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We all have certain musical instruments that we either like or dislike.

And I think that has to do with how we all hear things differently when it comes to an instruments pitch and tone.

I also feel that certain musical instruments will touch something deep in our heart, while others will do nothing.

What some people find pleasing to the ear, others might find annoying. And vise versa.

Because of my love of music, in the past, I've shared several posts about my favorite musical instruments. So for a change, I thought I'd share my three least favorite.

I have very sensitive ears when it comes to the sound of these specific instruments. And so much so, that they make my ears feel as though they're being slashed with razor blades.

I find them excruciatingly painful.

In my opinion, all three of these instruments should either be outlawed and charged with a $1,000. fine if played, or be completely abolished from the world, never to be heard again.

A bit dramatic, aren't I?

I can't help it though, that's how much I can't stand these instruments.

Ready, set, go...

A Harmonica
Excuse me, but why?

Why on earth is this instrument even an instrument? Other than an instrument of torture.

Whenever I hear a harmonica, I think of an old western movie in which one of the characters is serving a life sentence in jail. And the only thing he has with him in his cell is a harmonica, which he plays over and over and over again in a very somber manner because he misses his girlfriend who he cheated on with a woman he accidentally killed. And that's why he's in prison. 

For murder. 

And that's what I feel like when I hear a harmonica.

Murder.


Harmonica humor...


Next up...

An Accordion
The reason I don't like the sound of an accordion is because it's very similar to the sound of a harmonica. The only difference is that one has keys, the other doesn't.

As soon as I hear an accordion, I immediately think of a polka; specifically the "Beer Barrel Polka." 


Every Spring, Summer and Fall, there is a gentleman who stands on the street corner here in Philly and plays the accordion for hours on end. Whenever he's out there, I can hear his accordion even when I'm a block away. He seems like such a sweet man, however, I find myself either taking a detour down another street, or walking past him as fast as I can, just to avoid the sound.

This is literally the vision I get in my head whenever I hear an accordion.

I picture someone standing on the Bavarian Alps eating a Bavarian pretzel and drinking a stein of beer, shouting, "It's VUNDERBAR!"


I saved my very least favorite for last...

Bagpipes
Oh my God and Baby Jesus!

I can't even put into words how I feel about his instrument, but I'll try. 

Bagpipes sound as if I'm listening so someone wheezing from congestion due to a very bad chest cold, or someone in the midst of a severe asthma attack.


The sound of this instrument sends me running in the opposite direction because it's just so unbearable to my ears.

The most effective way to punish me would be to put me in a small room; tie me to a chair; force-feed me Peeps, while forcing me to listen to someone play the bagpipes until I go completely insane and my ears fall off. 

This cartoon, which I found online, flawlessly conveys my feelings about bagpipes.

So apparently, I'm not the only person who feels this way...


Wishing you a musical week, y'all!
💗

P.S. Please feel free to share your least favorite musical instrument(s) in your comments.

35 comments:

  1. "The most effective way to punish me would be to put me in a small room; tie me to a chair; force-feed me Peeps, while forcing me to listen to someone play the bagpipes until I go completely insane and my ears fall off. " Ron, that was hysterical! This whole post was hysterical.

    My least favorite musical instrument is the banjo. The sound of that instrument drives me nuts!

    Thank you for the Monday morning laughs. I needed this. xo

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  2. Whew - I was afraid you were going to say Trumpet, Baritone, and French Horn (the three I played in high school band).

    I'm with you on all three, but ESPECIALLY freaking bagpipes. I can deal with them outside, at a distance, if I must but inside is torturous. My mother and I have a running joke about it because she loves Celtic bands and I hate pipes. She gave me a CD once from a band she likes with autographs of the players and their instrucments. The CD didn't even have bagpipes on it, but one of the band members signed his name with "Pipes" as a joke because she'd told him about my aversion.

