Other Prog Music Instruments
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58382
Printed Date: February 14 2025 at 00:23
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Topic: Other Prog Music Instruments
Posted By: GaryB
Subject: Other Prog Music Instruments
Date Posted: May 30 2009 at 11:45
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I am a guitar player so I look for guitar oriented music first. We're currently discussing bassists on another topic. Since you can't swing a stick around Prog music without hitting a keyboardist, I would like to know what other instruments you look for in your musical choices.
I personally like electric violin which is why I look for bands like Flying Island, and I also like sax and flute. I prefer these three instruments in a more Prog Jazz style.
What are your thoughts on this subject?
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Replies:
Posted By: Scoppioingola
Date Posted: May 30 2009 at 12:33
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Well, I play both winds instruments (sax and flute) and the guitar (it's one of the most versatile instruments after all), but my favorite instrument must be the organ, if only for the incredible power of its sound (I also love baroque, and the guitar adapts itself surprisingly well to that type of music). However, I don't look for "specific instruments" oriented music, quite frankly. I do recognize the skill of various guitarists/saxophonists/flautists/others, but their presence is not necessary. |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 05:01
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If I hear that a band has electric guitar, sax or flute, violin AND vibraphone or marimba in it, I want to hear them immediately!
Two of my favourite albums on Progarchives are by Pierre Moerlen's Gong. GAZEUSE has all of the above except for violin. (But it does have a piece with acoustic guitar and Fender Rhodes!) ESPRESSO II has all of the above but no sax or flute. Both albums also feature the most amazing drumming / bass playing you can imagine. |
Posted By: GaryB
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 07:52
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Some bands I like that feature sax or violin or flute would be: Osanna, Colosseum, Altona, Soft Machine, Caravan, Esperanto, Epsilon, Gong, Message, Opa, Missus Beastly, Arti + Mestieri, Kraan, Alquin. |
Posted By: GaryB
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 08:08
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I have the U.S. release of Gazeuse which is called "Expresso". Other than guitar, Allan Holdsworth plays violin and pedal steel guitar. (I guess someone thought the original title would be too hard for Americans to pronounce - they were probably right) BTW Contrary to what is usually the case, the U.S. release has a better cover. |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 08:28
Even if they're not prog? I'd like to recommend you some stuff. |
fuxi wrote:Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 15:02
Please do! I love Gary Burton's bands from the 1970s because they tended to have vibes, drums, TWO electric guitarists and TWO bassists. I also like Django Bates, Muhal Richard Abrams and Pierre Dorge because they tend to use the craziest combinations of instruments. (Bass clarinet is another great instrument.) So any additional recommendations would be very welcome. |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 15:05
Of course GENTLE GIANT aren't bad either: guitars, keyboards, bass, drums, saxes, recorders, vibraphone, cello, violin and heaven-knows-what-else, all played by the same five musicians, often in rapid succession, and EVEN live on stage. Moroever, their tunes are superb and their singing highly accomplished. Masterly! |
Posted By: spleenache
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 18:04
| I love use of diverse instruments in music. what those intruments are does not matter much. If a CD is composed of just guitar, drum and bass I would generally stay away from it (although there are exceptions. Usually wider range of intruments lead to much more interesting musical textures. This brings up the key issue in Prog music. In my opinion what differentialtes prog from other styles is its freedom of form and its fearless use of instruments for creating texture. |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 18:15
| I love all instruments, if used with skill and soul - even a basic power trio of guitar, drums and bass can produce amazing music (as we all should know). However, I have a definite weakness for 'ethnic' instruments of every kind - be they exotic percussion, woodwinds, strings, or whatever. Their distinctive sounds enhance the already interesting textures of most prog music, and make them even more intriguing. |
Posted By: Alitare
Date Posted: May 31 2009 at 18:20
| I enjoy instrument interplay, more than the separate instruments, themselves. But I have a soft spot for melodic acoustics, especially the violin, which I am learning how to play skillfully. |
Posted By: Nipsey88
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 02:38
