What is the dorkiest-looking musical instrument in the world?

[GILD]

The AUTOHARP

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Autoharp_(PSF).png/478px-Autoharp_(PSF).png

or the KEYTAR?

http://www.mutatovisual.com/images/reports/bambi/keytar.jpg

If you have any other nominations, please post them here.

[kington99]

theremin, it always make you look like you're performing a magic trick, or possibly haveing a seziure

[Jerrick]

YouTube - Gnarls Barkley Crazy Theremin Jam

Awesome.

A few days ago I was looking at the weirdest looking synths ive ever seen. I cant find the page anymore, but just a google search will bring up some dorky looking ones.

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

Keytar is badass.
I nominate the Sousaphone.
EDIT: your pic loaded. That's the toy version of the keytar. Here, Herbie shows you a real keytar.
30662

[wobbling bear]

Keytar is badass.
I nominate the Sousaphone.

though I own a sousaphone (and still unable to play it while riding) there are more funny brass instruments (mostly built during 19th century).... ophicleids and strange cornetsand "serpents".
http://www.williampetit.com/serpent.fr.html

[Wheel Rider]

The AUTOHARP
or the KEYTAR?
If you have any other nominations, please post them here.

The autoharp is a traditional folk instrument from the mountain areas of eastern USA. Some people take it very seriously and are quite good at playing it.

The keytar in your photo looks like a toy to me.

Amongst modern orchestral instruments, the contra-bassoon and contra-bass clarinet are rather odd looking.

[Goats_On_Unicycles]

Oh yeah. The brass are definately the weirdest.
And that keytar IS a toy Rider.
The real ones are regular synths that allow the performer to jump around stage while playing like a guitarist.

[dudewithasock]

Bagpipe.

;)

[MuniAddict]

Well, since I love pianos, this is one of he strangest incarnations I've seen! :p

30663

[harper]

Look no further. Just attach Will Ferrel to it.

[fatlardboy13]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAg5KjnAhuU

[UniKid2]

Other, The Kazoo.

[mornish]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAg5KjnAhuU

...oh my...

[GILD]

allow the performer to jump around stage while playing like a guitarist
My point exactly.

The reason for the question is a long-held irritation with the band Modern Talking and recently seeing Reese Witherspoon playing the autoharp in Walk The Line.
While I love the movie, her performance in it and most of the music played on the autoharp, I can't help but giggle when I see someone play it.

[uninorcal]

man keytars are awesome!!! and I want one.

[Ergolicious]

The Autoharp doesn't seem that dorky to me, neither for the keytar, also the theremin isn't really that dorky, but it certainly wins the award for stupidest sounding instrument. I can't think of a dorky instrument, but I can think of a nerdy one, the ocarina :D, I actually have one too hehe.

[Jerrick]

That theremin I posted was ran through a processor or some effect box to get the sound of Gnarls Barkley. Regular theremins sound like a really nice violin, and can switch down to sound like a bass.

[Biggestbtc]

And then there's always the sitar... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar)

[JJuggle]

The Kazoonema has always struck me as a dorky instrument.

[phlegm]

Vegetables are pretty dorky?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5aUz9cDaCY

[captainconcarne]

the veggie trumpet was the dorkiest, but the slide carrot was cool

[masterfulmoron]

electric cello (I think this is just turning into weird instrument
here's some more
http://images.google.com/images?q=electric%20cello&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

[masterfulmoron]

Well, since I love pianos, this is one of he strangest incarnations I've seen! :p

30663

is that acoustic or electric?

[unicyclerperson]

The asian advertising the autoharp looks dorky :)

[tobbogonist]

In my opinion the dorkiest instrument is the triangle.

I spent four years in a concert band playing mainly percussion. It was fine at performances, but when it came to marching, well i was not strong enough to carry a drum or the likes. So i was chief in charge of the dorkiest instrument in marching band history, the triangle. I have marched many a main street, flanked by musicions playing sweet sweet music whilst i ting'ed away on my triangle, feeling like an absolute goanna.

dont argue till you have tried it.

[BluntRM]

http://www.activemusician.com/images/store/small/HL_00672547.gif

[JJuggle]

I think you are blurring concepts, Blunt, as the below also illustrates.

http://l.yimg.com/img.movies.yahoo.com/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/tv_pix/vh1/rock_and_roll_hall_of_fame_2003_photos/angus_young/rock2.jpg

[OneWheelLess]

the bandura
http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om06000.html
http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om06000.html

[Biggestbtc]

the bandura
http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om06000.html
http://www.oddmusic.com/gallery/om06000.html

Looks like a morphing of a lute and harp, but it sounds similar to a piano. :confused:
It does look dorky though.

[Hazmat]

Here are some. :D

1) Kinnor, Mini Kinnor and Nevel. (http://www.harpanddragon.com/kinnornevel.htm)
2) Fiddl-ette ca (http://www.wallindependent.com/Website%20Fiddlette.jpg)
3) Ringflute. (http://www.ringflute.com/brf.jpg)

[tomblackwood]

The reason is recently seeing Reese Witherspoon playing the autoharp in Walk The Line. I can't help but giggle when I see someone play it.
But have you ever seen someone that REALLY knows how to play it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3duaK3orqc

I wish there was some better vid of Bowers on youtube. I especially love his treatment of the old Stephen Foster tunes.

[SHAY_CAM]

Balloon bass;


http://www.whitwell.ndo.co.uk/musicthing/images/balloonbass.jpg

[GILD]

Interesting comment on the keytar.


Today's '80s Instrument Spotlight - the Keytar
Tuesday February 24, 2009
keytarbugnon.jpg While searching for appropriate photo illustration for this entry, I could have searched long and hard for a prominent '80s musician to display, keytar slung over back. In fact, I did that. But when I stumbled upon a respected jazz musician's album cover (Alex Bugnon, if you're keeping score) that shamelessly displays the misunderstood instrument, it got me to thinking a bit differently. In short, why does the sight of someone playing a keytar tend to provoke amusement, frequently of the mocking or derisive variety? Is there something inherently goofy or even less than respectable about strapping one of these things on and rocking out onstage? (http://80music.about.com/b/2009/02/24/todays-80s-instrument-spotlight-the-keytar.htm)



Click extract for full article.

[Standupnfall]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmNFRsA7LPg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thMrxjaL_UQ&feature=related