What instrument do you wish you could play?

[Aleph Null]

Marimba/vibes

I've wanted a marimba since playing in college, but the student quality ones start a $4k and they take up as much space a s grand piano. Professional quality ones cost more than most of the cars I've owned.

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

I've wanted a marimba since playing in college, but the student quality ones start a $4k and they take up as much space a s grand piano. Professional quality ones cost more than most of the cars I've owned.

Yep, I've been dreaming of a good deal on a used low end marimba for like 20 years. Some day when I no longer have expensive diy habits (lol, riiiight) I'll save up enough to justify buying one. Alternate justification plan is to convince one of my kids to become an aspiring pro percussionist.

 

[Aentons]

I saw this on tv as a teenager and Ive wished I could do this ever since

 

[VanWhy]

I'm very surprised no one said the Skin Flute or the Male Organ. Way to keep it civilized.

 

[EisengesisFX]

• Vibraphone - Bark Psychosis' Hex really crystallized to me just how pleasant and emotional the timbres of the instrument are, and I've since really enjoyed works by Cal Tjader and Gary Burton. As @Aleph Null expressed about marimba, vibraphones are gigantic and quite expensive.
• Piano - Because a Rhodes with tremelo and reverb is right behind rainfall as my favorite sound in the world. For now, my Yamaha Reface CP more than suffices
• EWI - The phrasing magic of woodwinds/brass with all the crazy sound options MIDI provides
• Fretless bass - I'm hardly proficient at fretted but I love my fretless parts PJ to pieces. The timbre, the phrasing, the utter richness of fretless bass is everything

 

[jcpst]

I'm very surprised no one said the Skin Flute or the Male Organ. Way to keep it civilized.

We have a thread for that.

Thread 'Best hardware for working with your prostate?'

Feb 17, 2026

Come to think of it, software might be better.

• Nostradoomus

• 

 

[Harry Klippton]

I'm very surprised no one said the Skin Flute or the Male Organ. Way to keep it civilized.

I've already mastered it

 

[ICTRock]

B3, 'cause I'd still be the bass-player in the band and still have to haul around awkwardly oversized heavy gear.

to be fair, I assume everyone that said piano said so because the skills translate over to Hammond organ ... maybe even @Harry Klippton 's organ

some of that late 60s into the 70s heavy rock organ would be just the thing to piss off my neighbors ...

 

[Robert]

My dad was a drummer, my half brothers dad was a guitar player.

I play guitar, my brother plays drums.

No, we're sure....

 

[giovanni]

So many! I asked my parents to get me piano lessons at age 7. That didn’t happen until I was out of college and was able to pay for the lessons myself. I am not very good at it and I have a disability that prevents me from getting better. Next would be cello and then a variety of wind instruments like the oboe, clarinet, saxophone and maybe some other brass like trombone or trumpet.

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

So many! I asked my parents to get me piano lessons at age 7. That didn’t happen until I was out of college and was able to pay for the lessons myself. I am not very good at it and I have a disability that prevents me from getting better. Next would be cello and then a variety of wind instruments like the oboe, clarinet, saxophone and maybe some other brass like trombone or trumpet.

My wife was an oboe/voice major. I would never wish the oboe upon anyone I cared about. I have mostly played basses, guitars and trombones and they're all super easy to maintain. The slide and valves required a brief daily lubrication routine and yearly deep cleaning and that's about it. Reed making/adjusting on the other hand is a damn nightmare. It has such a beautiful sound though.

 

[Paradox916]

I'd be happy if I could get proficient at the ones I already play

Same

 

[BuddytheReow]

Drums. Sadly, I have no rhythm

 

[Aleph Null]

Yep, I've been dreaming of a good deal on a used low end marimba for like 20 years. Some day when I no longer have expensive diy habits (lol, riiiight) I'll save up enough to justify buying one. Alternate justification plan is to convince one of my kids to become an aspiring pro percussionist.

My eldest child briefly expressed an interest in playing "bass marimba", but quickly changed her mind to violin, then flute, before I could bring any of my machinations to fruition.

I still fantasize about a family marimba ensemble.

 

[chongmagic]

Steel guitar, I love a good steel guitar riff in any genre. Except polka, or maybe on acid.

 

[Bricksnbeatles]

Oh god… too many to name. I have a whole list of them.
Off the top of my head, there’s:

• Viola
• Bassoon
• Cello
• Timpani
• Pipe Organ
• Pedal Steel
• Upright Bass
• Sitar (I have one, but can’t play for shit)
• Lira Da Gamba
• Taishogoto
• Trautonium
• Vibraphone
• Banjo
• Marxophone (I’d love to track one down some day)
• Ondes Martenot
• Ondioline
• Celesta
• Hurdy Gurdy

 

[PapaBear]

Piano, Banjo and Fiddle. Of course, I wouldn't mind mastering the Guitar after all these years of trying and crying!

 

[zeropluszero]

I'd like to say I'm proficient as a bass player, so I bought a 6 string to make it harder on myself while I watch archspire play throughs.
I don't know how people properly palm mute an 8 string guitar but I should probably work that out as well.

I took drum lessons once, I could get the arms working or the legs, but not both simultaneously

 

[comradehoser]

Bagpipe (biniou or uilleann)
Here's my favorite Bruegelesque punk rock pipers:

Maybe various flutes, hurdy gurdy for me, and these:

 

[Gordo]

Hurdy Gurdy would be fun. Always been a Cello fan. Wish I played keys.