    And you'll love this: At my father's 70th birthday party, there was a lunch the second day and a bagpiper came and played about 1000 songs. They all sounded the same. My baby sister sat next to me, with her back to my father's wife, and made jokes the whole time. Like, "IS someone humming along?!!" And, "Didn't he just play that same song?" And, "Oh my god, he's taking REQUESTS!" My dad's wife couldn't see my sister but she sure could see me cracking up. She gave me the stink eye the whole time. But you know what? It's the only way I could get through it with my sanity intact!

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  3. Oh, Ron, I'm just so thrilled that you didn't list FLUTE as one of the instruments you can't stand!! You crack me up, sir. I'm pretty much right there with your listing -- except for the bagpipes. I'm part Irish, as you know, and the sound of the pipes (especially outdoors) calls to my soul.


    Personally, I can't stand a banjo. It just sounds tinny and clunky to me and reminds me too much of awful clown bands (and you KNOW I can't abide clowns, ha!) I can't stand ukulele either. That one reminds me of Tiny Tim, and his awful warbling voice made me shudder!


    Great post this morning, my friend, and I thank you for starting my day off with a laugh. Enjoy the week ahead! xx

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  4. OMG yes, Candice...I can't stand the banjo as well. Drives me INSANE. All that twanging!

    And I always think of the dueling banjos in the movie, "Deliverance." OMG it was so CREEPY!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you have a flawless week!

    X

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  5. No way, I LOVE the trumpet, baritone, AND the French horn. FAAAAAAAAAAABULOUS instruments! In fact, my brother played the trumpet in his high school band. I also love the saxophone.

    " The CD didn't even have bagpipes on it, but one of the band members signed his name with "Pipes" as a joke because she'd told him about my aversion."

    OMG...that is SO FUNNY! I know there are people who love bagpipes, but I just can't stand the sound they make. It's FREAKY!

    "And, "Oh my god, he's taking REQUESTS!" My dad's wife couldn't see my sister but she sure could see me cracking up. She gave me the stink eye the whole time. But you know what? It's the only way I could get through it with my sanity intact!"

    HYSTERICAL! But I don't blame you because that would have been the ONLY way I could have gotten through it as well.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your stories. VERY funny!

    Have a terrific week, my Libra friend!

    X

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  6. Hey there Debbie!

    Nooooooooooooooo, I adore the flute! And the reason I love do is because the flute very often in a music piece carries the emotion that your feel when you listen to it. The flute also (to me, anyway) represents the sounds you hear in nature. I feel that way about the violin and cello too. They're very emotional instruments.

    " I'm part Irish, as you know, and the sound of the pipes (especially outdoors) calls to my soul."

    That's awesome! As I shared, there are certain musical instruments that touches the heart. And the bagpipes do that for you. That's great!

    ":Personally, I can't stand a banjo. It just sounds tinny and clunky to me and reminds me too much of awful clown bands (and you KNOW I can't abide clowns, ha!) I can't stand ukulele either. That one reminds me of Tiny Tim, and his awful warbling voice made me shudder!"

    OMG...YES to all of that! Whenever I hear a banjo, I think of the movie, "Deliverance", and the dueling banjo scene. It's so creepy.

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your faves and not-faves. ENJOYED!

    Have a super week!
    X

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  7. I just knew bagpipes would be on your list. I love bagpipes, there are so many kinds from so many countries with varying sounds/tones/timbre. Most people only know Scottish bagpipes and military tattoo type songs - I am very fond of modern pipers including rock and roll bagpipe groups as well as some totally kick-ass young women pipers (https://youtu.be/HXm8JdC4k4c)

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  8. Ron, I would say yes to all three of these. Especially the bagpipes. I laughed so hard at your harmonica commentary. And that harmonica birth control joke was priceless.

    I would also add the ukulele. And yet I love the sound of a guitar. But a ukulele is such a different sound. Annoying! LOL!

