Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
Ha; I'm a flute doubler at best, also. I see the quizzical looks when someone glances up and says, wait a minute - the trumpet player took that flute solo?

My brother-in-law does that. He is both a great trumpet player and a great flute player. It's a rare combination. He plays flute better than I do. Sadly, there isn't a lot of work for trumpet players around here, so he teaches school too.

On stage in my current duo, I play tenor sax, flute, wind synth, and I sing. I get the "How many instruments DO you play?" Question a lot. It's good for show biz appeal.

I used to bring a keyboard and not the guitar, but as we started playing fewer standards and more rock, the guitar became more important. It has better stage appeal, too.

In bands, I've been in through the years, I learned from the other guys in the band to play bass, some keys, and rhythm guitar (barre chords only). I've also doubled on drums (my first instrument). Not every song has a sax part, so it was good to learn other instruments. In one band, the drummer was a good singer, so I'd get behind the kit for a few songs and let him get out front (the girls loved it).

It's show biz, so switching instruments gets people talking about you, and that generates more audience members, which means more gigs.

During the psychedelic years, I played bass, as nobody wanted to hire a sax player. I had a Fender P Bass and a used Ampeg amp. Heavy stuff to tote around and hang on your shoulder, but I was much younger then.

Playing notes on the bass taught me how to find my way around the fretboard, so in my 60s, when I decided to buy a guitar and learn lead, I progressed quickly.

I like playing different instruments, as they require different forms of expression. You don't play the instrument, you let the instrument play you.

I also like playing different genres of music for the same reason. It's all fun.

Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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