Instrumentals

Vapor · 03-13-2010, 09:21 PM

As a non-singer, I want to be able to create voiceless music that can at least equal vocalized music in being expressive and accessible. Soo, I'd like to be pointed towards some instrumentals/instrumental artists that can be emotionally powerful and relatively easy to get into. Jazz, Rock, Electronic, Avant-Garde, doesn't matter what overall style. Thanks for help, friends.

ZeldaGirl · 03-13-2010, 09:45 PM

Personally, I love video game music.

I would say that comprises most of my 'instrumental' play list.

Kargath · 03-13-2010, 09:53 PM

Get Rob Dougan's "Furious Angels" special edition with the instrumental disc.

Luigiman7 · 03-13-2010, 09:54 PM

Trapezoid/Deporitaz comes to mind.

Bomby · 03-13-2010, 10:29 PM

Debussy. Because he's ****ing AWESOME.

Panfan · 03-14-2010, 12:01 AM

Battles has vocals on a few songs, but they're mostly layered with a ****ton of effects that make it near impossible to figure out what they're saying.

Hella's a very similar band to them. And Don Caballero.

65daysofstatic is post-rock/math rock mixed with electronic and is very good.

***Cosmonautical*** · 03-14-2010, 12:33 AM

Juno Reactor uses some occasional vocal samples, but their stuff is almost all instrumental.

Click to view video.

lead choral voice in that isn't a voice, btw, it's a synth. I've been doing a lot of instrumental stuff lately, as an electronic artist. One track at least that I'm working on for a game would probably suit your description. PM me if you're interested.

What you'll find in most instrumental music is that the lead spot, in the central of the mix, is higher-toned and has a lot of rhythm changes. Some instrumental music, like Juno Reactor, has a heavier emphasis on rhythmic changes that pull in a different sort of listener, but don't confuse that with lack of depth. In music like JR that is so heavily focused on rhythm, they can do much more careful variation in the rhythm and mix in many more instruments than the listener would otherwise notice. Either way, the most important thing in any kind of lead is variation in both melody and timing.

Alternatively, some artists similar to JR use more artificial sounding, but attractive vocal substitutes like talkbox-filtered synths to grab the listener's ear. I'd suggest checking out multi-vowel talkbox VST or DX effects, if you're recording. Similarily, other effects such as Phaser can give an instrument more of a vocal-esque sibilance.

Here's a good example of that in another Psytrance artist, IM, who sustains most of this track without lead vocals:

Click to view video.

One of the things you'll notice is they change lead instruments somewhat frequently. This can help keep the listener interested for longer tracks than a single vocal performer can, if you tie the melodies together well.

Stanley the Bugman · 04-09-2010, 11:51 AM

Frank Zappa has some really awesome instrumental stuff. If you want some jazzy stuff I recommend Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo, and Jazz From Hell. Classical, I would go for The Yellow Shark or Orchestral Favorites.

abrocks22 · 04-26-2010, 12:50 PM

you should check out naturally 7...they are an acapella group but create instruments with their voices...really incredible

Maximum Spider · 04-26-2010, 01:42 PM

I think Squarepusher is a pretty cool instrumental musician.

Random User · 04-26-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeldaGirl

Personally, I love video game music.

I would say that comprises most of my 'instrumental' play list.

Same here.

Click to view video.

Frumie · 05-11-2010, 07:35 PM

I'll semi-bump this here thread to bring up my somewhat recent love for 60s surf instrumentals. Especially Telstar.

Click to view video.

***Booyakasha*** · 05-11-2010, 08:02 PM

'Telstar' is the absolute tits.

**Crazyswordsman** · 05-11-2010, 08:23 PM

ELO's "Fire on High" is one of my favs, along with "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers. -CSM

CuccoLady · 05-11-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeldaGirl

Personally, I love video game music.

I would say that comprises most of my 'instrumental' play list.

Thisthisthis.

Jere · 05-12-2010, 04:09 AM

Try BB King, he really can make the guitar sing.

03-13-2010, 09:21 PM	#1
Vapor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: WHERE IT'S AT Gender: Posts: 5,211 Thanks: 314 Thanked 413 Times in 249 Posts	Instrumentals As a non-singer, I want to be able to create voiceless music that can at least equal vocalized music in being expressive and accessible. Soo, I'd like to be pointed towards some instrumentals/instrumental artists that can be emotionally powerful and relatively easy to get into. Jazz, Rock, Electronic, Avant-Garde, doesn't matter what overall style. Thanks for help, friends.

03-13-2010, 09:54 PM	#4
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	Trapezoid/Deporitaz comes to mind. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

03-13-2010, 09:45 PM	#2
ZeldaGirl Awesome member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 15,896 Thanks: 1,130 Thanked 1,919 Times in 1,046 Posts	Personally, I love video game music. I would say that comprises most of my 'instrumental' play list.

03-13-2010, 09:53 PM	#3
Kargath et in Arcadia ego Join Date: Jul 2001 Gender: Posts: 8,334 Thanks: 1,226 Thanked 780 Times in 488 Posts	Get Rob Dougan's "Furious Angels" special edition with the instrumental disc.

03-13-2010, 10:29 PM	#5
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	Debussy. Because he's ****ing AWESOME.

03-14-2010, 12:01 AM	#6
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,247 Times in 1,337 Posts Blog Entries: 15	Battles has vocals on a few songs, but they're mostly layered with a ****ton of effects that make it near impossible to figure out what they're saying. Hella's a very similar band to them. And Don Caballero. 65daysofstatic is post-rock/math rock mixed with electronic and is very good.

04-09-2010, 11:51 AM	#8
Stanley the Bugman Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: A Greenhouse Gender: Posts: 1,656 Thanks: 19 Thanked 14 Times in 13 Posts	Frank Zappa has some really awesome instrumental stuff. If you want some jazzy stuff I recommend Hot Rats, The Grand Wazoo, and Jazz From Hell. Classical, I would go for The Yellow Shark or Orchestral Favorites.

04-26-2010, 12:50 PM	#9
abrocks22 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Gender: Posts: 46 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	you should check out naturally 7...they are an acapella group but create instruments with their voices...really incredible

04-26-2010, 01:42 PM	#10
Maximum Spider Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: I'll take Street Fighter over Dragonball any day. Gender: Posts: 2,549 Thanks: 0 Thanked 191 Times in 126 Posts	I think Squarepusher is a pretty cool instrumental musician.

05-11-2010, 08:02 PM	#13
*Booyakasha* SuperMod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 9,945 Thanks: 157 Thanked 1,481 Times in 763 Posts	'Telstar' is the absolute tits.

05-11-2010, 08:23 PM	#14
Crazyswordsman This key doesn't work. Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 10,791 Thanks: 1,019 Thanked 686 Times in 467 Posts	ELO's "Fire on High" is one of my favs, along with "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers. -CSM

05-12-2010, 04:09 AM	#16
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,648 Thanks: 404 Thanked 331 Times in 256 Posts Blog Entries: 3	Try BB King, he really can make the guitar sing.