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Don't really care what instruments get used, but like as noted above, as long as they are played with feel and exciting interplay I'm placated. But one instrument does get me geeked up above all others...Chapman Stick, I just love the harmonic possibilities of that unique instrument.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Nipsey88/?chartstyle=myspace02" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 18:37
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Since this is a thread about Other Prog instruments I won't be mentioning any guitars, Moogs or Hammonds. (Although I must mention is flute - all flute's interventions in prog music are beautiful almost without exception). I like harp a lot. However, I don't know many prog songs utilizing it - not even within the realm of Prog Folk (they're usually dulcimers, Irish harps, Finnish harps and other ethnic variations, not the "orchestral" one). The thing is, it sounds dreamy, calm, mellow, and it's sounds is more associated with new age than prog. I would like to hear some full-blown prog act using it in an innovative way! I also like accordion. It's so widely used in various folk musics (at least in Europe) that one has to wonder why it's not more represented in "pop", even prog. Only prog songs with accordion that I know of are using it as a joke or to add a bit of a folksy flavor. Countless folky tunes for harmonica are so bad they're vomit-inducing, but this instrument could be so expressive and explorative! Of course, there are notable artists that were doing that (mostly Italian and French), but they were doing it within jazz musc, not prog rock. Why? |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 18:58
| Didgeridoo. |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 19:06
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 19:06
Gryphon would not be Gryphon without the Krumhorn:
  ------------- What? |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 19:10
Page & Plant's "No Quarter (Unledded)" DVD shows the heavy use of many exotic instruments over the known Zeppelin music. The music is both very good, very enriched and quite progressive! 
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Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 19:21
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Oh great, another DVD I need to get. Sounds like a whole lotta fun nrrrr, like a whole lotta fun nrrrr, like a whole lotta fun nrrrrrrrr.
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 19:38
| ^ Definitely! The version of Kashmir, with mindblowing arab violins, is the best I ever heard. And that's not all. |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 20:35
| The vibraphone is pretty cool, people like Ruth Underwood(Zappa) and Gary Burton, can play wonders of it, delightful instrument. |
Posted By: GaryB
Date Posted: June 01 2009 at 20:41
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Violin is my first choice from the "other instruments". I mentioned Flying Island (both LPs) and "Last Tango" by Esperanto (two violins and a cello) but I neglected to mention Jean Luc Ponty. I think the first album I bought featuring violin was by a band called Flock with Jerry Goodman doing the honors. |
Posted By: GaryB
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 12:01
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Earlier this morning I was scrolling down the Jazz Rock/Fusion page and came across a band called If that I haven't listened to for years. I pulled out "Tea Break Over..." and heard some good sax. I also set aside "...Bunch Of Pretty Faces" and will listen to it later on today.
My LPs were carefully stored away for years. Not long ago I converted a spare bedroom into a music / album / guitar room. I alphabetized and categorized my LPs and started a process of reviewing and rating albums. Since I haven't heard most of this music in over thirty years, in a way it's like buying new albums all over again and I'm having a great time doing it.
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Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 12:56
I am of the opinion that when you hear something in your head that many times the medium is not as important as your ability to translate what it is that you see ... and that makes me think that you are trying to figure out if you want to form a band or not ...
First off ... a keyboard does not prog make ... and if the "definition" of the term says so ... it is a gross injustice to musicians all over the world ... there is a lot of prog that can not be classified ... because there aren't enough terms to describe something someone wants to do ... and (above all) did it! And if you are worried about a "style" ... then you are not concentrating on your vision itself ...
To be remembered, not just in prog, but anywhere else, and make a name for yourself ... you have to do it different ... you can not copy anyone else ...
My suggestion? Dump music definitions, including prog.
Now see what you have left of the movie inside your head ... if it was an ideal in the first place, I'm done talking and this article is junk to you!
Best of luck ... and you have got to not be afraid of someone saying "it's not prog" ... who gives a sh*t, when it is great music? ... you decide!
