FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Fun Trivia
Home: Questions and Answers Forum
Answers to 100,000 Fascinating Questions
Welcome to FunTrivia's Question & Answer forum!

Search All Questions


Please cite any factual claims with citation links or references from authoritative sources. Editors continuously recheck submissions and claims.

Archived Questions

Goto Qn #


What are the rinky dink pianos called that appear in many western saloons and can be heard in the Beatles' song Rocky Racoon?

Question #71563. Asked by groovey67.
Last updated Jul 11 2021.

Related Trivia Topics: Music  
What-A-Mess
Answer has 4 votes
What-A-Mess

Answer has 4 votes.
avatar
malarson
Answer has 1 vote
malarson
19 year member
84 replies avatar

Answer has 1 vote.
Upright pianos aren't exactly "rinky dink." They can actually have the same sound as certain grand pianos.

This might not be relevant, but I thought I'd say my share, being a piano player and all.

Oct 16 2006, 8:31 PM
robboy star
Answer has 4 votes
robboy star
21 year member
941 replies

Answer has 4 votes.
You might be thinking of player pianos.

link http://www.pianola.org/history/history_playerpianos.cfm



Response last updated by gtho4 on Jul 11 2021.
Oct 16 2006, 9:24 PM
wendypj
Answer has 1 vote
wendypj
18 year member
217 replies

Answer has 1 vote.
Ragtime player pianos. Also known as a pianola, calliope, bandorgan player piano, pianola, calliope, draaiorgel, saloon, western town, draiorge, orguebarbarie , drehorgel, street organ, orgue de barbarie, orgue bernard, musique and mechanique. Take your pick!

Oct 16 2006, 11:01 PM
Arpeggionist
Answer has 0 votes
Arpeggionist
20 year member
2173 replies

Answer has 0 votes.
You forgot to mention specifically the term honky tonk. This term applies mainly to salloon pianos, especially when they're out of tune. The type of music one most often associates with these instruments is the ragtime genre, developed by Scott Joplin around the turn of the 20th century.

Oct 17 2006, 12:47 AM
Arpeggionist
Answer has 1 vote
Arpeggionist
20 year member
2173 replies

Answer has 1 vote.
All upright pianos, like grands, produce a different sound, the difference usually being the brand and the craftsmanship. American pianos, especially older ones, will usually have a more full and weighty sound than newer Japanese pianos or (God forbid you should have one) Soviet made instruments.

Oct 17 2006, 12:49 AM
Themaryl
Answer has 6 votes
Currently Best Answer
Themaryl
18 year member
34 replies

Answer has 6 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
The upright saloon piano, of which I have one, was made by the Lakeside Player Piano in Chicago, Il. It's rinky dink sound is from the built in amplifiers. It is also a player piano and has been in our family for years. Hey, you want to own it. I will sell. lol

Oct 17 2006, 6:54 AM
free email trivia FREE! Get a new mixed Fun Trivia quiz each day in your email. It's a fun way to start your day!


arrow Your Email Address:

Sign in or Create Free User ID to participate in the discussion

Related FunTrivia Quizzes

play quiz I've Heard That Song Before
(Match Artist and Song)
play quiz I've Heard That Song Before: Vol. 2
(Match Artist and Song)
play quiz I've Heard That Song Before
(Covers for Experts)

Return to FunTrivia
"Ask FunTrivia" strives to offer the best answers possible to trivia questions. We ask our submitters to thoroughly research questions and provide sources where possible. Feel free to post corrections or additions. This is server B184.