A Cellist's Nightmare - The Piano Guys "Rockelbel's Canon"

The Piano Guys live in concert at the Circus Krone, Munich - 3rd December 2013
Steven Sharp Nelson is complaining about the cello part in J. Pachelbel's Canon in D-Major.
Take a look at their channel

[@MZimmer275]

A lot of people already meant this could probably be a rip off from Rob Paravonian (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJXbnImHrpyEgq8 ). I don't know if the The Piano Guys know what Rob did or not. So I kindly ask you not to complain about this. If you take a closer look at KZbin you will find more funny complaints about Pachelbel's Canon.

[@primmoore6232]

Maybe it's just a case of great minds thinking alike!

[@talkingmuffins9560]

nah fam. they use similar set up and language for the joke. this is a total rip off and they should be ashamed and come out and 1) admit it, and 2) give Rob his due.

[@Yvonne-gd3wg]

I love this. The classic was played at my fathers funeral. I cried and laughed at the same time now.

[@jezp1976]

Rowan Atkinson in 2012 did this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eajdm5-jd7GZqLM

[@lucaslucas191202]

​@@talkingmuffins9560 Lol it's so different. Even if they had seen the video the only things they have stolen is talking about this specific piece, which no one would call plagiarism

[@thelowlybard]

Any musicians worst nightmare: The audience thinking they should try clapping to the beat.

[@imgn3566]

OMG IKR

[@RefrigeratedTP]

I used to drum at my parent's church when I was a kid. Everyone clapped all the time. It was honestly the hardest thing I had to do at the age of 12.

[@christopherfuentes3450]

J bet you was there with yo eyes closed tryna internalize the actual tempo huh

[@stealthy_velociraptor]

KyRowan IKR!?

[@CottidaeSEA]

Wearing in-ear headphones with a metronome running, pretending like you're trying to hear the audio clearly when it's really just to make sure the audience doesn't fuck you up.

[@drhandle]

Eight notes? Eight notes? Absolute luxury! I played double bass at school - in 1984, we played O Fortuna from Carmina Burana, and the bass part had eighty-four bars of D. Eighty-four bars. EIGHTY-FOUR BARS of the one note. D. An open string. EIGHTY-FOUR #*&ING BARS. That was thirty-four years ago, and I remember the UTTER TEDIUM of EIGHTY-FOUR BARS OF THE SAME OPEN STRING. I have not forgotten, and I have not forgiven. It left me SCARRED. If I ever meet up with the conductor of the senior orchestra again, he must be in his nineties by now, but I DON'T CARE I'm going to grab him by the tie and pull the knot ridiculously tight and let down the tyres of his wheelchair and scream "That's for eighty-four bars of SHEER BOREDOM YOU RELENTLESS BASTARD." If you're out there, Mr Trigg, you have been warned...

[@deuterium-0156]

well then...

[@jamiecarruthers60]

You string instruments had it lucky I would have begged for a one note part after having ridiculously hard flute parts which almost suffocated me.

[@alexchang7959]

Yeah but playing eight notes is worse than just one note cuz you don’t have to worry about the one note, but in canon, the cellist has to worry about playing the notes in tune.

[@derrickharnish8990]

This is my favorite thing I've read in a while

[@eyelessjack3406]

i dunno where that 3 came from but imma stick by it tbh. because if you weren't able to learn shit alone and read music.. prob why you're still frustrated.

[@ta192utube]

When he moved the cello instead of the bow, I laughed so hard my wife came in to see what was going on...

[@rachelf5466]

Steven just got one thing wrong; he thinks the cello/bass part of Pachelbel's Canon is bad, try every piece of bass music ever. I had one song that literally was entirely made up of G's, until you moved to E's on the next page.

[@lisaschuster9305]

+Rachel F I feel so sorry for you.

[@rachelf5466]

Adam Michna Thank you. The struggle is so real.

[@lisaschuster9305]

+Rachel F May I ask what kind of instrument you play?

[@rachelf5466]

String bass, piano, and organ. But I was complaining about the string bass :)

[@BadWebDiver]

I'm guessing Chariots of Fire Theme.

[@PANDORASBOXRELEASE]

reminds me of Mr. bean

[@MZimmer275]

This were also my thoughts at this wonderful evening!

