play at the same time.

[PAPADON]

When I first picked up the guitar in the mid 60's my goal from day one was to become a balladeer. I accompany my vocals with guitar and I accompany my guitar with harmonica. I haven't figured out how to do vocals and harmonica together yet but when I do look out I'll be on my way to stardom.

[Mark Stone]

I played solo guitar in some higher-end restaurants in the 1970s and 80s or so, just fingerpicking (fingerstyle? lol). It brought in maybe $70 a day or so, four or five days a week. But the better money was in busy clubs where I could sing - so that's what I tried to get.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by offkey

I play guitar as a solo instrument exclusively. And I play only for the joy of it. I work a lot, but not with a guitar.

I'm the same.

If I had to play what others like instead of just what I like, it wouldn't be fun. Then it really would be work.

[Skip Ellis]

Originally Posted by PAPADON

When I first picked up the guitar in the mid 60's my goal from day one was to become a balladeer. I accompany my vocals with guitar and I accompany my guitar with harmonica. I haven't figured out how to do vocals and harmonica together yet but when I do look out I'll be on my way to stardom.

I'm just the opposite - from the time I picked up a guitar (early 60s), I wanted to be a lead guitar player like Duane Eddy and the Ventures - and later Johnny Smith and Wes Montgomery. I just don't care about singing or singers (with few exceptions) - I just don't care about lyrics.

[biotechmgr]

Originally Posted by Skip Ellis

Another thread below prompts me to ask: how many of you are guitar players.....only.....period.......no singing....no accompanying.....nothing else but playing guitar as a solo endeavor. Which also leads to the next question: do you ever work?

Can play a bit. Can sing a bit.
Just not together as yet.

[PAPADON]

Originally Posted by Skip Ellis

I'm just the opposite - from the time I picked up a guitar (early 60s), I wanted to be a lead guitar player like Duane Eddy and the Ventures - and later Johnny Smith and Wes Montgomery. I just don't care about singing or singers (with few exceptions) - I just don't care about lyrics.

I've always admired hot solo players and once I had accomplished what I'd set out to do I went through an extended period of trying to do that as well. Not saying I can't solo I can but a wise man knows his strengths and limitations and I finally came to the realization that no matter how hard I worked at that it would never come as natural to me or take me as far as my vocals. That's not a bad thing it just is what it is.

[alnico5]

My original goal was to play guitar at the teen center after the football game. I sang very little (circa late 60s). In the late 80s I got in a band, and since I knew the words to lots of songs I started singing and have continued since, in an acoustic duo and full electric classic rock/country band. I consider myself to be a guitar player who sings, not a singer who plays guitar, but I can sing a whole 4 hr gig if it has to be that way. All four guys in our band sing and harmonize and that is very good for variety.