Favourite backup or secondary instrument?

Trollheart · 01-29-2014, 02:25 PM

We all have our own favourite, be it guitar, keys, maybe sax, but what do you really like to hear as a sort of incidental musical accompaniment? I know I love violins and also harmonicas to come into a song, but if I had to choose one --- and it would be a close-run thing with violins and cellos, which I love --- it would probably have to be mandolin. I just love the soft, yearning, almost crying sound of a well-played mandolin and it always adds something to a song for me. Mind you, I don't know that I'd listen to a full song on mandolin (maybe) or a full album of only mandolin music (unlikely) but when I'm listening to a song and I hear mandolin come softly in I always love it.

So, what's your favourite, other than the basics?

Necromancer · 01-29-2014, 05:19 PM

I like the accent of a piano in the background and surrounding the song.

~~Soulflower~~ · 01-29-2014, 05:32 PM

Xylophone, the Cowbell and tambourine

I think these are great back up instruments because they really compliment the overall composition in certain songs. They really help bring the song together. I also think they are free to have more personality because they are back ground instruments. I actually use to play the xylophone when I was little lol

YorkeDaddy · 01-29-2014, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

We all have our own favourite, be it guitar, keys, maybe sax, but what do you really like to hear as a sort of incidental musical accompaniment? I know I love violins and also harmonicas to come into a song, but if I had to choose one --- and it would be a close-run thing with violins and cellos, which I love --- it would probably have to be mandolin. I just love the soft, yearning, almost crying sound of a well-played mandolin and it always adds something to a song for me. Mind you, I don't know that I'd listen to a full song on mandolin (maybe) or a full album of only mandolin music (unlikely) but when I'm listening to a song and I hear mandolin come softly in I always love it.

So, what's your favourite, other than the basics?

Not sure if you remember, but Schuyler plays some simple mandolin in "Modern Everything" :P

Anywho, I have a thing for nice trumpet solos in the middle of rock or folk songs. The trumpet just feels like such a majestic instrument and it adds another interesting layer to songs for me, and they also just plain sound awesome when played well.

GD · 02-02-2014, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkeDaddy

Anywho, I have a thing for nice trumpet solos in the middle of rock or folk songs. The trumpet just feels like such a majestic instrument and it adds another interesting layer to songs for me, and they also just plain sound awesome when played well.

Like in this song?

For me personally, it really depends on what kind of/which individual song it is and this determines what backing instrument I would enjoy to hear in said song. I know, boring answer but I really don't dislike any backing instrument as long as it fits with the song it's in.

Isbjørn · 02-02-2014, 11:41 AM

I like the sound of bagpipes. It's mighty and warns you that something big is going to happen. I'm not sure if it's my favourite, but it was the first one that came to mind. In the background, you will need some drums.

SATCHMO · 02-06-2014, 03:05 AM

Bill Evans definitely wins best supporting musician for his haunting piano chord work on Miles Davis' Kind of Blue album. Even his few solos on the album are completely understated and graceful. He's the musical glue that holds the whole album together and makes it a coherent piece and a lot of what makes Kind of Blue the classic that it is.

djchameleon · 02-09-2014, 06:09 PM

A horn line!(Saxophones, Trumpets and the occasional Trombone)

The main reason I love funk music well second besides the awesome bass thumping.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

I like the sound of bagpipes. It's mighty and warns you that something big is going to happen. I'm not sure if it's my favourite, but it was the first one that came to mind. In the background, you will need some drums.

have you heard of Rufus Harley?

Jazz Bagpipes!!

01-29-2014, 02:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,994	Favourite backup or secondary instrument? We all have our own favourite, be it guitar, keys, maybe sax, but what do you really like to hear as a sort of incidental musical accompaniment? I know I love violins and also harmonicas to come into a song, but if I had to choose one --- and it would be a close-run thing with violins and cellos, which I love --- it would probably have to be mandolin. I just love the soft, yearning, almost crying sound of a well-played mandolin and it always adds something to a song for me. Mind you, I don't know that I'd listen to a full song on mandolin (maybe) or a full album of only mandolin music (unlikely) but when I'm listening to a song and I hear mandolin come softly in I always love it. So, what's your favourite, other than the basics? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-02-2014, 11:41 AM	#6 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	I like the sound of bagpipes. It's mighty and warns you that something big is going to happen. I'm not sure if it's my favourite, but it was the first one that came to mind. In the background, you will need some drums. __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

01-29-2014, 05:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Necromancer Divination Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,655	I like the accent of a piano in the background and surrounding the song.

01-29-2014, 05:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
~~Soulflower~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,304	Xylophone, the Cowbell and tambourine I think these are great back up instruments because they really compliment the overall composition in certain songs. They really help bring the song together. I also think they are free to have more personality because they are back ground instruments. I actually use to play the xylophone when I was little lol

02-06-2014, 03:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
SATCHMO Al Dente Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 4,708	Bill Evans definitely wins best supporting musician for his haunting piano chord work on Miles Davis' Kind of Blue album. Even his few solos on the album are completely understated and graceful. He's the musical glue that holds the whole album together and makes it a coherent piece and a lot of what makes Kind of Blue the classic that it is.