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need brass band geek advice

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doombilly:
Re: sax in non jazz music.
Um Every Roxy Music album?
edit-
Also If what you want to learn is music theory and composition then I would choose the piano.

If you want more immediate gratification I would choose the guitar.

The piano teaches you how to separate your two hands into two often independent melodic and often harmonic entities. For the most part the guitar teaches your hands more to work in concert (pardon the pun) to produce more of a homophonic device. While obviously you can pick out single notes on the gtr, unless you are playing open notes only it takes two hands working together to make one note (or chord). Whereas the piano you can play with one hand. Or two. Harmony and melody can be played simultaneously. Two independent melodies can be played simultaneously. Two different chord progressions can be played simultaneously. Obviously some players branch outside of this box with the guitar, but on the whole they are phemons.

Of course you can do hammers, pull-offs, and slides with your left (or fretting) hand while doing something somewhat different with your other hand. But I think for the most part you can do a lot more polyphonic idioms with a piano on a more basic, beginner level, out of the box.

Me, I dig the tactile feel of the strings. So I almost never play my piano, keyboards, synthesizers etc...

ViolentDove:
Doombilly, I'd reccomend trumpet or even trombone. I've played trumpet for around fifteen years now, so I guess I might be a bit biased. Learning trumpet isn't as straightforward as guitar or piano. You cannot see the sound/note/position you're trying to make, as it's a combination of fingering and embouchure, so it's harder to play something simple that sounds good if you've only been playing for a little while. You will definitely need professional lessons, as well, at least for a little while. If you don't get into good habits with your embouchure, you can end up damaging your face muscles and such.

Also, trumpets/trombones have access to a wider range of tones than sax/woodwinds, because of various mutes, and other techniques like playing flutter-tongue or open lipped.

Trombone might be slightly more intuitive for some people because of the slide, and has a beautiful fat sound that I don't hear enough of outside of jazz.   

Edit: Keep in mind with trumpets that you can get B-flat horns or C horns. The B-flat is the most common, but the C horn might be easier if you're not up for transposing.

Also, maybe ask around your friends and see if anyone has a horn from their high-school band days that they have lying around in a closet somewhere gathering dust. I've used this approach over the years to borrow instruments to see if I'm any good at learning on them before buying one... so far I've scrounged a flute, clarinet, and violin.

kaseysaidmaybetomorrow:
French Horn, please.

Usually plays counter-melody/harmony parts, but can be a really gorgeous instrument on its own or in a small group (such as with a double bass).
I will say though, I have read that it is one of the most challenging instruments to learn and learn well (American School of Music)

IronOxide:
Horn is a little difficult to pick up, and not too great as a solo instrument, so I would recommend picking up a flugelhorn, coronet, or trumpet, if you want to pick up brass, I would have a  fair amount of advice for you and a couple of good warmup routines. The most important thing to remember when picking up a brass instrument is that a slow warmup is useful, and when practicing to spend the same amount of time not playing as playing, meaning your chops last longer.

If you choose to play a woodwind, then blow it out your ass.

doombilly:

--- Quote from: IronOxide on 29 Dec 2008, 14:11 ---
If you choose to play a woodwind, then blow it out your ass.

--- End quote ---
I seriously LOL'd loud enough to scare the dogs.

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