Question: What is the definition of a musical instrument?

Bill Evans said it best, IMO: "To the person who uses music as a medium for the expression of ideas, feelings, images, or what have you; anything which facilitates this expression is properly his instrument."
 
Anything that can produce a sound when triggered or played. Yes even hitting a nail with a hammer can be a musical instrument.
 
Flamencology said:
Bill Evans said it best, IMO: "To the person who uses music as a medium for the expression of ideas, feelings, images, or what have you; anything which facilitates this expression is properly his instrument."
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That sounds good to cover the expressive aspects. For me, I would add that as music essentially is pitches combined in time, anything that can make pitches in time is an instrument. I would broaden that to include anything that can be used rhythmically, whether it be a drum, a garbage can lid, or a couple of sticks.
 
It's cool... you guys just enjoy the new Van Halen album and I'll listen to something good. :tongue:
 
I'm trying to think of a good definition, and it's making me wonder whether turntables or a conventional stereo could be considered an instrument. The jury is still out.
 
I think a turntable and/or ghetto blaster or conventional stereo can and are currently used as instruments, rhythmically, and to get melodic or harmonic pitches to come out of them. So I say "yes". Same with samplers.

But I agree with howie that it depends on how you use them, and with Tralfaz that the line is drawn between passive listening, and creating. That makes it fit Bill Evans' definition too.
 
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Trumpets are the only musical instrument.
Hell, I don't know. I knew a guy who could play Row Row Row Your Boat with the exhaust notes on his old Datsun pickup truck.
 
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