# Songs played on non-instrument objects **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2026, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766 "2026-01-17T05:14:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [January 17, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/61 "2026-01-17T23:21:40Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > There’s also the [Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band](https://youtu.be/2N2FkBjdXS8?si=jrWSr4SOro3ZVOwk), which uses a washboard extensively. I think that, in certain genres of music, the washboard is so commonly used that it ought now to be regarded as an actual instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/62 "2026-01-17T23:36:53Z")
I agree. Also blowing into a liquor jug. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/63 "2026-01-17T23:40:05Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Also blowing into a liquor jug. To the point that it’s come to be the term for music groups which employ homemade instruments. > **[Jug band](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jug_band)** > > A jug band is a band employing a jug player and a lineup of players of other instruments, both conventional and homemade. The homemade instruments are most often ordinary objects adapted to or modified for making sound, like the washtub bass, washboard, spoons, bones, stovepipe, jew's harp, and comb and tissue paper. The term 'jug band' is loosely used to mean any ensemble that incorporates homemade instruments, but those without a jug player are more accurately termed skiffle bands, spasm bands,... ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/64 "2026-01-18T00:20:47Z")
The “Bucket Man” used to be a fixture on the streets of San Francisco, playing his homemade drum set made of discarded buckets, water jugs, paint cans, and the like (unless you count anything you bang on with a stick to be a “drum”, and therefore a musical instrument). Sadly, the Bucket Man passed away a few years ago. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-hmpC_2L6hc/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgUyhVMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDN7t1al-u3YGcu52rSTGD-8SNnJw "Bucket Man on the streets San Fran") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hmpC_2L6hc) ---
**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:** [January 18, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/65 "2026-01-18T01:01:58Z")
I hope whoever was recording that tipped him afterwards. If it’s worth recording, then it’s worth paying for. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/66 "2026-01-18T01:17:24Z")
From Jet Lag: The Game, [Beethoven’s Ode To Joy performed by blowing on bottles.](https://youtu.be/lSwkoIQLFLo?si=Z067-fT3Nfn-FpPG&t=3259) ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/67 "2026-01-18T01:53:57Z")
Uakti (WAHK-chee) was a Brazilian band which made all their own (mostly wind) instruments. [They recorded a bunch of Phillip Glass music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0b5-D2YliQ): Very super cool. Grupo Corpo (Brazilian dance troupe) used Uakti music for some of their performances. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/68 "2026-01-18T02:09:10Z")
I can’t easily find a recording of his original compositions, but here is Le Pétomane: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixKopGjn5s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tixKopGjn5s) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/69 "2026-01-18T19:27:55Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Also my grandson can fart 3 or 4 notes of chopsticks, surprisingly well. If that applies. I can play the drum solo from _In a Gadda Da Vida_ on my wet ass in the shower. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/70 "2026-01-18T19:34:44Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > I can play the drum solo from _In a Gadda Da Vida_ on my wet ass in the shower. “Who used up all the hot water???” ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2026, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/71 "2026-01-18T20:14:10Z")
That is impressive. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/72 "2026-01-19T06:24:21Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > > > I can play the drum solo from _In a Gadda Da Vida_ on my wet ass in the shower. > > “Who used up all the hot water???” Don’t be silly. The drum solo _by itself_ doesn’t go on for 17 minutes. (pause) It just seems like it. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/73 "2026-01-19T12:28:01Z")
The Australian band Hunters and Collectors initially had a lot of ad hoc non-instrument percussion. A friend saw an early gig of theirs where there was a hot water cylinder tank being pounded at various points, but reportedly it lacked the big gong sound they were hoping for. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/74 "2026-01-19T15:25:46Z")
The members of [Fulu Miziki](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5IQuIaTPEg) build their instruments from items found in trash piles and landfills. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/75 "2026-01-19T15:39:20Z")
Songwriter/producer Joe Meek recorded a toilet flushing and played it back in reverse to create the sound of a rocket launch for the Tornado’s “Telstar”(1962) ---
**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:** [January 19, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/76 "2026-01-19T15:45:19Z")
That’s probably the coolest factoid in this thread. Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/77 "2026-01-19T15:52:12Z")
Leroy Anderson (of The Typewriter Song, in the OP) also had a minor hit with _The Syncopated Clock_. In one point in the song a number of clocks strike the hour all at once. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/78 "2026-01-19T15:53:30Z")
Have we overlooked Blue Man Group? [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0iFBXjRbVl0/hqdefault.jpg "Blue Man Group w/ Venus Hum: I Feel Love (best quality)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iFBXjRbVl0) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/79 "2026-01-20T00:42:08Z")
I posted this in the ‘interesting facts’ thread: Jimi Hendrix used a home-made “kazoo” (wax paper over comb) in his Cross Town Traffic song. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766/80 "2026-01-20T15:59:43Z")
Ice percussion: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/en0p1Y35p3w/maxresdefault.jpg "BAIKAL ICE live sound") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en0p1Y35p3w) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-played-on-non-instrument-objects/1026766.md?page=5)