There was a time when string instruments in rock and pop songs were almost unimaginable. But things turned out differently – read on and see for yourself!
In its heyday, rock music was raw, rowdy, shrill and percussive. And then began a very special kind of instrumental crossover: the symbiosis of rock and orchestral sounds. This gave rise to iconic songs in which violins, violas, cellos and double basses unleash their incomparable emotional power. We’ve got twelve great examples for you. 🎸🎻
1. Led Zeppelin: Kashmir – 1975
‘Kashmir’ from 1975 ranks alongside ‘Stairway to Heaven’ as one of Led Zeppelin’s two most progressive productions. The song took around three years to complete. A key factor in shaping the sound was that multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones added to the orchestration in 1974 by hiring a string section. He also added a Mellotron track, which was equally unusual at the time. Guitarist Jimmy Page had also used the E-Bow – an electrified violin bow – on his electric guitar in other songs. In other words, he transformed the guitar into a string instrument.
Jimmy Page & Robert Plant – Kashmir [HD] with Egyptian Orchestra
2. Kansas: Dust in the Wind – 1977
Arguably one of the most beautiful ballads, ‘Dust in the Wind’ by Kansas from 1977 has long become a classic. The band was regarded as the most important American progressive rock groups in the 1970s. From the very beginning, the violin regularly featured in their music, as in “Dust in the Wind”. Written by guitarist and keyboardist Kerry Livgren, the lyrics are inspired by the poetry of the Native Americans. He was fascinated by the line: “For all we are is dust in the wind”. Recorded by founding member Robby Steinhardt – who sadly passed away in 2021 –, the string arrangement in the middle section remains unforgettable. Pure emotion, the kind that only strings can deliver.
Kansas – Dust in the Wind (Official Video)
3. Art Garfunkel: Bright Eyes – 1978
Although “Bright Eyes” is usually associated with the duo Simon and Garfunkel, the story is actually quite different. The song was composed by British songwriter Mike Batt for the soundtrack of the animated film “Watership Down” and then performed by Art Garfunkel. The original version is thus immortalised on his album “Fate for Breakfast”. The instrumentation is as enchanting as the impressions of the animal world and the landscape scenes in the video. The strings truly make the sun rise over the valleys.
Bright Eyes – Art Garfunkel
4. Queen: Who Wants To Live Forever – 1986
Queen’s powerful ballad “Who Wants To Live Forever”, written by Brian May for the soundtrack of the film “Highlander”, was and remains absolutely iconic to this day. Once again, this proved just how perfectly string instruments in rock and pop lend themselves to use in film scores. As usual, Freddie Mercury’s voice stands out above all else, emotionally embedded within the opulent string sounds of the National Philharmonic Orchestra.
Queen – Who Wants To Live Forever (Official Video)
5. The Smashing Pumpkins: Disarm – 1994
In “Disarm” by the alternative rockers The Smashing Pumpkins, string instruments such as cellos are combined with a number of other unusual instruments, including church bells. The strings provide both percussive staccato passages and sustained tones. The video premiered on MTV in 1994 and immediately went on high rotation. Billy Corgan said of the song’s theme that the lyrics reflected the difficult relationship he had with his parents as a child. It was this emotional depth, coupled with the extraordinary sound, that made the song a Top 20 hit.
The Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm
6. The Verve: Bitter Sweet Symphony – 1997
“Bitter Sweet Symphony” became the summer hit of 1997 and The Verve’s biggest success. There was some controversy surrounding it, but this didn’t diminish its commercial success. The band had lifted a string section from the orchestral version of the Rolling Stones’ classic ‘The Last Time’, which they inverted and looped. This shouldn’t have been a problem, as The Verve had actually asked the Stones beforehand and obtained their approval. However, it turned out that the rights to the orchestral version did not lie with the Stones at all, but with the publishing company ABKCO Records, run by former Stones manager Allen Klein. And he wasn’t exactly thrilled. After a lengthy legal battle, the composition and exploitation rights were ultimately attributed to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
7. Aerosmith: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – 1998
The next string-laden song on our list was also written for a film. Aerosmith’s emotional ballad “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” was instrumental in setting the dramatic mood of “Armageddon”. An orchestral rock sound met Steven Tyler’s intense voice. Interestingly, the song, written by Diane Warren, wasn’t originally intended for Aerosmith at all. Nevertheless, it went on to become a global hit. In fact, it became Aerosmith’s biggest success almost thirty years after their founding, marking their only number-one hit in the US. Who would have thought? Incidentally, the music video kicks off straight away with strings.
