# Musical Instrument Madness FINALS **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 25, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241 "2008-06-25T22:58:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/1 "2008-06-25T22:58:36Z")
Sorry about the delay in getting this round started. I saw Pearl Jam last night (which featured the Electric Guitar, Steelstring Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass, Electric Cello, B3 Organ, Drumkit, and the one instrument which would have probably won this had it been included - the human vocal) and totally forgot I had votes to tally. Okay, we have the king of the aerophones vs the king of the mechanicals (it’s also considered a percussion instrument, technically)…a 15th century instrument vs a late 18th century instrument. Both very much loved instruments used in every single genre up through the present. Who will be voted the king of the instruments (I know who I’m putting my money on…I have a feeling one of them is gonna get it’s biggest win since it shut out the Barrel Organ in round 1) Trumpet vs Acoustic Grand Piano This round closes Saturday night at 11:59pm EDT, or 24 hours without a vote. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/2 "2008-06-25T23:00:07Z")
Piano. Easy as pie. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/3 "2008-06-25T23:03:24Z")
Stupid freakin’ piano beating out the cello. Trumpet Mostly ‘cause now I am feeling contrary. That’s right, I am picking an instrument I don’t play over one I do. Stupid freakin’ piano. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/4 "2008-06-25T23:14:22Z")
Piano. Pipe organ got totally shafted. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/5 "2008-06-25T23:17:14Z")
Piano twicks, who’s seriously bummed about the cello’s loss ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/6 "2008-06-25T23:36:51Z")
Abstain. Sulk. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/7 "2008-06-26T00:59:43Z")
Trumpet ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/8 "2008-06-26T01:07:24Z")
Piano. (Although, I still say Pipe Organ shoulda gone all the way.) ---
**Author:** ![Parthol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/9 "2008-06-26T04:14:32Z")
Add me to the ranks who are bitter about the cello. Given the choices here, I’ll take the **piano**. Hurray for versatility! (I’d be very curious to know what the results would be if everyone simply ranked all 64 instruments in order of preference, with #1 votes getting 64 points, #2 votes getting 63, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/10 "2008-06-26T04:24:06Z")
Can we write in cello? No? I mean jeez, whahoppen? Oh, all right, **piano**. How boring. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/11 "2008-06-26T05:27:56Z")
Blech. I’d feel bad abstaining, but I don’t care much for either. But… Acoustic Grand Piano Joe ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/12 "2008-06-26T06:09:45Z")
Acoustic Grand Piano natch! ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/13 "2008-06-26T12:36:18Z")
Piano! I’m now glad this wasn’t piano v cello, as it seems cello would have walked it. ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/14 "2008-06-26T12:41:17Z")
Ah, sadness and woe! Having to choose between two instruments, one of which I play and the other of which I am learning to play… Oh well. I choose… **Piano** Sorry little trumpet, but the piano has a wider range, versatility, and you can make chords with it. Just my 2 eurocent! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/15 "2008-06-26T13:56:54Z")
Piano…although we all know who the _real_ winner is. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/16 "2008-06-26T20:46:42Z")
Trumpet vs Acoustic Grand Piano ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/17 "2008-06-26T21:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Piano…although we all know who the _real_ winner is. [/QUOTE] I say we all write in vote for the Cello. Who’s with me? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/18 "2008-06-26T21:10:01Z")
Piano ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/19 "2008-06-26T21:37:12Z")
So clearly Archive Guy is not. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2008, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241/20 "2008-06-28T23:43:12Z")
okay, I think I can call it a couple hours early: Trumpet - 2 **vs Acoustic Grand Piano - 13 – THE WINNER OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MADNESS!** Due to all of the complaining, I’m going to run a consolation round, even though I think everything won fair and square. I knew the winner of this tournament was going to be who won the Electronic/Mechanical semifinal (Piano or Guitar). Piano is pretty much the most influential of all of the instruments since its invention in the mid 1700s. It’s one of the easiest instruments to learn (ANYBODY can play a C on it with about 5 seconds worth of instruction, and a C Major chord within the first minute, and have it sound good) but one of the hardest instruments to master (just take a look at Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, or _anything_ composed by Liszt, who used a Grand Piano to become the world’s first rock star). Many modern musicians, whether or not they play the instrument on their albums or on stage, use piano to do most of their composing, and virtually all classical composers use it to first create and work out their masterpieces. The instrument has a powerful powerful sound, but can also bring you to tears when used in the right context (Incredible Hulk walking away in the rain, anyone?) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musical-instrument-madness-finals/454241.md?page=2)