The band introduced new instrumentation into their basic sound, as a way to illustrate the more nuanced style adopted by Lennon in his lyric writing. This was especially evident in the range of percussion instruments, which, mainly played by Starr, included the band's first use of timpani, African hand drums and chocalho. According to MacDonald, the Beatles adopted a "less-is-more" approach in their arrangements; he cites "No Reply" as an example of the group beginning to "master the studio", whereby doubling basic parts and the use of reverb lent the performance "depth and space". As he had done since With the Beatles, Harrison continued to vary his guitar sounds, favouring a Gretsch Tennessean guitar for the first time, in addition to using his twelve-string Rickenbacker 360/12. Author André Millard describes this period as one in which the recording studio changed its identity from the Beatles' perspective, from a formal workplace into a "workshop" and "laboratory".
The band introduced new instrumentation into their basic sound as a way to illustrate the more nuanced style adopted by Lennon in his lyric writing This was especially evident in the range of percussion instruments which mainly played by Starr included the band's first use of timpani African hand drums and chocalho According to MacDonald the Beatles adopted a "less-is-more" approach in their arrangements; he cites "No Reply" as an example of the group beginning to "master the studio" whereby doubling basic parts and the use of reverb lent the performance "depth and space" As he had done since With the Beatles Harrison continued to vary his guitar sounds favouring a Gretsch Tennessean guitar for the first time in addition to using his twelve-string Rickenbacker 360/12 Author André Millard describes this period as one in which the recording studio changed its identity from the Beatles' perspective from a formal workplace into a "workshop" and "laboratory"