Guitar Lovers

When you think of electric instruments, the guitar and bass probably spring to mind immediately. It may come as a surprise that the mandolin – an instrument so often associated with delicate, classical songs – has also been amped up in a number of classic rock and roll standards. Seeking a bridge between the hard-edged electric side and the softer acoustic side of their classic third LP, Led Zeppelin employed an electric mandolin on the old traditional “Gallow’s Pole.”

But perhaps the most famous use of the electrified mandolin came a year later on Rod Stewart’s quintessential album Every Picture Tells a Story. “Maggie May” remains an FM radio staple to this day, and its innovative mandolin solo is easily the most distinctive feature of the flawless composition. It just goes to show that aspiring rock musicians can benefit from adding a bit of variety to the standard guitar-drums-bass lineup.