# Your favourite instrumental rock/jazz/pop/hiphop tune **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 6, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031 "2022-09-06T02:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/1 "2022-09-06T02:31:32Z")
Listening again recently to King Crimson’s “Lark’s Tongues in Aspic Pt. II” made me realise that this has to be my favourite instrumental number, and figured why not fire up a quickie thread on this. And that’s - just one, and not one from each of those four categories. If it’s a different category, like classical, or any other type, that’s cool too. (Ugh, there is also “Fracture”, off _Starless and Bible Black_…) 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/2 "2022-09-06T02:53:43Z")
With a nod to Metallica’s “Orion” as my number two, my favorite instrumental number ever is without question “Charlie’s Blues” by Charlie Byrd accompanied by a drummer and bassist. Live recording. The guitar is all coming out of him, _somehow_. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XX9FxZwM0SU/hqdefault.jpg "Charlie's Blues (Live At The Concord Summer Festival, Concord, CA / June 28, 1974)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX9FxZwM0SU) ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/3 "2022-09-06T03:11:25Z")
Classical Gas - Mason Williams (1968) - Originally named “Classical Gasoline,” the tune was envisioned to be “fuel” for the classical guitar repertoire. The title was later inadvertently shortened by a music copyist. Mike Post, later famous for television theme music, was a producer and arranger for the song. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EEzyrpfrPEI/hqdefault.jpg "Classical Gas Mason Williams 1968") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEzyrpfrPEI) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/4 "2022-09-06T03:16:36Z")
“Take Five,” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vmDDOFXSgAs/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHeAoAChgKKAgwIABABGHIgTCg3MA8=&rs=AOn4CLAaddoRcmThHF8MaL6QLPU_wOIXEQ "Dave Brubeck - Take Five") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs) And, “Fire on High,” by Electric Light Orchestra. Though, there are some choral voices at the end of the song, singing the name of the song, so purists might argue that it isn’t technically an instrumental. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kOCQU_X5KV0/maxresdefault.jpg "ELO - Fire On High (radio edit) HQ") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOCQU_X5KV0) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/5 "2022-09-06T03:22:34Z")
For classic rock, nothing beats “Frankenstein” by the Edgar Winter Group, but lately, I’ve been leaning towards a newer track, “Miasma” by Ghost, which honestly sounds like something right out of Winter’s wheelhouse (especially the sax solo near the end). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BX335Z4esSU/maxresdefault.jpg "Miasma") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX335Z4esSU) ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/6 "2022-09-06T04:25:27Z")
For the last few weeks I have listened to one, or both, of these two works by Max Richter several times a day. _On the Nature of Daylight_ has featured in at least 4 movies that I have seen _White Boy Rick_, _Arrival_, _Jiro Dreams of Sushi_ and _Stranger Than Fiction_. And who would think, “I may just rewrite Vivaldi a little bit.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/b_YHE4Sx-08/maxresdefault.jpg "Max Richter - On The Nature Of Daylight (Entropy)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_YHE4Sx-08) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6T0MFCX9SLI/maxresdefault.jpg "Max Richter - The New Four Seasons – Vivaldi Recomposed: Spring 1 (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6T0MFCX9SLI) ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/7 "2022-09-06T05:09:25Z")
Since OP allows for other genres, how about a little twentieth-century chamber music. Gorecki’s second string quartet, second movement. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6JZIluEnA7w/maxresdefault.jpg "CUARTETO GRANADA Gorecki Quartet N.2 - II.Mov") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JZIluEnA7w) ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/8 "2022-09-06T05:13:49Z")
Well, if it can’t be an entire album, I’ll pick Sorceress from Return to Forever’s album Romantic Warrior. Love this band. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p4Jo4k5-mos/hqdefault.jpg "Return To Forever - Sorceress 1976") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Jo4k5-mos) ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/9 "2022-09-06T05:20:05Z")
A favorite of mine for almost 30 years is an obscure B side from a Frank Black single. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qAQwoaAoTs4/maxresdefault.jpg "Ballad of Johnny Horton") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAQwoaAoTs4) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/10 "2022-09-06T06:59:42Z")
