What is the best folk music instrument?

Subject: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Andy7
Date: 23 Feb 18 - 03:36 PM

Not including the human voice, which obviously comes first - what is the best instrument for folk music?

I may be a little biased - but for me, the fiddle/violin is way out in front. It can lead a lively dance tune, play a mournful lament or unobtrusively accompany any folk song, all equally beautifully.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Pete from seven stars link
Date: 23 Feb 18 - 05:52 PM

I don't think there is a best instrument , even assuming each is played equally well .. It's nice though to get something a little unusual sometimes . Recently heard a large flute beautifully complimenting guitar and voice

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: gillymor
Date: 23 Feb 18 - 05:59 PM

Every folkie needs one of
these.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 23 Feb 18 - 06:20 PM

Plastic Shaky Eggs...

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 23 Feb 18 - 09:38 PM

TRIANGLES...

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

The tri is superior to the quad

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 24 Feb 18 - 04:04 AM

It depends how many people you ask.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Raggytash
Date: 24 Feb 18 - 05:20 AM

Guitar and Flute are a marriage made in Heaven ........ add a harp, utter bliss!!

High Time

Later on in the video at 4.03 the harp player dances, he is astonishing.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: StephenH
Date: 24 Feb 18 - 01:09 PM

Wow, gillymor, that's like Roy Williamson's combolin gone wild!

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: leeneia
Date: 24 Feb 18 - 09:37 PM

I'm not going to claim that it's the best, but the mountain dulcimer offers great variety at affordable cost and is surprisingly easy to play.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 02:47 AM

...... the fiddle/violin is way out in front

Not when I play it!

DC

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: banjoman
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 07:13 AM

Much maligned but still one of the most versatile of all instruments - BANJO

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 10:09 AM

An old musician (now dead) told me once that accordion boxes are great for sitting on in a crowded session
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST,CPTSNAPPER
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 10:18 AM

It surely depends on how well it's being played

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 11:41 AM

If "best" can be equated with "most widely used", the fiddle winds hands-down. Almost every Indo-European folk music tradition has used some variation of the fiddle for centuries. Most other instruments are upstarts.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 11:42 AM

This is the best, especially when played by the best!

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST,Ally Pally
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 02:56 PM

Probably the Kazoo?

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 03:28 PM

Despite many opinions to the contrary I have always loved the sound of a well played 5 string banjo.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Gibb Sahib
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 05:49 PM

"Most other instruments are upstarts." ???

"Fiddle" is quite a late category of instrument compared to other chordophones, much less instruments of other families. Why would non-fiddles be upstarts?

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Joe_F
Date: 25 Feb 18 - 07:47 PM

The guitar is beautiful. The banjo is sublime.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 03:18 AM

..and the ukulele is...????

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 04:20 AM

.... fun

DC

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 04:26 AM

Surely this is a rather Subjective question ? It depends on whereabouts in the world you live and the Genre and style of folk music you play. If you live in parts of France the Hurdy Gurdy or Bagpipes might be considered best, If you live in Louisiana, maybe its the 10 button Cajun Accordion or a fiddle, other parts of the world may go for a Harp or a Banjo, or simply percussion, tuned or otherwise, ...how about Gamalan, or similar in parts of South East Asia..........The list is endless.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Iains
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 05:05 AM

It all depends on context. A solo singer would have a hard time playing a Jew's harp, but a guitar or banjo might be quite appropriate.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 05:08 AM

Hand [thigh/arse/belly/etc] clapping would be a primary universal folk accompaniment instrument...

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Feb 18 - 06:59 AM

I always thought Rolf Harris was onto something with the stylophone and wobble board combination.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: BobL
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 03:34 AM

In part, it depends what you're able to play. I never seemed to have enough fingers to chord a guitar, nor enough coordination between fingers and elbows for a bellows instrument. Whistles and mouth-organs aren't much use for accompanying songs, leastways not if it's you that's singing them.

Guess my ideal instrument would be the Wintergatan marble machine.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 07:42 AM

if Rolf had one of those Roland loop stations. he could doo his wobble board, and digerido as a backwash
can you see what it is yet?

Then do the melody on his stylophone.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Johnny J
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 08:13 AM

It all depends on the circumstances, genre of music, and location as has been said.

Today, the best instrument for me was The Kazoo which I keep near my telephone stand in the hall.

I received a call a few minutes ago from an Asian gentleman who wanted to speak to me regarding my "recent road accident". Straight away, I offered to play him a tune on my Kazoo and he hung up after just a few seconds of notes.

Whistles are great for this too....

;-)

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 10:26 AM

I've just bought some recorders [ Yamaha / JHS ] off Amazon at deal of the day prices..

Last time i succesfully got a tune out of one was first or second class in infant school..

"Peas pudding hot" for morning assembly...

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Roz
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 04:51 PM

I would have to second AllyPally's suggestion of the kazoo!

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: RTim
Date: 27 Feb 18 - 10:14 PM

It seems interesting that no one has mentioned The English Concertina.....It is fully chromatic, It doesn't have to be tuned, you can sing while playing, it plays melody and chords, it has different dynamic ranges, it is not very large and heavy.. and you can even play for dancing.......

They just cost a bunch of money!

Tim Radford (who is married to an English Concertina player.........)

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 04:28 AM

Someone has said the kazoo so I'll offer the washboard- can't get more folksy (oh, you said music).
RtS

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 04:44 AM

Get real... It has to be the fiddle then you build up from there.. and I say that being a great devotee of the mandolin

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Johnny J
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 05:16 AM

For trad music and sessions, you have a point Mick.
Also, the pipes, flute etc.

The thread says "Folk Music" though and this covers a multitude of sins. :-((

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 05:37 AM

The opening post starts "Not including the human voice, .....
I don't think the kazoo counts as it depends on the voice.

DC

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 06:18 AM

There is a saying that a folk instrument has to be something you can grab and run with when the cops bust the joint. That is supposedly the origin of the Greek baglamas (drastically slimmed-down bouzouki used in rembetiko).

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Andy7
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 06:03 PM

As well as the human voice ... not up there in the top 10 folk instruments, but human feet are pretty good for percussion!

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: topical tom
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 11:05 AM

I love the sound of a well played 5 string banjo in bluegrass.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Tradsinger
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 01:43 PM

The best instrument for Cotswold Morris is the pipe and tabor.

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 07:20 PM

Mr. Andy - 7,

Great thread

Dennis Mijnhijmer approves

Subject: RE: What is the best folk music instrument?
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 09:56 PM

I think Rolf Harris may have other things on his mind right now, worrying about a different kind of backwash.