Strange Instruments

[crazylegs]

I've had a brainwave (shocking I know, bear with me)

Hows about we share songs that feature strange intruments, or rare ones,

Here goes,

Granny Takes a Trip - Purple Gang, this track features a kazoo solo
Trouble With Dreams - Eels (live at town hall CD) features a percussion set with a suitcase

Your turn.

[Gawdzillers]

Jimi Hendrix - Crosstown Traffic: He doubled the guitar line by playing a comb covered in wax paper, pretty much a makeshift kazoo.

Buckethead - Kaleidoscalp (album): He used circuit-bent stuff to make funky sounds that scared me a couple of times.

There's one song on the new Panic At The Disco album that features a harpsichord as the lead instrument, but I can't remember which song it is.

[draggar]

Led Zeppelin used a Hurdi-Gurdi (sp?) during their unplugged album.

Boston commonly used a (very) large pipe organ (I forgot what it was called exactly)

Jethro Tull - Rock flute

I could have sworn I've heard a harpsichord in some recent mucic, too.

[iradney]

She's the sun - Scooter - awesome didgeridoo backtrack in that one :)

[Bradester]

The Beach Boys' 'Good Vibrations' featured a theremin.

Simon and Garfunkel used a bass harmonica on 'The Boxer'- I don't know how "weird" it is, but it's sure uncommon.

[ThePhoneGoddess]

Yesterday's Paper by the Rolling Stones, as well as many of the songs on Tori Amos' album Boys For Pele contain beautiful hapsichord arrangements.

[Kara]

Toast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoFhNepDTuE) by Heywood Banks features a toaster and fork.

[digilight]

I would have to say "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With a Pict" By pink floyd.

On this one Rodger Waters uses primarily his own body for the sounds. Including the druming/percusion sounds and his voice speed up and slowed down for the animal noises

[Bradester]

Toast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoFhNepDTuE) by Heywood Banks features a toaster and fork.

YEAAAH TOAST!!!!

[Gawdzillers]

I remember one song by Beck had the band banging on a dinner table with cups, knives, etc.

Big Bottom by Spinal Tap has three bass guitars.

Also, Sonic Youth. Prepared guitars abound.

[XCashier]

Big Bottom by Spinal Tap has three bass guitars.
And "Stonehenge" features a mandolin. As well as a Barbie's Dream Megalith. :lol:

[Jester]

On this one Rodger Waters uses primarily his own body for the sounds.

Let's not forget Mick Fleetwood's drum vest solo. If you've ever seen it, you know what I am talking about. If you've never seen it, it is an experience the likes of which I have not really seen anywhere else.

Speaking of odd instruments, let's not forget Pink Floyd's cash register noises for rhythm on "Money." They are not just a gimmick opening for the song, but continue throughout the song providing essential rhythm.

And the strangest instrument I have ever seen is something most of you have probably never seen. It's called a Rhumba Box and is used and was invented by a three man band that has appeared at various times down here in Key West called the Yard Dogs. You can see it here (http://www.theyarddogs.com/images/keywest4.jpg). It's the really big thing to the left of the photo. And if you look close, you can see the guy is playing it with a glove that looks suspiciously like the kind oyster shuckers wear. From what the guys have told me, the Rhumba Box is a much larger version of an instrument they saw somewhere else in the Caribbean, though I can't remember where. It is....different. But then again, the Yard Dogs DO build their stuff as "Florida swamp music," so different is to be expected.

[Bradester]

Speaking of odd instruments, let's not forget Pink Floyd's cash register noises for rhythm on "Money." They are not just a gimmick opening for the song, but continue throughout the song providing essential rhythm.



I forgot about that! Also, how many rock songs have you heard that are in 7/8 time?

My History of Rock class served me well.

[Gawdzillers]

I forgot about that! Also, how many rock songs have you heard that are in 7/8 time?

My History of Rock class served me well.
Isn't Led Zeppelin's "The Crunge" in several different constantly changing time sigs, including 9/8?

Aptly named, as well. :D

[lastofthesummerwine]

The sitar on "Norwegian Wood" by The Beatles

Tissue and comb on "Lovely Rita"-- The Beatles actually took the time to hit the Abbey Road loo and experiment with different lengths of TP until they were satisfied with the sound

Tamboura was featured on several George Harrison songs

"Trouble in Mind" by Janis has typewriter clacking in the background

[tacohuman]

for sheer variety of unusual instrumentation (or just instrumentation in general) used by a single band, it's hard to beat devotchka. they use guitars, violin, piano, trumpet, theremin, bouzouki, accordion, melodica, sousaphone, double bass, and organ. sometimes all in the same song. or at least that's the way it seems, which i find pretty impressive for a four-piece.

[draggar]

Didn't NIN use a balloon in one of their songs?

[Jpurple]

One of my favorite obscure bands, Rawlins Cross, use something called a 'Chapman Stick' in quite a few of their songs. I've never seen one, but I've heard it described as a 'fencepost with strings'. Nice sound, too.