I think it’s a valid example for this thread.
Queen’s Bicycle Race uses cycle bells. Wouldn’t have thought of that without you post.
I think it’s a valid example for this thread.
Queen’s Bicycle Race uses cycle bells. Wouldn’t have thought of that without you post.
When my Dad went stereo shopping, he carried along a cd of the 1812 overture. He wanted to hear how well the speakers could produce the cannons. (about 12 minutes in.)
I’m still not quite sure what the OP is after, and I can’t think of a specific song, but of some objects that are sometimes used. Jug bands blow on jugs, skiffle and folk bands use washboards played with a thimble and sometimes paper-covered combs blown on, and I have seen people playing songs on water-filled (wine) glasses by rubbing their fingers on the rims. And what about steel drums? Originally they were modified oil barrels.
ETA: the mentioning of “Money” reminded me of the fact that before recording “Dark Side Of The Moon”, Pink Floyd tried to produce a whole album exclusively using non-instrument common objects. The working title was “Household Objects”. They soon gave up.
Beat It, played on floppy drives.
In Phish’s “I Didn’t Know,” the drummer plays a vacuum cleaner. (also heard at the end of “Bouncing Around the Room.”)
This is what @Beckdawrek was alluding to above, when she paged me. I play the spoons, hence my username. They’re a percussion instrument. I’ve played them to British and Irish traditional; Canadian Newfoundland, Maritime, and Ontario traditional; and Bluegrass and American Applachian tradional. Some Australian tunes fit also, but I’ve never had the opportunity to play spoons in Australia. I have played in the US and Canada, however.
But I wouldn’t say that you can play a song on them, in the way steel drums can be played to produce a melody. Oh, I can modify my style and playing to produce different sounds, but it’s always with a band that plays the genres I mentioned above. A spoons solo sound like a spoons solo. “Click-pop-clickety-slam-pop.” Not terribly interesting, unless I’ve got a band behind me.
But when I do, it’s Katie bar the door. Do I—do we, the band and I—ever have fun!
In the end, if you ever have me over as a guest in your home, inventory the silverware before I arrive. You might find that you’re missing a couple of spoons when the evening concludes. ![]()
“Ave Maria” - played on piano….and saw. Musical saw - Ave Maria - Schubert - YouTube
Einstürzende Neubauten play (in addition to traditional instruments) various non-instruments such as power tools, industrial ducting, steel sheets, springs, water tanks, shopping carts…
Here’s an early piece that really gets the effect across, here’s a later full concert.
Simon & Garfunkel’s “Cecilia” was based on a recording of someone playing a piano bench.
Here’s Bach’s Toccata & Fugue in D Minor played on glasses partially filled with water. Remarkably good.