Top 10 Best Rock and Pop Songs with a Harpsichord

Although the harpsichord was developed during the Renaissance and became best known as the keyboard of choice for the Baroque era, some rock and pop artists in the mid-1960s used it to achieve a suitably Baroque-type feel or to experiment with different instruments.

The Top Ten

  1. Fixing a Hole - The Beatles

    The distinctive intro is played on a harpsichord by, I believe, George Martin. They also used a harpsichord on Piggies and an electric harpsichord on Because.

  2. For Your Love - The Yardbirds

    The keyboardist who recorded the session was an organ player who came in and realized that there was no organ or piano in the studio. There was, however, a harpsichord, and he used it, thinking, "There's no way a song with a harpsichord on it will become a hit." And sure enough, it actually did become a hit. It was their first number one on the British charts.

  3. Hotel Reveal - The Arcana

    This is an amazing and beautiful song.

    The harpsichord works so well on this song.

  4. Play with Fire - The Rolling Stones

    Jack Nitzsche, who frequently played keyboards on Stones sessions from 1964-1966, played the harpsichord on this one. The Stones also used harpsichord on Dandelion, Sittin' on a Fence, Yesterday's Papers, and Lady Jane.

    Love this song and love how well the harpsichord goes in. I think you should do more things like this because it has really helped me understand how many of these songs have older instruments like the harpsichord. Thank you.

  5. Love Me Two Times - The Doors

    Ray Manzarek played a harpsichord solo on the song. He said he did it on purpose to confound the listener's expectations.

  6. Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel

    The harpsichord is essential to driving the rhythm and setting the mood of the song.

  7. Walk Away Renee - Left Banke

    This is probably the first proper baroque pop song, so to give it the right flavor, they used a harpsichord. The end result is fantastic.

    I saw them in person and was inspired to get a keyboard that has a harpsichord voice.

    One of the most unique singles ever made. One of the first earworms.

  8. You Still Believe In Me - The Beach Boys

    I'm not talking about the intro. That is a series of plucked piano strings. I'm talking about the keys during the song itself. That's a harpsichord.

    The best of them all. The most beautiful use of the harpsichord to date.

  9. Some Mother's Son - The Kinks

    Ray Davies plays the harpsichord here. They also used a harpsichord on the song "Village Green."

  10. Golden Brown - The Stranglers

    11. The Newcomers
  11. ?

    Because - The Beatles

    This song starts with a harpsichord. I hope an electric harpsichord counts for this list.

  12. ?

    All You Need is Love - The Beatles

    13. The Contenders

  13. Burning of The Midnight Lamp - Jimi Hendrix

    Jimi himself played the harpsichord, despite the fact that he said he couldn't play keyboards.

  14. Sunshine Superman - Donovan

  15. Skyline Pigeon - Elton John

  16. Madrigal - Yes

  17. Citadel - The Rolling Stones

  18. The Red Telephone - Love

    The harpsichord was played by session musician Don Randi, a member of The Wrecking Crew. He played all the keyboard parts on Forever Changes.

  19. Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

    Graham Nash plays the harpsichord. It's a nice complement to the song's piano part, which he also played.

  20. I Need You - The Who

    The keyboardist on the song is unknown, but from what I've been led to believe, the harpsichord was played by John Entwistle.

  21. Animals - Muse

  22. The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke - Queen

  23. I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family

    I have never been a big fan of The Partridge Family, but this song contains a brilliant harpsichord solo in the middle of the song courtesy of either Mike Melvoin or Larry Knechtel (it's unclear who exactly played the harpsichord on this particular song).

  24. Half a World Away - R.E.M.

    You can hear it come in somewhere in the middle of the song. It's not front and center in the mix, but it's still there.

  25. Thick as a Brick, Pt. 2 - Jethro Tull

    The harpsichord comes in at the 7:27 mark of Part 2.

  26. Different Drum - Linda Ronstadt

    This song was recorded while she was a member of the folk-rock trio The Stone Poneys. Don Randi, the same session musician who played on The Red Telephone by Love, also plays the harpsichord on this song.

  27. Bills Bills Bills - Destiny's Child

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