Bonus points for a song that has a good part for that instrument.
Dual-rectified electric guitar.
Removed by mod
Pro musician here.
There are so many, but a hurdy gurdy has gotta be up there. Played by someone who knows more than the basics, it sounds like something a medieval king would demand played to relax.
(They’re also among the most expensive instruments out there, as the only makers today are extremely talented individual ones; no big company like Fender or anything makes them. If you see one, you know it was handmade by a master.)
I also love the sound of the Crwth. It’s from Wales, and is sort of like a regional spinoff/precursor to the violin.
Piano or Violin for solo instruments, but I love a good concerto or symphony.
Vibraphone and marimba
Very close, steel drum
IDK why, but the hurdy gurdy has a pretty alluring sound, in my opinion. So I’m probably going with either that or acoustic guitar.
Edit:
I really like this song using hurdy gurdy because to me it kinda sounds like a soundtrack piece for some prison action film.
I am also a fan of the hurdy gurdy. Here’s my entry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypuaJLHK_LQ
Damn! That hit hard! Thank you for that one.
Electric guitar.
Not a single instrument, but I love a horn section, too.
Piano.
Piano. Chopin, especially Raindrop.
If I said guitar, I’d point you to this song, which is actually a piano song performed on guitar. Lately this is the song that makes me feel things.
Drums in music. I always zero in on the percussion patterns.
Here’s one I enjoy a lot.
I also recommend checking that whole album out. It’s great.
This song is awesome, thanks.
oboe, cello, violin…
My actual favorite is electric guitar followed by violin, and I’ll gladly expound, but those have already been mentioned.
So for this comment I’ll go with handpan drum. Those sound so amazing and soothing to me.
Damn I’ve been trying to find out what the hand pan drum was called for so long, thank you haha.
I would call it the 44 gallon xylophone
Oboe. Anything from the Dream Academy albums would qualify. It has a nice pure sound almost like a vocal.
In second place would be the sitar, or the Hammond Organ if someone is rockin out. The Peddlers, or Fanny would be good examples of excellent Hammond.
Oboe was my choice as well.
Bassoon or oboe… Maybe it’s the double reed?
El Camino Real by Alfred Reed has a nice oboe solo.
When I think of a classical instrument, I think cello - specifically this piece Shadow of Doubt by Yoko Kanno, where it has such a brooding tone and power.
Being a synthesizer nerd, I like those most, but they have such varied tones among them and even on the same synth; 4x Atlantis by Aphex Twin probably captures one of the tones I most love, and the entire “Orphans” piece hits much of the range.
Damn, when he hit stride around 2? Active stankface. That was gnarly af.