: How do you find your own signature sound or tone colour? How you guys find your own signature sound or tone colour? I'm thinking particularly of the way you play your instrument.

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Blow hard then give it a good squeeze - bagpipes.

Make sure the end is wet first - oboe.

Don't let it dribble on your foot - trumpet.

Bend it slowly & gently - guitar.

Don't squeeze it too hard - accordion.

Keep your wrist loose - drums.

Don't brag about it being bigger - viola.

Brag about it being bigger - cello.

Don't slide it in & out too quickly - trombone.

Suck as well as blow - harmonica.

(couldn't resist ;-)

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I think most creative processes have to include ways to generate ideas, and ways to filter and refine ideas - and this applies just as much to finding our own sound as anything else.

One way to generate ideas is simply imitation - listening to players you want to sound like and trying to find out what they do to achieve that.

Another way is exploration - going to the extremes of what you can do on the instrument, trying random things, and trying to make sounds you haven't heard before - and keeping it simple and just enjoying making each note sound as full and interesting as possible.

One way I filter down ideas is to have a philosophy of playing. As I am a rather stupid person, I rather like to have a limited set of techniques that I reach for, rather than mastering every technique I learn about. For example, on bass, my 'core' technique was always a rolling 3-finger fingerstyle - you can't do everything with that technique, but it is quite adaptable.

Another way to filter down ideas is simply being honest about your own limitations and abilities. Not everyone can do everything, but most people are relatively good at something.

Ultimately your own style will tend to emerge whether you want it to or not!