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Posted By: clarke2001
Date Posted: June 02 2009 at 14:57
Well, many thanks, Alex!  It seems my band is receiving some feedback in prog community after all. |
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: June 07 2009 at 05:25
If you like harp, accordion, tangos, Zappa, jazz-with-a-wink and non-sentimental film music, try Edward VESALA's ODE TO THE DEATH OF JAZZ on ECM, a brilliant album. Vesala's harpist (and real life partner) Iro Haarla has also released a solo-album, NORTHBOUND. Fascinating, but a little slow and repetitive, though definitely not New Age. |
Posted By: Calculate900
Date Posted: June 07 2009 at 18:29
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How about the theremin? I haven't heard it much outside of Led Zeppelin, but still. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU-PoUwECjI |
Posted By: A Person
Date Posted: June 07 2009 at 22:16
| My favorite "other" instruments are violin, saxophone, and flute. Quella Vecchia Locanda, Van der Graff Generator, and Jethro Tull are all great for these instruments, in their respective order. I hope I get to hear more harp in prog, i love the sound of it. I also like the harpsichord sound in some songs, like in Siberian Khatru, but that can be emulated. |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: June 08 2009 at 06:34
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIiqGVKPgPE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcreatedigitalmusic%2Ecom%2Ftag%2Ftheremins%2F&feature=player_embedded - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIiqGVKPgPE&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcreatedigitalmusic%2Ecom%2Ftag%2Ftheremins%2F&feature=player_embedded ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: Calculate900
Date Posted: June 08 2009 at 15:17
Wow, that's amazing. |
Posted By: ark-amps
Date Posted: June 08 2009 at 19:55
Funny you mention it, we (Territorial Chant) use home made harps, dulcimers and tube amps in our music, soon we will be building our own guitars too;) To me the hammer dulcimer is the ultimate dream inducing acoustic instrument!!! Our main singer Matt Schellenberg is releasing a "solo" dulcimer CD soon, intoxicating music he makes with that thing;) I like hearing unique instruments in art-rock when used appropriately and skillfully... bc ------------- State of the <ART> |
Posted By: Geizao
Date Posted: June 09 2009 at 16:25
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Well, I prefer flute, clarinet, cello. And otherwise I love a brass section
like true symphony in Floyd's Atom Heart Mother track.
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Posted By: meptune
Date Posted: June 09 2009 at 18:20
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I play Chapman Stick and percussion so I like anything touchstyle - Trey Gunn (Crim, TU, KTU), Guillermo Cides, Sean Malone (Cynic, Gordian Knot) and anything with percussion, preferably accoustic/organic sound i.e. PM Gong, Zappa, Henry Cow, Beefheart, Oregon... ------------- 
"Arf, she said" |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 07:02
RE the accordion discussion: right now I'm listening to Hydria Spacefolk's "Symetria" and there's some very nicely integrated accordion on the track "Flora Fauna"  How about prog with bag-pipes?  |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 07:21
you could start here: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25554 - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=25554  ------------- What? |
Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: July 11 2009 at 17:15
French progressive band SEVEN REIZH (one of the most original on the prog scene) :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JgTA0lv_J4 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JgTA0lv_J4
And for some prog with varied instrumentation, including accordion, FARMERS' MARKET is the best place :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfmveje2dl0 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfmveje2dl0
Another prog band with diversified instrumentation : ANACRUSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRGfF62K_iA - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRGfF62K_iA
And the incredibly talented members of IONA also use a lot of diverse instruments, Troy Donockley is even a reference in uileann pipes !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq5sVn8b-ns&feature=related - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq5sVn8b-ns&feature=related
------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: The Runaway
Date Posted: July 12 2009 at 06:50
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Sax and Flute, and everything that people think won't fit in. ------------- http://www.formspring.me/Aragorn224" rel="nofollow - Trendsetter win! The search for nonexistent perfection. |
Posted By: rogerthat
Date Posted: July 12 2009 at 09:24
Seconded! You summed up why I like both Gong and Gentle Giant, by the way!
 |
Posted By: tamijo
Date Posted: July 12 2009 at 12:09
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Defenitely lift things up if you got more instruments than the traditional Drum- Key - guit - Bass
But im not looking for any special instrument.
