# Rock melodies where a guitar and a flute are playing the same part **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 1, 2006, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821 "2006-10-01T09:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/1 "2006-10-01T09:53:10Z")
This is bound to be one of my trademark obscure music questions that goes unanswered, but I have to ask it anyway. I should probably join some music forums but I don’t know of any good ones (suggestions anyone?) I was just listening to _Peaches En Regalia_ by Frank Zappa, and there is a part in the song where a plucked acoustic guitar and a flute play the same part - note-for-note, and in the same octave. It’s a jaunty and rather complicated line in a funky 70’s style. On the chance that someone here has the song on hand, the line I’m talking about is 2:32 into the song. My friend remarked that it made him think of the opening of a 70s police show, like the one that is parodied in Boogie Nights. Are there any other songs that use this instrumentation? It’s quite unique. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/2 "2006-10-01T17:35:54Z")
The Derek Trucks Band isn’t exactly a rock band, but they do use flute and guitar. Maybe the best example is in their Sufi medley. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/3 "2006-10-01T17:46:43Z")
I would think there would be at least one in the _Jethro Tull_ catalouge. ---
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2006, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/4 "2006-10-01T18:28:38Z")
The riff of ‘Trouble (with a Capital T)’ by Horslips (From the album 'The Book of Invasions) is played on _electric_ guitar and flute. ---
**Author:** ![Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8797f3/32.png) [@Ins\_Outs\_What-have-yous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ins_Outs_What-have-yous)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/5 "2006-10-02T02:34:38Z")
[QUOTE=spooje] I would think there would be at least one in the Jethro Tull catalouge. [/QUOTE] The flute and guitar play the same notes (an octave apart IIRC) in unison in brief sections in the song ‘Teacher’ from Jethro Tull’s _Benefit_ album. The same is true to a lesser extent in “My God” from _Aqualung_. Most of JT’s oeuvre includes songs with both guitar and flute, so there may be more. ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/6 "2006-10-05T02:43:34Z")
Didn’t Peter Gabriel play flute sometimes in the earlier Genesis stuff? Dunno if I can think of an example matching your question, but might be worth exploring… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/7 "2006-10-05T05:17:17Z")
_Thick as a Brick_ has a flute playing a merry(?) jig-like air, while the guitar doubles with chords. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/8 "2006-10-05T05:21:44Z")
Would _Stairway to Heaven_ qualify? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/9 "2006-10-05T10:00:01Z")
_Hocus Pocus_ by **Focus**? \*Seasons of Change \* by **Fraternity** [Link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZlGSXl-HAE) ( **AC/DC** fans prepare to be shocked!) ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/10 "2006-10-05T10:43:41Z")
\*\*Steely Dan’s \*\* _Bodhisattva_ has a dueling guitar / flute section going at it though it is more in the tradition of “call and response”. You know how that goes, I play a riff on my instrument and now you match it or better it with your instrument. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/11 "2006-10-05T11:10:58Z")
Thanks for the responses, everyone. I’ll be sure to check some of this stuff out. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/12 "2006-10-05T16:11:15Z")
Are you a flute player that’s trying to work your way into a regular rock group? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/13 "2006-10-05T17:48:20Z")
I know Golden Earring have a number of songs with a flute, but off the top of my head I can’t think of them. I’m listening to some now trying to find them for you, but the majority of them are from the 60s and early 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/14 "2006-10-05T17:57:13Z")
[QUOTE=Lips\_Obsession] Didn’t Peter Gabriel play flute sometimes in the earlier Genesis stuff? Dunno if I can think of an example matching your question, but might be worth exploring… [/QUOTE] Yes, Peter Gabriel played some flute in Genesis, but I can’t think of any specific times where he was playing the same part as the guitar. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/15 "2006-10-05T17:59:39Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] Would _Stairway to Heaven_ qualify? [/QUOTE] Perhaps, except that those are recorders. (four of them, overdubbed by Jones) [/geek] ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/16 "2006-10-05T18:03:02Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Perhaps, except that those are recorders. (four of them, overdubbed by Jones) [/geek] [/QUOTE] OK…so what’s a recorder? Is it a type of flute, or something else? For that matter, what’s a melody? To my non-musical-talent-having self, melody = song, but that’s not quite right. A melody is really a component of a song??? ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/17 "2006-10-05T18:30:20Z")
[QUOTE=ArchitectChore] The flute and guitar play the same notes (an octave apart IIRC) in unison in brief sections in the song ‘Teacher’ from Jethro Tull’s _Benefit_ album. The same is true to a lesser extent in “My God” from _Aqualung_. Most of JT’s oeuvre includes songs with both guitar and flute, so there may be more. [/QUOTE] I think the beginning of _Witch’s Promise_ would be another good example. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/18 "2006-10-05T20:46:19Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] OK…so what’s a recorder? Is it a type of flute, or something else? For that matter, what’s a melody? To my non-musical-talent-having self, melody = song, but that’s not quite right. A melody is really a component of a song??? [/QUOTE] [These are recorders.](http://www.earlymusic.i12.com/general/prod_13.htm) Like flutes, they are wind instruments but instead of blowing across a hole to get a sound you blow straight down through them like you do with a clarinet, although unlike a clarinet they don’t have a reed. I don’t know where the name “recorder” came from. Young kids are often taught to play recorder, it is one of the easier insturments to learn, although I am sure skilled professional musicians play at a whole other level. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/19 "2006-10-06T02:28:03Z")
[QUOTE=minlokwat] \*\*Steely Dan’s \*\* _Bodhisattva_ has a dueling guitar / flute section going at it though it is more in the tradition of “call and response”. You know how that goes, I play a riff on my instrument and now you match it or better it with your instrument. [/QUOTE] The non-guitar part is a keyboard. My guess is that it’s a Hammond B3. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821/20 "2006-10-06T02:41:20Z")
I’m sure there are a few songs by The Marshall Tucker Band that feature a flute/guitar passage. I’ll try to dig some more up, but off the top of my head: “Running like The Wind.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-melodies-where-a-guitar-and-a-flute-are-playing-the-same-part/374821.md?page=2)