 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2009) |
John Lennon's musical instruments were both diverse and many, and his worldwide fame resulted in his personal choices having a strong impact on cultural preferences.
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(February 2009) |
John Lennon's musical instruments were both diverse and many, and his worldwide fame resulted in his personal choices having a strong impact on cultural preferences.
John Lennon played various guitars with the Beatles and during his solo career, most notably the Rickenbacker 325 (four variants thereof) and Epiphone Casino, along with various Gibson and Fender guitars.
His other instrument of choice was the piano, on which he also composed many songs. For instance, Lennon's jamming on a piano together with Paul McCartney led to creation of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1963.
We wrote a lot of stuff together, one on one, eyeball to eyeball. Like in 'I Want to Hold Your Hand,' I remember when we got the chord that made the song. We were in Jane Asher's house, downstairs in the cellar playing on the piano at the same time. And we had, 'Oh you-u-u/ got that something...' And Paul hits this chord [B minor] and I turn to him and say, 'That's it!' I said, 'Do that again!' In those days, we really used to absolutely write like that—both playing into each other's noses. [1]
Lennon's musicianship went beyond guitar and piano, when he showed his proficiency on the harmonica in early Beatles records. His mother, Julia Lennon first showed him how to play the banjo and encouraged him to learn to play guitar, when they would practice together, "sitting there with endless patience until I managed to work out all the chords". [2] According to Lennon, it was Julia who introduced him to rock 'n' roll and actively encouraged him to pursue his musical ambitions. [2] After Julia's death in 1958 the instrument was never seen again and its whereabouts remain a mystery. [3]
Lennon also played keyboards besides piano (electric piano, Hammond organ, Lowrey organ, harmonium, Mellotron, harpsichord, clavioline), saxophone, harmonica, six-string bass guitar (either he or George Harrison, when McCartney was playing piano or guitar), and some percussion (in the studio).
Rickenbacker makes several "Lennon" model electric guitars, Gibson makes a limited-edition replica of his J-160E [4] and an "inspired by" John Lennon Les Paul replicating the modified Junior. Epiphone also makes two "Lennon" edition guitars; the EJ-160e and the Inspired by John Lennon Casino. [5]
Lennon composed his biggest solo hit "Imagine" on a Steinway upright piano. [6] [7] In 2000, this piano was bought by George Michael at an auction for £1.45 million. [8] Later, the piano was on charity tour called the Imagine Piano Peace Project. [9] The piano has been on display at Strawberry Field in Liverpool since 2020. [10]
Lennon used a variety of sound sources for his songs, such as radios, sound effect records, resonators, and even his own heartbeat. He recorded his, Ono's and their baby's heartbeat, for sounds on the Wedding Album and Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions .
 | This section has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