[@rhdkittinadie2463]

PANDORASBOXRELEASE Reminds me of Virgil Fox talking about Bach just before he lets fly with Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

You mean to say, that's NOT Mr. Bean?

[@dracobellator5861]

+Efrain Rivera Junior i thought of mister bean right away

[@deannagoodfellow360]

Light Over Darkness a British comedy tv show look it up it's brilliant

[@zozohastie]

And that, my friends, is the life of a double bassist in orchestras. XD

[@JamesYee]

At least he plays! As a Trombone player I HATED orchestra because most of the time I just tried to stay awake because I played NOTING, then a single note then nothing... :|

[@zozohastie]

yeah, that happens to me soooo much too! In one of my recent songs, I had seven bars, then I played a D and then there was 12 more bars, and it was a slow song. XD I feel you, man. XD

[@Calsop170]

Randomkillerqueen At least you are not a percussionist. I played off-stage percussion for Mahler 2. 5 Movements of not playing, coming in at almost an hour of waiting.

[@zozohastie]

Calsop170 oh wow. :0

[@hansb181]

Randomkillerqueen Yes that is so true

[@LaineyBug2020]

As a kid with A.D.D. I loved playing the cello in this because I was still playing along with the other parts in my head & hitting all my parts. My cochairs would always say they could just hear me humming the other parts...

[@jessicabickley6341]

"I memorized it" I completely fell apart laughing at that point and didn't stop until the end of the video XD

[@loistaysom1419]

To all the people complaining that the piano guys ripped of the Pachelbel Rant -- Steve was just complaining about something cellists have complained about for years. Seriously I'm older than either of these guys, and every cellist has a right to make fun of Pachelbel's Canon. Nobody gets to say they were the first. Besides, the rant takes a very different tack and follows that same progression through so many different pieces. If you think they're the same you should watch both again. The rant's great, but Steve really captured how I feel. Ya, I know bassists have it worse, but neither cellists of bassists should complain compared to percussion. I mean, think about the triangle counting 63 measures to they can come in at the right place with "ting." That make Pachelbel seem exciting.

[@TheJasonbking]

Even worse when you get an orchestral director that wants to play it at 35-40bpm because it sounds 'prettier' played at a glacial pace.

[@seola3026]

Yeah, he just happens to be complaining about the same thing, in the same way, then uses the same schtick to demonstrate it, complete with musical accompaniment to prove the original schtick. Totally "original".

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Well his resolution to the joke is different and the way he adresses it musically is different.

[@jorklind]

Same - I was so happy when we moved past this piece in middle school orchestra. I dreaded the day we would drag it out of our repertoire.

[@lanajay8464]

This song is the most boring song I have ever played on my cello ever. The violins didnt get why I complained so I made them swap parts.

[@AbigailPoirier]

As a beginner cellist, I liked this song because I could actually play it. And only it, lol.

[@skyler7117]

HI

[@inkyscrolls5193]

It's like watching Mr Bean on the cello!

[@57thorns]

Was going to say the same, Rowan Atkinson class.

[@NicoleYang]

Is anybody else getting a mr bean kinda vibe

[@valentinokrauss4351]

I Thought tha same thing!! hahaha

[@valentinokrauss4351]

hahahaha

[@stefabi9597]

***** me to!!

[@mpoulin]

Yup!

[@ffjsb]

Ah, you beat me to it!!

[@PlanForPlanB]

I hate when the audience claps to the beat. Or tries to.

[@gatekeeper65]

especially a white audience with less than no rhythm at all.

[@accelaxeld]

"white audience"

[@djdrawjunk7860]

@@gatekeeper65 вro υ do υnderѕтand мoѕт мυѕιc ғroм тнaт тιмe caмѕ ғroм. wнιтe people? тнe ιrony ιѕ ғυcĸιng мaѕѕιve

[@epicloltrollface]

gatekeeper65 buy it's okay, people can't be racist to white people

[@cariad123]

AshManzarek classical is a very specific movement that took place in Europe. Africa has its equivalents. Literally every country has its own historical musical movements and it's your fault you haven't sought any of it out.

[@Firetech914]

is it just me or does everyone else hate when the crowd starts clapping?