    Fun, fun, fun post, Ron! As always, you make me laugh!!! ox

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  9. Ron, this was a very enjoyable post and a great way to start the week with humor. I know you were not joking about your 3 least favorite instruments, but loved the way you wrote about those dislikes.

    I agree with 2 of your least favorite, harmonica and bagpipes, but don't find the accordion as onerous as the first two. And, my 3 disliked "instruments" using the term lightly here are the pan flute, a jaw harp (also called a Jew's Harp) and the kazoo.

    While I really like the saxophone, piano, harp and most other instruments, there is another one that really intrigues me, the Theremin, an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact. Maybe, I've been watching way too many Midsomer Murders where I first heard the late Celia Sheen who played the soundtrack of every episode on the Theremin for 14 years. It's fascinating to watch YouTube videos including one by its inventor Leon Therimin.

    It's a musical staple of a lot of science fiction movies and was famously used for one of the signature parts of "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys.

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  10. I can kind of agree with you on these though maybe I have a greater tolerance for them. They all can have a time and place. Have you heard any of the harmonica music by virtuosos like Larry Adler. He could play beautifully.

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  11. Hey there Arlee!

    No, I haven't heard of Larry Adler, but I will check him out on YouTube. Thanks!

    And thanks for stopping by! Have a super week!

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  12. Hey there Grace!

    Thank you! I did check out the link and it was a VERY cool video visually. However, I'm still not a fan of the sound of bagpipes. Sorry.

    Much thanks for stopping by, my friend! Have an awesome week!

    X

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  13. Hola Denise!

    I laughed so hard when I found that harmonica joke online!!!

    "I would also add the ukulele. And yet I love the sound of a guitar. But a ukulele is such a different sound. Annoying! LOL!"

    OMG, yes, I totally forgot about the ukulele. LOL! I agree! It has a much higher pitch and tone than a guitar.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, girl. Have an awesome week!

    X

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  14. Hey there G!

    Glad you enjoyed. And that's what I meant when I said that the likes and dislikes of musicals instruments is all relative to what appeals to the ears of each individual. I happened to LOVE the sound of a violin, but I know many people who think it's annoying.

    ". And, my 3 disliked "instruments" using the term lightly here are the pan flute, a jaw harp (also called a Jew's Harp) and the kazoo."

    I know of the pan flute and the kazoo (which I agree on), but I've not heard of a jaw harp. I will have to google that to see what it is.

    LOVE the piano, harp and sax. Love them! I took piano lessons for years when I was a kid, but I don't remember it at all. I've got to check out the Theremin too because that's another one I've never heard of, so thanks for letting me know. I will check them both on YouTube tonight. Can't wait!

    "It's a musical staple of a lot of science fiction movies and was famously used for one of the signature parts of "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys."'


    Wow...you are such a great wealth of knowledge. Thank you so much!

    Have an AWESOME week, my friend!

    X

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  15. You are so funny, Ron. When I saw the title, I had no idea where this post was going! I don’t remember previous posts about favorite instruments, but now I want to know what your most hated candies are! LOL, or any post on stuff you hate because it’s so funny.

    I’m not a fan of any of those instruments, either. A harmonica reminds me of Bob Dylan, whose voice grates on my last nerve. Bagpipes remind me of death, so nothing pleasant there. And the accordion makes me think of a Lawrence Welk, the most boring show my grandmother would watch while I was over. Pure torture!

    Ok, here’s an uncommon one . . . I hate saxophone music! I truly hate the sound of it. While other folks thought Bill Clinton was cool for playing it, it just made me hate him Even more! LOL, I hope he annoys his wife and mistresses with it!

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  16. OMG...I laughed so hard when I read this....

    "While other folks thought Bill Clinton was cool for playing it, it just made me hate him Even more! LOL, I hope he annoys his wife and mistresses with it!"

    Bwhahahahahahaha! That was freaking brilliant! And I totally forgot about him playing the saxophone! But I do remember him on "The Arsenio Hall Show" eons ago!

    So true...the harmonica DOES remind me of Bob Dylan!!!

