What's The Best Instrument Ever Created?

The trombone. No other instrument lets you play and crack people in the back of their skull at the same time.DJ_Lae

duh!!! :P

duh!!! :P

g-unit248

Sorry the stylophone is better:D

Its all about the air Guitar, I mean we've all played it before

11 string bass 8)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-6iBqssn24

What constitutes best? Every instrument in existence has specific strengths and weaknesses.pianist

What constitutes best? Every instrument in existence has specific strengths and weaknesses.pianist

one could assume that whichever instrument had the greatest ratio of Strenghts to Weaknesses.

the mbiraOrlando_Magic

[QUOTE="pianist"]What constitutes best? Every instrument in existence has specific strengths and weaknesses.blooddemon666

one could assume that whichever instrument had the greatest ratio of Strenghts to Weaknesses.

But any such answer would be completely biased. The piano is much more versatile than the flute, but less lyrical. The flute can produce a true legato line and the piano can not. And so, if one's bias is melodic, the flute is clearly the superior instrument. However, if one believes that an instrument's versatility is the most important attribute of an instrument, the piano would win over the flute, as it can do more than the flute can on its own.

In reality, there is no 'best' instrument, because every instrument is unique. There are many instruments that are rather impractical for serious composition, but all of those which have been employed by serious composers are very much worthy of standing alongside every other instrument in existence, because they offer to the composer a unique sound. A symphony orchestra sounds glorious to hear because it is an enormous ensemble of unique sounds. A violin can not sound like an oboe. An oboe can not sound like a clarinet. A clarinet can not sound like a trumpet. That's what I'm getting at here.

Instruments that do not provide serious composers with something unique and valuable become obsolete. And so while one can argue that certain instruments are clearly inferior to others, it is impossible to define any one instrument as being the king of all instruments. It depends entirely on what you are aiming to achieve as a composer.

The piano is the most complex instrument, and the most versatile solo instrument. It would get my vote for being the most complex instrument, and the most versatile solo instrument. But best? No. Chamber music would suck if it were all pianos.

(long post)pianist

as always well said :D

and I totally agree. Some say piano, some say, guitar, some say kazoo. its all personal preference. and as long as people are different, they will have different views on things.

Personally, I don't really care for the piano. I like more 'melodic' instruments, as it were.

call me a simpleton, or what have you, but I like an instrument that you can bob your head to. like the bass8)

Well, whichever was the first really, since they all have thier place, and the first made it that way, so whatever that was.wemhim

In all likelihood, the rock, or the stick... but only if you discount the human voice as an instrument. Actually, a good argument could be made for the voice as the greatest instrument (which is why so many other instruments attempt to imitate it), but it was not invented.

Wouldn't it be something to have witnessed the very first use of an instrument?

[QUOTE="pianist"](long post)blooddemon666

as always well said :D

and I totally agree. Some say piano, some say, guitar, some say kazoo. its all personal preference. and as long as people are different, they will have different views on things.

Personally, I don't really care for the piano. I like more 'melodic' instruments, as it were.

call me a simpleton, or what have you, but I like an instrument that you can bob your head to. like the bass8)

That ain't melodic, dude. That's rhythm you're responding to. ;)

[QUOTE="wemhim"]Well, whichever was the first really, since they all have thier place, and the first made it that way, so whatever that was.pianist

In all likelihood, the rock... but only if you discount the human voice as an instrument. Actually, a good argument could be made for the voice as the greatest instrument (which is why so many other instruments attempt to imitate it), but it was not invented.

That ain't melodic, dude. That's rhythm you're responding to. ;)

pianist

i'd say hands were the first instrument, for clapping. Would that qualify?Poedon

It depends whether or not you include the body in the definition of 'instrument,' or if you acknowledge that an instrument must be invented. Most professional musicians consider the voice to be a very fine instrument, and so the body is indeed considered and instrument.

Although we have no way of knowing for sure, it can be inferred that singing evolved before clapping, and certainly before the use of anything external to the body in the production of music.

One that can create any possible sound, vibe, tone, scale, octave range, etc., which quite evidently doesn't and can never exist in this narrow world. Only thing I can think of that can come remotely close is a high quality synthesizer, although they are rather limited in dynamics and you might be pissed that it's not an actual instrument you're playing. jetpower3

Synthesizers can produce a wide variety of electronic sounds. But they're extremely limited in other respects, and frankly, I find the genuine articles produce a much more pleasing sound than do the attempts at replication you hear from synthesizers. Synthesizers can sound similar to acoustic instruments, but they can not replicate them. And synthesizers, like any keyboard instrument, are incapable of producing a true legato line, and of producing many of the nuances that are common to the performance technique of other instruments, especially in the wind and string families.

[QUOTE="jetpower3"]One that can create any possible sound, vibe, tone, scale, octave range, etc., which quite evidently doesn't and can never exist in this narrow world. Only thing I can think of that can come remotely close is a high quality synthesizer, although they are rather limited in dynamics and you might be pissed that it's not an actual instrument you're playing. pianist

Synthesizers can produce a wide variety of electronic sounds. But they're extremely limited in other respects, and frankly, I find the genuine articles produce a much more pleasing sound than do the attempts at replication you hear from synthesizers. Synthesizers can sound similar to acoustic instruments, but they can not replicate them. And synthesizers, like any keyboard instrument, are incapable of producing a true legato line, and of producing many of the nuances that are common to the performance technique of other instruments, especially in the wind and string families.

That's what I meant when I said that they were limited in dynamics. And just for the sake of natural design, they would be as inapplicable to modern day composing as using CGI for every movie in place of actual make up or real effects would be.

Piano. I have long fingers, seriously. People call em "Mike fingers". So yea, and double jointed to boot, but believe it or not, being double jointed doesn't help as your fingers bend automatically when you stretch.

wow not a single chuckle or acknowlegement of the skin flute :(

as for classical instruments- i don't know about best instrument, but i love a finely played oboe, but it sounds like someone stepping on a duck when it's not played correctly. I played brass instruements, trombone and tube(which kind of makes me pay baritone too) i tried playing a sax once or twice and it tickled my mouth like nothing before. I don't know if i could get used to that.

for modern day instruments-I like a piano, but i like it as a support instrument. Piano solos are fine, but i do not care for them as the lead instrument in a band. i'd have to go with guitar. It sems to make the most money, seems to havea lengthy life span as far as palatable music, you can't blow your fingers like you can a voice over the years(of course you can still havehand crippling accident), and women seem to fancy lead guitarists almost as much as singers.

wow not a single chuckle or acknowlegement of the skin flute :(

as for classical instruments- i don't know about best instrument, but i love a finely played oboe, but it sounds like someone stepping on a duck when it's not played correctly. I played brass instruements, trombone and tube(which kind of makes me pay baritone too) i tried playing a sax once or twice and it tickled my mouth like nothing before. I don't know if i could get used to that.

for modern day instruments-I like a piano, but i like it as a support instrument. Piano solos are fine, but i do not care for them as the lead instrument in a band. i'd have to go with guitar. It sems to make the most money, seems to havea lengthy life span as far as palatable music, you can't blow your fingers like you can a voice over the years(of course you can still havehand crippling accident), and women seem to fancy lead guitarists almost as much as singers.

Poedon

Pianos - real ones - are rarely used in rock bands, and when they are, they rarely play music that is not accompanimental. Synthesizers and keyboards must not be confused with the piano. They're very dissimilar instruments, just as the piano is very little like an organ or harpsichord.