# Bad instrumentalist, but he has a sound!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-instrumentalist-but-he-has-a-sound/505777>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [August 8, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-instrumentalist-but-he-has-a-sound/505777 "2009-08-08T21:57:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-instrumentalist-but-he-has-a-sound/505777/1 "2009-08-08T21:57:06Z")

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I was just listening to Pink Floyd and I noticed how bad a drummer Nick Mason is. But his _sound_ is essential to the sound of the band. The same could be said about the Edge of U2, who is far from a technical good guitarist, but his _sound defines the band_. Who else belongs to this club?

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**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-instrumentalist-but-he-has-a-sound/505777/2 "2009-08-09T17:46:19Z")

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I’m bumping this thread because I think it’s a really interesting topic, and I’m hoping other people have ideas. I can’t think of anybody who really fits the topic, but since nobody else has posted yet I’ll stretch really far and throw in [Mike Love, saxophonist](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ykmekz9--t8).

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**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-instrumentalist-but-he-has-a-sound/505777/3 "2009-08-09T17:50:25Z")

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Neil Young. One of my favorite guitar players, but what makes his playing interesting is its brutality. He’s got no technique.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-instrumentalist-but-he-has-a-sound/505777/4 "2009-08-09T18:35:13Z")

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The Ramones. Their musicianship is rudimentary, but that was part of their success.