It isn’t always easy to find inspiration for your creativity. Although “writer’s block” is a famous expression to describe this issue, the obstacles to a successful production affect everyone who works in a creative career.
Creativity blocks can be especially poignant for musicians. Not only are their lyrics to consider in a song, but there are also chords, notes, and scales to think about when putting a piece together.
There are melodies to review, bass lines to write, and solos to record.
One of the best ways to find new creative energies is to step outside of your comfort zone. That’s why many musicians play multiple instruments!
When you look at the rock genre, the violin is a favorite instrument to learn because of its soulful sound and intricate harmonies.
Best Rock Songs with Violin Solos and Interludes
The most famous violin solo you can find in rock music today comes from Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.” Although it wasn’t initially released to the general public, musician Stephane Grappelli delivers a stunning addition that you can hear at the three-minute mark.
Although the master tape of Grappelli’s solo with Pink Floyd was presumably erased, a recording of the session sat in EMI’s vault for over 35 years.
It’s an extended version of the song that sends the listener soaring as the strings hit some incredible emotional overtones.
When the BBC interviewed Nick Mason, who served as Pink Floyd’s drummer, he called the “jam session” one of the best recordings in the band’s archives.
“It still astonishes me that we didn’t use it originally,” said Mason of the violin solo. “[We] didn’t realize what a wonderful think it was.”
EMI would end up releasing the recording for sale as a special edition on November 7, 2011.
Although the interlude only lasts for about 45 seconds with the instrumental, Grappelli continues to play in the background as the song continues.
You can hear the jazz influences in how he addresses the classic melody, with picks and vibrato hitting the strings with masterful touches.
Once you get to the 5:00 mark in the song, Grappelli manages to use the violin to turn the Pink Floyd classic into a piece that feels like it belongs on the Bluegrass charts.
He hits the scales multiple times, moving across the melodic spectrum with rare brilliance.
You can listen to the entire track online by clicking this link. The whole song is 6:14 with this special edition.
List of the Best Rock Songs to Include Violin Solos and Interludes
Although rock doesn’t seem like it would be a violin-friendly genre, it is remarkable how many bands have incorporated this instrument into their music.
You’ll find acts from Kansas to Skillet joining Pink Floyd in this tradition, delivering delightful listening experiences for all generations.
If you’re looking for some fun songs to create a new rock playlist that features the violin, these compositions are the ones you’ll want to put on there after Pink Floyd and Stephane Grappelli.
1. Milk Train by Jefferson Airplane
This song features Papa John Creach playing the violin. He was one of the top violinists of his era, performing with several bands to create crossover potential with this stringed instrument.
Creach’s lick features prominently throughout the composition from the very beginning.
“Milk Train” is on the Long John Silver album, which was the band’s last release for 17 years. It would also be their least successful album since their 1966 debut, only reaching #20 on the Billboard chart.
Part of the reason for the lack of sales involved the song “The Son of Jesus.” RCA electronically scrubbed some of the lyrics, creating a rift between the band, the fans, and the label.
2. Do Ya (The Move Song) by Electric Light Orchestra
To be fair, you could choose almost any song from ELO to put on this list. My personal favorite is this number, which is why it gets included.
The violinist is Mik Kaminski, and he delivers some fantastic riffs and solos in this classic track. If you’re a teacher who wants to show students what is possible on a violin, this number should be in your repertoire.
What makes this addition unique to the list is that the song came from a side project. It initially appeared on the “B” side of “California Man.”
If you were a kid in the 1970s, this song will bring back memories of cruising in the summer. You were headed to the pool, looking at the album art, and contemplating what the future would bring.
3. Hurricane by Bob Dylan
When Dylan wanted to compose this protest rock song in 1975, he wanted to create a haunting atmosphere that no one could ignore.
The violinist from the live broadcast of this song is Scarlet Rivera, who was also known as Donna Shea.
It’s been said that Dylan discovered her during his 1975 rehearsals for his Rolling Thunder Revue tour.
He spotted her walking down the street with her violin case and instinctively asked her to spend the afternoon in his recording studio.
In a 2012 interview, Rivera said that her career might not have ever happened if she’s crossed the street seconds earlier.
4. Comatose by Skillet
Skillet is one of those bands that keeps reinventing itself. When they released their first album in 1996, they were a straight-up Christian rock outfit.
Teens during the era were constantly getting in trouble by playing those songs at church!
The band initially formed with two members, but it continued adding and subtracting people as their sounds changed.
They’re now more heavy metal, featuring female co-leads on vocals. Five of their songs are certified platinum, and another four are certified gold.
Although founder John Cooper is the only remaining original member of the band, their albums Awake and Comatose, of which an incredible violin solo exists, are certified Double Platinum and Platinum, respectively.
The violin is the song’s lead, setting the tone for the composition’s power chords and overall energy.
5. Dust in the Wind by Kansas
When Kansas started gaining popularity in the 1970s, they included the violin on several of their songs.
Although you’ll see David Ragsdale given credit for most of the work with this instrument, it’s Robby Steinhardt that features on what is arguably the band’s most famous song.
If you’re listening to the song on any recording, the violin solo begins at the 1:30 minute mark in the composition.
Steinhardt would play the violin on several pieces for Kansas over the years, having two stints with the band. He was with them from 1973-1982, rejoining in 1997 to stick around until 2006.
