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Favourite unusual instruments

Royter-Hatfood [Edit] [Delete] 58 replies 12:27 March 8th, 2013

Outside of the standard drums, guitar, bass, piano, which instruments are you most pleased to hear when they pop up in a song?

Throw in your most hated ones as well if you like.

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Jew's harp

Haven't heard it used in a song for bloody ages - any suggestions out there?

pentargo | 8 Mar '13, 12:31 | X | ^ This | Reply
- ^not a raciscm btw
  
  Also, surprisingly given how annoying they are in real life, I quite like the use of bagpipes on some tracks. Bigpipe Style by Orbital is my favourite....
  
  pentargo @pentargo | 8 Mar '13, 12:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Actually, having read the theremin discussion down below...
  
  ...I've remembered that my favourite unusual instrument is the saw. <3 a bit of saw in a track - Tom Waits uses it periodically to good effect.
  
  pentargo @pentargo | 8 Mar '13, 12:51 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - black heart procession are good for a bit of saw
    
    ThingsThatFly @pentargo | 8 Mar '13, 13:01 | X | ^ This | Reply
    
    joeymahone this'd this
    - Niiice. Will investigate...
      
      pentargo @ThingsThatFly | 8 Mar '13, 13:09 | X | ^ This | Reply
      - The Music Tapes (Julian Koster of NMH fame)
        
        use Saw loads along with other unusual instruments.. You might be into that as well
        
        styrofoamboots @pentargo | 8 Mar '13, 14:01 | X | ^ This | Reply
        
        thesewoodenideas this'd this
        
        Check Out The Singing Saw at Christmastime
        
        Julian's Christmas album of nothing but instrumental tracks made with multiple singing saws. Great stuff!
        
        thesewoodenideas @styrofoamboots | 8 Mar '13, 14:56 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - Mercury Rev
    
    were big on saws in Deserter's Songs. probably more as well.
    
    GoatmeatMF @pentargo | 8 Mar '13, 14:10 | X | ^ This | Reply
not that unusual but I love the sound of harmoniums/reed organs in general, since I became aware of that they seem to pop up all over the place

ThingsThatFly | 8 Mar '13, 12:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
i don't recall a particular song it's used in

but i went to my friend's house a couple of months back and he had impulse purchased a pedal steel. impulse purchased. ridiculous. it sounds great though.

cat_race | 8 Mar '13, 12:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
- pedal steel is a great instrument.
  
  I bought one a few years back, you really do need a solid understanding of music theory to play I think though, something which I dont have!
  
  humey86 @cat_race | 8 Mar '13, 13:23 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - yeah, it's totally baffling to me
    
    cat_race @humey86 | 8 Mar '13, 13:25 | X | ^ This | Reply
- I love pedal steels
  
  lemonbrickcombo @cat_race | 8 Mar '13, 15:02 | X | ^ This | Reply
extra percussion like bongos, congas and tablas etc

i like a good sitar drone too

freddiehubbard | 8 Mar '13, 12:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
- JFC
  
  Do you wear sandals and have a little ponytail?
  
  Royter-Hatfood @freddiehubbard | 8 Mar '13, 12:35 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - i wish...
    
    freddiehubbard @Royter-Hatfood | 8 Mar '13, 12:36 | X | ^ This | Reply
- i've never actually heard one in a song but I am really interested in the Taus, it is bowed sitar like instrument in the shape of a peacock, looks amazing
  
  ThingsThatFly @freddiehubbard | 8 Mar '13, 12:51 | X | ^ This | Reply
Didn't you tell me you owned a theremin?

Maybe that was someone else but I'm going to insult you anyway. You nobhead.

So in summary: not a theremin.

JohnM | 8 Mar '13, 12:36 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Love theremins in principle rather than in practice
  
  Can't think of a song with one in. Apparently it isn't one in the Star Trek music.
  
  Royter-Hatfood @JohnM | 8 Mar '13, 12:46 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - that beach boys song
    
    GoatmeatMF @Royter-Hatfood | 8 Mar '13, 12:48 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - Couple of Pixies songs
    
    Can't remember which ones.
    
    JohnM @Royter-Hatfood | 8 Mar '13, 12:50 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - Maybe Veloria and Is She Weird
      
      JohnM @JohnM | 8 Mar '13, 12:51 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - the Messer Chups had a theremin heavy album, it was performed by the grandaughter of its inventor, went well with their horror-louge-surf sound
    
    ThingsThatFly @Royter-Hatfood | 8 Mar '13, 12:54 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - pretty much all of Eat The Low Dogs by U.S Christmas has a theremin in
    
    but it's allowed as the album is awesome
    
    mac_daddy @Royter-Hatfood | 8 Mar '13, 12:55 | X | ^ This | Reply
    
    GoatmeatMF and Comaboy this'd this
  - theremins are amazing.
    
    shut up.
    
    meths @Royter-Hatfood | 8 Mar '13, 13:28 | X | ^ This | Reply
    
    shucks this'd this
  - Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
    
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA-ryAI0oQM
    
    shucks @Royter-Hatfood | 8 Mar '13, 13:35 | X | ^ This | Reply
    
    chadders and anal_schwarzenegger this'd this
Flute

See Thee Oh Sees for how to deploy this instrument like a badass

GoatmeatMF | 8 Mar '13, 12:50 | X | ^ This | Reply

cat_race and H-Stein this'd this
- such a great post
  
  like, what a stupid instrument. there's nothing cool about it at all. but you're absolutely right about TOS
  
  cat_race @GoatmeatMF | 8 Mar '13, 12:55 | X | ^ This | Reply
  
  lemonbrickcombo this'd this
the zither!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zither