[@zachariz1490]

D. S. It's not about hating the crowd clapping. It's about hating the crowd clapping AT THE WRONG TIME. A crowd clapping and trying (i invite you to note "invite" really hard into your mind) to clap with the rhythm and fail miserably. It annoys the people playing, messes up their rhythm and might make one guy play a note too fast, too slow or just one measure too soon. At one point, you know that you don't know the piece, so just wait for the people who know it to clap before doing so

[@itaintrocketscience]

Yes, makes me corrosively angry. I actually watched a video, not long ago, that the audience was clapping to the sound of silence 🧐 ( yes, the Simon and Garfunkel song) Seriously? How do you clap to that? How do you think it’s ok? Paul was clearly annoyed

[@Anvilshock]

Germans love to clap um-pah.

[@danikirk5774]

Definitely

[@Zaire82]

That's on par with 40 year old white people clapping when the plane lands. I just avoid clapping all together. It's the most annoying feature of white people, and I refuse to contribute.

[@fordprefectthegoldendoodle5435]

He wrote the first 8 notes, and DIED! XD Best line I've heard in a loooong time XD I'm surprised he didn't slip on the banana peel while he was dancing XD

[@fredbullmer273]

I love they still tell the same story even in their current concerts Jon still busts his moves, and they still have as much fun doing it as when they filmed their video. Priceless.

[@guardianoflight3]

I understand Steven’s pain very well. When I was a senior in high school, I performed Pachelbel’s Canon in a flute quartet with three freshmen flautists for Solo and Ensemble and I was the equivalent of the cello part. The same eight notes over and over and over...... I knew I was keeping the other three in time with each other, but it was still painful to play.

[@TheKique25]

My personal opinion is that Pachelbel dated a cellist who broke up with him...hence the revenge!:D

[@JackieTheCatfox]

Rob Paravonian would agree.

[@e30lev]

Don't use his jokes 😂

[@josefbaldisimo5333]

Dont plagiarize his jokes man XD

[@wendyleeconnelly2939]

or only got so far in his own cello lessons, and wrote to his own level

[@chryssanthemum]

😂😂😂😂

[@user-fv6pc5kz2i]

Why do I suddenly feel bad for the basses in my orchestra

[@roser.5834]

Fluffy Unicorns ya, it sucks kinda to be a cellist. All the low notes while you violinist and violist rock on...sad life or cellist and bassist 😞😔😕😭😭😭😢😢😢

[@Ammaruaron]

because you should

[@elybarnard7879]

Tbh you should (I’m a cellist btw)

[@robertm8318]

No reason to, they signed up for double bass because they wanted tedium... or just can't play an instrument.

[@tavit.6036]

@@roser.5834 heyyy, Violists don't "rock on"

[@nancyann2069]

Their performance brought to mind the great Victor Borge! Loved it! ❤

[@jacoblein2118]

2:05 you guys have no idea how relate-able this is for musicians.

[@ellawahlquist6907]

When you didn't get that solo at the concert. xD

[@redhoodie4111]

Jacob Lein relatable* not relate-able....

[@grumpyhale821]

At least I got to move around.

[@elybarnard7879]

Yup! 😂

[@ashleyhornack4677]

I play cello, and in on a band, and I play bassoon parts. Let me tell you this... From two years of being in an Orchestra and having good parts, bassoon players have it tough!!! I had to play the same phrase for an entire song!!! I feel bad for both cellists and bassoonists.

[@Elroid]

I dont really mind the audience clapping here Its not a musical, its a humorous show, built on the energy on set

[@RhysGFrelsa-Eudyptula]

I would have still liked to have heard the whole thing instead of all the clapping.

[@thefruitofpassion927]

Clapping along to classical. Yeah...don't do that audience

[@thebravegallade731]

TBF it's supposed to be a joke

[@rossnaheedy3400]

If Von Karajan conducted through audience clapping, this is certainly okay! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYW9nXVoorqqoLM

[@npc6817]

actually that's a great idea, imma start doing that

[@muh1h1]

Germans... We can't help ourselves...

[@MZimmer275]

@@rossnaheedy3400 Clapping in the Radetzky March is a tradion at the New Years Concert and the conductors are handling it very different.

