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12.02am
1 May 2010
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This could be to play or to listen to, it doesn't matter, but what instrument does your ear always seem drawn to? For me, there's nothing cooler than the thick sound of a Hammond Organ. The song I've included is a great example of the thick sound and at approximately :36 seconds in, there's THE hammond sound that I don't think any other instrument can replicate. Nothing pops music better, hammond funk is where it's at. Another example would be Steve Miller's Fly Like an Eagle which features that Hammond sound near the beginning which completely pops those “do do do's.”
Other than that I'd say bass, or drums. Or maybe you prefer vocals over any instrument, a good harmony is tough to beat.
I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
12.16am
19 September 2010
Offline Anything from a string quartet – I think an orchestra can change music in a song more then anything. Take a listen to this –River Man by Nick Drake. Listen to those drooping strings – and that acoustic? Forget about it. Acoustic guitar is number 2 for me, especially ion something like, oh, I don't know, The Man Who Sold The World (Nirvana's Unplugged version).
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
1.20am
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Being a Scot i am always pleased to hear the bagpipes played live, sends a shiver down my spine. I know that it sounds like a cat being stood on to others.
Other than that the drums when played very crisp and clean. And i do like the sounds of the moog synth, but not when its played for 20 minutes. Short bursts.
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1.30am
13 September 2010
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I'm definitely drawn to the cello or bass (string or guitar) when I listen to music. There's just something in lower instruments sound that I love. And loud pounding bass is some of my favorite stuff to listen to when I just want to loose myself in the music. (Trying to find some more music with that in it, but I haven't been able too.) And my ear naturally picks out those two instruments when I listen to music anyway.
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8.35am
10 May 2011
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1.05pm
7 November 2010
Offline To play, probably melodica or keyboard.
To listen to, piano. I love watching and listening to really talented pianists, it gives me goosebumps.
To listen to live, I just love when you can feel the vibrations of a bass guitar. Nothing beats it imo.
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10.47pm
10 August 2011
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Guitar. [“I don't want to spoil the party” “I've just seen a face” “The Night Before ” “Taxman ” “Octopus Garden” “I want you” “Nowhere Man ” “Blackbird ” ….]
GniknuS, have you heard Stevie Winwood's body of work (Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, etc…)? It's all Hammond organ.
When he played at Madison Square Garden couple of years ago with Eric Clapton he had his Hammond on stage.
And that's Stevie Winwood's Hammond organ on Jimi Hendrix's “Voodoo Chile.”
I agree, that's a real specific sound.
Mr. Sun King , what do you think of the acoustic guitar work on McCartney's post-Beatle work? [“Dress me up as a robber” “Jenny Wren” “A Certain Softness” – which ones am I my forgetting?]
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
12.46am
19 September 2010
Offline Big fan of Paul’s acoustic solo work, and if I dislike the song, the guitar isn’t the issue.
As if it matters how a man falls down.'
'When the fall's all that's left, it matters a great deal.
4.40am
4 November 2010
Offline I have always been drawn to the sound of violins (as long as it's not played country style/like a “fiddle”). Either that or piano- played fast and loud, played delicately, played hauntingly- I just LOVE the piano.
But my favorite instrument to play is the acoustic guitar… probably because it's the only one I play, but still!
8.21am
1 May 2010
Offline Into the Sky, I haven’t heard much of Steve Winwood but I’ll check him out for the Hammond, thanks for the reference. I agree with kelicopter, piano is such a beautiful instrument and I have a tremendous amount of respect for anyone that can really play. I guess I’ve never really heard a song and been like ‘there was too much piano there’…that thought has never entered my mind.
An instrument I don’t really like, I would say the violin, I don’t know why. I’ve tried Vivaldi but I just can’t do it. I love the sound of a trumpet, and a sweet flute part usually puts funk songs over the edge. I’d still come back to bass though, especially the big double bass sounds on old jazz records, it’s so thick.
I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
5.21pm
14 November 2011
Offline Electric Guitar….I have one Stratocaster 🙂
And In The End, The Love You Take….Is Equal to the Love……You Make
5.46pm
1 December 2009
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I have a fetish for old-fashioned analog (primarily monophonic) synthesizers, but I'll also second Gniknus' Hammond-love – that percussive, boiling-over effect. And also droney things like a sitar or bagpipes. And a well-recorded drum kit (which excludes 90% of recorded drums since 1983 or so, but never mind…)
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9.03pm
31 March 2008
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Some monophonic synths sounded absolutely awful though – like standing next to a pneumatic drill. Others sounded great. Can’t fault those Hammond B3s though.
But my vote – today at least – goes to a well-played acoustic guitar. I once did a bit of work with this guy – he was only 18 at the time but played astonishingly well. It was a delight to be in the same room and listen to him play.
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1.28pm
16 February 2011
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Despite sounding like a total amateur(which I am ), I think violin looks very beautiful, and so does harp. As for which instruments I like to listen to, well, all of which include a keyboard, such as piano, organ or synthe-. I like their smooth, “melodic” sound;which is probably the reason I’m not too keen on instruments you have to blow in (like saxophone), because there is a gap between the sounds. If that makes any sense. And regarding what I like to play… Well, piano. Of course, I can’t “really” play it, I just play some simple things according to my ear. I would like to learn to read the notes, but I suppose I should have to find a piano before that…
3.01pm
10 August 2011
Offline Gniknus, if you love the Hammond organ, you have to check out the grand-daddies of all Hammond organ songs,
I'm a Man and Gimme Some Lovin' (Stevie Winwood when he was with the Spencer Davis Group)
feature=related
feature=related
or
the Winwood/Clapton version of Hendrix's Voodoo Child
(if you're into slow, dreamy songs)
"Into the Sky with Diamonds" (the Beatles and the Race to the Moon – a history)
6.50am
1 May 2010
Offline Very cool, thanks for those.
I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine
9.50pm
Reviewers
14 April 2010
Offline It's a great question, Gnik.
For me, it's whatever instrument happens to “pop” on any given track. The bass on songs like “Rain “, “Paperback Writer ” and Cream's live version of “Crossroads” – the bagpipes on Wings' “Mull Of Kintyre ” – acoustic guitar on just about any Grateful Dead or Allman Brothers song (ya gotta hear Little Martha) – the organ on Steppenwolf's “Magic Carpet Ride” – the list goes on…
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
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