# re: instruments and pitches **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 26, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-instruments-and-pitches/226177 "2004-01-26T16:45:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![satu\_largi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@satu\_largi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/satu_largi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-instruments-and-pitches/226177/21 "2004-02-08T02:48:36Z")
> [@](#): > > No, no…you’ve spelled “bagpipes” wrong… 🙂 Piano Accordian seems to be the instrument of choice when finding the most offensive sound…although bagpipes would have to run a close second… You may remember the question being asked about what it means when a piano-accordianist dribbles out of both sides of his mouth…? It means, of course, that the stage is level… I am sure that the popularity of guitar comes at least in part from the incredible ease of transposition. It is possible to just move up the fretboard, and everything falls into place. Modes are another interesting area. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-instruments-and-pitches/226177/22 "2004-02-08T02:53:54Z")
> [@satu largi](#): > > 🙂 Piano Accordian seems to be the instrument of choice when finding the most offensive sound…although bagpipes would have to run a close second… > > You may remember the question being asked about what it means when a piano-accordianist dribbles out of both sides of his mouth…? > It means, of course, that the stage is level… Ah, yes, but have you EVER heard a piper play a polka? _shudder_ ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-instruments-and-pitches/226177/23 "2004-02-08T20:46:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Ah, yes, but have you EVER heard a piper play a polka? [It could be worse.](http://www.teemings.com/issue08/christmas.html) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-instruments-and-pitches/226177/24 "2004-02-08T22:38:05Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Ah, yes, but have you EVER heard a piper play a polka? Sure! Here’s a link to the [Liberton Boys Polka](http://web.ripnet.com/~nimmos/midi_files/liberton_boys_polka.mid). And if you go [here](http://www.bagpipesatbest.com/) and look under the “B” for the “Black Watch Polka”, you can hear another one. Sadly, both of these are MIDI files, rather than .wav, so you don’t get the full bagpipe effect, but you get the general sense of the bagpipe polkas. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-instruments-and-pitches/226177/25 "2004-02-08T22:50:42Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > Sure! Here’s a link to the [Liberton Boys Polka](http://web.ripnet.com/~nimmos/midi_files/liberton_boys_polka.mid). And if you go [here](http://www.bagpipesatbest.com/) and look under the “B” for the “Black Watch Polka”, you can hear another one. > > Sadly, both of these are MIDI files, rather than .wav, so you don’t get the full bagpipe effect, but you get the general sense of the bagpipe polkas. Well, it was actually meant (the whole exchange) as a light-hearted jab, but thanks for those links! Truthfully, some of the first music I ever downloaded off of that Nap…er, thingy (edited to assuage mods) were Charlie is My Darlin’ and Scotland the Brave. I blame the Scottish nuns in my Catholic grade school… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-instruments-and-pitches/226177.md?page=1)