[@bradsimpson8724]

Hilarious. I wish the audio had been adjusted to lower the audience volume and allow the performers their performance, but it was plenty funny. The piece is actually really interesting, too, and I would have liked to have heard more of it.

[@MZimmer275]

The acoustics are a little bit weird in Circus Krone: There are a lot of uncovered concrete walls in the audience and no noise cancelling elements. Some weeks before I was at a Schiller concert in a cinema and the sound was really awesome.

[@ruthchipperfield3061]

The acoustics were terrible, piano inaudible, their voices unintelligible, audience loud and clear! Pity. It was probably brilliant...

[@Anvilshock]

It's the hand-held shot of some fuckhead's pocket camera, not a professional live recording, what the hell do you expect, you moron??

[@57thorns]

@@Anvilshock As this is youtube, a comment like that...

[@Anvilshock]

@@57thorns I don't mind people not knowing things. I do mind people not bothering to use their brains for two seconds and explicitly choosing to prance about with their ignorance.

[@josiecarroll8537]

this video is gold. I was laughing pretty hard at Steve, but I completely lost it when Jon started dancing!

[@meganmercer2733]

I went to one of their concerts last December, and the skit they did for Pachelbel's Canon then was different (same kinda idea) and it was just as good. XD Jon's dancing is even better IRL.

[@starsun6363]

Thanks for making me smile today!

[@hornetguard_6652]

I've been playing cello 10 years now and I so so love watching Piano Guys videos. I really want to see them in concert

[@blueanna2458]

So excited to go see the show soon!!!!!!!!

[@zoestaff1375]

They are so much fun! Not your average musicians. An absolute inspiration to any lover of true music.

[@anonymoususer5635]

writes the first 8 notes... and then dies...

[@RuthFL]

and its also a hold music for one of the UK electricity suppliers...

[@avocado3-in-182]

Only in the inside

[@meep5667]

*clap clap clap clap*

[@joannevargas9638]

I love this! Could watch it over and over again!

[@dwalton1865]

These guys are the best!! I can't wait to see them in concert

[@davidknisely3003]

I saw them last month in Sioux City (and from the front row, no less). They were fantastic (and best yet, I got to meet them after the concert).

[@queenelizabeth4017]

lucky

[@ashnikfield4224]

I get to do that at their Santa Barbara concert! Very first two seats, and I get to meet them before as well!

[@ambrooks5]

Freakin hilarious! Great musicians with a great sense of humor!

[@mollykay4412]

New Year's Eve 2022... it's raining and this video popped on my phone...Thank you Piano Guys... I had the BEST cup of coffee filled laughter, you guys made my day! 🤩🎁🤩😘 HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023!!! 🥳❤️🍾🎆🎊🎉

[@RFGfotografie]

It's hillarious and amazingly played. Really can't this get any better...

[@archistrage]

I didn't know Mr. Bean played the Cello :)

[@robertaviles8451]

Jon is just tearin up that stage! Go Jon! Go Jon! Go Jon! :^D

[@juu2356]

I've absolutely loved that song. still do, and also did notivce that repeat before. but dude, now you changed it for me... forever.

[@bbrakenhoff]

This video makes me excited for next summer when I'll see them live!

[@emilyhurt4444]

When I met them at one of their concerts, the first thing I said to Jon was "Nice dance moves" ;)

[@MZimmer275]

So I'm glad to see them in Leipzig on Nov 14th 2014.And I hope this will be part of the show again!!! ;-)

[@MZimmer275]

It was part of the show in Leipzig ;-)))

[@MZimmer275]

Anna McLeran Sorry I don't own a TARDIS or a DeLorean DMC-12

[@Panda-qf3bw]

+MZimmer275 it still is. i saw it on february 5th 2016

[@sam3184]

+MZimmer275 Still in Vancouver May 20th 2016

[@roxanemccooeye5742]

Still in the show Dec 3, 2016 in Buffalo NY, USA

[@SeaWolfEntertainment]

got to see them dec 4 2017 in san Diego, CA. fourth row VIP sound check and meet and greet after the show. was such an amazing show

[@emmaconder7854]

I love these guys SO MUCH!!

