What is the greatest music related invention of all time?

by Kurt
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There's so many great inventions related to music...here's a few:


drum
guitar
piano
musical notation (I think that's what it's called?)
the phonograph/records
radio
CDs
MP3s/players
synthesizer
electronic amplification


The phonograph was a major break through. Before it was invented, you pretty much had to hear the music live to be able to enjoy music, not counting things like player pianos and music boxes.


I'm going to add a new one to the list: Youtube. Youtube has given me access to so much music it's amazing. It even lets me watch and listen to "live" performances that I'd never have been able to before.
  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

    There's so many great inventions related to music...here's a few:


    drum
    guitar
    piano
    musical notation (I think that's what it's called?)
    the phonograph/records
    radio
    CDs
    MP3s/players
    synthesizer
    electronic amplification


    The phonograph was a major break through. Before it was invented, you pretty much had to hear the music live to be able to enjoy music, not counting things like player pianos and music boxes.


    I'm going to add a new one to the list: Youtube. Youtube has given me access to so much music it's amazing. It even lets me watch and listen to "live" performances that I'd never have been able to before.
    Ear plugs.
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    • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      Ear plugs.
      You probably yell "Get off my lawn!" to your neighbor kids.


      ---

      Wireless headphones so outdoor concerts don't bug the neighbors.
      Seriously, they are being used.
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      • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
        Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

        You probably yell "Get off my lawn!" to your neighbor kids.


        ---

        Wireless headphones so outdoor concerts don't bug the neighbors.
        Seriously, they are being used.
        To presume that Claude has a lawn anywhere on his property is to assume that he gets out there and mows it. An absurd proposition.
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        • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
          For me, it has to be the synthesizer.

          For the simple reason that all the traditional instruments ever created can be sampled and used within it. Not to mention the infinite amount of other sounds and textures you could create and combine.

          I also cite the music sequencer (software). It allows anyone to make music without the need to have to learn to play any instrument. Using samples, step time input of notes from a synth etc, and multitrack them.
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          • Profile picture of the author Enfusia
            I would have to say the speaker was a pretty good invention.

            Without it whether you had a phonograph or MP player it wouldn't really matter much.

            Patrick
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            • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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              The kazoo. Now, that's music.

              Cheers. - Frank
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              • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
                Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

                The kazoo. Now, that's music.

                Cheers. - Frank
                Oh, so the thick toilet paper and comb not good enough for you eh?
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                • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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                  Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

                  Oh, so the thick toilet paper and comb not good enough for you eh?
                  It's a well known fact that I'm a music snob.

                  Cheers. - Frank
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            • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
              Originally Posted by Enfusia View Post

              I would have to say the speaker was a pretty good invention.

              Without it whether you had a phonograph or MP player it wouldn't really matter much.

              Patrick
              Much too logical.:<)
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    The addition of electricity was important but the phonograph was the true beginnings of an artist's music - played by the artist themselves - being spread far and wide as never before.

    Thanks Edison!
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  • Profile picture of the author Zodiax
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    For me it has to be the gramophone as patented by Emile Berliner.* Although music has been a part of human culture for millennia, it remained an essentially live experience until the gramophone and gramophone records enabled the widespread dissemination of musical recordings.

    The gramophone eventually led to vinyl records and other recording media, and was ultimately responsible for the emergence of music as a hugely significant global cultural influence.

    And yes, I agree that in modern times, YouTube has taken this dissemination to another level. I've lost count of the time I've spent on the site following leads from video to video. It's been an education as well as a pleasure.


