What is the Best Musical Instrument for Scientists?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the preferences and experiences of participants regarding musical instruments, particularly in relation to their personal enjoyment and proficiency. The scope includes various instruments, styles of play, and the intersection of music with personal identity, rather than focusing on technical superiority or comparisons of instruments.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express a preference for the flute, while others favor the guitar, highlighting its versatility across genres like blues and rock.
  • One participant mentions the creative techniques available on the guitar compared to the theoretical aspects of the piano.
  • There are discussions about personal experiences with various instruments, including trumpet, saxophone, and violin, with some participants noting challenges in playing due to lack of practice or motivation.
  • One participant raises a question about a beatboxer's ability to play in only one key, prompting further discussion about musical skills.
  • Another participant reflects on the differences in learning complexity between piano and string instruments, sharing insights from their own experiences with orchestral performances.
  • Several participants mention their enjoyment of playing in informal settings, such as musical evenings with friends.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of preferences for different instruments, and there is no consensus on what constitutes the "best" instrument. The discussion remains open-ended with multiple competing views on personal favorites and experiences.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about their current abilities and motivations to play, indicating a potential shift in their engagement with music over time.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in the intersection of music and personal expression, as well as those exploring different musical instruments and styles.

drizzle
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Mine is the flute

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZeuverPXEU&feature=PlayList&p=D80A64739A6BB0B8&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=31

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnCW91A66qs&feature=PlayList&p=D80A64739A6BB0B8&index=33&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL5xjLgQp1c

Yeah, a bit different :biggrin:
 
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My best is guitar, but it's tough to pick which. Blues on electric, blues on acoustic, rock on electric, fingerpicking folk styles on acoustic...

I'm OK on harmonica (blues style) and drums, but I could make more money with guitar and vocals. I wish I could still stand to be exposed to fragrances, because I'd still be fronting bands.
 
turbo-1 said:
My best is guitar, but it's tough to pick which. Blues on electric, blues on acoustic, rock on electric, fingerpicking folk styles on acoustic...

I'm OK on harmonica (blues style) and drums, but I could make more money with guitar and vocals. I wish I could still stand to be exposed to fragrances, because I'd still be fronting bands.

I was about to make a thread about best fragrances, but you came to mind then I receded :rolleyes:…..:biggrin:
 
Guitar and piano. They're not really comparable though. You can do all kinds of creative techniques on guitar, whereas piano is best for creative theory.
 
drizzle said:
I was about to make a thread about best fragrances, but you came to mind then I receded :rolleyes:…..:biggrin:
My best fragrances involve food. Bread-and-butter pickles simmering, apple pie baking in the oven, venison liver and onion sizzling in the pan...
 
Why does the beatbox guy only know how to play in one key?
 
i found out recently that i can't really play anymore, so i can't say I've got a best
 
Ben Niehoff said:
Why does the beatbox guy only know how to play in one key?

Is he? Still, nice play
 
Proton Soup said:
i found out recently that i can't really play anymore, so i can't say I've got a best

Why? What did you play?
 
  • #10
drizzle said:
Why? What did you play?

trumpet/french horn/baritone, but mostly trumpet. i played with some alumni at my old high school last year, and let's just say it wasn't quite like riding a bicycle. with a little practice, tho, i think it would be much better, I've just not got much motivation to pursue it atm.
 
  • #11
I do not really have a "favorite", but in the in the wind category, I'll introduce


In the category "hors concours" (outside competition), I love

(skip to 3:43 if it's too free before, it gets really interesting)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #12
Alto Saxophone.
 
  • #13
I'm not sure what the original poster means by "best": instrument one plays best or instrument one likes best.

In my case, playing instrumental music (mostly "classical" in the loose sense) is a major hobby. The main instruments that I play are piano, violin and viola, and my wife plays the cello. We have both performed solo works with orchestra (concertos and similar) in public on all of these, and played many more such works with orchestra as "rehearsal soloist".

It's difficult to say which is "best", either for standard or for what I like, because they are so different, and it also depends on the pieces I'm currently working on. Complex piano works require much more effort to learn the notes than string works of a similar standard just because of the sheer number of notes, but learning how to make complex passages on a string instrument sound fluent and clear can take weeks just for a few notes. Of my own instruments, the viola is often most immediately rewarding, for example in a viola transcription of Bach's unaccompanied cello suites (which my wife plays on the cello), but I rarely play it now.

In between my occasional opportunities to rehearse concertos with full orchestra (great fun - my favourite has been Rachmaninov 2nd piano concerto), I get the most pleasure out of playing in small chamber works, including quartets and trios, and some of my best work has been playing piano accompaniments for my wife's performances on the cello.

My musical friends sometimes have "musical evenings" where people bring along instruments and play or sing, and for that sort of event I usually take along my guitar and my flute. I'm not particularly good at either, but quite fluent at playing things by ear, and they are useful instruments for joining in with things.
 
  • #14
Electric Bass. Haven't picked up one in years though. :frown:

Was learning piano and electric organ (40 years ago), but didn't stay with it. I wanted to be outside playing football - American or soccer.
 
  • #15
Violin, although I've only ever played as part of an orchestra. Have been trying to learn fiddle techniques recently, and basic guitar.
 

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