Beatbox = instrument?

Hey everyone! I got inspired by the "What instrument do you play" thread to think about beatboxing. I've always enjoyed creating sounds and melodies with my mouth, since I was small.

And now, to the point; to me, beatboxing is like playing an instrument, because even though you are not playing one physically (I guess), there is so much technicality and variation of sounds you can output. Trust me when I say that it takes practice, as there are sounds that take weeks of practising in order to play them.

So basically my question is, first of all, have yall ever heard of beatboxing, and second, would you consider it as playing an instrument?

 

That's like saying singing is an instrument, it's not true.
Instrument means you're using a tool to make music. Your vocal cords and your mouth are not a tool, but that doesn't make them any less impressive.

 

I've heard of beatboxing, and I wouldn't consider it an instrument. Still amazing though. :)

 

Actually the way you say it makes sense, it's more about using vocal chords and percussions rather than an actual, physical object to emit a sound.

It definitely is, I think it is just underrated because, mainly, the music that is made is like electronic trap and dubstep... Which are not liked by a lot of people, and including me, to some extent. But to me, it's more about the amazing technical aspect of it.

Check this video out!

 

how do vocal cords not fit that definition?

 

beatboxing itself isn't an instrument, but the tools to CREATE beatboxing (your mouth) would be an instrument. as said in hmj's post, a musical instrument is described as "a device created or adapted to make musical sounds." the device is your mouth.

sure, the mouth isn't explicitly used as a musical instrument, but it can be, just the same as playing a drum kit would be.

 

Because that very same Wikipedia article that you're quoting doesn't treat singing as using an instrument at all. In fact, one of the only appearances of "singing", "vocal" or "voice" in that entire article are in a sentence that even hints that voice isn't an instrument by excluding it from "instruments": "when used in the name of an instrument, these terms are relative, describing the instrument's range in comparison to other instruments of its family and not in comparison to the human voice range or instruments of other families."

Yeah this thing is arguable. I choose to not view human organs as devices or tools like a hammer or a pickaxe are, which makes the "in principle" part of your definition exclude the vocal cords as they aren't "devices". If you do however view them as tools (which is legitimate), then you're correct and the definition matches.

 

Nah, you can't place an objective definition on this. it's too vague.

cavemen bangin rocks together probably made some dope tunes, but rocks aren't really instruments. IMO beatboxing just happens to be something we can do, not really a defined musical entity, as I see instruments as physical material objects which can be shared or recreated

 

This is true, but would you not agree that saying that singing is not "defined as a music entity", feels weird

 

Yes.

 

I'm gonna base it like this. I can beatbox pretty well myself, and I'm not just saying that like it's good lol. I would say your mouth isn't an instrument. You can slap your cat and its not an instrument. Here are some factors I think it would need to have to be classed as an instrument

1. Having musical grades to increase ability and technique
2. Having select parts of music to learn, everyone beat boxes differently so yeah.
3. You need to know what is making the noise

I would say singing is an instrument because its your voice box you're using to make a sound so perhaps humming when beat boxing can be considered an instrument but certain sounds are made different ways when beatboxing so I say all together that beatboxing isn't an instrument but the voice box is

 

slapping ur cat isn't musical that's called animal abuse friend

your mouth would literally fall under all of your criteria. i have no idea what the first one implies (do you mean school grades? elaborate). the select parts would be things like the initial kicks, snares, hihats etc. and even things like the melodies that you would produce with your voice. as for 3, it's your mouth lol

i have no idea what you're saying here. so, the voice is an instrument because it produces a sound (still incorrect either way, but ok)... but so do your lips when your beatboxing???? are drums not instruments to you?

i'm not looking for a whole INDEPTH ANALYSIS SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THESIS on this topic, but i think this post was written in 5 minutes. you contradict yourself very easily.

 

OMG WOW!!! Apex that's really cool!! Beautiful voices and beatboxing, it's SOOO good! :D

 

I totally agree! I would like to buy a loopstation myself, I have already got a mic, and I am now trying some stuff out with Garageband, however, it would definitely be easier with a loopstation tool.
I saw this battle! It's a sick one (even though I've probably watched all of them by now lol)! I think my favourite one is MB14 against Saro though, there's so much musicality and skill involved... it's awesome! =D


Btw awesome that another person appreciates beatbox :D