Ask Lemmy

Pro musician here.

There are so many, but a hurdy gurdy has gotta be up there. Played by someone who knows more than the basics, it sounds like something a medieval king would demand played to relax.

(They’re also among the most expensive instruments out there, as the only makers today are extremely talented individual ones; no big company like Fender or anything makes them. If you see one, you know it was handmade by a master.)

I also love the sound of the Crwth. It’s from Wales, and is sort of like a regional spinoff/precursor to the violin.

Dual-rectified electric guitar.

Strung Out - Bring out Your Dead

Foo Fighters - Everlong

Tool - Forty Six & 2

IDK why, but the hurdy gurdy has a pretty alluring sound, in my opinion. So I'm probably going with either that or acoustic guitar.

Edit:

I really like this song using hurdy gurdy because to me it kinda sounds like a soundtrack piece for some prison action film.

Piano or Violin for solo instruments, but I love a good concerto or symphony.

Oboe. Anything from the Dream Academy albums would qualify. It has a nice pure sound almost like a vocal.

In second place would be the sitar, or the Hammond Organ if someone is rockin out. The Peddlers, or Fanny would be good examples of excellent Hammond.

Electric guitar.

Not a single instrument, but I love a horn section, too.

Drums - pretty much any single by Street Drum Corp

Probably acoustic guitar tbh, I love acoustic covers, but Piano is amazing too, and electric guitar.

Acoustic covers are just so raw and nice to listen to.

Vibraphone and marimba

Very close, steel drum

Pipe Organ

The Cello, loved it so much that I started learning to play it at around 30.

https://youtu.be/7_8yPpCjK_w

Man, I love me some guzheng nowadays.

I'm big fan of pianos (but not all piano genres) and I have learned that I really like piano run through a phaser and doubled with a Japanese koto

Piano. Supertramp, "From Now On".

And the sax in that tune is pretty great also.

When I think of a classical instrument, I think cello - specifically this piece Shadow of Doubt by Yoko Kanno, where it has such a brooding tone and power.

Being a synthesizer nerd, I like those most, but they have such varied tones among them and even on the same synth; 4x Atlantis by Aphex Twin probably captures one of the tones I most love, and the entire "Orphans" piece hits much of the range.

If you just keep it to the basic instrument drums probably.

If we are allowing it then a heavily distorted guitar tuned stupidly low. But is it the instrument or the various electronics that make the sound?

I dunno about favourite but Kamancheh sounds pretty lovely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6D_3sBN3FM&t=224

Violin is up there for me, such rich notes and emotion can be pushed through it.

After that a didgeridoo played well is awesome. I like to play mine into the bath tub so I get the reverberation and can really hear it

Saxophone. But not always because it's smooth. Because sometimes it ROCKS...

https://youtu.be/7QFNAtnUDJ8

...Or because it's crazier than anything you've ever heard!

https://youtu.be/BARAHLk-8dk

I love horns in music, especially the trumpet. It's why I'm a big fan of Cake, they have a prominent role for the trumpet in a lot of their songs. The best has to be the trumpet solo in Italian Leather Sofa (starts around 2:10) but they have other great ones too.

Hammond B3. Mmmmm.

Classical guitar, here's Nocturne by Chopin.

Sitar!

Accordion, dammit Accordion!

Hang drums sound beautiful

Trumpet. I think it's cause that's the instrument I first learned music on in elementary school.

Harpsichord. Its just such a nice and unique timbre

Bamboo flute!