Aerosmith – I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Official HD Video)
8. Coldplay: Viva la Vida – 2008
With “Viva la Vida”, Coldplay suddenly struck out in a completely new musical direction in 2008. Whilst their previous albums had been characterised by a rock-tinged indie sound, the band suddenly reinvented themselves and became much more pop-oriented. Their new sound was unlike anything ever heard before, featuring electronic elements, soaring strings and richly layered instrumentation. And yet the song’s theme was, in a sense, a self-fulfilling prophecy, as the song celebrates the positive power of change.
Coldplay – Viva La Vida (Official Video)
9. Scar Symmetry: Artificial Sun Projection – 2008
In “Artificial Sun Projection”, the Swedish melodic death metal band Scar Symmetry surprises with oriental-sounding guitar riffs, extreme yet skillfully executed mood shifts, and, in particular, a violin intro. The contrasts could hardly be more extreme. And contrast is a recurring theme on the album “Holographic Universe”, which, as the band’s most commercial production, weaves melodic death metal, technically accomplished thrash, 80s metal elements and progressive influences into a cohesive whole with complex rhythms, frequent tempo changes and fascinating structures. In “Artificial Sun Projection”, the violin sounds are followed by massive melodic arcs, before culminating in powerful growls.
Artificial Sun Projection
10. Udo Lindenberg feat. Clueso: Cello – 2011
Although “Cello” by German rock legend Udo Lindenberg was first released back in 1973, the song only hit the charts in 2011, when Udo recorded an unplugged version together with Clueso. The lyrics of the song tell the story of a man falling in love with a cello player – pure emotion that demonstrates what a string instrument is capable of. The video has now been viewed more than 21 million times.
Udo Lindenberg: “Cello” feat. Clueso (Official Video)
11. Lana Del Rey: Young And Beautiful – 2013
The song “Young And Beautiful” from 2013 was written as part of the soundtrack for the film “The Great Gatsby” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Considered one of Lana Del Rey’s most iconic anthems, it is about transience, about the reliability of love from youth through to old age: “Will you still love me when I am no longer young and beautiful?” Whilst the singer shines with her enchanting voice, the strings literally “underline” the heart-wrenching melancholy.
Lana Del Rey – Young and Beautiful
12. Nightwish: Nemo – 2004
For the recording of the album “Once”, the Finnish symphonic metal band collaborated with the legendary London Philharmonic Orchestra, which, in addition to countless classical recordings, has also recorded many soundtracks, such as the music for “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”. In the first single release “Nemo”, the strings take the song to a whole new level just before the guitar solo. String instruments lend themselves perfectly to building tension and giving a song even more presence and drama, and this works brilliantly in this track too.
Why are strings so perfectly suited to rock and pop?
Quite simply: it’s all about sonic capabilities that the instruments most commonly used in these genres are hardly capable of. String instruments such as the violin, viola, cello and double bass are particularly good at conveying intense emotions, ranging from romantic to tragic. They can transform a band’s sound to become almost cinematic and orchestral. From orchestral background textures with sustained chords to melodic hooks, staccato or pizzicato patterns: strings help to build tension and expand the musical horizon.
What can producers do if they cannot afford strings?
Not every band has the opportunity to use a real string ensemble. Compared to a band recording, the costs in terms of personnel and equipment are far greater, both live and in the studio, and for many bands this is simply unaffordable. Using synth workstations or orchestral libraries, which now sound surprisingly good, can be a practical solution. However, if the sound needs to be truly authentic, real strings are still frequently used in major rock and pop productions. And in film music, all the more so! While synthetic orchestras have come a long way, they’re still far from perfect.
String Instruments in Rock and Pop: And now it’s your turn!
Feel free to share in the comments which rock and pop songs that use strings have impressed you the most!
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