# Totally deleting a musical instrument **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496 "2012-03-01T23:10:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**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:** [March 3, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/81 "2012-03-03T03:09:55Z")
So far it seems as if the glockenspiel is safe! ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/82 "2012-03-03T03:15:48Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > The Recorder. I hated learning it in Sunday School, I hated learning it in regular school, and the sound causes my ears to bleed. Without the recorder outro, Dido’s [Grafton Street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3xhPbyPc5o) wouldn’t be nearly as powerfully evocative and mournful, so it has to stay. Of modern, easily recognized instruments? Kill the alto sax. Kill it now. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/83 "2012-03-03T03:30:57Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > The Recorder. I hated learning it in Sunday School, I hated learning it in regular school, and the sound causes my ears to bleed… In all of history there has been only one worthwhile use of the recorder – in a _Saturday Night Live_ skit – “And now, for your entertainment, my daughter will play for you – the recorder!” I think it was Lorraine Newman playing it, but maybe it was Gilda. My other contribution: the slide whistle. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/84 "2012-03-03T03:39:43Z")
Not an instrument, but a style. Something about the sound the damn steel makes on a guitar makes me all stabby. I can’t stand country music because of it, nor crossover stuff that I would normally like, except for that damn slide sound! I really think there’s a lot of country I would kinda like these days, if they JUST STOPPED DOING THAT! So yeah, get rid of the steel and I’d be happy. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/85 "2012-03-03T03:51:43Z")
> [@pabstist](#): > > The harmonica. There is no fucking reason for a harmonica to ever exist. [You take that back!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YncNm0WQY2I) > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Accordion [You ain’t listened to the right one.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeyIKzgzFIQ) ---
**Author:** ![Laggard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Laggard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laggard)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/86 "2012-03-03T03:58:42Z")
Never enjoyed the sound of the steel guitar. And I have a weird dislike of the French horn. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/87 "2012-03-03T04:27:30Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > In all of history there has been only one worthwhile use of the recorder – in a _Saturday Night Live_ skit – “And now, for your entertainment, my daughter will play for you – the recorder!” I think it was Lorraine Newman playing it, but maybe it was Gilda. Laraine Newman, in that weird home restaurant sketch. But it wasn’t even a proper recorder–it was one of those toy keyed thingies. It just barely qualifies as an instrument. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/88 "2012-03-03T04:32:06Z")
> [@foolsguinea](#): > > I don’t think there is a kind of instrument in the world I would do this to. Gotta agree with you here. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/89 "2012-03-03T14:36:26Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, I was waiting for that one to come out, so I could post some [Bela Fleck and the Flecktones](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Q4CBDFaEc), as it also features harmonica and a keytar/electronic drums/synth-type instrument crafted by one of the band members, which would make it 3 for 4 in featuring Doper’s desired banned instruments. I’ll go full Patriot Act on anyone talking about Béla wihthout the utmost respect. Banjo is OK if only for him. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/90 "2012-03-03T16:02:56Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, I was waiting for that one to come out, so I could post some [Bela Fleck and the Flecktones](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0Q4CBDFaEc), as it also features harmonica and a keytar/electronic drums/synth-type instrument crafted by one of the band members, which would make it 3 for 4 in featuring Doper’s desired banned instruments. Thus demonstrating why these instruments must stay. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/91 "2012-03-03T16:09:33Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#): > > Thus demonstrating why these instruments must stay. Absolutely. What an incredible collection of musicians that is. I was fortunate enough to get to know Howard (the harmonica player) as he was a regular at the coffeeshop I worked at in college, and he just gave me a whole new appreciation as to what was possible from such a simple instrument (which I already loved, but only really knew in a blues and rock context.) And that dude can wail on almost any folk wind instrument (as well as piano and who knows what else.) He once brought in an ocarina and was totally jazzing out on it. I had never thought the ocarina could actually sound cool and sophisticated, but he made it so. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/92 "2012-03-03T16:31:16Z")
Thanks for the samples. I think we can eliminate the harmonica. I think Blues Travellor completely ruined that instrument for me. I just wanted that damned concert to end, but he went on and on and on … ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/93 "2012-03-03T16:33:46Z")
I’ll second the accordion, if only because you can’t take a subway ride in Paris without some motherfucker with an accordion boarding the train and playing that shit at people, without any provocation mind you. I have no idea why they do this. Well, I know _why_, but why they choose the accordion to beg with. The guitar sounds much better and is, like, a hundred times easier to play. But nope. Gotta be the accordion. And the same fucking three songs. I swear, there’s a shadowy cabal at work. Something Cthulhian. Anyway, fuck accordions. Concertinas can burn along. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/94 "2012-03-03T16:35:40Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > Thanks for the samples. I think we can eliminate the harmonica. There will be blood. > [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I think Blues Travellor completely ruined that instrument for me. I just wanted that damned concert to end, but he went on and on and on … Well, _you_ sat there and listened to it. So a scar-inducing self-inflicted wound is sufficient reason to ban something? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/95 "2012-03-03T16:41:32Z")
> [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](#): > > Without the recorder outro, Dido’s [Grafton Street](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3xhPbyPc5o) wouldn’t be nearly as powerfully evocative and mournful, so it has to stay Is that a recorder? I assumed it was a pennywhistle, given the subject matter (her late Irish dad) and locale (Grafton Street being famous for its buskers).But I see where Dido actually played the recorder on it. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/96 "2012-03-03T17:23:19Z")
> [@Laggard](#): > > And I have a weird dislike of the French horn. There’s nothing weird about a dislike of the French horn. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/97 "2012-03-03T17:26:34Z")
> [@Philliam](#): > > Give a listen to Toots Thielemans, Larry Adler, Paul Butterfield, Charley Musselwhite or Norton Buffalo and then get back to us… 😉 Or [Corky](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRchJ40rLdE) [Seigel.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf5Mh7WYkpo) ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/98 "2012-03-03T17:34:12Z")
Definition of a Gentleman: _One who can play the saxophone, but doesn’t._ ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/99 "2012-03-03T20:58:47Z")
> [@Greg\_Charles](#): > > On the other hand, what about kazoos? [Watch this kazoo virtuoso](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CTU8mDmN34), and ask yourself if you’re willing to eliminate such sexiness from the world. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496/100 "2012-03-03T21:03:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Absolutely. What an incredible collection of musicians that is. I was fortunate enough to get to know Howard (the harmonica player) as he was a regular at the coffeeshop I worked at in college, and he just gave me a whole new appreciation as to what was possible from such a simple instrument (which I already loved, but only really knew in a blues and rock context.) And that dude can wail on almost any folk wind instrument (as well as piano and who knows what else.) He once brought in an ocarina and was totally jazzing out on it. I had never thought the ocarina could actually sound cool and sophisticated, but he made it so. How cool is that? You still in touch? I love his work. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/totally-deleting-a-musical-instrument/614496.md?page=6)