Most annoying instrument (to your ears)?

[ExaltBass]

Any instrument that is noticeably out of tune is annoying and distracting.

 

[Hounddog409]

We are all here because we love music and bass obviously, but is there an instrument that just makes you cringe every time you hear one? I'm not talking about just having a disdain for an instrument because you couldn't play it well; I'm talking about fingers-on-the-chalkboard or break-your-finger-changing-the radio-station annoying. For me it is the recorder. There can't be a more annoying sound than a room full of recorders just piercing my eardrums with shards of painful squeals and high C's.

What instrument when you hear it (if any), just rubs you the wrong way?

Bag pipes.....like fingernails on a chalkboard

 

[Hopkins]

Zydeco. No bagpipes. Accordion. Case closed.

Is this comment in favor of an accordion?

 

[JimmyM]

I used to hate banjo, but then I heard Bela Fleck.

I used to hate accordion, but then I heard Buckwheat Zydeco.

I used to hate oboes and bassoon, but then I heard The Move and King Crimson.

I used to hate bagpipes, but then I heard "It's A Long Way To The Top" by AC/DC.

So that just leaves French horn in the cringe-worthy category. And man, I can't tell you how much I hate French horn! What a wretched, horrid instrument of musical torture French horn is!

 

[JimmyM]

Yoko

I wish I'd have said that.

 

[line6man]

The harpsichord. I once had the misfortune of attending a 30min solo piece...

I love harpsichords.

 

[Funky Ghost]

I used to hate banjo, but then I heard Bela Fleck.

I used to hate accordion, but then I heard Buckwheat Zydeco.

I used to hate oboes and bassoon, but then I heard The Move and King Crimson.

I used to hate bagpipes, but then I heard "It's A Long Way To The Top" by AC/DC.

So that just leaves French horn in the cringe-worthy category. And man, I can't tell you how much I hate French horn! What a wretched, horrid instrument of musical torture French horn is!

Hahah! One mans treasure and all that. French horn is my fav horn. I especially love when they come in @ 5:20. It just WORKS for me

 

[Mike Sorr]

Any instrument played by Bon Jovi.

 

[Holdsg]

I play bluegrass, and have to tolerate mandolin and banjo.
I play some Irish now and then, so I have to tolerate irish fiddle and whistles
I play classic rock, and have to tolerate guitar players
I play modern country, and have to tolerate Luke Bryan
I play keyboards, and have to tolerate people who think that keyboards is easy because its "just chords"

So I'm a pretty tolerable guy. I've been thru a lot of music in 50 years of playing stuff.
I have to say, my least favorite sound, in all of music, is people TALKING VERY LOUDLY WHILE THE BAND IS PLAYING

 

[Fat Freddy]

I play bluegrass, and have to tolerate mandolin and banjo.
I play some Irish now and then, so I have to tolerate irish fiddle and whistles
I play classic rock, and have to tolerate guitar players
I play modern country, and have to tolerate Luke Bryan
I play keyboards, and have to tolerate people who think that keyboards is easy because its "just chords"

So I'm a pretty tolerable guy. I've been thru a lot of music in 50 years of playing stuff.
I have to say, my least favorite sound, in all of music, is people TALKING VERY LOUDLY WHILE THE BAND IS PLAYING

If you played more quietly, they wouldn't have to talk so loudly....

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Slap Bass

 

[RBrownBass]

Bassoon. LOVE me some oboe- never cared for bassoon, tho.
Close second... trombones with a toilet plunger. Nothing against 'bones, but that plunger brings comedy to a jazz gig. I can laugh at home.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Close second... trombones with a toilet plunger. Nothing against 'bones, but that plunger brings comedy to a jazz gig. I can laugh at home.

Fun fact, that toilet plunger trombone is the source of Charlie Brown's Teacher



They can't even control their laughter in the video. I'm dying over here

 

[swarfrat]

Fretless bass. Also one of the most beautiful

 

[Watchootognbout]

I think it depends on context. I find the violin beautiful in classical music, but annoying in jazz. (Turn on jazz radio station, turn it off immediately after hearing yet another violin solo...) But even Duke Ellington used the violin in jazz! Some people clearly like it.

Not even Jean-Luc Ponty?

 

[BlueAliceOasis]

Who wants to place bets on whether this thread is derailed by those who don't think rap is music (drum machines) or by those who don't think EDM is music (synth/button-based instruments)?

Edit: I'm taking the low hanging fruit of bagpipes.

I'll bet that it will be eventually, if I win do I get a free bass of my choosing?

Yep, banjo. I dig sitar, however.

Same here, don't mind sitar, dislike banjo.

 

[Watchootognbout]

I cannot believe so many people have mentioned bagpipes as being annoying, and so few have brought up the accordion. Bagpipes and uilleann pipes can be absolutely amazing in the right hands. The best accordion player in the world sounds like a carnival midway.

I,for one,like the sound of Uillean pipes.They kinda sound like a cross between Bagpipes and a soprano sax.
Ever since the whole Riverdance thing.
Which I will admit that I do like also!

 

[Gaolee]

Is this comment in favor of an accordion?

Good question. I think so. It's certainly not in favor of bagpipes.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Every instrument as a chance to be annoying when it is badly played.

I enjoyed everything I heard so far, when it is played by a competent player sometimes I wonder how the guitar, bass and drums are so played by complete amateur

 

[D.A.R.K.]

Nothing makes me want to commit murder more than Ukulele. That terrible, choked non resonant annoying iPod commercial of an aborted guitar. grrr