Gorkys_Forever | 8 Mar '13, 12:52 | X | ^ This | Reply
- ^used brilliantly on the soundtrack to The Third Man...
  
  pentargo @Gorkys_Forever | 8 Mar '13, 12:53 | X | ^ This | Reply
  
  JohnM and nwts this'd this
- recently found out this was what is played on the pumpkins we only come out at night, I always thought it was a harpsichord
  
  ThingsThatFly @Gorkys_Forever | 8 Mar '13, 12:55 | X | ^ This | Reply
I really like the glass sounds that kick in 4:24 here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLFHPI04aIA
no idea if they are just glasses full of water or one of those glass armonica things

ThingsThatFly | 8 Mar '13, 13:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
- playing glass?
  
  Justice Yeldham is yer man for that
  
  on his own:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuuSTtkqWek
  
  For the less faint of heart:
  http://vimeo.com/48645336
  
  and with Zach Hill
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2dnd-kTbAw
  
  GoatmeatMF @ThingsThatFly | 8 Mar '13, 13:19 | X | ^ This | Reply
  - that second video is quite a sight
    
    ThingsThatFly @GoatmeatMF | 8 Mar '13, 13:22 | X | ^ This | Reply
    - the camera is pretty close up
      
      GoatmeatMF @ThingsThatFly | 8 Mar '13, 13:44 | X | ^ This | Reply
What about a stroh violin?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroh_violin

I've seen so many buskers with these things.

nwts | 8 Mar '13, 13:04 | X | ^ This | Reply
Big fan of accordian

Icarus-Smicarus | 8 Mar '13, 13:05 | X | ^ This | Reply
vibraphone

especially of the type used in american analog set stuff. sounds nice and warm

mac_daddy | 8 Mar '13, 13:08 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Tortoise are great users of it as well
  
  JaguarPirate @mac_daddy | 8 Mar '13, 14:25 | X | ^ This | Reply
Hurdy Gurdy

slightly less unusual but I do like a Mandolin or Ukulele also.

steinbolt | 8 Mar '13, 13:13 | X | ^ This | Reply

ethricdouble this'd this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFyv6t3OS3c

ThingsThatFly | 8 Mar '13, 13:20 | X | ^ This | Reply
The tubax on Bish Bosch is incredible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ih7KzKLLWA

Oissin_ | 8 Mar '13, 13:38 | X | ^ This | Reply
ctrl + f theramin

you kidding me guys? cementimental?

cocodaLOL | 8 Mar '13, 13:39 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Try ctrl + f theremin
  
  Icarus-Smicarus @cocodaLOL | 8 Mar '13, 14:10 | X | ^ This | Reply
  
  Royter-Hatfood and orangejuice this'd this
  - gutted
    
    cocodaLOL @Icarus-Smicarus | 8 Mar '13, 16:35 | X | ^ This | Reply
THE DUBE!!!

http://thedube.com/

hanshotfirst | 8 Mar '13, 13:45 | X | ^ This | Reply
Marimba

bornin69 | 8 Mar '13, 13:59 | X | ^ This | Reply
- Goes great with shit drums
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxnr2KyLAbw
  
  mfmcd57 @bornin69 | 8 Mar '13, 15:49 | X | ^ This | Reply
hurdy gurdy

really haunting sound

ethricdouble | 8 Mar '13, 14:08 | X | ^ This | Reply
Melodica all day long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds26yl8siD0

JaguarPirate | 8 Mar '13, 14:32 | X | ^ This | Reply
Kotolin

There's a Kotolin room at the South Bank Centre (London, sorry) and they often do workshops for children to try it. I took my daughter last year and we gleefully messed with different parts of it while the instructor tried to keep control. The largest gongs have the most amazing pure sound to them I've ever heard. I don't think it's possible to record the effect of hearing one in person.

amyblue | 8 Mar '13, 16:34 | X | ^ This | Reply
I like the saz, the oud, the bouzouki

other things like that

anal_schwarzenegger | 8 Mar '13, 16:39 | X | ^ This | Reply

GoatmeatMF this'd this
- also the weird things that Harry Partch constructed
  
  the tesla coil, and a load of other weird electronic 'instruments'
  
  anal_schwarzenegger @anal_schwarzenegger | 8 Mar '13, 16:40 | X | ^ This | Reply
I have a musical saw (well, an extra bendy saw and a bow)

because I'm a knobhead. Got asked to play it in front of a few people and just about died trying to get a clear sound out of it, then a friend tried, let go of it and took some of the skin off her nose. Probably will try and actually learn to play it at some point because I do like the sound of it.

I'm always impressed at people who play those massive glockenspiel-type things with two sticks in each hand (musical knowledge really coming across here) and a good old harp.

dorftrottel | 10 Mar '13, 18:00 | X | ^ This | Reply
metallophone

fuck_this_band | 10 Mar '13, 18:36 | X | ^ This | Reply
those likembes what Konono Nr 1 use

mug_mug_mug | 10 Mar '13, 18:43 | X | ^ This | Reply
- they don't pop up that often tbf
  
  mug_mug_mug @mug_mug_mug | 10 Mar '13, 18:44 | X | ^ This | Reply
Sufjan + Banjo <3

Wooly31 | 10 Mar '13, 19:59 | X | ^ This | Reply

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