    * I know Edison first came up with the phonograph, but the wax cylinders had poor sound quality and, crucially, were impossible to mass produce.
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    • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
      Originally Posted by Frank Donovan View Post

      For me it has to be the gramophone as patented by Emile Berliner.*
      I'd say it was the wax cylinder. This was the first device to be able to record sound. All other forms of recording followed on from that.
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    i nominate john lennon as the greatest music relatedinvention of all time
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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      Originally Posted by hardraysnight View Post

      i nominate john lennon as the greatest music relatedinvention of all time
      Actually, it was the invention of LSD that made John Lennon a major talent and changed music, forever. :-)

      Cheers. - Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
        Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

        Actually, it was the invention of LSD that made John Lennon a major talent and changed music, forever. :-)

        Cheers. - Frank
        so there would be no beatles without drugs - get a life
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        • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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          Originally Posted by hardraysnight View Post

          so there would be no beatles without drugs - get a life
          There would have been no Sgt. Pepper without drugs, which changed music and culture forever. So said, John Lennon. You can look it or or deny reality. Your call. lol

          Cheers. - Frank
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          • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
            Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

            There would have been no Sgt. Pepper without drugs, which changed music and culture forever. So said, John Lennon. You can look it or or deny reality. Your call. lol

            Cheers. - Frank
            The whole hippy, drop out thing was just a backlash to society and materialism. The Drugs just made it more flowery but were a hinderance to what could have been a much more serious movement.

            You are also forgetting the TM, Spiritualism and stuff of that nature that the Beatles were getting into around that time too.

            The drugs probably had a small effect in the Beatles use of stranger lyrics, granted but their songwriting prowess and melodic genius coupled with musical experimentation were the predominating factor.

            I find that period a fascinating one and a lot of fresh ideas about society, nature, earth stewardship, spiritual stuff , tolerance, freedom of expression. The seeds sown around that time are still around today under different guises.
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            • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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              Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

              The whole hippy, drop out thing was just a backlash to society and materialism. The Drugs just made it more flowery but were a hinderance to what could have been a much more serious movement.
              That's an overly-idealistic view of what was taking place. Most of the cultural changes that were taking place were drug-fueled. I returned home from Vietnam in 1968 and have actually first-hand knowledge of the changes that were taking place and why. I was totally immersed in 'hippiedom' and all of the lofty goals were real, but unfortunately there really was this thing called, 'the man' that would never allow them to come to fruition. I give you the Democratic National Convention of 1968. No one was willing to actually die for the beliefs that they were espousing. It was much safer to get high and discuss those ideas than it would have ever been to achieve them.
              You are also forgetting the TM, Spiritualism and stuff of that nature that the Beatles were getting into around that time too.
              Which were all an result of the experimentation with psychedelics, except I believe for John, whom at that point was only smoking pot. That did not last long. He soon joined the other lads in becoming a major acid-head. Might have been George. My own drug use during that era clouds my recollection.
              The drugs probably had a small effect in the Beatles use of stranger lyrics, granted but their songwriting prowess and melodic genius coupled with musical experimentation were the predominating factor.
              Do some research on what they have said on the matter. They have been very vocal and honest in stating what transpired during that period.
              I find that period a fascinating one and a lot of fresh ideas about society, nature, earth stewardship, spiritual stuff , tolerance, freedom of expression. The seeds sown around that time are still around today under different guises.
              Like I said, I lived in it and through it and a huge amount of my beliefs that I hold today were shaped during that period. Except for the spiritual stuff, which most honest people would tell you was all crap, and just another way to attempt to control people and try to get you to accept their beliefs for their own benefit, all of the aforementioned concepts still shape my life.

              While I may now be totally drug-free, the effects of 50 years of drug use are never going to diminish and to deny that they were a large part of what shaped my views on life and society would be ridiculous. To deny that drug use did not become a main contributing factor to the Beatle's evolving belief system and it's effect on their musical output is to deny history, both musical and cultural. As I said, their own words have made this point abundantly clear.

