weird instruments in pop music
Chuck
Berry, The Who, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, U2, the Red Hot Chili Peppers…
Some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll records were made by a small group of
musicians, using basic instruments such as electric guitar, bass guitar, drums
and the occasional keyboard.
However, some innovative producers and musicians liked to add weird sounds and instruments to their records to make them more interesting, to make them sound out or to convey their ideas in a better way. Below is a list of ten odd instruments that were used on some very successful records.
Honorable mentions should go to the bagpipes (the Scottish national instrument used by AC/DC, the White Stripes and Phil Collins among others), the maracas (exotic shakers played by Jerome Green on Bo Diddley’s hits and by Mick Jagger on some famous Rolling Stones cuts) and the spoons (pieces of cutlery used for means of percussion, as heard on Led Zeppelin’s Bron-Y-Aur Stomp and Soundgarden’s Spoonman). The ocarina, an ancient, oval hollow flute played by musical director Colin Fretcher during the middle break of the Troggs’ Wild Thing, was the last to be dropped off the list.
However, some innovative producers and musicians liked to add weird sounds and instruments to their records to make them more interesting, to make them sound out or to convey their ideas in a better way. Below is a list of ten odd instruments that were used on some very successful records.
Honorable mentions should go to the bagpipes (the Scottish national instrument used by AC/DC, the White Stripes and Phil Collins among others), the maracas (exotic shakers played by Jerome Green on Bo Diddley’s hits and by Mick Jagger on some famous Rolling Stones cuts) and the spoons (pieces of cutlery used for means of percussion, as heard on Led Zeppelin’s Bron-Y-Aur Stomp and Soundgarden’s Spoonman). The ocarina, an ancient, oval hollow flute played by musical director Colin Fretcher during the middle break of the Troggs’ Wild Thing, was the last to be dropped off the list.