Most versatile instrument/instrument family (besides piano)

What do you all think the most versatile instrument and instrument family is? Me personally (even though I'm extremely biased towards the oboe and woodwinds in general), I think the most versatile instrument is the Viola or the Clarinet. The most versatile family? Brass or strings. What do you think?

I wouldn't say I'm biased (though it is my main instrument), but I think that the clarinet and the clarinet family is definitely one of the most versatile... multiple sizes from sopranino to contrabass and beyond, full dynamic control throughout the entire range of each instrument from nearly inaudible subtones to full fortississimo, homogenous tone quality.

The saxophone family is nearly as versatile but receives a lot less respect due to people being small-mindedly attached to the notion that it can only be used for jazz.

That said, I'm not a fan of superlatives, especially since everything in this field is subjective.

Ooh, this is a tough decision. I'll base this solely on potential.

Most versatile family? Brass.

Most versatile of the brass? euphonium or trumpet.

Most versatile woodwind? Bb or A clarinet. (bassoon coming a close second)

Most versatile string? Toss up between violin and 'cello. If you include guitar into this group, I would throw that right underneath.

Percussion? Easily vibraphone.

Most versatile non-keyboard instrument? Once again, a toss up between euphonium, trumpet, and clarinet. To pick only one, soprano clarinet.

The reason I choose the brass family over the woodwinds, but the clarinet over a brass instrument, is because I believe much more can be done effectively with an ensemble composed of brass instruments, but a clarinet alone can do anything, it's just when you put the whole woodwind family together, it's not as good as brass.

I don't know about family, but I'd have to say that the guitar is the most versatile instrument. You've got your acoustics (both steel- and nylon-string) and your electrics, and there are six-, seven-, and eight-string electrics. So you've got a great range there. Plus, you can add all sorts of effects to the sound in-line because they are electric. I mean, guitars can play classical, jazz, country, metal, and pretty much anything else. It's hard to utilize a piccolo in a death metal context.

Also, guitars have all sorts of techniques available: sliding, hammer-ons and pull-offs, glissandi, bending, vibrato, slapping/popping, etc. Add that to the possibility of chorus, reverb, distortion, delay, tremolo, and other effects, and you have what I find to be the most versatile instrument.

I agree that guitar is almost definitely the most versatile instrument. Not necessarily my favourite though.

It's hard to utilize a piccolo in a death metal context.

oh, I can definitely see that.

I agree that guitar is almost definitely the most versatile instrument. Not necessarily my favourite though.

Of course. Bassoon is where it's at.