[@mariew8561]

As a cellist I appreciate this so much I've played for over 8 years and these 8 notes have caused so much heartache so this is a great twist

[@RaphaeLoh01]

Good thing the audience started clapping... I almost heard the music!

[@mattthie9993]

THIS-IS-AWESOME!!!!!!! No one truly understands our pain better than other cellists!!! I wish I could give this a million thumbs up!

[@ILoveTheMoodyBlues]

Just wow! They are so creative, and talented!

[@rneustel388]

I couldn’t stop smiling-my face actually hurt at the end!!

[@DarukaEon]

@4:37 - If there was a real life equivalent to Snoopy dancing on the piano, that would be it. Ha ha ha ha!

[@JuliasGallery]

You guys are wonderful !

[@gallamile]

Love everything you do!

[@sreepurammike]

Wow man what a dancer...

[@dhruel]

I see that somebody studied at the Mr. Bean Music Academy.

[@taimoormubashir1907]

I love these guys so much

[@abogadoaprendiz]

You are the best guys!!!!

[@lucrezia909]

The cellist making faces like Mr. Bean is hilarious!! You guys are talented and funny at the same time!! :D

[@franciscampagna2711]

My son and his wife had this played at their wedding. Victor Borge must be smiling.

[@radicallamp6762]

This is epic! You guys are great. 😁

[@amybradley2514]

Love this! What fun!

[@MrChristoferoful]

Rob Paravonian's gotta be pissed about this though...

[@Tyriama]

Was about to say :P Remember watching his take on it years ago.

[@MrChristoferoful]

Tyriama Precisely.

[@vonitajoy7712]

plz dont say piss

[@GoddessPallasAthena]

Yeah I remember watching "The Pachelbel Rant" years ago and even had it on my MYSPACE page (if that tells you how long ago I saw it).

[@xleshens1385]

Actually a cellist nightmare is slippery floor because when playing, there Cello may slip

[@sahilnawal7531]

X Leshens it is called an end pin acre

[@xleshens1385]

@@sahilnawal7531 you missed the joke it *'slipped over'* your head 😑

[@Tag-ts5vl]

The real nightmare is canon in d WITH a slippery floor... **shivers**

[@heyitsshai2010]

I had to play in a band room that didn't work with my endpin anchor (the chairs didn't have the right kind of legs) so I was holding it with my leg and it almost slipped multiple times... one of the most terrifying moments of my life

[@joelgeorge3513]

their** im sorry i had to

[@pocahontasreese1423]

Right up my alley...this will be the first song I learn to play on CELLO...This was encouraging.

[@happyexpat6817]

I love Pachelbel's Canon and have since I was a little kid and my mom made me, as a very young kid, chaperona my older sister's date to see "Ordinary People"! Great film made greater because of the Canon. Have now, as an adult, heard it at so many weddings and funerals and memorial services that it has lost it's inital impact....on me. It still is, however, even if the cellist has only 8 notes, one of the most beautiful pieces of music out there. Thanks you, Robert Redford, for using it in your film "Ordinary People" and for educating me. Oh yeah....the date my sister was on never amounted to anything. I mean, she was only 15!

[@TechGirl84]

Just when I thought I'd seen it all from these two....this happens! 😂

[@abbymal243]

I had to play his part on the flute for our christmas concert at school. It is the worst thing ever!!!! My arms hurt and i zoned out through half of it.

[@AG-mt3xs]

This is the funniest thing! Pachabel's Canon in D was one of my favorites as a pianist. I never considered how boring it was for a cellist. LOl

[@PhantomFan1a]

Every time I see this when they go on tour in the UK it cracks me up :D

[@menoslantern]

celloi player looks a ittle like mr bean

[@spiderstormy]

They did the same routine a few weeks ago at Wolf Trap and it was hilarious.

[@connoraskew2658]

I was there too!

[@jullienbarbosamacena7038]

Amazing!!! I love it!

[@damays99]

Awesome and Thanks!

[@merceknight]

I'm watching Steve do the intro cello part and I' cant help but think "Mr Bean plays a Concert". I mean he even kind of resembles Rowan Atkinson.

[@christinetwardzik7830]

Steven Sharp Nelson is a dead ringer for Mr. Bean in this one!

[@Naught_This_Time]

Love these guys

[@lexifeldmann5353]

I keep coming back to this because its just hilarious!