    "Bagpipes remind me of death, so nothing pleasant there. And the accordion makes me think of Lawrence Welk, the most boring show my grandmother would watch while I was over. Pure torture!"

    Bwhahahahahahaha! OMG...that made me laugh so hard too because it's so TRUE!!!

    Yes, over the years I posted several posts about my love of certain instruments. Two of them were about the violin and cello, which I LOVE! Perhaps I published them before you and I met!?!

    And you just gave me a fabulous idea for another post, "My Most Hated Candies!" And let me tell you, I have plenty of them.

    Thanks so much for stopping by. Your comment was freaking hilarious!

    Have a super week, my friend!

    X

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  17. Ron seriously, you need to can an act together and do stand-up because the audiences would love you. You are so damn funny! How do you think of these things, do they just pop into your head? You tell such great stories. And just so you know, both my husband and I read this and LOL!

    I must chime in with all of your least favorites. Oh my god, is there anything more horrible than the sound of bagpipes or a harmonica? Do you know what instrument I can't stand? An organ. It reminds me of when I was a kid and went roller skating. I love the sound of a piano but an organ, no.

    I love that last cartoon of the bagpipe player. Very funny!

    Thank you so much for many me laugh. Between this horrendous heat we're having and politics, I needed a break and just laugh.

    Stay cool! ox

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  18. I’m glad I made you laugh, Ron. Some people don’t get my humor, but I knew YOU would appreciate it! XO

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  19. Hey there Elaine!

    Thank you :) And yes, these things just POP into my head while I'm writing. I would love to try stand-up comedy because I used to work with a girl who told me the same thing, but stand-up comedy is VERY scary because you're up there all alone. YIKES!

    "Do you know what instrument I can't stand? An organ. It reminds me of when I was a kid and went roller skating. I love the sound of a piano but an organ, no."

    I TOTALLY agree with you because I do love the sound of a piano, but an organ reminds me too much of going to Catholic church every Sunday. And you're right...roller-skating too!!!

    Isn't that cartoon hilarious? I found it online and laughed my ass off when I spotted it.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, neighbor! Have a fantastic week!

    X

    P.S. Hasn't the heat/humidity been horrendous this summer? All I do is sweat. Dear God, I can't wait for FALL!

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  20. I'm going to be the oddball here by going out on a limb and saying I like all three of those instruments! What would "In a Big Country" be without the bagpipes? Much less grand and catchy, that's what! Accordions remind me of dining in my favorite German-themed restaurant in Portland before they closed down after 50 years in business, and there's a local PDX band called Helio Sequence who kills it on "The Harmonica Song."

    My least favorite instruments would be the kazoo and the recorder.

    Fun read regardless! I hope you enjoy a great week free of those torturous musical instruments!

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  21. LOVE your sense of humor!

    Oh, and forgot to say in my previous comment that I too would have to watch "The Lawrence Welk Show" whenever my grandmother would babysit us on a Saturday night. She and my grandfather would give us ice cream, while we watched the show. OMG...I can still remember that like it was yesterday!

    "a Bobby and a Cissy!"

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  22. Hi there Mark!

    That's awesome!

    Hey listen, that's why I said that everyone likes different musical instruments. I mean, just because I don't like them doesn't mean that everyone feels that same. To each his/her own, ya' know?

    "My least favorite instruments would be the kazoo and the recorder."

    OMG...yes! Especially the kazoo. I mean, WTF!?!?!?

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, my friend. Have a faaaaaaaabulous week!

    X to you and Tara

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  23. Omg, I forgot about those names! LOL!

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  24. Ron, you crack me up!

    "because he misses his girlfriend who he cheated on with a woman he accidentally killed. And that's why he's in prison.

    For murder. " ROFLMAO!!! And the harmonica birth control as well. So funny!!!!

    Well, I'd have to agree with you on your choices here. I can appreciate the people who take the time to learn how to play these instruments and enjoy them. But man, they do the same thing to my ears, "as though they're being slashed with razor blades."

