# Good instrumental music **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 28, 2011, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406 "2011-08-28T19:01:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/41 "2011-08-30T04:27:23Z")
Igor Stravinsky’s **Le Sacre du Printemps** Estradasphere Zoe Keating ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/42 "2011-08-30T12:33:33Z")
I recommend one of the coolest bands of all times whose stuff is exclusively instrumental (if they are not backing up others): Booker T. & the M.G.'s. [Green Onions](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bpS-cOBK6Q) [Melting Pot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW08GnKufQ8) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/43 "2011-08-30T13:29:08Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Old-time instrumental rock: Ventures, Duane Eddy > > Cool jazz: Dave Brubeck, Stan Getz, Modern Jazz Quartet > > Soul-jazz: _Swiss Movement_ by Les McCann & Eddie Harris > > Jazz-rock: Jeff Beck, _Blow by Blow_ Henry Mancini has to fit in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/44 "2011-08-30T21:55:01Z")
Just want to add: Mix up the styles to stay creative. I’ve found that my art will change style based on what I’m listening to. I have a playlist called _“Draw, pardner”_ – lots of minimalist vocals, like Sigur Ros. But if I stick with one style, I get in a rut. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/45 "2011-09-05T06:43:29Z")
Thanks for this thread, which reminded me to finsh a long overdue task and make a playlist out of all my instrumental music. So I can perhaps add a few names for you. I don’t see any Big Band music listed. Check out Glen Miller, Count Basie and Woody Herman. Let me echo _Jackmannii_ about surf music. Mostly instrumental, mostly pretty high energy, surprisingly complex but very melodic. The King of Surf Music is Dick Dale – the most recognized surf songs are probably _Miserlou_, _Pipeline_ and _Wipeout_ Some other groups worth checking out - Buckwheat Zydeco, Deodato, The Chieftains, The Ventures Some individual song suggestions - _Also Sprach Zarathustra_ by Deodato _Hoedown_ and _Fanfare for the Common Man_ by Emerson Lake and Palmer. _Peter Gunn_ - There are several good versions of this. I have one by Emerson et al and by Duane Eddy. (Actually, kind of surfy too) _Birdland_ - Weather Report _Take Five_ - Quincy Jones _Rock It_ - Herbie Hancock _I Robot_ - Alan Parsons Project _Pick Up the Pieces_ - Average White Band _Raunchy_ - Bill Justis _Guitar Boogie_ - Les Paul _Love’s Theme_ - The Love Unlimited Orchestra These are all over the map stylistically, but I’d bet you’ll recognize most of them. ---
**Author:** ![Ca3799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ca3799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ca3799)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/46 "2011-09-05T14:23:41Z")
My favorite is the David Grisman and Stephane Grappelli Live album. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3AtBq3SIYQ) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuzbNv7vYPM) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/47 "2011-09-05T23:45:47Z")
When I was going to school, I listened to a lot of Kitaro while studying. Lyrics distracted me as well. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGtKxbu7vLI) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxLnAm-N12M) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoURE7kheKg) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/48 "2011-09-06T21:38:16Z")
Thumbed-up Tracks from my Instrumental station on Pandora: ‘S Wonderful by Artie Shaw A Banda by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass A Path With Heart by David Lanz A Summer Breeze by James Scott Ace Of Spades by Link Wray & His Ray Men Adventure No. 8 by Jim Chappell Afrikaan Beat by Bert Kaempfert Apache by Link Wray As Time Goes By by Tim Callicrate Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer Baby Elephant Walk by Henry Mancini Black And White Rag by Ralph Sutton Black Eyed Susie by The Cliffhangers Bowery Buck by Mimi Blais Butterball by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass Cabaret by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass Casino Royale by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass Cataract Rag by Claude Bolling Chariots Of Fire by Richard Clayderman Corner Pocket by Count Basie Cotton Mouth by Duane Eddy Cuckoo’s Nest by