              Cheers. - Frank
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              • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
                Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

                That's an overly-idealistic view of what was taking place. Most of the cultural changes that were taking place were drug-fueled. I returned home from Vietnam in 1968 and have actually first-hand knowledge of the changes that were taking place and why. I was totally immersed in 'hippiedom' and all of the lofty goals were real, but unfortunately there really was this thing called, 'the man' that would never allow them to come to fruition. I give you the Democratic National Convention of 1968. No one was willing to actually die for the beliefs that they were espousing. It was much safer to get high and discuss those ideas than it would have ever been to achieve them.
                Which were all an result of the experimentation with psychedelics, except I believe for John, whom at that point was only smoking pot. That did not last long. He soon joined the other lads in becoming a major acid-head. Might have been George. My own drug use during that era clouds my recollection.
                Do some research on what they have said on the matter. They have been very vocal and honest in stating what transpired during that period.
                Like I said, I lived in it and through it and a huge amount of my beliefs that I hold today were shaped during that period. Except for the spiritual stuff, which most honest people would tell you was all crap, and just another way to attempt to control people and try to get you to accept their beliefs for their own benefit, all of the aforementioned concepts still shape my life.

                While I may now be totally drug-free, the effects of 50 years of drug use are never going to diminish and to deny that they were a large part of what shaped my views on life and society would be ridiculous. To deny that drug use did not become a main contributing factor to the Beatle's evolving belief system and it's effect on their musical output is to deny history, both musical and cultural. As I said, their own words have made this point abundantly clear.

                Cheers. - Frank
                Hmmmm, I don't go for the drug thing what ever you have read. They are inhibitors of clear thinking. They may have influenced some of the lyrics after the fact but you have to be clear headed to focus and write and record music. I know this from personal experience having created 2 hours worth of New Age Instrumental stuff. Even a couple of beers would mean I could not function.

                Lennon laughed when it was implied that Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds referred to LSD. It was just a phrase one of his kids coined.

                Look at Syd Barrett of the Pink Floyd. LSD destroyed him totally, completely unable to function musically.
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                • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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                  Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

                  Hmmmm, I don't go for the drug thing what ever you have read. They are inhibitors of clear thinking. They may have influenced some of the lyrics after the fact but you have to be clear headed to focus and write and record music. I know this from personal experience having created 2 hours worth of New Age Instrumental stuff. Even a couple of beers would mean I could not function.
                  Like I said, the truth is out there if you want to read it. I'm not trying to convince you of anything. Nothing I have stated is news. lol
                  Lennon laughed when it was implied that Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds referred to LSD. It was just a phrase one of his kids coined.
                  That's very true, but if you are willing to believe his quote on that, why not read what he has to say about how psychedelics, not just LSD impacted their music?
                  Look at Syd Barrett of the Pink Floyd. LSD destroyed him totally, completely unable to function musically.
                  Never take the brown acid. Like anything in life, moderation is the key. More musicians have lost their career and abilities to alcohol than all drug use combined.

                  Cheers. - Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
    Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

    The addition of electricity was important but the phonograph was the true beginnings of an artist's music - played by the artist themselves - being spread far and wide as never before.

    Thanks Edison!

    TL brings up a good point, most "great" inventions have multiple legs behind them.

    No 'tricity, no amplifiers, speakers, phonographs, etc.


    Originally Posted by Kurt View Post


    I'm going to add a new one to the list: Youtube. Youtube has given me access to so much music it's amazing. It even lets me watch and listen to "live" performances that I'd never have been able to before.
    I'm going to go with Kurt on this. I'll bet everyone of us has heard music that we "found" on YouTube.


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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    It is bagpipes of course. Do it well or die. They're associated with battles because someone had to play them well enough so that no one would want to kill them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Janice Sperry
    I would say the human voice,... and, yes, not to start another discussion but I believe it was invented and created.

    As an instrument it can inspire, give you goose bumps, bring you to tears and so on.

    I would agree with the comments about YouTube opening up an almost infinite amount of availability to previously unavailable or unheard of music. The big disappointment is the sound quality on a lot of it, especially live events. Even then, though, it can be special in that you would not have seen or heard it any other way.

