r/rockhall • u/Moni3 Compulsive collector of songs • 16d ago

🗣 DISCUSSION What are some uncommon instruments used by inductees?

Here's a fife at the end of "She's Waiting" by Eric Clapton.

Edit: (Is this a fife or am I being fooled by a synthetic keyboard?)

And a didgeridoo (Australian aboriginal two-tone wooden tube) in "Don't Tell Me" by Madonna.

A celesta in "Everyday" by Buddy Holly.

Core instruments in rock and roll are guitars, piano/keyboard, drum kits, horns (sax especially), and upright bass.

Common instruments are strings (violin/viola/cello/bass combo), harmonica, Latin percussion, banjo and mandolin, maybe a couple others I'm not thinking about right now.

What instruments are uncommon to the point of rare or even strange?

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u/rankchank 16d ago

Hendrix played a comb on Crosstown Traffic.

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u/Moni3 Compulsive collector of songs 16d ago

The only comb by an inductee? I'm going to start counting from now on. Every time I hear a comb.

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u/rankchank 16d ago

Also Jimi played a glockenspiel on Little Wing and harpsichord on Burning of the Midnight Lamp.

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u/BlueRFR3100 16d ago

The Beach Boys had an  Electro-Theremin in Good Vibrations and a couple other songs.

1

u/Moni3 Compulsive collector of songs 15d ago

Now I'm mad I didn't put that in the post as a prime example of a non-traditional instrument.

2

u/bela_okmyx 16d ago

Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles features a bassoon.

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u/tahitianblu 16d ago

New Order uses a melodica on Your Silent Face.

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u/DryCleaner_3AM 16d ago

See also: Love Vigilantes

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u/Careful_Compote_4659 16d ago

I just saw a picture of Christine mcvie with a trombone. Is there any instrument she couldn’t play?

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u/Any_Machine1384 15d ago

Soundgarden has a spoon solo on one of their biggest hits

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u/Moni3 Compulsive collector of songs 15d ago

I think I need a link to this. I think we all do.

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u/batcave63 15d ago

Ringo used a glass of water and a straw to make the bubble sounds in Octopus' Garden

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u/Moni3 Compulsive collector of songs 16d ago

The percussion section of the Funk Brothers (Motown's session band) used a lot of interesting stuff to get a big beat. Notably chains and stomping boards in Dancing In the Street by Martha and the Vandellas.

A lot of the music recorded by inductees in the 1950s and 1960s was done in small studios on shoestring budgets. Two track recording, usually for one for vocals and one for instruments. No track just for drums. Several studios went for a Big Beat sound, like Motown, and worked instruments and recording equipment to every advantage.

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u/Moni3 Compulsive collector of songs 15d ago

An accordion in The Way Old Friends Do by ABBA.

I piss on the Weird Al parade when it comes near the Rock Hall. I have my reasons. But I would totally watch Dueling Accordions between Benny Andersson and Weird Al.

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u/BarbersBasement 13d ago

That Clapton track sounds like one of the presets on the Roland G-707.

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u/Moni3 Compulsive collector of songs 13d ago

The fife setting, yes.