Worst sounding instrument (bagpipes)

[Esceptico]

When I took the dog for a walk this morning there was an old guy practicing playing the bagpipes in the middle of the park. Presumably his wife or neighbours have an injunction against him playing at home!

There is something really unpleasant about the noise bagpipes make. A sort of out of tune wailing. Sets my teeth on edge. Like fingernails on blackboards. Asked the wife her thoughts and she is the same.

Presumably some people find it harmonious. I’ve listened to music from many places around the globe and I’ve liked quite discordant and also very loud music. However I’ve not come across another instrument or music that sounds so bad.

I was going to do a poll on “worst sounding instrument” buy couldn’t think of any others! Any suggestions?

[paulguitar]

Pan pipes are all kinds of offensive, in a very different way to bagpipes.

[Johnspex]

Cello. Awful, sad, mournful sound.

I quite like bagpipes.

[underwhelmist]

Bagpipes are awesome. The worst sounding instrument is the plastic recorder that schoolkids get taught to play.

[Radec]

Funnily enough last weekends Family Fortunes had a worst sounding instruments question.
I think bagpipes was second to trumpets iirc
I'd agree and say they are bad.

When I saw them in that Dune film recently I did think WTAF.

[Esceptico]

underwhelmist said:

Bagpipes are awesome. The worst sounding instrument is the plastic recorder that schoolkids get taught to play.

That is a good call - although is it the instrument or the children playing them out of tune?

First search on YouTube found this: so maybe just children

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8c9jEvXMm0c

Can someone find bagpipes sounding good?

Edited by Esceptico on Tuesday 2nd November 02:32

[wrong_turn]

This redeemed bagpipes for me, before I knew to hate them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_8nY_LQL3w

Sadly not all of those guys are still with us, but whoever came up with that ending score deserves a raise.

[wrong_turn]

Esceptico said:

That is a good call - although is it the instrument or the children playing them out of tune?

Listen to this then

It might be flute but that is some of the best TV ever made.

[sherman]

A single bagpiper on their own is generally awful. A full pipe band is an awesome sight and sound to behold.
https://youtu.be/oBYVmnMFMtA

[paua]

Esceptico said:

Can someone find bagpipes sounding good?

Edited by Esceptico on Tuesday 2nd November 02:32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrbuDWit1Co

[wrong_turn]

sherman said:

A single bagpiper on their own is generally awful. A full pipe band is an awesome sight and sound to behold.
https://youtu.be/oBYVmnMFMtA

That's me won over. Sat through the whole thing and enjoyed bagpipes. The drums were fantastic too. I bet it is incredible to be there.

[davhill]

[quote=Esceptico]
SCHNIP

Can someone find bagpipes sounding good?

Let this relax you then feel the noise at 2min 38.

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

[db]

Esceptico said:

There is something really unpleasant about the noise bagpipes make. A sort of out of tune wailing. Sets my teeth on edge. Like fingernails on blackboards. Asked the wife her thoughts and she is the same.

Presumably some people find it harmonious. I’ve listened to music from many places around the globe and I’ve liked quite discordant and also very loud music. However I’ve not come across another instrument or music that sounds so bad.

Well, there's a bit of history with the sound bagpipes make. Scots have used them for the best part of 600 years, primarily as war pipes.
Drums beat a pace but bagpipes make a sort of out of tune wailing that sets your teeth on edge
And that's why they were used

As a Scot, I have to agree that they can be awful at times, but sometimes they just make the most splendid noise.
Highland Cathedral (a good version) raises the hairs on the back of my neck in a way that no Morris Dance music ever will. I've no idea which instruments Morris dancers dance to, but whatever they use, there's something really unpleasant about the sound.

Not the best version I can find, but I want this played at my funeral
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oieFS785QPk

[Taff107]

Get yourself to Edinburgh Tattoo and listen to the pipes and drums.

Powerful and can see why it was used to 'motivate' men going into battle.

[MikeT66]

I like the sound of bagpipes. Definitely preferable to the grating, unmusical squawk of the kazoo, which ahs to be the worst 'instrument' ever devised.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Bagpipes are awful, but someone learning the violin is worse. Once they've mastered the violin, then it's fine.

[Evoluzione]

Esceptico said:

underwhelmist said:

Bagpipes are awesome. The worst sounding instrument is the plastic recorder that schoolkids get taught to play.

That is a good call - although is it the instrument or the children playing them out of tune?

First search on YouTube found this: so maybe just children

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8c9jEvXMm0c

Can someone find bagpipes sounding good?

Edited by Esceptico on Tuesday 2nd November 02:32

Any badly played instrument is painful to listen to.
Listen to these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5DVhoel7AA&ab...

[thebraketester]

This is the best clip of bagpipe playing you will ever since in your entire lives!!!!

https://youtu.be/yLIDnzHetKg

[Blib]

Vuvuzela.

[BrettMRC]

The recorder issued to primary school children.