# 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:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**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, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/81 "2014-07-15T13:57:02Z")
This is really a great thread, my thanks to bunyupp for starting it. 🙂 I can’t get enough of pop songs that make use of mandolins, dulcimers, accordions, baritone harmonicas, and brass instruments. I like improvised instruments too. The 1990s song [Cannon Ball by the Breeders](http://youtu.be/fxvkI9MTQw4) made use of a police whistle being blown into a bucket of water. They also did some pretty cool Ewok praying chant during the intro. ---
**Author:** ![bunyupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@bunyupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunyupp)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/82 "2014-07-21T21:21:16Z")
The German band **Subway to Sally** uses bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy, and other unusual instruments. This is a new song [Schwarze Seide](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AETJnsxP9YA). ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/83 "2014-07-21T22:05:52Z")
“Sweet Emotion” by Aerosmith has a bass marimba intro, played by Jay Messina. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/59ef9b/32.png) [@FlyingRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRat)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/84 "2014-07-21T22:36:03Z")
It’s not quite in the same vein as the rest of the examples given, but [Peter Gabriel’s work with the Fairlight CMI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON8lVgJxMQA) was profoundly non-traditional at the time. The idea of sampling is old hat now, but once upon a time it was a profoundly new idea that you could turn anything in the world into an instrument by stretching/distorting its sound. My favorite example is Gabriel’s [San Jacinto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwPRC2xJrE0) – that opening chime/bell section is actually banging on junkyard pipes. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2014, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/85 "2014-07-21T23:24:32Z")
Paul Simon used pan pipes (pan flute) on at least two recordings: Lincoln Duncan and El Condor Pasa. Fleetwood Mac used a high school marching band on Tusk. And of course, The Moody Blues used a symphony orchestra. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/86 "2014-07-22T02:26:16Z")
The short-lived 80’s band Pianosaurus played toy instruments. ---
**Author:** ![bunyupp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@bunyupp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bunyupp)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867/87 "2014-07-23T23:11:28Z")
All female metal band from Mexico [“Mystica Girls”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFeaZsAoT50) features the lead singer also playing violin. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-traditional-instrument-in-rock-pop/690867.md?page=4)