6. Baba O’Riley by the Who
This addition to the best violin solos and interludes in rock songs is unique because it was never supposed to happen.
The part was initially intended to be for the harmonica, which was going to be played by Dave Arbus from East of Eden.
Arbus is famous in his own right for creating the world’s first Celtic rock song.
You might know this song as “Teenage Wasteland.” It was released as a single in 1971, with the title “My Wife” on the flip side.
Pete Townshend originally wrote this piece to be part of a follow-up to the band’s rock opera called Tommy.
It’s currently listed as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll, and Pearl Jam plays a cover that’s often listed as one of the best versions ever created.
7. Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard
If you think about songs from Yellowcard, you probably hear the punk melodies hitting your ears. This band formed in 1997, delivering three singles that would eventually come to define their career over ten albums.
What makes this band stand out from the others in the punk genre was their extensive use of the violin.
Sean Mackin is the violinist on most of the pieces. His incorporation of punk rhythms with his overall harmonies and cording is a fantastic example of what can happen between the classical violin and the fiddle.
8. Gumbo Variations by Frank Zappa
This song doesn’t get enough credit for how much it defined what rock music would be in the 1970s.
The original 1969 mix features four minutes of fantastic violin, making it one of the longest and most comprehensive compositions you can find ever recorded.
It’s not just the violin that makes “Gumbo Variations” stand out for Frank Zappa.
When the intro finally concludes after the first minute, you’ll get about three minutes of a saxophone solo. Once the violin finishes, you’ll get another minute of a guitar taking the lead.
There’s a remastered version that came out in the 1980s. It adds another five minutes to the composition, but it isn’t as good as the original.
9. Sea of Joy by Blind Faith
One of the notable trends that rock music saw happen during the 1970s and 1980s was the formation of the “super group.”
Three to five successful solo artists would get together to make something together as a new band, which is how Blind Faith got its start. It features Ric Grech, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, and Eric Clapton.
When you start listening to “Sea of Joy,” it’s essential to remember that Grech became famous for his ability to play the bass.
It’s Grech who plays the violin on this composition, and his solo is one of the best that you’ll hear in this version of rock.
10. Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
When this song came out in 1975, the inclusion of the violin was a surprise for fans of the band. You get the instrument right away in the intro, setting the mood for the rest of the composition.
The energy keeps building, even when the vocals enter unexpectedly. Since it’s such a well-known piece, it’s an excellent choice to consider for anyone who wants to start learning how to play this instrument.
All of Led Zeppelin’s members agree that this son was one of their best musical achievements. Unlike other compositions that made this list, the band used unnamed session players for all of the string sections.
11. Paper in Fire by John Mellencamp
If you’re a Mellencamp fan, this song is likely on your list of favorite compositions from the artist.
You can hear the violin delivering some background in the music, providing some fantastic riffs that set the title’s atmosphere.
Lisa Germano is responsible for the strings you hear featured throughout the piece, adding some sawing that hits the gritty tones heard.
The music video for this song was shot in Savannah, GA. When you watch the work while picturing the violin hitting its notes in the background, it feels almost like a documentary.
Germano earned fame in her own right, with her 1994 album Geek the Girl getting named as one of the top albums of the 1990s.
Since stopping her work as a violinist for Mellencamp, she’s released 13 albums. Her father was also a violinist.
12. Bitter Sweet Symphony by the Verve
This song would become the NME Single of the year in 1997, followed up by the same honor from Rolling Stone magazine. When people look back at the Britpop era in the 1990s, it’s the defining moment for the band.
It’s also quite famous for the credits dispute that put the band into litigation for quite some time.
The song’s opening strings come from “The Last Time,” which was from The Rolling Stones in 1965.
Initially arranged by David Whitaker, litigation for “Bitter Sweet Symphony” would eventually transfer the songwriting credits to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
It wouldn’t be until 2019 when the Rolling Stones would sign over their publishing rights back to Richard Ashcroft.
The issue here shows how complex the rights to music are in today’s industry.
Although The Verve negotiated a six-note sample with the recording’s copyright holder, they didn’t get permission from the Rolling Stones’ manager.
He held the copyrights to pre-1970 songs, including the one that was sampled.
What Are Your Favorite Rock Songs with Violin Solos or Interludes?
With the violin appearing in rock music frequently, you’ll find numerous songs that could get included on a list like this one.
Although these titles are my personal favorites, everyone will appreciate the different listening flavors that are out there to enjoy.
It’s also important to remember that many of these songs helped to define the artist or the industry because of how innovative they were.
If you don’t want to learn how to play the violin to add it to your recordings, the Moog Matriarch Dark Semi-Modular Analog Synthesizer is an excellent alternative to consider.
I like this investment because it delivers 90 patch points across 49 keys, allowing for more flexibility during your compositional work.
It provides a portable 256-step sequencer that works with modern DAW recordings or live performances, delivering the band’s classic paraphonic design in a reasonably affordable package.
Your primary analog LFO offers six selectable waveforms, with an additional one present to offer even more modulation.
You’ve got dual ADSR envelopes and analog VCAs, an external audio input for drum machines or other synths, and lots of creative opportunities.
When you get the sounds right, it’ll sound like you’ve created the next best violin solo or interlude found in rock music!
