# Non-traditional instrument in rock/pop **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 16, 2014, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867 "2014-06-16T01:08:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2014, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/61 "2014-06-23T23:29:37Z")
On Jackson Browne’s _Nothing But Time_, there’s someone accompanying the acoustic guitar solo by playing Tour-bus Engine (on key, too!). And John (Cougar) Mellencamp tends to include accordion prominently on a lot of his stuff. For that matter, Kansas included electric violin on a lot of stuff. And Joe Walsh used a mandolin on a few updated renditions of Eagles tunes. Am I unusual in thinking Sax, Mandolin, and violin (electric or mic’d acoustic) are not weird instruments for Rock N Roll? Didn’t Midnight Oil include some didgeridoo on a few songs? And (speaking of Aussie bands) I thought Men At Work’s _Land Down Under_ started out with someone pounding on milk or beer bottles. And, as far as bits of sound go, I think I’ve heard Kenny Loggins’ _HeartLight_ starting with a cardboard box containing rocks, and a heavy chain. And I vaguely recall the Scorpions \*Breakout \*ending with the clattering of shards of glass. –G! Stop! Hey! What’s that sound? …–David Crosby (Buffalo Springfield) …_For What It’s Worth_ ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/62 "2014-06-24T01:22:25Z")
Joni Mitchell, dulcimer. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/63 "2014-06-24T01:46:52Z")
The prog-rock/proto-heavy-metal band _Uriah Heap_ used a whistling kettle in one of their songs (I forget which). IIRC (I heard the band tell the story at a gig, but it was over 40 years ago) this was originally a studio accident. They were recording in a home studio, someone left the kettle on the stove by mistake, and it went off in the middle of a take. However, it happened to be in tune and sounded good, so they left it in on the record, and, I think, found a way to reproduce the sound on stage too. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/64 "2014-06-24T02:15:39Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > The Bonzo Dog Band had members playing the euphonium, trumpet, tuba, harpsichord, banjo, spoons, accordion, tap dancing, slide whistle, and a trouser press. Don’t forget you-know-who on vibes! > [@swampspruce](#): > > Pete Townsend’s use of a synth in The Who? The guy who introduced the ARP synth to Pete was Roger Powell, long-time keyboardist with Todd Rundgren. On his album _Boulders_, Roy Wood uses “bells, brass, cello, cow bells, glockenspiel, granny voice, recorders, sitar, stool, trumpets, washboard, watersplash bucket, Welsh harp, whistle and whisper”. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/65 "2014-06-24T03:02:38Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > On “Alabama Song”, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek plays a [marxophone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxophone). John Sebastian (Lovin’ Spoonful" also played one on “She Is Still A Mystery”; in studio on the record, and “live” (on stage but miming) on Hollywood Palace. In the song “Chunga’s Revenge” Frank Zappa had Ian Underwood play a saxophone solo through a wah-wah pedal. The result was interesting for the first six seconds, then underwhelming. One of Brian Wilson’s more interesting “instruments” was an empty water bottle (5 gallon, IIRC) on “Caroline, No.” Lovin’ Spoonful again: in “My Gal” Zal Yanovsky performs a gargling solo. Keith Emerson blew on a Zoukra (middle eastern flute) in the into to “Endless Enigma.” ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/66 "2014-06-24T05:41:02Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Apparently the bass harmonica also appears in “The Fool on the Hill” by the Beatles. Rather prominently. Paul McCartney was inspired to use it for FOTH when he heard Brian Wilson’s “I Know There’s An Answer” which has a bass harmonica solo. Paul Simon’s “Papa Hobo” also features Charlie McCoy (I think) playing one. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/67 "2014-06-24T06:01:22Z")
Not to be a pedant, but with the exception of electronic devices like keyboards and theremins, aren’t all of these instruments used in “traditional” music, therefore not non-traditional? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/68 "2014-06-24T16:19:06Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Not to be a pedant, but with the exception of electronic devices like keyboards and theremins, aren’t all of these instruments used in “traditional” music, therefore not non-traditional? 😛 From what’s been posted so far in this thread, it seems that in rock/pop anything beyond drums, electric bass, and guitar is non-traditional. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/69 "2014-06-24T16:54:15Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Joni Mitchell, dulcimer. Aerosmith also used a dulcimer on the album _Pump_. They even feature an instrumental called [Dulcimer Stomp](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So3cMuzh79A&feature=kp). ---
**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:** [June 24, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/70 "2014-06-24T19:32:54Z")
80 years ago it was the [bazooka](http://www.radiospirits.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/revels1.jpg), whence the anti-tank weapon took its name. Notably played by Bob Burns (that’s him in the linked photo) and [Skyrocket](http://www.yodaslair.com/dumboozle/western/skyles.html) Sanford Kendrick. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/71 "2014-06-25T02:14:08Z")
There’s a Black 47 song about all the traditional Irish instruments they play (and another one about the bodhran). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/72 "2014-06-25T02:20:17Z")
Has anyone mentioned the c. 1985-1995 hipster light punk band **Camper Van Beethoven?** They loved to use weird instruments, like the **[balalaika](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh9cPAXyEVg)**. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/73 "2014-06-25T03:57:42Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > The Corrs (specifically Caroline Corr) played the [Bodhrán](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhr%C3%A1n) on a number of tracks. The bodhran isn’t exactly a non-traditional instrument in Celtic music. You’ll hear a bodhran in the music of Black 47, or the Cranberries, or even Great Big Sea. The Roots come to mind – they have a sousaphone player. Now there’s something you don’t see often, or ever, in rock/pop. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/74 "2014-06-25T04:21:34Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > _The Doors_, most unusually for a rock band, did not have a regular bass guitarist. Although they used a session bassist in the studio sometimes, when live (and I think on some studio tracks too), organist Ray Manzarek would play the bass line on a Fender Rhodes piano bass (whilst playing the other keyboard parts with his right hand). They also used a Merry-go-round. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2014, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/75 "2014-06-25T05:14:19Z")
Do accordions count as non-traditional instruments if it’s for metal? Rammstein uses one. ---
**Author:** ![bunyupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@bunyupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunyupp)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/76 "2014-07-04T19:04:56Z")
The band [Tengger Cavalry](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMyzKWgJeB4) performs with a “Mongolian Fiddle” and a Dombra. (really good after 12:35 mark) ---
**Author:** ![bunyupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@bunyupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunyupp)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/77 "2014-07-15T02:32:46Z")
I’m not sure what the instruments are, but this song [Ground Zero Pigrims](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2od_qDLfxNA) by the group **Al Qaynah** is good! ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/78 "2014-07-15T05:40:46Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > On “Alabama Song”, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek plays a [marxophone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxophone). Turns out that’s the scary sound on Portishead’s “Sour Times.” ---
**Author:** ![Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@Absinthe\_Anecdote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absinthe_Anecdote)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/79 "2014-07-15T12:24:11Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > The Hooters used…well, hooters or melodicas. And they totally capture the feeling of nostalgia with it in this song. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/zB1Q-PfUvN0/maxresdefault.jpg "The Hooters - And We Danced") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB1Q-PfUvN0) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/80 "2014-07-15T13:33:07Z")
I’m surprised no one’s mentioned Electric Light Orchestra, whose members played violin and cello. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867.md?page=5)