John Lennon's musical instruments

Replica guitars of those played by Lennon

John Lennon's musical instruments were both diverse and many, and his great fame resulted in his personal choices having a strong impact on cultural preferences.

Overview

John Lennon played various guitars with The Beatles and during his solo career, including the Rickenbacker (four variants thereof), Epiphone Casino, and various models of 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] ”

But Lennon's musicianship went far beyond guitar and piano. Julia Lennon was John's mother and her banjo was the first instrument that John Lennon learned to play before he switched to guitar: 'sitting there with endless patience until I managed to work out all the chords'.[2] According to John, it was Julia who turned him onto rock 'n’ roll and actively encouraged him to pursue his musical ambitions.[2] After Julia's untimely death in 1958 the instrument was never seen again and its whereabouts remains a mystery.[3]

Lennon also played keyboards besides piano (electric piano, Hammond organ, harmonium, Mellotron, harpsichord, clavioline), harmonica, six-string bass guitar (either he or George Harrison, when McCartney was playing piano or guitar), and some percussion (in the studio).

Replica guitars

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]

Piano

Lennon's Steinway piano on which he composed "Imagine"[6]

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.[9]

Sound effects

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.

Instruments

Guitars[10]

Rickenbacker 325 ('58 model)
Rickenbacker 325 ('64 model)
Epiphone Casino (Revolution model)
John Lennon's Gibson J-160E
Gibson Les Paul Junior
John Lennon model

Amplifiers

Pedals

Pianos and keyboards

Harmonicas

Percussion

Headphones

Other

See also

References

  1. ↑ The Beatles Ultimate Experience. Retrieved September 1, 2004.
  2. 1 2 Baird, Julia (1988). Imagine This. London: Hodder & Staughton. p. 89. ISBN 9780340839249.
  3. ↑ "Index". Juliasbanjo.com. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "John Lennon J-160E Peace". Gibson Musical Instruments. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  5. ↑ Bosso, Joe (17 August 2007). "A Look at Gibson's John Lennon Les Paul Junior". Gibson Musical Instruments. Retrieved 18 February 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 Mittleman, Kelly S. "Antiques and the Arts Online – Pop Singer Buys John Lennon's Piano at the Hard Rock Cafe". Antiquesandthearts.com. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  7. 1 2 "ENTERTAINMENT | George Michael buys Lennon's piano". BBC News. 18 October 2000. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "George Michael buys Lennon's piano". BBC News. 18 October 2000. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  9. ↑ "The Green Skeptic: IMAGINE: John Lennon Piano on Tour with Mission of Healing and Hope". Greenskeptic.blogspot.com. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  10. ↑ See http://tilonlysilenceremains.com/the-beatles-guitars-johns-guitars/ for photos and references; accessed 5 January 2016
  11. ↑ "Epiphone Musical Instruments". Epiphone.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  12. ↑ As seen for example on "The Long and Winding Road" in "Let it Be" film

External links

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