    I think one of my own least favorites is the banjo. What a horrible sound! Too damn twangy.

    Thanks for the laughs, Ron. You are one funny dude!!!!

    I really like the cool animated image at the top of your post. Did you make that?

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  25. Hiya Matt!

    Glad you had a laugh, my friend. I had so much fun putting this post together. Don't you LOVE that harmonica humor? I laughed so hard when I spotted it online.

    "I think one of my own least favorites is the banjo. What a horrible sound! Too damn twangy."

    Yes! And think it's unanimous, most people don't like the sound of a banjo!!!

    Thank you. No, I didn't make that animate GIF on my own. I made it on a website called CANVA. They offer many different templates that you can customize on your own. The photo was originally just a still photo, but then I added the animation.

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're enjoying a faaaaaaabulous week!

    X

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  26. http://ladyfi.wordpress.comWednesday, August 12, 2020

    Thanks for the laugh. My mum was very good at playing the accordion so it has good memories... but oh, when my brother was learning the bagpipes... Ouch! We had to send him out onto the moors for our sanity.

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  27. "...when my brother was learning the bagpipes... Ouch! We had to send him out onto the moors for our sanity."

    OMG, that is SO funny, Fiona! And I could just picture it!

    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're enjoying a fantastic week!

    X

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  28. Ron, thank you for letting me know about CANVA because I checked it out last night and thought it was the coolest website! I can't wait until I have more time to search more. And I can't believe it's free! My girlfriend is a graphic artist, so she interesting in it too.

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  29. You are so welcome, Matt! Isn't it the coolest site? And they keep adding more and more things every few months. YES...it's free! There are some things they do charge a fee, but it's very minimal ($1.00). I make a lot of things for my blog posts on there. And I've also used it to make blog headers.

    Enjoy!

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  30. I have a feeling that website is going to turn into an obsession because I've already made five graphics LOL! Thanks again Ron, what a great find!

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  31. Oh, my God, Ron, this post is so hysterically funny! But, please, tell us how you really feel...

    I understand your loathing for all three instruments as I don't have much use for them either.

    I think I'm a little less strident in my dislike for them in that I think each one has a VERY LIMITED (!!!) appeal. Just a couple of notes to set the mood and then please go kill yourself--and I say that with love.

    No way in hell do any of these things deserve center stage. You don't make a meal out of mustard and you don't let the bagpipes run the show--unless you want people running for the door.

    Thanks so much for the laugh, buddy! Have yourself a great weekend and don't forget to stock up on the Peeps!

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  32. Hey there Rob!

    " But, please, tell us how you really feel..."

    HAHAHAHA! I know, aren't I blunt? That's the "New Yorker" in me. I can't hide my feelings.

    "Just a couple of notes to set the mood and then please go kill yourself--and I say that with love." No way in hell do any of these things deserve center stage. You don't make a meal out of mustard and you don't let the bagpipes run the show--unless you want people running for the door.

    OMG...that CRACKED ME THE HELL UP! Hilarious!

    Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by and sharing your brilliant wit, my friend. Hope you're a faaaaaaaaabulous weekend!

    P.S. Yes, I just purchased some Peeps in the shape of bagpipes LOL!

    X

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  33. I can understand why you chose these instruments! Like all instruments, I believe it's all in the skill of the musician. I've heard each of these in setting where I thought the sound was very nice. But, I agree, they are not instruments that lend themselves to solos and a little goes a loooonngggg way! When I think of a harmonica, my mind goes to blues and jazz musicians. Thanks for sharing. Peanut signed up for band this year but doesn't know what she wants to play. Sax? Drums? We'll see! X

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  34. OMG...I LOVE the sax! But I also love the drums! Did you know that Karen Carpenter (from The Carpenters) was an outstanding drummer? In fact, she never intended on singing, she wanted to play the drums!

    X

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  35. i love you ron

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