Q: Are you a real musician? Do you play any instruments?
Short Answer: Yes, guitar and bass guitar. To varying degrees, piano, drums, turn-tables, & trumpet.
Yes, guitar and bass guitar. I primarily play guitar at home. When I performed in live rock bands, I played bass because I enjoy playing the notes you can "feel" in the crowd. I also don't need to lug a pedal-board around, although the extra weight of the bass cabinet is probably not an equal trade-off.
I grew up in a home with a stand-up piano, and owned a drum set for a few years as a teenager. I also played my father's hand-me-down trumpet in elementary school band, although I kinda sucked at it. I also used to hang out with some hip-hop / drum & bass buddies who owned turntables back when DJs still mixed vinyl. So I learned how to match beats when mixing with vinyl but never got to really develop that skill and get good at it.
I'll never blow anyone away with my guitar solo-ing skills, and have no interest in being the next Slash. But I know my way around a fret-board enough to do what I want to do.
"He's good." - Billy Madison