Lucy in the sky with Diamonds

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Do any of you know what instrument is playing in the intro & verses of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"?
I think it's a harpsichord, but i can't really get the right sound when i try to play it on my keyboard.
There's some vibrato and delay on the sound aswell. Any other effects?

Thanks! 

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Abstrakt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 18 2005 Location: Soundgarden Status: Offline Points: 18292	Topic: Lucy in the sky with Diamonds Posted: January 08 2009 at 08:29
	Do any of you know what instrument is playing in the intro & verses of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds"? I think it's a harpsichord, but i can't really get the right sound when i try to play it on my keyboard. There's some vibrato and delay on the sound aswell. Any other effects? Thanks!

Epignosis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: December 30 2007 Location: Raeford, NC Status: Offline Points: 32524	Posted: January 08 2009 at 08:56
	According to wikipedia: It consists of a very simple melody (reminiscent of a nursery song), sung by Lennon over an increasingly complicated underlying arrangement which features a tamboura, played by George Harrison, and a counter melody on Lowrey organ played by Paul McCartney being taped with a special organ stop to give it a sound like a celeste.^{[2] Hope that helps.}
	https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays

Abstrakt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 18 2005 Location: Soundgarden Status: Offline Points: 18292	Posted: January 08 2009 at 14:23
	But in the intro, is it the Tamboura or Lowrey Organ playing? I just love that song!

harmonium.ro Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin Joined: August 18 2008 Location: Anna Calvi Status: Offline Points: 22989	Posted: January 08 2009 at 15:40
	The intro is definitely the organ! The string instrument playing in the background at 20 seconds in is most likely the tamboura. Edited by Swan Song - January 08 2009 at 15:43

chopper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 13 2005 Location: Essex, UK Status: Offline Points: 20029	Posted: January 08 2009 at 16:11
	I think Swan Song is correct, the tamboura is a drone instrument I believe.

Abstrakt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 18 2005 Location: Soundgarden Status: Offline Points: 18292	Posted: January 09 2009 at 12:04
	Alright... Lowrey organ with delay & vibrato... I'll see if i can get it right now. Thanks!

himtroy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 20 2009 Status: Offline Points: 1601	Posted: January 26 2009 at 12:55
	Yeah, it's organ. I can get my organ to do exactly that song.

J-Man Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: August 07 2008 Location: Philadelphia,PA Status: Offline Points: 7826	Posted: January 27 2009 at 14:59
	It's organ, and I can't get that sound either.
	Check out my YouTube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/demiseoftime

chopper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 13 2005 Location: Essex, UK Status: Offline Points: 20029	Posted: January 28 2009 at 06:35
	That's because you don't have George Martin (do you?).

Chicapah Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: February 14 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8238	Posted: January 28 2009 at 09:17
	According to the book I'm currently enjoying by Geoff Emerick (the studio engineer on Sgt. Pepper's) it is a combo of Lennon's guitar and George Martin's harpsicord. The book is "Here, there and everywhere" and I highly recommend it to studio techies because he leaves nothing out. How about 18 pages on the recording of "A Day in the Life" alone?
	"Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain

Abstrakt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 18 2005 Location: Soundgarden Status: Offline Points: 18292	Posted: January 28 2009 at 12:06
	^^^^ Yeah, i thought it sounded like a harpsichord!

Chicapah Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: February 14 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8238	Posted: January 28 2009 at 13:52
	A thousand pardons. I just checked and the book doesn't reveal the source of the intro to the song. I got it mixed up with "Because" from Abbey Road so let the speculations continue. My bad. As far as LSD goes, though, that was the song that Lennon wanted to be tethered to a rope hung by from the ceiling so he could circle the mike while recording his vocal. (Cooler heads prevailed, however, and that brainstorm was ditched.)
	"Literature is well enough, as a time-passer, and for the improvement and general elevation and purification of mankind, but it has no practical value" - Mark Twain

Abstrakt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 18 2005 Location: Soundgarden Status: Offline Points: 18292	Posted: January 28 2009 at 14:15
	I still think it sounds like a harpsichord!

chopper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 13 2005 Location: Essex, UK Status: Offline Points: 20029	Posted: January 28 2009 at 16:18
	I was reading about LSD in the Beatles Rough Guide last night and it also says it was a Lowrey organ on the intro.

Abstrakt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 18 2005 Location: Soundgarden Status: Offline Points: 18292	Posted: August 18 2009 at 13:41
	This song... I'm speachless... Only Black Sabbath is better... and perhaps Led Zeppelin