# What are these contrabass/ sub-bass sounds/instruments? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871 "2015-05-26T12:30:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/1 "2015-05-26T12:30:29Z")
1. In the finale instrumental section of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” 2. The deep reverberating stringlike effect in the “V’Ger” score of _Star Trek: The Motion Picture_ ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/2 "2015-05-26T12:47:29Z")
OK, after I asked I did find that a [Blaster Beam](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaster_Beam) was used in Star Trek. How about S&G’s “The Boxer”? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/3 "2015-05-26T15:03:36Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > OK, after I asked I did find that a [Blaster Beam](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaster_Beam) was used in Star Trek. How about S&G’s “The Boxer”? I was thinking maybe bass harmonica, but I don’t think that’s the sound you’re thinking of, as it’s also featured in the second verse. I’ve read the bass harmonica comes back in during the instrumental section, so it’s perhaps it is it after all, with some effects layered on top. I assume you’re talking about the low bass notes that come in at the end of the instrumental, basically playing one note, holding for a couple measure, then another note, hold for a couple measures. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/4 "2015-05-26T16:24:42Z")
BTW if there’s any confusion, it’s the deep hornlike notes that alternate between two tones from 4:20 to 4:40 here: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8W0BPpuj5ks/hqdefault.jpg "Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W0BPpuj5ks) ---
**Author:** ![nate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nate/32/13085_2.png) [@nate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nate)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/5 "2015-05-26T16:28:27Z")
To me it sounds like an upright bass being bowed. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/6 "2015-05-26T16:37:53Z")
Instrumentation on the studio recording per [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_over_Troubled_Water): > [@](#): > > The recordings for the folk ballad “The Boxer”, which was already partly written by Simon in 1968 and released in April 1969,[33] became one of the longest and toughest in the duo’s career. The session lasted over 100 hours and took place at several locations. The second, main part was recorded in Nashville, the third, final part and the horns inside a chapel at Columbia University and the strings in the Columbia Studios. The song features Simon and Fred Carter, Jr. playing Martin guitars.[4] The loud drums were played by “Wrecking Crew” member Hal Blaine in a corridor.[27][34] Other instruments include tuba, harmonica, pedal steel guitar, Dobro[35] and a piccolo flute. So, tuba SS ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/7 "2015-05-26T19:07:33Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > Instrumentation on the studio recording per [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_over_Troubled_Water): > > So, tuba > > SS Your own quote lists harmonica. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/8 "2015-05-26T19:13:18Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Your own quote lists harmonica. Yes, but the bass harmonica is easily distinguishable in other parts of the song and has a much different sound from the bass part in question. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/9 "2015-05-26T19:24:56Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > Yes, but the bass harmonica is easily distinguishable in other parts of the song and has a much different sound from the bass part in question. Might have to rethink my no-youtube-at-work policy. A quick listen and I’d have realized that. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-these-contrabass-sub-bass-sounds-instruments/720871/10 "2015-05-26T19:42:11Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > Yes, but the bass harmonica is easily distinguishable in other parts of the song and has a much different sound from the bass part in question. Yeah, that’s the part I’m thinking of. I wonder if it’s an effected-up version of the bass harp, or perhaps some mix of instruments. I can’t remember where I read it, but I’ve read that the harmonica is in the second verse and in the instrumental at the end. It’s obvious where it is in the second verse, but I can’t quite catch it in the instrumental, so I’m wondering if it is those two bass notes.