Nickel Creek The Day I Met Marie by Hank Marvin Day Tripper by Booker T. & The MG’s Dill Pickles #1 by Luckey Roberts & Ralph Sutton Driving Guitars (Ventures Twist) by The Ventures E.T. The Extra-terrestrial, Film Score: Adventure On Earth by John Williams (Composer) East Tennessee Blues by Mac Martin & The Dixie Travelers Easter Parade by Liberace Efficiency Rag by James Scott El Condor by Maurice Jarre The Entertainer by Scott Joplin The Entertainer (live) by Floyd Cramer Eternal Father (The Navy Hymn) by Lorie Line Forty Miles Of Bad Road by Duane Eddy Frog Legs Rag by James Scott Georgia On My Mind by Floyd Cramer The Godfather, Part 3, Film Score: Marcia Festa by Nino Rota / Carmine Coppola The Great Escape, Film Score: March by Elmer Bernstein Heartbeat by The Tempos I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman by Whistling Jack Smith I’m In The Mood For Love by Erroll Garner Idle Dreams by George Gershwin (Performer) In A Mellow Tone by Duke Ellington The In-Crowd by The Steampacket (Or The First Supergroup) Instrumental #1 by Lonnie Mack James Bond Theme (Live) by Brian Setzer Java by Al Hirt John Henry (Without Over Dub) by Duane Eddy Jungleaya by Los Straitjackets Lay Down Your Arms by The Sadies Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi Little Old Money Maker by The Meters Love Light In Flight by Joe Gilman Trio Matinee Idol by Yellowjackets Meters Jam by The Meters The Minor Drag by Fats Waller Mr. Eliminator by Dick Dale Mister Magic by Grover Washington, Jr. Movin’ ‘N’ Groovin’ by Duane Eddy Music Box Dancer by Floyd Cramer Night On Bald Mountain by Bob James Night Train by King Curtis Old Joe Clark by Bill Monroe Old Rebel by Arizona Smoke Review Outer Space by Roberts, Luckey Perfidia by The String-A-Longs Peter Gunn by Art Of Noise Peter Gunn Suite by Ray Anthony Peter Gunn Theme by Duane Eddy The Peter Gunn Theme by Ray Anthony Pick Along by Flatt & Scruggs With Doc Watson Pipeline by The Ventures Pipeline by Chantays Power Packed by The Fireballs The Prisoner’s Song by The Kentucky Colonels Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Film Score: March by John Williams (Composer) Rawhide by Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell Rebel Rouser by Duane Eddy Red River Rock by Johnny & The Hurricanes Rhapsody In Blue by Glenn Miller Rodeo, Selections From The Ballet: Hoe Down by Aaron Copland The Scalphunters by Elmer Bernstein She’s A Woman by The Charles River Valley Boys Slum Baby by Booker T. & The MG’s Song Of The Volga Boatmen by Glenn Miller Surfs Up by The Original Surfaris Swanee by George Gershwin (Performer) Third Street by Spyro Gyra Twilight Rag by James P. Johnson Ventures Medley: Lullaby Of The Leaves/Walk, Don’t Run/Perfidia by The Belairs Wabash Cannonball by Chet Atkins Walk Don’t Run by The Ventures Whip-Poor-Will by George Gershwin (Performer) Wild Weekend by Rockin’ Rebels The Wild Westerners by Duane Eddy Winchester Cathedral by The Bob Crewe Generation Yellowstone Morning by Mannheim Steamroller ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2011, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/49 "2011-09-06T22:46:19Z")
[This Will Destroy You](http://www.myspace.com/thiswilldestroyyou) It just might too…depending on your definition of “destroy”. I think it might have some lyrics…but they are certainly not invasive…more like Radiohead’s lyrics are just an instrument which happens to have vocal cords. ---
**Author:** ![AndyPolley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@AndyPolley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyPolley)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/50 "2011-09-07T13:48:39Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > Zoe Keating Not only a treat to listen to, but to see her play these pieces live is unbelievable. I saw her in NY and was mesmerized. Obligatory youtube link… [Zoe performing “Escape Artist”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYrcXX4nWOA) ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406/51 "2011-09-07T18:08:51Z")
> [@by-tor](#): > > Don’t forget Michael Hedges, the originator of the style of playing that Andy McKee and others do nowadays. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P9mmZyGb4s&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P9mmZyGb4s&feature=related) +1. An incredibly talented musician who died way too damn young. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-instrumental-music/594406.md?page=2)