# Instrument you like the least **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847 "2011-05-23T02:28:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/21 "2011-05-23T07:44:24Z")
I never liked Oboes. I guess the solo at the beginning of Danse Bacchanal is fine, but every other time I have to listen to an oboe, my eyes roll. A bagpipe is a fun version of the oboe. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/22 "2011-05-23T07:53:46Z")
The violin. Even in the hands of an expert, I find its tones teeth-rattlingly grating. I’ve always thought it was the ultimate sacrifice for a parent to permit its child to learn the thing; now that’s love. Oddly enough, I don’t mind the fiddle. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/23 "2011-05-23T08:14:23Z")
With a few exceptions (Clair de Lune, I’m looking at you), I’m not a huge fan of piano in classical music - too rough and clangy for me. OTOH, I love piano in jazz, rock and pop, so I’m not exactly a piano hater. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/24 "2011-05-23T08:39:12Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > Any musical instrument you just don’t like hearing? My vote is the vibes. Every time I’ve heard it, it’s just this annoying plinky sound. Play it fast, it’s plinky. Play it slow, it’s plinky. Plus isn’t it kind of pointless to have an electrical instrument that can’t distort or be played loudly? Huh? It’s only electical in that it has a fan to, you know, amplify the sound and make it louder. I can’t stand the mouth harp, BTW. It doesn’t change pitch. It’s a sound effect, not music. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/25 "2011-05-23T08:52:07Z")
Eventually all non-electronic instruments will fall out of favor, and there will be nothing left but the [oontz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DokpdyXNME). ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/26 "2011-05-23T09:22:36Z")
I don’t dislike any instrument, they all have their charms. Bagpipes? Great. Banjo? Yes please. Accordion? Cool. If anything, the human voice is more likely to annoy me than any instrument. There are lots of singing styles that I dislike, but I’ll listen to and enjoy pretty much any kind of instrumental music. Does [Auto Tune](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-Tune) count as an instrument? If so, then that. That horrible software is directly responsible for more crimes against music than any other thing that has ever existed. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/27 "2011-05-23T11:44:16Z")
Harpsichord. First time I heard it on Star Trek was the last time I wanted to hear it. Banjo being a distant second. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/28 "2011-05-23T11:57:47Z")
Proctoscope. ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/29 "2011-05-23T12:55:02Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > Drumming… just a high bass beat. No melody or rythym to accompany. Drumming is useless, and drummers are hacks. Don’t get this modern bass beat econo9my of rap. That’s a drium and somebody speaking… not melodious… not music. I and my drummer friends would like to have a word with you outside. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/30 "2011-05-23T13:00:49Z")
There are very few clarinet players I can listen to. Those who can play really, really well, particularly in a Dixieland-style band, I really enjoy, but when they’re even just adequate, I can’t listen. ---
**Author:** ![Dietrich\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@Dietrich\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dietrich_K)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/31 "2011-05-23T13:04:49Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > I don’t dislike any instrument, they all have their charms. Bagpipes? Great. Banjo? Yes please. Accordion? Cool. > > If anything, the human voice is more likely to annoy me than any instrument. There are lots of singing styles that I dislike, but I’ll listen to and enjoy pretty much any kind of instrumental music. > > Does [Auto Tune](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-Tune) count as an instrument? If so, then that. That horrible software is directly responsible for more crimes against music than any other thing that has ever existed. This. Well, mostly this. In ever so slight defense of Auto-Tune, I will say that while it has obviously been overused these last few years to the point of nails-on-a-chalkboard-ness, I still can’t completely hate on it, as I have a deep and abiding love for its spiritual daddy, the [vocoder](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocoder). And if I was _forced_ to name an instrument that I disliked more than I liked, it might well be the [Hammond B3 organ](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSMrQpm1Vv0). ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/32 "2011-05-23T13:15:27Z")
The first thing that came into my mind was “synthesizers” - but I mean for patched-in effects like adding orchestral accompaniments (string washes), or that Chariots of Fires, stuck-in-the-80’s keyboard tone… As for standard instruments, it all depends on the player. Bad Clarinet, for instance, is a unique form of Bad that can far outweigh the beauty of good clarinet. Bagpipes - meh, who can tell? ;)😃 ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/33 "2011-05-23T13:27:51Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > The violin. > … > Oddly enough, I don’t mind the fiddle. Hmm. I don’t know what you mean by “fiddle” then. :dubious: I myself am not a huge fan of kazoos, vuvuzelas (does that even count?) and anything similar. I haven’t heard any pleasant themerin music yet, but I suppose it’s possible. And less to do with sound and more to do with pretentiousness - the trendyness of cellos and accordions among hipster/indie bands grates on my nerves. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/34 "2011-05-23T13:31:03Z")
I might have said bagpipes, but then I had the opportunity to see [Battlefield Band](http://www.battlefieldband.co.uk/) in concert. They were great, and I now own much of their music. I also might have answered accordion, but then I had the chance to see [Those Darn Accordions](http://www.thosedarnaccordions.com/) cover rock/pop/etc. So I have no answer. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/35 "2011-05-23T13:51:12Z")
I might have said accordion, but folk metal has forced me to reconsider. [KORPIKLAANI - Vodka (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7kJRGPgvRQ) The link the spoiler is NSFW unless you have an awesome job or an openly alcoholic boss. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/36 "2011-05-23T13:56:12Z")
I like bagpipes if they’re played well. OTOH, I have had the misfortune of being in the same concrete warehouse space as someone who was _tuning_ their pipes. Painful. Hate banjos completely. I don’t think I’ve ever heard any banjo being played that didn’t sound like corny faux-patriotic Americana tripe. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/37 "2011-05-23T14:06:15Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Huh? It’s only electical in that it has a fan to, you know, amplify the sound and make it louder. The electrical component of the vibes is a motor which turns a shaft. Attached to the shaft are blades in parallel with one another which will cover and uncover the acoustic resonators beneath the metal plates. The motor can be sped up, slowed down or turned off altogether. This gives a shimmering effect as both the tone colour and the volume are affected. It isn’t a true vibrato - the pitch doesn’t change; and it isn’t a true tremolo - the tone colour is altered along with the volume. When played with the motor off, the blades are usually set so that the resonators are as open as possible. Classical composers often use vibes with the motor off in orchestral works. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/38 "2011-05-23T14:07:30Z")
> [@Shakester](#): > > Does [Auto Tune](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto-Tune) count as an instrument? If so, then that. That horrible software is directly responsible for more crimes against music than any other thing that has ever existed. I owe you a beer for that. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/39 "2011-05-23T14:49:29Z")
I was in a band that had a banjo, a saxophone, an accordion, and ::shudder:: a harmonica. I think I OD’ed on all four. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847/40 "2011-05-23T14:53:02Z")
Harp. Both the sound and style of what they call muzak err music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/instrument-you-like-the-least/582847.md?page=3)