Roleplaying Musical Instruments

[Rob Maule]

How do you describe music? You can say that you're playing a bone flute happily or that it's a fast guitar tune. But how do you explain the difference between two happy or fast songs? More importantly, how do you describe music in such a way that you adhere to roleplaying etiquette and allow others to interpret what's going on instead of telling them they're hearing happy music?

I've been scouring the 'net and have found some potentially useful sites: here, there, and over there. There also seems to be a discussion of this very topic in the Portuguese forum.

I also have some ideas on how to do it myself, but I'm interested in anything someone is already doing or has ideas about. Keep in mind that I know very little about music and the reader shouldn't be expected to, either. You could use words like crescendo and end up having me think it means quite the opposite, due to ignorance.

[SekoETC]

None of my chars have much experience with playing instruments, if any. With one I spelled out the notes. Checked a finger chart to see which notes are easy to play and stuck to those. Of course that doesn't carry a mood but if someone has an instrument or an online keyboard they could repeat the combination.

[*Wiro]

I've described playing on an ocarina or flute in some detail, but not as much the notes and kind of music played, maybe cheerful or whatever, or sad, but not too much more than that. But then again, only two of my characters had some proper music roleplaying so far. So it may have yet to come.

[SekoETC]

I think Wiro does a good job at it.

[Dudel]

I've ONLY ONE character (out of SIX) that avidly plays music and Its a tween for me. Sometimes I let people "assume" the type of music that is being played based on my characters behavior. If my guy is all happy and skip rope, then most would assume the music is uptempo and fast. (At least not depression in any manner) This is done with *plays his <instrument>* then letting the mechanic of the game handle the rest.

Other times I'll emote what I intend fully, if I wish a certain mood and don't want ANYONE messing it up. These range from "happy little tune" to "slow and depressing moan". I like to keep the emote with the idea that most people understand what the instrument AT LEAST sounds like.

Other times I've had the character PLAY ONE NOTE (Any note, doesn't matter to me) then recite poetry he's written.

Then other times, all I'll do is let the mechanics of "He plays a <whatever>". This is then, again, up to other player interpretation. Few people will imply how the music sounds if specifics are not given but some do so there is the chance of having your character god-modded by someone who "doesn't know any better".

[joo]

No definitions were found for loldongs.

[Xervicx]

there is this one character one of my character knows... that is really... nique with the music he plays. Describes it just the way he talks... wild and huh?

[chase02]

Met a few characters that do it well.. most don't roleplay it much beyond a song.

Personally, I cringe every time someone tries (read: butchers) roleplaying an instrument I play IRL. I want to reach through the screen and strangle them.

[CantrFreak]

Hm. Not much experience here, I just roleplay he plays a cheerful song or dark and sad song that gradually evolves into a more happier song.

[*Wiro]

Thanks Seko, good to know that.

Before I roleplay an instrument I look it up on Wikipedia, helps a good bit.

[Lyd]

I spent a whole afternoon trying to figure out why I couldn't make my keyboard do this:

*You strum a few chords thoughtfully* "♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪"

Maybe not great role playing but it certainly gets attention.

[Rob Maule]

I probably spent the same afternoon figuring it out, too. Alt+14(on the numpad)

♫ You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar ♫

[Genevieve]

I have seen multiple people playing instruments the past few days. I think that as long as someone enjoys it, and others get enjoyment, then perhaps it doesn't matter so much that IRL they wouldn't know one end of that instrument from another?

[CantrFreak]

I probably spent the same afternoon figuring it out, too. Alt+14(on the numpad)

♫ You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar ♫

Hm, I might use that that sometime. :]

[Surly]

Off topic, but... wow, I haven't seen the name Rob Maule is a long time. I think it might be six years, in fact.

That's a little scary.