[@jaysmok2893]

Nice avatar!

[@NoviceindisguiseOfficial]

'I've memorized it . . .' LOL

[@thedailyjarrett738]

After watching this I ask myself: Is The Piano Guys a comedy group or a music group?

[@MZimmer275]

Well I think they are entertainers.

[@heatherjohnson6699]

Both... They are both. 😂 And honestly, they are a group of kid music geeks who never really grew up, despite the fact that they're technically "adult age". Which begs the question: who's the adult supervision on their road trips??... 😂😂😂

[@BertiferousRex]

Yes.

[@djdrawjunk7860]

@@heatherjohnson6699 тнanĸ тнe вυѕ drιver

[@heatherjohnson6699]

Cryptic Sounds Now all I can picture is The Piano Guys touring around in a school bus, being driven by an old salty "seen it all and nothing phases them" "stay behind the yellow line and stay in your seats at all times that the bus is in motion [ *monotone voice* ]" bus driver, as all of The Piano Guy members are being hyper silly kids laughing and talking and joking and fighting in the back, lol

[@RobloxSale]

Pure Skill and pure awesomeness!

[@HappyOddGirl]

That is just so many kinds of awesome! :D

[@fof5157]

Omg Steve's expression tho XD

[@gerrychan5729]

clapping should be done at the end of the performance. some performers actually advice/remind their audience to clap afterwards.

[@RhysGFrelsa-Eudyptula]

Most audiences still don't follow it... unfortunately.

[@kraio-sfu]

It was rhythmic clapping, not laudatory clapping

[@victorvandyke9898]

Amazing performance!

[@christypfeiffer3262]

I was looking for a recessional for my wedding in 24 days and I came across this song...I was looking for a song that was classy but modern. And I think this could be the song! Thanks The Piano Guys !!!

[@christypfeiffer3262]

Sadly this didn't end up being in the wedding but that's ok. My wedding ended up being a beautiful day, a handsome groom and I had some great help getting beautiful and it was a great day!

[@christophermajor3308]

Many have referenced Mr. Bean, but so enjoyable to see him with an accomplice. I do worry about Mr. Bean, as he does seem lonely.

[@AvoltageGaming]

If you listened to rob p's vid and this one, you know that the premise(canon in D is shit for cellists) is the same, but the way they continue from that is very different. rob makes a song showing how many songs have the same chords as canon in D, making a comical funny song from it, and these guys continue to play off how shitty the song is on a cello, adding a bit of their own rock style to it. If you take the time to watch both vids, you'll see what I'm talking about.

[@Johnnybravo60025]

They took a lot of the same jokes and almost identical wording from his jokes...

[@heyitscat995]

I have played this on the cello. 😑💤

[@heyitscat995]

We did it for a concert

[@halleehassell620]

Saaaammmmmeeeeee

[@arnanpawawongsak5204]

Same old 8 notes... forever. I will never forget that piece

[@elizabethhale7383]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH IT IS THE BEST!!!!

[@nelsonchen2310]

THANK YOU

[@kat_notkate]

Him: Can you play it faster? Like 300 bpm? Me: oooooh, IF YOU CAN PLAY IT SLOWLY YOU CAN PLAY IT QUICKLY

[@sweszlaserboy2379]

Ling Ling to the max

[@ChrissElizabeth]

Lol I'm dying

[@alexandrawales3099]

I saw them in 2010, or 2011, only Jon could make it, i told him he makes me a better and how much of an inspiration he is to me, and he said thank you. It was amazing meeting him. (I'm a violinist).

[@ryanawilson8549]

I honestly love this song

[@veiah_]

Who else saw 2:27 and realized this man had talent?

[@CookieMasterRBLX]

Noted_ Musician how does that get you to realize he has talent

[@TheRobsterM]

I absolutly HATE playing this song on the cello!

[@venchergaming6606]

This was my first quartet piece i played as a cellist in grade school.

[@sugaraddict6526]

He is fantastic on the cello. You guys were fantastic

[@PoptartPlays]

Very Rob Paravonian inspired intro.

[@ChrisSchwally]

Mr bean at olympic opening ceremony

[@Jim553just]

How wonderful.