"... he was really the first one in the band to bring in other elements of other people's music—the sitar he was very interested and also he was very adept. Brian could walk into a studio and no matter what instrument was lying around, even though he had not played it before, he'd be able to knock something out of it very very quickly. And so he used to use vibraphones and stuff mainly just because they were lying around the studio. And everyone thought what a wonderful piece of orchestration, but it was (his) sheer excellence and Brian's ability to get something out of an instrument. Hence he'd pick up some sort of primitive instrument he's heard, and he'd be able to play it. So he brought more exotic tones to the band." - Keith Richards, in a BBC Documentary, 1989

That Brian played more then just guitar is a pretty known fact, but can you name every instrument he was able to play?

I couldn't, so I tried to track down every instrument Brian was credited to on songs and so on and I probably still missed some. If I did, please tell me and I add them. ☺

First, what instruments did he play for the Rolling Stones?

Let's start with the most obvious ones: Guitars (acoustic, electric, bass, slide, rhythm), Harmonica, Percussion, Tambourine, Maracas, Backing-vocals, co-lead vocals, Piano, Organ and Keyboards.

Then we have the more exotic ones: Appalachian Dulcimer, Vibraphone, Sitar, Koto, Harpsichord, Marimba, Tanbura, Harp, Autoharp.

Others: Recorder, Flute, Mellotron, Saxophone, Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium, Congas, Double Bass, Kazoo, Clavinet, Banjo, Accordion, Glockenspiel, Xylophone.

He did the whistling on "Something Happened to me Yesterday" and "Walking the Dog" too, but I wasn't sure where exactly to put that. 😅

For other artists:

Jimi Hendrix

Brian played various percussion instruments for him and some sitar. (All along the Watchtower*and My Little One/ Ain't Nothing Wrong With That (apparently))

*He played some piano part for All along the Watchtower too. (In a interview, Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's longtime engineer, provides the details. "Brian Jones stumbled into Electric Lady Studios," Kramer told Esquire . "Out of his mind, and started to play piano on 'All Along the Watchtower.' Jimi looked at me. The look was, 'Can we get him to stop?' Jimi was so polite, never wanted to hurt anybody. But he was in the middle of a session and Brian wasn't doing well."

Not wanting to cause a scene, Kramer quickly came up with a way to get Jones out of the studio. "So I said, 'Brian, come into the control room and listen to what we've done,' Kramer continued. "He staggered into the control room and fell, right in front of the console. Then he fell asleep. And we finished the track.")

All Along the Watchtower

https://youtu.be/TLV4_xaYynY

The Beatles:

Brian helped with the sound effects on "Yellow Submarine" and the backing vocals.
You can hear him play Saxophone in "You Know My Name (Look up My Number)".

I couldn't find a video for those songs. Sorry!🙁

Peter and Gordon*

Drums on "You've had better times"
Harmonica on "Mess of the Blues"

*Their most known song was "A world without love" written by Paul McCartney, who was dating Peter's sister Jane Asher as well.

You've Had Better times 

https://youtu.be/0foZA1ruahY

Marianne Faithfull

Euphonium on "Is This What I Get For Loving You?"

I only was able to find the version by the Ronettes. Sorry!🙁

McGough and McGear*

Saxophone on "Basement Flat" and "Summer with Monica"

*Mike McGear's real name is actually Peter Michael McCartney and he is the younger brother of Paul McCartney .

Summer with Monica

https://youtu.be/MojHTmVsbdU

Hapshash and the Coloured Cat*

Piano, Guitar and Harmonica.

*They were mostly an art partnership, but recorded some music too. Their concert posters are really great.

The Wall

https://youtu.be/Lv0H_fYTr44

And of course the soundtrack of 'Mord und Totschlag' (A degree of murder) was composed by Brian and he played most of the instrumentation as well. There were of course session musicians too, like Jimmy Page (the Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin...) and Kenney Jones (The Small Faces, The Faces, The Who...) for example.

Opening track

https://youtu.be/IKSsSMDJYT0

Oh before we end this, there's another thing I can't forget! The Rolling Stones wrote a jingle for Kellogg's rice krispies, which was credited to Brian as well.

https://youtu.be/nZBmhEMFdl0

Definitely their best song!😅😅😅

Excuse me while I cry, because I'm so untalented.😢

Next chapter: Fashion.❤

Questions, Requests and so on are always welcome!✌