# What's the most annoying instrument? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580 "2006-07-08T00:18:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kebert\_Xela](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a87d85/32.png) [@Kebert\_Xela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kebert_Xela)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/1 "2006-07-08T00:18:45Z")
What instrument do you find the most grating? My vote would be for the calliope (if you don’t know what I’m referring to, think of the old time circus/carnival music that is both creepy and annoying). This morning when my radio came on there was a Stravinsky piece being played on that instrument, and it was one of those times where I started flailing around to turn it off as quickly as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/2 "2006-07-08T00:20:26Z")
Bagpipes. And bagpipes can be really nice sometimes. But when they’re bad, they’re _horrible_. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/3 "2006-07-08T00:22:22Z")
> [@Kebert Xela](#): > > **What’s the most annoying instrument?** Mine, of course! Wanna see?! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/4 "2006-07-08T00:31:45Z")
I’m pretty sure there’s been a similar thread in the past, but I can’t find it. I’ll defend most instruments, including the usual suspects in such a discussion (bagpipes, harpsichord, recorder, piccolo, oboe…) Most of the dislikes come from hearing them played badly, or in the wrong acoustic environment, i.e. too small a room! ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/5 "2006-07-08T00:34:29Z")
The butt trumpet. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/6 "2006-07-08T00:35:47Z")
There is something about an ocarina that creeps me out. I think it was that cheesy Mexican actor from the fifties who used to play one, what was his name? ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/7 "2006-07-08T00:42:22Z")
The saxophone can be wonderful in the right hands, but there’s nothing so grating as a cheesy, easy-listening sax solo. ---
**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:** [July 8, 2006, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/8 "2006-07-08T00:51:38Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Bagpipes. > > And bagpipes can be really nice sometimes. But when they’re bad, they’re _horrible_. On the same train of thought, violin. Violin is beautiful. But when played by someone who doesn’t quite have the chops yet, it may be the worst sounding instrument in the world. As for instruments that are annoying even when played well…the Jew/jaw harp kinda bugs the crap outta me. Never really got into the didgeridioo, either. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/9 "2006-07-08T01:24:48Z")
Have none of you ever heard the musical saw? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/10 "2006-07-08T02:13:00Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Have none of you ever heard the musical saw? No, but I once saw a musical herd. ---
**Author:** ![Mayo\_Speaks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mayo\_Speaks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mayo_Speaks)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/11 "2006-07-08T02:18:45Z")
I love a lot of instruments that are often called annoying: banjo, bagpipes, harpsichord (I wish I could afford one), calliope, etc. But I’ve never heard a non-professional play an \*\*acoustic guitar \*\*and not want to smash it **London Calling** -style. It’s not the instrument, but rather the pretension and lack of skill with which its invariably played (ESPECIALLY here on campus). Is that cheating? If it is, sign me up for **harmonica**. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/12 "2006-07-08T02:19:58Z")
I vote saxophone, whether well or badly played. I just hate it. A pox on you, Adolphe Sax! ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/13 "2006-07-08T02:24:06Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > I vote saxophone, whether well or badly played. I just hate it. A pox on you, Adolphe Sax! Right back atcha. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/14 "2006-07-08T02:26:47Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Have none of you ever heard the musical saw? Have you not heard of the theremin? I also want to mention I have a high tolerance for annoying instruments. I know how to play, reasonably well, the kazoo, banjo, ukulele, harmonica, theremin, and accordian. However, I want to destroy the harpischord. Forever. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/15 "2006-07-08T02:27:26Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Have none of you ever heard the musical saw? Those are awesome. There was one in the movie Delicatessan, and it was great. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/16 "2006-07-08T03:25:14Z")
My vote goes to the hurdy-gurdy. Sounds like a cross between a badly played violin, badly played bagpipes, and a sack full of cats. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/17 "2006-07-08T03:29:42Z")
The oboe. Even when played well, it sounds like a sick duck trying to make love to an even sicker goose. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/18 "2006-07-08T03:34:18Z")
> [@Mayo Speaks!](#): > > I love a lot of instruments that are often called annoying: banjo, bagpipes, harpsichord (I wish I could afford one), calliope, etc. But I’ve never heard a non-professional play an \*\*acoustic guitar \*\*and not want to smash it **London Calling** -style. You want to be slightly out-of-focus while doing it? 🙂 I think the scene on the stairs in _Animal House_ is more appropriate. It better captures the “STOP PLAYING THAT!” vibe. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/19 "2006-07-08T03:55:39Z")
Cartoon I saw once ( **Far Side?** ): Sign in Heaven: “Welcome to Heaven. Here’s your harp” Sign in Hell: “Welcome to Hell. Here’s your accordian” ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2006, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580/20 "2006-07-08T07:26:17Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Bagpipes. > > And bagpipes can be really nice sometimes. But when they’re bad, they’re _horrible_. Q: Why do bagpipers walk around while they play? A: They’re trying to get away from the noise. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-annoying-instrument/363580.md?page=2)