# Recent rock/alternative music with string instruments (other than guitar)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-rock-alternative-music-with-string-instruments-other-than-guitar/435563>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [January 30, 2008, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-rock-alternative-music-with-string-instruments-other-than-guitar/435563 "2008-01-30T07:05:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-rock-alternative-music-with-string-instruments-other-than-guitar/435563/1 "2008-01-30T07:05:19Z")

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Other than **Rasputina** , **Patrick Wolf** & **Final Fantasy** , what modern rock, indie or alternative bands can you recommend that use string instruments like violins and cellos? Anything from the last ten years would be great, thanks.

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**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-rock-alternative-music-with-string-instruments-other-than-guitar/435563/2 "2008-01-30T07:07:11Z")

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Going back a little before your timeframe, but I always thought Annie Lennox used classical strings very well in her music.

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**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-rock-alternative-music-with-string-instruments-other-than-guitar/435563/3 "2008-01-30T07:34:38Z")

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**Andrew Bird** was trained as a violinist before getting into rock, IIRC. I would recommend _Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production of Eggs_. Great album.

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recent-rock-alternative-music-with-string-instruments-other-than-guitar/435563/4 "2008-01-30T07:39:27Z")

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Just a handful:

Cursive  
The Decemberists  
Joanna Newsom (harp and a very… distinctive voice)  
Cruxshadows, a whole bunch of goth bands  
Celtic rock/punk uses fiddles usually