![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_6124d1adaadb1.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da2cf4793a.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606d9f2287e05.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606d9f2620ac2.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da2d721b06.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da00046b1b.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606d9f1f17c1f.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606d9f13ad928.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da2c64cb80.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606d9f2ca5e55.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6d1f1dc2.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606d9f323b07e.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da2c8100d3.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606d9f30b0698.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da87c5e2d0.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6ed4e87b.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da2bc39a51.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6d394145.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da2aed55c8.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6eb053d1.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da2d56a091.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6dd46274.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6d422f6b.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6ec4e983.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606dcc702f839.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6df3eb78.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6d834f8d.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da87e693d8.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606daa634be0f.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606d9f31b7cef.jpg)
![Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/gallery/1080/na_606da6d055cd9.jpg)
© Shutterstock/Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Aerosmith - 'Sweet Emotion'
- It might sound like maracas, but the shaker sound you hear in this Aerosmith song was recorded by Steven Tyler using a sugar packet!
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Jimi Hendrix - 'Crosstown Traffic'
- Hendrix reportedly used a kazoo built by himself using a comb!
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Gorillaz - 'Clint Eastwood'
- The melodica, also known as blow organ/key flute, is very present in the band's 2001 single.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Backstreet Boys - 'The Call'
- Flatulence can be heard in 'The Call.' AJ McLean recalls: “I think he (Howie Dorough) was just putting so much air into the vocal that as he was singing, he went 'dun, dun' and he farted–but he farted not only on the beat, but in key, so [the producer] tweaked it and made it sound like one of his patented bass sounds and it stayed on the record."
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Nirvana - 'Drain You'
- If you listen carefully, you might notice a peculiar sound in this Nirvana song. It's a rubber duck squeaking!
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Soundgarden - 'Spoonman'
- If you're thinking spoons, you guessed it right! The song features a Seattle street performer called Artis the Spoonman, who happens to make music using spoons, obviously.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Radiohead - 'No Surprises'
- The British band used a glockenspiel in their song 'No Surprises.' The glockenspiel is a percussion instrument similar to a xylophone, but made of metal.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Missy Elliott - 'Work It'
- The rapper uses a sample of an elephant trumpet to bleep a word in the song.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Pixies - 'Velouria'
- The band used a theremin, which makes cool sci-fi sounds. It's operated by controlling the distance between the hands and two antennae.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
The Beach Boys - 'Good Vibrations'
- The Beach Boys also used the theremin in their 1966 hit.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
The Troggs - 'Wild Thing'
- This classic garage rock song features a solo recorded using an ocarina!
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Nicki Minaj - 'Anaconda'
- In case you haven't noticed, you can hear a loon bird call in this song. A similar sample was used in 'Prayers Up' by Calvin Harris ft. Travis Scott and A-Trak.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Neil Young - 'Harvest Moon'
- The singer-songwriter used the sound of a broom sweeping across sandpaper in this song.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Dido - 'If I Rise'
- You play it like a piano and it sounds like a guitar. Meet the harpejji. Dido likes it, apparently.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
Boney M - 'Rasputin'
- The balalaika is a folk instrument from Russia. Still, it has a place in disco!
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Bauuer - 'Harlem Shake'
- The viral internet meme video features a peculiar sound sample: a lion's roar.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Kate Bush - 'The Dreaming'
- Kate Bush liked the sound of this wind instrument, the didgeridoo.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
M.I.A. - 'Paper Planes'
- The singer's 2007 single features a sample of a cash register, and so did Pink Floyd 34 years before, in their famous song 'Money.'
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Keith Urban - 'Put You in a Song'
- Are you familiar with the bouzouki? Listen to this song and you'll find out what this Greek instrument sounds like.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Flo Rida ft. Sage the Gemini - 'Game Time'
- A sneaker squeak? Yes, indeed. It kind of makes sense in a basketball-themed song, right?
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
The White Stripes - 'The Nurse'
- This percussion instrument is a marimba, and Jack White's band used it in this song.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Behind the Sun'
- The Indian instrument known as the sitar has been used in Western music for a long time, including by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beatles.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
The Black Keys - 'Too Afraid to Love You'
- No, this is not a piano–this is a harpsichord! It differs from the piano because the strings are plucked, instead of being hit with a hammer to create a sound.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Led Zeppelin - 'Gallows Pole'
- This medieval stringed instrument is known as the hurdy-gurdy. Sounds and looks made up, but nope!
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Muse - 'Muscle Museum'
- The British rockers like to experiment, so they included an electro-mechanical instrument called the mellotron in one of their songs.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
Paul Simon - 'You Can Call Me Al'
- The humble penny whistle makes an appearance in this Paul Simon song.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
The Beatles - 'Baby You’re a Rich Man'
- The Beatles experimented a lot with different sounds and instruments. This proto-synthesizer called the clavioline was one of them.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Radiohead - 'Idioteque'
- It might sound like the name of a seaside hotel, but the ondes Martenot is actually a French instrument.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Simon & Garfunkel - 'Cecilia'
- Okay, a xylophone might not be as exotic as other instruments on this list, but it's still an unusual one in mainstream music.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Mike Oldfield - 'Tubular Bells'
- This might sound a bit obvious, but Mike Oldfield actually used tubular bells in Part One. Sources: (Billboard) (Ultimate Guitar) (The Cavan Project)
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Shutterstock/Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Aerosmith - 'Sweet Emotion'
- It might sound like maracas, but the shaker sound you hear in this Aerosmith song was recorded by Steven Tyler using a sugar packet!
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Jimi Hendrix - 'Crosstown Traffic'
- Hendrix reportedly used a kazoo built by himself using a comb!
