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.

Comments

sadchild_ t1_jdqylrc wrote on March 26, 2023 at 2:32 PM

#2,370,749

I'd like to know too

crunchyfrog555 t1_jdr2xej wrote on March 26, 2023 at 3:05 PM

#2,371,284

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

Screamin53 t1_jdrmfa5 wrote on March 26, 2023 at 5:24 PM

#2,373,609

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

Fruit_Popular OP t1_jdro6i2 wrote on March 26, 2023 at 5:36 PM

#2,373,810

Replying to crunchyfrog555 (#2,371,284)

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.

Fruit_Popular OP t1_jdrp7ig wrote on March 26, 2023 at 5:43 PM

#2,373,908

Replying to Screamin53 (#2,373,609)

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.

weaselmaster t1_jdrp8tf wrote on March 26, 2023 at 5:43 PM

#2,373,914

It’s the machine that goes “ping!”.

Appropriate_Weekend9 t1_jdrs14v wrote on March 26, 2023 at 6:03 PM

#2,374,241

Youll get tired of it.

McFtmch t1_jdudqrb wrote on March 27, 2023 at 7:20 AM

#2,386,349

Replying to Fruit_Popular (#2,373,810)

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. :)

Own-Midnight-4954 t1_jdyxp4c wrote on March 28, 2023 at 5:17 AM

#2,410,181

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"

Fruit_Popular OP t1_jdzl0f6 wrote on March 28, 2023 at 10:39 AM

#2,412,906

Replying to Own-Midnight-4954 (#2,410,181)

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

crunchyfrog555 t1_je0skta wrote on March 28, 2023 at 4:20 PM

#2,420,318

Replying to McFtmch (#2,386,349)

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.