Rock n Roll Favorites: Strings

[torker]

It seems a fine line between well-done and over-produced when it comes to using strings in rock. My list would start with Moonlight Mile by the Stones.

[FezPaul]

Kashmir

[Mike Teacher]

Great call on Kashmir, which also boasts one of the best kick pedal sounds ever recorded.

There are strings and there are strings, some want them to sound like real string instruments, other go for a more synthetic sound.

Organic but synthetic, the entire Pink Floyd catalog is awash in synth strings until Reichmarshall Waters got into the real thing on later albums. One of floyds classics uses of strings is in transitions of sections, with super long fade-outs; theres a string part in 'Dogs' that just goes on and on fading into just the edge of picking it out of the mix. Ditto on the whole 'Shine On...' suite; strings galore; the whole beginning is one long Gm string chord riffed over by a synth with a very string-ish patch.

But for strings galore 'Welcome to the Machine' would take the synth strings cake for me, each line is puncuated by that [Em? Bm? ] string chord. That's a great string piece.

[Fez4PrezN2008]

Bittersweet symphony - The Verve - F'ing violins drive me nuts in that song.
(Agggh I can't get them out of my head now !)

[tele7]

November Rain

[weekapaugjz]

a band called zox has a guy that plays violin. pretty decent stuff. fun band to see live.

[FezPaul]

La Villa Strangiato

Ged holds one string note on the bass pedals during Alex's solo.

[Mike Teacher]

November Rain

Yes, a song utterly and competely ruined by over-orchestration. Hideous. Not sure there was a good song in there in the first place coz the damn orchestra wont shut up.

In 'La Villa' that string sits nicely on top of an Am/F bass riff that sounds a little bit like 'Might Horse'; seriously check it out.

[Gvac]

Strings are for fags!!!

[A.J.]

I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Marvin Gaye

Friends, Led Zeppelin

I'll Be Around, The Spinners

...to name a few.

[RoyMunson]

I think this falls on the side of over-produced

http://mclub.te.net.ua/images/alb/cover225_12426.jpg

[ANC]

Queens of the Stone Age - No One Knows
Nirvana - Dumb

[Chigworthy]

http://shop.relapse.com/dbimages/sleeves/6419_216.jpg

[Mike Teacher]

I think this falls on the side of over-produced

http://mclub.te.net.ua/images/alb/cover225_12426.jpg

Yes, as a rule any band that does the 'with Orchestra' bit is sailing straight into the Seas of Suckage.

[Ritalin]

Come on Eileen. Dexy's Midnight Runner's.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005Y1ZF.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

I'm kidding!