This one sound in "Bongo Bong" by Manu Chao...

Submitted by Fruit_Popular t3_122mjy9 in Music

Does anybody know what instrument is making this kind of "pling" sound on "Bongo Bong" by Manu Chao (at 0'04 and throughout)?

I always thought it was a guitar, but I'm not so sure anymore. And in all live performances of "Bongo Bong" I found the sound is weirdly absent.

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sadchild_ t1_jdqylrc wrote

I'd like to know too

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crunchyfrog555 t1_jdr2xej wrote

It's just guitar by the sound of it. A straightforward high note played on a clean channel on guitar.

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Fruit_Popular OP t1_jdro6i2 wrote

Cool, thanks! It always seemed to me a somewhat weird, alien sound, a little too off for a guitar, but I'm really no expert on the instrument.

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McFtmch t1_jdudqrb wrote

Sounds like they've added some subtle effects to it, a bit of echo, maybe some vibrato and tremolo or something. You can create very alien-sounding sounds with guitar effects. :)

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crunchyfrog555 t1_je0skta wrote

Nah, it's a clean channel. There's maybe some very slight reverb, but nothing more. Just regular sustain from the string and a tiny bit of vibrato from their fingers.

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Screamin53 t1_jdrmfa5 wrote

That’s such a cool song. I first heard it several years ago when I accidentally left my YouTube on, playing whatever played next for a few hours. I came back to the computer and Bongo Bong was playing. Not sure how Stray Cat Strut evolved into Bongo Bong, but I’m glad it did

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Fruit_Popular OP t1_jdrp7ig wrote

I really love this one, one of the songs I've heard countless times, but don't get sick of. The whole album "Proxima Estacion: Esperanza" is great and the melody of "Bongo Bong" or elements of it keep popping up on other songs. Love this interconnectedness.

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Own-Midnight-4954 t1_jdyxp4c wrote

Sounds like this song was put together from layered loops, so that single note would be on its own track looping. Not easily playable while playing the main riff and not worth getting another guitarist in to play just one note a bunch of times.

That whole Manu Chao album is great. My favorite song is "Me Gustas Tu"

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Fruit_Popular OP t1_jdzl0f6 wrote

Thanks so much! That totally makes sense why it isn't on the live performances.

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weaselmaster t1_jdrp8tf wrote

It’s the machine that goes “ping!”.

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