# Monkeys playing instruments **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 9, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monkeys-playing-instruments/657885 "2013-05-09T13:23:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monkeys-playing-instruments/657885/21 "2013-05-10T21:34:36Z")
A LOT of the things one sees “trained” chimps do are based on, from the chimps point of view, either getting a banana pellet or avoiding an electrical shock. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monkeys-playing-instruments/657885/22 "2013-05-10T21:41:06Z")
Koko the gorilla weighs in: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Pg5zsII6mng/hqdefault.jpg "Koko Plays Wind Instruments") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg5zsII6mng) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monkeys-playing-instruments/657885/23 "2013-05-10T21:49:32Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I thought that most animals are incapable of keeping a beat, with the exception of some birds and [Ronan the sea lion](http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2013/04/sea-lion.aspx). Hmmmmmmmm . . . note the date. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monkeys-playing-instruments/657885.md?page=1)