Prog Instruments...

While I like a base of guitar, bass, drums & keyboards I also like music with

Violin, Cello, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Double Bass, Flute, Percussion.

Bring on the Chamber Rock!!

Played keyboards/synth in high school. Now I want to learn the Drums. Think I'm gonna buy a decent electronic set and start hammering away. ;)

I am in line with some of the comments from King Friso and Moshquito - it is not so much about the instruments themselves as how they are played.  In the right hands, any instrument can sound good.  As a guitar player, I love the sound of guitar in general, but there are some tones out there that are pretty bad.  I also dabble in ukelele, banjo, recorder, and Native American  flute.  The latter is probably the instrument I would like to hear more of in Prog.  We just don't have enough American Indians in Prog.  Maybe I should work to change that, since I am part native myself (but have no connection to any traditional cultures).  I like the sound of harp and flute, and would be happy to hear more of that.  BTW, having seen Jon Anderson perform recently, I do not think it is accurate to say he is semi-retired.  He has put out two albums since his surgery.  Any instrument with a soft-yet-rich tone, like lute or oud, I always appreciate.  One instrument I know that I do not want to hear in Prog is the vuvuzela! 

Lots of acoustic string instruments. Also wooden wind instruments as well. That's why I love Flairck.

I want to hear the Hurdy Gurdy like in that band Zaar and the Musical Saw and yes more Violin, Cello, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Double Bass, Fretless Bass and Flute.

Edited by freudiana - February 15 2013 at 00:57

I like traditional rock instrumentation, but I'm also rather fond of reed instruments (clarinet/sax), violin & cello, and especially harpsichord and Clavinet. A wide variety of percussion can also do wonders for a song.

moshkito wrote: To me, the whole "progressive" thing is not about the instruments, but the music itself.

Pardon me if I've misunderstood your point, but I would say that the instruments used, or at least the sounds used, are part of the music. I think that one can be progressive with an unusual combination of sounds, or the introduction of new sounds, just as much as one can be progressive with musical structures.

Prog needs more cowbell.

M27Barney wrote: anything but saxophone - this most evil of instruments has no place in prog

Zargasheth wrote: I like traditional rock instrumentation, but I'm also rather fond of reed instruments (clarinet/sax), violin & cello, and especially harpsichord and Clavinet. A wide variety of percussion can also do wonders for a song. moshkito wrote: To me, the whole "progressive" thing is not about the instruments, but the music itself. Pardon me if I've misunderstood your point, but I would say that the instruments used, or at least the sounds used, are part of the music. I think that one can be progressive with an unusual combination of sounds, or the introduction of new sounds, just as much as one can be progressive with musical structures.

Yeah I agree. Experimental and artful playing is important without any doubt, but experimentation with timbre has always been an exciting hallmark of Prog. One shouldn't have to choose between them (in fact new timbres can suggest new ways of playing). My apologies also if I misunderstood the point made.

I'd like to add clarinet to my prior list.