Bonus points for a song that has a good part for that instrument.
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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.
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.
I am also a fan of the hurdy gurdy. Here’s my entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypuaJLHK_LQ
Damn! That hit hard! Thank you for that one.
Piano or Violin for solo instruments, but I love a good concerto or symphony.
Electric guitar.
Not a single instrument, but I love a horn section, too.
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.
Oboe was my choice as well.
I’m biased bc I played oboe in school band but it’s true, a really great sounding oboe goes totally unappreciated. I was asked to do the solo to “Kiss from a Rose” or w/e by Seal and that had probably one of the only mainstream music oboe solos. Sadly the singer went with a different song before the show.
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.
The hurdy-gurdy is so pleasant to listen too. I love the drone notes it can play.
Vibraphone and marimba
Very close, steel drum
Saxophone
I like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrD05HVGVIQ
Roland TB-303. It’s the synth that launched so much electronic music. Examples are legion, but one of my favorites is Psychic TV “E-male:” https://youtu.be/o2U3joQ9oFI
Generally considered among the penultimate 303 examples are:
- “Higher State of Consciousness” by Josh Wink (https://youtu.be/NdaqXjDtXkQ)
- “Acperience 1” by Hardfloor (https://youtu.be/Un4CeV_l3pI)
I was just going to say synthesizer but if we’re being specific the TB-303 is the king, especially with some real dirty overdrive
The Cello, loved it so much that I started learning to play it at around 30.
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
Gawd I love koto…