Saltarello - the Dead Can Dance version. It is quite possibly my favourite piece of music overall. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WQILvRxj7rs/hqdefault.jpg "dead can dance-saltarello") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQILvRxj7rs) [Oscillate Wildly](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfADf-PvhKY) by The Smiths would be No. 2: > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > a Frank Black single That reminded me - _[Cecilia Ann](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOn_80y8Peg)_ is a close third. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/11 "2022-09-06T08:26:52Z")
can I mention dick Dale’s entire oeuvre? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/12 "2022-09-06T08:37:26Z")
[Otis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Lreb5U87U) by The Durutti Column is right up there for me, If we allow a few sampled phrases. I love Brian Eno’s work as well. His “Apollo” album is excellent and [this](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu3mNKpJLgc) always manages to calm the storm inside. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/13 "2022-09-06T11:20:22Z")
Whammer Jammer. The song that launched a thousand blues harp players. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ASF5CpqP6HY/hqdefault.jpg "J Geils Band - Whammer Jammer (Full House Live)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASF5CpqP6HY) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/14 "2022-09-06T12:19:34Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > “Take Five,” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Good choice. I was going to suggest something Brubek. In general I listen to a lot more rock than jazz, but when it comes to instrumentals I can’t think of a rock instrumental as good as the best jazz instrumentals. I’ll offer up Coltrane’s long version of 'My Favorite Things". Love how he takes the base melody, goes off on tangents, and eventually slides back into the melody. Even though the lyrical version of the song is associated with Christmas, I always get the feeling of a cool, rainy day in Spring or Fall when I listen to this: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qWG2dsXV5HI/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHUBoAC4AOKAgwIABABGH8gEyg0MA8=&rs=AOn4CLAlkVueM1Qydk5vV2-jdArd_9kufg "My Favorite Things - John Coltrane [FULL VERSION] HQ") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI) ---
**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:** [September 6, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/15 "2022-09-06T12:34:55Z")
For me it’s Coltrane’s “Naima”, one of the most beautiful tunes ever written. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bPAC6zt_1ZM/maxresdefault.jpg "John Coltrane - Naima (2020 Remaster) [Official Audio]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPAC6zt_1ZM) Another is “Soul Serenade” by King Curtis. It was more of a pop tune, I guess. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dhGPqgELXxQ/hqdefault.jpg "King Curtis - Soul Serenade [Stereo] - 1964") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhGPqgELXxQ) For rock, it would be “Jessica” by the Allman Brothers. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yRDivUb5EeA/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGEAgYChyMA8=&rs=AOn4CLD7vAPuW2JNomu5lok3eqrcmZVzWg "The Allman Brothers Band - Jessica") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRDivUb5EeA) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/16 "2022-09-06T12:39:14Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7rQWh62VUHE/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgZShlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLABbCKMqUR-_5M1A2OeqRp9nKqfRA "The Allman Brothers Band - In Memory of Elizabeth Reed ( At Fillmore East, 1971 )") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rQWh62VUHE) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/17 "2022-09-06T12:49:37Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > For me it’s Coltrane’s “Naima”, one of the most beautiful tunes ever written. Another excellent choice. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/18 "2022-09-06T12:51:34Z")
This one, in the rock department. Though I suppose you could call it soul/jazz: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/4v8YQ6sU6I4/maxresdefault.jpg "Traffic - Glad") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v8YQ6sU6I4) ---
**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:** [September 6, 2022, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/19 "2022-09-06T13:29:33Z")
Camel - “Dunkirk” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/uTQ4fyn6Ovc/maxresdefault.jpg "Dunkirk") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTQ4fyn6Ovc) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2022, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031/20 "2022-09-06T14:19:32Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iJBPlmqQ2DY/maxresdefault.jpg "Edward, The Mad Shirt Grinder") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJBPlmqQ2DY) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favourite-instrumental-rock-jazz-pop-hiphop-tune/971031.md?page=2)