I play the guitar, piano/keyboard, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, and penny flute (tonette/recorder). My daughter has a violin and I am starting to "flddle" around on it too. It's actually very similar to my mandolin except for the bow, but I'm not very good at it.

I play by ear. I know how to read music, but it is very difficult for me to read it and play an instrument at the same time. Too much concentration and coordination. Too much non-ADHD stuff involved to follow complex sheet music. I do OK following chords in a music book and I have learned some sheet music and tablature (which is a form of written music for a fretted/stringed instrument like a banjo or a guitar) by rote memory, but that's about the extent of it. The rest is by ear.

I have written a few songs too. How about all of you? Do you play any musical instruments?


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I wrote this poem last night about my musical inclinations:


Playing By Ear

At the age of 6, I learned to play
Each song that I would hear
I couldn't read sheet music, so
Instead I played by ear

It started with a xylophone
The organ was my next feat
Soon playing my Dad's acoustic guitar
(John Denver songs were neat)

I was picking Dad's 5-string banjo
By the time that I was ten
Playing Pete Seeger and Kingston Trio songs
"Tom Dooley" and "This Land is Your Land"

I own a banjo and 2 keyboards now
and a mandolin OH SO LITTLE,
Three guitars and a penny flute
And my daughter is renting a fiddle

She's learning to read sheet music, though
And I think I've made it clear
That I think she is the wiser of us
(But it's fun to play by ear).

I cannot even sing lol I sing to make extra money the kid's and hubby pay me to stop lmao

P.S. I really did enjoy the poem as well.

Great song/poem.
I am musically inclined and play the violin/fiddle and thankfull that I knew early on it would be my salvation in life!
I still lack confidance terribly, but know one believes it unless They really know me. I am just never good enough, It's hard for me to practice. I am uncomfortable playing out solo It scares me horribly, and that is how I earn most of my living. go figure!
I also do Orchestral work, chamber and folk, rock, blues, studio work.
I am definetely dealing daily with my demons. I couldn't even bare to play in front of my mother as a child.
I dabble with other instruments.

Sandy, reading music is not hard. playing by ear is most important and actually much harder for many to achieve
That is why I teach playing by ear first to students then music reading,
all you need is to do it 5 min a day.
I am as hyper and distractable as they come. Reading music tames me. I started young. But I have students who in my opinion are Very add and have accomplished it as adults.
Music saves my but!!!

I played many instruments as a kid through high school. String Bass, trumpet, and baritone. I could not keep the beat. I admire people who have musical talent. I was always lost. I enjoy listening to it. I sing like futs . Last time I sang 2 dogs died. 1 might have been from botchulisim :D :D
Jim

I write poetry so maybe I can learn to compose lyrics..some of my poems sing back to me when I read them.,..it's weird..

As far as singing..I only do that when I want to punish my dog.

Wow, looks like we have some really musically inclined people here. I also have an ear for music. I used to play songs on the piano by ear and then took lessons for 3 years. I want to take more when I can afford it. What I do mostly now is sing. I cantored in my church for a while but the stress from the anxiety of singing in front of people that I know got to be too much and I'm now back to singing strictly with the choir. I've never been much good at singing contemporary music as my voice is more of an operatic type voice. Singing is the one thing in life I love most besides my fam and friends and God. I also had started learning guitar which is something else I never finished and have the desire to some day. I also love to write songs and poetry and paint and draw. The painting and drawing I haven't done in years and miss doing. I have this fantasy of planting an easel in the middle of a field with trees and wildflowers and blue sky and just painting.

My daughter, who has ADD also, sings well and plays the the piano but doesn't read a note. I do want to get her some piano lessons when things are better financially. I don't have any merchandising work at the moment so things are kind of lean around here.

I also have a sister that sings and my mother sang a lot when she was younger. My father on the other hand is tone deaf. He loves to sing but it can be a bit rough sometimes when he gets a bit loud for those around him. The music seems to come from my Mom's side of the family. I don't know what I'd do without it. It is my salvation.

Once a month, I go to a Bluegrass Jam at the art center in town. My friends tell me I'm good but I'm actual just fair. I can play a few instrumentals on my 5-string banjo but only 2 of them high up on the neck of the banjo. The others low on the neck. (A good instrumental has a wider range and it is harder to play high up on the neck-- "high" meaning the high notes).

I'm pretty decent at "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" and "Lonesome Road Blues," but even still, in comparison to the other players (who are really good), I'm very amateurish. Most of the time, I just play background chords. I'd like to learn some more "banjo licks," (routine instrumentals), but I don't have anyone around my level to practice with. For me, it's just fun. Still, I'd like to get better.

~Sandy

I used to play violin and piano, but haven't attempted either in a few years. I was OK on both, and enjoyed both, but I never had to drive to take my performance to a much higher level. Now I kind of want a keyboard, but I know the children would just take it away from me... ;)

I play the piano by ear too :) My mom was quite surprised when after seeing the movie, I played a simple version of Chariots of Fire. :) I also play the drums and the Bass Gitar (Rock band of '86 singing) :)

If we all lived nearer we could start a band called "out of focus"
Or" ADHD" Maybe someones got a good name for the band.??

That would be so much fun!!! How about "Hyper" or " The Frustrated" :D

I've been playing the flute since I was in 6th grade (I'm 26 now). I also sing and want to learn to play Piano again :)

I want to learn gitar, base only has 4 strings... hmm I wouldn't mind a refresher course... and it would be great to read music! :)

I haven't got a musical bone in my body, but my daughter (also ADD) took to the piano like she was born to it. My son could be good at it too, but he'd rather watch cartoons.

in middle school i was in a choir (albeit in my boarding school) and we were in demand - travelled europe to perform for various groups. i even learned to read music. i started piano lessons, but ddin't like the teacher and quit. (now i know it was add impatience). so, i want to resume piano lessons. btw - i love to sing along to songs on the radio, even going so far as to looking up the lyrics, to make sure i get them right.

I play piano by ear 20 years now. It kills me though that if I had the wherwithall to stick to lessons and learn how to rad music better - I should be a concert pianist by now. I also taught myself guitar - but once again - basic chords that are fast and easy to learn. I just started taking Strattera so maybe I can get back into lessons now. I will let you know!

that would be "read" music... anyone else here suck at typing? Transpose numbers/letters? Half hte time I can't even type my name right!

I have issues with typing the word "the" too.....I always put hte...

??????

I am learning guitar I can keep the timing and am pretty good at fretting. I am just really bad with playing chords.