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Gorillaz - 'Clint Eastwood'
- The melodica, also known as blow organ/key flute, is very present in the band's 2001 single.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Backstreet Boys - 'The Call'
- Flatulence can be heard in 'The Call.' AJ McLean recalls: “I think he (Howie Dorough) was just putting so much air into the vocal that as he was singing, he went 'dun, dun' and he farted–but he farted not only on the beat, but in key, so [the producer] tweaked it and made it sound like one of his patented bass sounds and it stayed on the record."
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Nirvana - 'Drain You'
- If you listen carefully, you might notice a peculiar sound in this Nirvana song. It's a rubber duck squeaking!
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Soundgarden - 'Spoonman'
- If you're thinking spoons, you guessed it right! The song features a Seattle street performer called Artis the Spoonman, who happens to make music using spoons, obviously.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Radiohead - 'No Surprises'
- The British band used a glockenspiel in their song 'No Surprises.' The glockenspiel is a percussion instrument similar to a xylophone, but made of metal.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Missy Elliott - 'Work It'
- The rapper uses a sample of an elephant trumpet to bleep a word in the song.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Pixies - 'Velouria'
- The band used a theremin, which makes cool sci-fi sounds. It's operated by controlling the distance between the hands and two antennae.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
The Beach Boys - 'Good Vibrations'
- The Beach Boys also used the theremin in their 1966 hit.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
The Troggs - 'Wild Thing'
- This classic garage rock song features a solo recorded using an ocarina!
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Nicki Minaj - 'Anaconda'
- In case you haven't noticed, you can hear a loon bird call in this song. A similar sample was used in 'Prayers Up' by Calvin Harris ft. Travis Scott and A-Trak.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Neil Young - 'Harvest Moon'
- The singer-songwriter used the sound of a broom sweeping across sandpaper in this song.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Dido - 'If I Rise'
- You play it like a piano and it sounds like a guitar. Meet the harpejji. Dido likes it, apparently.
© Getty Images
14 / 31 Fotos
Boney M - 'Rasputin'
- The balalaika is a folk instrument from Russia. Still, it has a place in disco!
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
Bauuer - 'Harlem Shake'
- The viral internet meme video features a peculiar sound sample: a lion's roar.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Kate Bush - 'The Dreaming'
- Kate Bush liked the sound of this wind instrument, the didgeridoo.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
M.I.A. - 'Paper Planes'
- The singer's 2007 single features a sample of a cash register, and so did Pink Floyd 34 years before, in their famous song 'Money.'
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Keith Urban - 'Put You in a Song'
- Are you familiar with the bouzouki? Listen to this song and you'll find out what this Greek instrument sounds like.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Flo Rida ft. Sage the Gemini - 'Game Time'
- A sneaker squeak? Yes, indeed. It kind of makes sense in a basketball-themed song, right?
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
The White Stripes - 'The Nurse'
- This percussion instrument is a marimba, and Jack White's band used it in this song.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Red Hot Chili Peppers - 'Behind the Sun'
- The Indian instrument known as the sitar has been used in Western music for a long time, including by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beatles.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
The Black Keys - 'Too Afraid to Love You'
- No, this is not a piano–this is a harpsichord! It differs from the piano because the strings are plucked, instead of being hit with a hammer to create a sound.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Led Zeppelin - 'Gallows Pole'
- This medieval stringed instrument is known as the hurdy-gurdy. Sounds and looks made up, but nope!
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Muse - 'Muscle Museum'
- The British rockers like to experiment, so they included an electro-mechanical instrument called the mellotron in one of their songs.
© Getty Images
25 / 31 Fotos
Paul Simon - 'You Can Call Me Al'
- The humble penny whistle makes an appearance in this Paul Simon song.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
The Beatles - 'Baby You’re a Rich Man'
- The Beatles experimented a lot with different sounds and instruments. This proto-synthesizer called the clavioline was one of them.
© Getty Images
27 / 31 Fotos
Radiohead - 'Idioteque'
- It might sound like the name of a seaside hotel, but the ondes Martenot is actually a French instrument.
© Getty Images
28 / 31 Fotos
Simon & Garfunkel - 'Cecilia'
- Okay, a xylophone might not be as exotic as other instruments on this list, but it's still an unusual one in mainstream music.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Mike Oldfield - 'Tubular Bells'
- This might sound a bit obvious, but Mike Oldfield actually used tubular bells in Part One. Sources: (Billboard) (Ultimate Guitar) (The Cavan Project)
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Bizarre instruments and sounds in famous songs
Today is Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day
© Shutterstock/Getty Images
There are particular sounds that make songs unique, and these sounds are sometimes achieved by using odd instruments and samples. Some music artists did include quite bizarre instruments in their recordings, while others have used common objects as instruments. And then there are also those who sampled the most unique sounds out there and included them in their songs.
In this gallery, you'll discover all the weird and wonderful instruments and sound samples used in famous songs. Click on!
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
![The most expensive concert tickets ever sold](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d8760b38284.jpg)
![Champion tunes! Memorable songs about sport](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d5e0357219f.jpg)
![The most prestigious opera houses in the world](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66d49e4bca4e5.jpg)
![Disney alumni who became musicians](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66c87ee5af6d0.jpg)
![The worst cover songs of all time](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66c7350c4e286.jpg)
![Live, large, and loud: the pioneers of stadium rock](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66be201da451f.jpg)
![The best songs to celebrate your birthday (other than 'Happy Birthday')](https://media-manager.starsinsider.com/640/na_66bc83ed39c18.jpg)
MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week