but looking back Sax, Flute & violin been the typical additions ------------- Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours |
Posted By: PROGMONSTER2008
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 05:05
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Bouzouki
Lute
Mandolin
Citar
Spanish guitar
Harp
Hammond organ
Wurlitzer organ
Harpsichord
Clavinet
Rhodes piano
Moog
Mellotron
Flute
Soprano
Clarinet
Sax
Violin
Cello
There's some
 ------------- Jazz/Classical Rock(70's style prog/fusion). Lots of prog keys and melodies(all original ideas) http://www.myspace.com/vigilante2008" rel="nofollow - http://www.myspace.com/vigilante2008 |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 05:29
| ^ Can you mention some prog songs with harp please? I would be interested. I only know SUSAR, Indukti's album. |
Posted By: tamijo
Date Posted: July 13 2009 at 05:51
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Allways a good question what is prog.
But if you dont know him check out Andreas Vollenvider http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Vollenweider - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andreas_Vollenweider
I especialy love this one :
- /wiki/Behind_the_Garden_-_Behind_the_Wall_-_Under_the_Tree_%28album%29 - Behind the Garden - Behind the Wall - Under the Tree (album) (1981) ------------- Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 14 2009 at 13:30
Copious wood blocks... ... and jugs...  ... that just don't stop. Edit: Sorry, thought I had shrunk the size of that album pic. -------------  Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: Tsevir Leirbag
Date Posted: July 14 2009 at 15:18
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I'm a guitarist, I also play bass, and I played tuba for two years. I will soon start playing keyboard since it's one of my favourite instruments.
An instrument that is very interesting is sitar. I don't have a lot of exemples, except To Be Over (in Yes' Relayer)  ------------- Les mains, les pieds balancés Sur tant de mers, tant de planchers, Un marin mort, Il dormira - Paul Éluard |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 15 2009 at 14:43
------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: July 15 2009 at 15:34
Any saz in prog? Wonderful instrument! |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 15 2009 at 15:39
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Saz taksimi! I wish. I got to noodle on a saz once or twice. It has moveable frets. I was toning more than 12 per octave!! ------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: July 15 2009 at 15:41
| Yeah I love it too. I've heard it used very tastefully in electro/lounge/experimental projects, bringing a very relaxed feel. However it can sound menacing too, with a strong arabic flavour. |
Posted By: Nuke
Date Posted: July 16 2009 at 20:58
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The theremin. Whenever I hear one (played well and melodically, not effect oriented), I am just drowned in its beautiful meloncholy sound. Too bad it's sort of a one trick pony. I actually built one a year ago, and I love trying to play it, but I never developed technique. But with my feeble attempts to learn theremin, I have realized that incredible amounts of skill are required to play the easiest stuff, and that's why it is a sort of one trick pony. It is almost impossible to play notes rapidly and coherantly. It's still my favorite "other" instrument to hear in prog. I actually don't like saxophone in prog, and I think it is because, not despite the fact, that I've played sax for a decade. I just can't help comparing them to the jazz giants, and even to people I knew in my hometown, that I honestly think sounded better. Exotic percussion is always a plus.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Seabury">  
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Posted By: meptune
Date Posted: July 17 2009 at 01:59
Check out Niladri Kumar playing electric sitar on the Jonas Hellborg CD "Kali's Son". Outstanding Indo-jazz fusion. -------------
"Arf, she said" |
Posted By: Time Signature
Date Posted: July 17 2009 at 07:09
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I must admit, my favorite instrumentation in prog music is the traditional rock one with guitars, (keyboards,) drums, bass (and vocals), but I do like the inclusion of non-traditional instruments into rock music. I'd actually like to hear the berimbau in prog music (I know Max Cavalera has used it now and then, but that's hardly prog music), as it's a simple instrument with a very limited tonal range - It would be interesting to hear that used in complex prog music.------------- This user has left the PA fora, but will occasionally post reviews so as to support artists. |
Posted By: American Khatru
Date Posted: July 17 2009 at 07:30
------------- Why must my spell-checker continually underline the word "prog"? |