    A great article in the hard copy of "Mental Floss" this month about Beethoven changing music forever. He was one of the first exceptional musicians to play not just for the nobility. He was the first known "star" with feverish fans. Vendors even started selling memorabilia and such.
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by Janice Sperry View Post

      I would say the human voice,... and, yes, not to start another discussion but I believe it was invented and created.

      As an instrument it can inspire, give you goose bumps, bring you to tears and so on.

      I would agree with the comments about YouTube opening up an almost infinite amount of availability to previously unavailable or unheard of music. The big disappointment is the sound quality on a lot of it, especially live events. Even then, though, it can be special in that you would not have seen or heard it any other way.

      A great article in the hard copy of "Mental Floss" this month about Beethoven changing music forever. He was one of the first exceptional musicians to play not just for the nobility. He was the first known "star" with feverish fans. Vendors even started selling memorabilia and such.
      The human voice was not a human invention, the product of evolution. But it was the first natural instrument ever to be (as long as you don't count banging on a log or rock (where rock music came from))
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      • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

        The human voice was not a human invention, the product of evolution. <nip>
        That is not actually an established and proven fact. It's an opinion, one that I happen to agree with. However, I believe evolutions arises out of an underlying intelligence and is an intelligent process itself.
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        • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
          Originally Posted by thunderbird View Post

          That is not actually a fact. It's an opinion, one that I happen to agree with. However, I believe evolutions arises out of an underlying intelligence and is an intelligent process itself.
          Well the original question for this thread was about what instrument invention outside what humans could create to make music with the capabilities of their vocal chords or banging on things was the most important. (by implication)

          Evolution gave the capacity for the intelligence and creativity to do this.

          Training the human voice to harmonize with others for example involves intelligence that came from evolution. However, it is not an outside instrument that can be blown through or plucked with the fingers etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    So, was Beethoven the first to have groupies?
    Great movie about him played by Thomas Hulce.

    I have to agree with YouTube. Sorry BigFrank, but that is where I
    rediscovered Taylor Swift.
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    • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      So, was Beethoven the first to have groupies?
      Great movie about him played by Thomas Hulce.

      I have to agree with YouTube. Sorry BigFrank, but that is where I
      rediscovered Taylor Swift.
      Taylor Swift is a discovery that should have never have been dug up in the first place and if so, reburied with a concrete slab on top.

      I've read the appalling stats on Hoteliers and their tastes in music.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
        Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

        Taylor Swift is a discovery that should have never have been dug up in the first place and if so, reburied with a concrete slab on top.

        I've read the appalling stats on Hoteliers and their tastes in music.
        This won't end well.
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        • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
          Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

          Taylor Swift is a discovery that should have never have been dug up in the first place and if so, reburied with a concrete slab on top.

          I've read the appalling stats on Hoteliers and their tastes in music.

          Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

          This won't end well.
          nuff said. I'm calling him Ian from now on. So there.
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      So, was Beethoven the first to have groupies?
      Great movie about him played by Thomas Hulce.
      Saw it recently. Fantastic movie.
      I have to agree with YouTube. Sorry BigFrank, but that is where I
      rediscovered Taylor Swift.
      Rediscovered? It pains me to think that you forgot about her and then had to be re-exposed to her all over again.

      Oh, the humanity!

      Cheers. - Frank
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      • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
        Originally Posted by BigFrank View Post

        Saw it recently. Fantastic movie.
        Rediscovered? It pains me to think that you forgot about her and then had to be re-exposed to her all over again.

        Oh, the humanity!

        Cheers. - Frank
        The thanks button should have up to five stars. I'd give you a 2 and a 1/2 star thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author bojan92
    for me the best invention in music in all the history is the MP3s/players or phones. That is because you can carry a small thing containing maybe even millions of your favorite songs
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    • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
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      Originally Posted by bojan92 View Post

      for me the best invention in music in all the history is the MP3s/players or phones. That is because you can carry a small thing containing maybe even millions of your favorite songs
      That sound like crap. :-)

      Cheers. - Frank
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