Most annoying musical instrument

Niteshade · « **on:** 18 Apr 2010, 11:10 am »

I purchased a record set entitled, "The complete works of Bach" It said a "keyboard" was used to play them. I thought it meant a piano. Wrong!

This nifty looking thing is a keyboard:

To my ears it sounds like a piano that someone drove over with an 18 wheeler. Can these even be tuned?

They have no range, are raspy and.....why in the world were they ever invented?!?!?

JohnR · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 12:11 pm »

Quote from: Niteshade on 18 Apr 2010, 11:10 am

why in the world were they ever invented?!?!?

Well, for most of us, time moves in the forwards direction.

Seeing a really good harpsichord performance is just incredible.

JakeJ · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 12:48 pm »

Nope, sorry, the most annoying "musical instrument" ever made is the bagpipe. Hands down, no question.

JohnR · « **Reply #3 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 12:57 pm »

Hm... I think bagpipes are very stirring, in the right time and place...

How about the insipid modern crap that passes for "musical instrument" like the (domestic) electronic organ? I'd be happy to put a torch to any of those I come across

Lyndon · « **Reply #4 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 12:58 pm »

JakeJ,
Are you referring to Great Highland bagpipes, or Uilleann pipes (Irish)?
I like the sound of the Uilleann pipes.
And during a spectacle, like the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, the sound of that many pipers marching over the
Scottish hills in the early morning can be pretty dramatic.
I think any instrument can be annoying, if the person playing it...can't!

jtwrace · « **Reply #5 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 12:59 pm »

I don't think there is any annoying instrument. Only the person playing it could be.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 01:05 pm »

Vibraslap

Niteshade · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 01:10 pm »

Can you imagine a bagpipe & keyboard duet?

It's probably one of those things that will never happen, thank goodness!

I like bag pipes more than the keyboard...but their limitations are similar.

It's that raspy, loose & rusty string sound I can't get over. Kind of like finger nails on a chalk board. Violins can be like that.

It might have been the way it was played, how it was recorded...who knows.

wje · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 01:40 pm »

Most annoying? A kazoo!

JackD201 · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 01:50 pm »

Quote from: JohnR on 18 Apr 2010, 12:57 pm

How about the insipid modern crap that passes for "musical instrument" like the (domestic) electronic organ? I'd be happy to put a torch to any of those I come across

General MIDI Blech!!!!!!!!! Gotta agree with you there JohnR.

The Kazoo comes close though

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #10 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 01:57 pm »

That's a Harpsichord. They should have labeled it that on the CD. 'Keyboard' could mean anything with a keyboard: harpsichord, piano, organ, spinet, Casio, etc. The harsichord or the organ are the instruments Bach would have composed this music for. The piano (pianoforte technically b/c it could play piano and forte - soft and loud) had not yet been invented.

Quote from: Niteshade on 18 Apr 2010, 11:10 am

I purchased a record set entitled, "The complete works of Bach" It said a "keyboard" was used to play them. I thought it meant a piano. Wrong!

This nifty looking thing is a keyboard:

To my ears it sounds like a piano that someone drove over with an 18 wheeler. Can these even be tuned?

They have no range, are raspy and.....why in the world were they ever invented?!?!?

FredT300B · « **Reply #11 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 01:59 pm »

Most definitely the Theramin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5EzKtn2ARE&feature=related

FredT300B · « **Reply #12 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 02:12 pm »

And here's an instrument that's even more annoying to the neighbors than the one note fartbox subwoofer in the purple Honda that pulls up next to you at the stoplight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wpn7xyzUqg&feature=related

rollo · « **Reply #13 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 02:43 pm »

NONE IMO. Unless the player cannot play. BTW if ones system cannot portray the Harpsicord properly well the system ain't proper. Picccolo anyone ? Xylophone ? Just tough to reproduce properly for most systems.
Now do you mean live or recorded sound ? I have assumed recorded which may be have a different outcome. Please clarify. Thanks.

charles

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #14 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 02:48 pm »

What's his left hand doing? Just emoting? Or does it change the sound somehow?

Quote from: FredT300B on 18 Apr 2010, 01:59 pm

Most definitely the Theramin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5EzKtn2ARE&feature=related

decal · « **Reply #15 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 02:49 pm »

A violin in the hands of a beginner!!!!!!

gerald porzio · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 03:51 pm »

Hammond B3

Wayner · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 04:33 pm »

A turntable used for "scratchin'"

Wayner

chadh · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 05:52 pm »

Quote from: gerald porzio on 18 Apr 2010, 03:51 pm

Hammond B3

What are you talking about, man? Just because House of the Rising Sun gets played to death on classic rock stations, until the very thought of Eric Burden, New Orleans gamblers or new blue jeans drags you to the verge of violent crime, it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the B3. Just ask all the people posting in the "Anybody love The Doors?" thread.

I've always hated the sound of the Fender Rhodes - was synonymous with really awful "jazz fusion" to me. I even find it hard to take on classic Return To Forever albums. But then I went to hear RTF on their reunion (i.e. money grab) tour, and Chick Corea sounded wonderful. So maybe the Fender Rhodes is one of those instruments that is hard to reproduce well on recordings.

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the cowbell yet, though.

Chad

werd · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Apr 2010, 07:08 pm »

Quote from: JakeJ on 18 Apr 2010, 12:48 pm

Nope, sorry, the most annoying "musical instrument" ever made is the bagpipe. Hands down, no question.

Outside they are ok, inside though...watch out