Poll: Hackers, do you play any musical instruments?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1045758

by abstractbill • 17 years ago

36 59 17 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

clavalle• 17 years ago

Yes.

profquail• 17 years ago

Yep, Blues harmonica ;)

clarion• 17 years ago

Clarinet FTW :)

thomas11• 17 years ago

Me too! And some drums, but not proficiently.

conorgil145• 17 years ago

I am a senior in college majoring in computer science and minoring in clarinet performance. I have been playing since 5th grade and I also play saxophone.

cool to see how many musicians are out there on HN

zbyszek• 17 years ago

Reeds representin' -- another clarinet and sax here!

stan_rogers• 17 years ago

One reed only! (Soprano, alto and baritone saxes -- never got along with a tenor for some reason, even with a "doubler's" mouthpiece -- and clarinet.) Or no reed (flute, piccolo, tin whistle, zampona -- even did a wee tune on an upended Royal Doulton figurine once at a gig for a lark). It's not that two reeds are fundamentally bad, but the lack of exhalation with the oboe gets real old real fast, and the twit who decided that a thumb should be the source of all power (bassoon) ought to have been shot before it was too late.

minishark• 17 years ago

I play drums proficiently.

I also play guitar, but not so proficiently....

maxtilford• 17 years ago

I play several, but not necessarily what I'd call proficiently.

bpyne• 17 years ago

Yes, one, proficiently in my opinion. (drums if it's any help.)

elmindreda• 17 years ago

Soprano recorder, occasionally.

mattmcegg• 17 years ago

some of my music http://three.bandcamp.com

dan_sim2• 17 years ago

bandcamp is the best music selling/hosting app. Just had to say it...

atrn• 17 years ago

Semi-pro bass player but somewhat able on guitar and keys.

brendanbell• 17 years ago

Yes, multiple of the stringed variety.

JCThoughtscream• 17 years ago

A bit of violin, a bit of guitar.

AndrewHampton• 17 years ago

Do the guitar and drums for Rock Band count?

DarthMark• 17 years ago

Yes. Electric guitar and bass.

dan_sim2• 17 years ago

http://dagniel.bandcamp.com/ (french-canadian)

In this order : bass, guitar, drums, piano.

TheSOB88• 17 years ago

Am I the only one on a classical instrument? I've played trombone since 4th grade (currently a senior in college).

mkodiak• 17 years ago

Nope! Also a trombonist (played in a Symphony throughout college).

Sometimes a little Mahler goes a long way towards getting the creative juices flowing.

ashley• 17 years ago

violin(16 yrs), cello(3), piano(5), and miscellaneous bowed string instruments on the shoulder (viola, rebec, vielle).

for me, it's Bach and Dvorak to get in my creative sphere

missizii• 17 years ago

Violin, wanted to go pro when I was a teen.

nato1138• 17 years ago

violin -- http://nato.cc/

evannyx• 17 years ago

I love it :)

zipstudio• 17 years ago

In order of proficiency: Bass, guitar, drums ..... voice

electromagnetic• 17 years ago

My talents followed a similar progression, but having been separated from my Bass by the atlantic ocean for several years, my abilities have somewhat dried up. I'm still able when I pick up a bass, I'm now completely unable when I touch a guitar, and I believe I'm criminal with the drums. As for voice, I believe there's legislation in place that requires I be shot if I'm heard singing in a public place . . .

edw519• 17 years ago

Piano.

My workspace is u-shaped, internet on the right, dev in the center, and small electric piano on the left.

When I'm having trouble drawing inspiration from my customers, myself, or you guys, I turn to Chopin. Seems to fit right in.

aaronblohowiak2• 17 years ago

Oh man, Polanaise-Fantasie is the most beautiful piece of music in the history of ever, it contains the struggles and joys of life and flows so freely between them.

yan• 17 years ago

Not but I have been dying to learn to play the piano..

ericclemmons• 17 years ago

In order of proficiency: Drums, Acoustic, Electric, Saxophone, Piano, Voice.

TallGuyShort• 17 years ago

I've actually been looking at music with a hacker mentality for some time. In high school I did a big research project into what made music sound good, and aside from a detailed study on cultural and emotional ties, ended up learning a lot about the mathematical structures that are always found in something that we says sounds "good". Fascinating stuff..

peregrine• 17 years ago

I've wanted to learn an instrument forever, but with school, internships and side projects it has been an after thought.

bbgm• 17 years ago

Checked "Yes, not very well" cause I do play keyboards, albeit so so. However, if programming synthesizers and sound design counts then I could go up one level.

geuis• 17 years ago

Trombone, baritone, and learning guitar.

enneff• 17 years ago

Guitar, piano, drums. I enjoy composing more than playing, though.

ALee• 17 years ago

Although it's not a requirement at JamLegend, we all enjoy playing music.

teilo2• 17 years ago

Irish whistle, and various flutes.

elblanco3• 17 years ago

Out of curiosity, not being a wind player myself, how do you "pitch bend" on an Irish whistle? I've always wondered, and find the effect rather delicious to hear.

teilo2• 17 years ago

You partially cover the finger holes on a whistle, sort of rolling your fingers over them, or sliding them on or off the holes. It becomes second nature fairly quickly.

On a flute, you can do the same, but you can also bend the pitch a fair degree by changing the angle of the airstream across the aperture.

braksandwich• 17 years ago

Have played guitar for about 22 years, got my bachelor's in music. Also play the dobro, banjo, bass, keys and some other miscellaneous noisemakers.

aaronblohowiak2• 17 years ago

Old-time or bluegrass 'jer ?

samdk• 17 years ago

I play trumpet and have since elementary school. Haven't had much time for it lately, though. Hopefully I'll get back into it after I graduate.

ajdecon• 17 years ago

Trumpet proficiently, with ok performance on other valved brasses such as french horn, baritone, or tuba. Some rudimentary understanding of piano, and I wish I could find the time to improve that. And of course I made the typical college attempt at learning guitar...

elblanco3• 17 years ago

How about used to play?

In order of proficiency: Violin (12 years), Piano (16), Cello (3), Viola (3), Mandolin (2).

nuba• 17 years ago

Classical guitar, electric guitar, 12-string guitar, folk guitar (in standard and some alternate tunings), 5-string banjo (clawhammer style), 5-string bass and learning the erhu and drums now. Yeah!

shareme• 17 years ago

Guitar, trumpet, and flute

Brentley_11• 17 years ago

Musical saw, melodica, accordion, and guitar. Ordered in personal skill level, best to worst.

kmtaylor02• 17 years ago

Do Technics 1200's count ?

blahblahblah• 17 years ago

Trumpet, baritone, keys, and a little guitar.

christofd• 17 years ago

Cello, turntables (vinyl and a digital system like Serato), dabble a little on piano, sang in a choir

JangoSteve• 17 years ago

Play guitar in a band, it's one of the things that truly relaxes me and allows me to not think about business and hacking.

CarlB• 17 years ago

Great Highland Bagpipe

smcnally• 17 years ago

I've played bass guitar and drums in different (small gigging) bands. I'm a decent rhythm guitar player. I can play stuff I've written on the piano.

Pistos22• 17 years ago

I'm an amateur classical pianist. Creative Commons recordings here: http://blog.purepistos.net/index.php/piano/

initself• 17 years ago

site isn't coming up

Pistos22• 17 years ago

Yeah, I have a flaky host, unfortunately. I'm going to try to move some or all of that site elsewhere soon. For now though, it should come up after refreshing(s).

camperman• 17 years ago

Yes, classical and acoustic guitar and got a new Eigenharp yesterday!

Poll: Hackers, do you play any musical instruments?

Related Stories