Sergei Rachmaninoff scored the Piano Concerto No.2 for piano and orchestra, including: two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, four horns, two bassoons, two trumpets, three trombones, a tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, a solo piano, and strings. These instruments were common in Romantic Music. Rachmaninoff chose to use the clarinets, horns, and flutes as solo instruments in his work. The flutes and clarinets were used effectively for melodic timbres, which stand out in the second movement.
In Space Dementia, Muse incorporates an electric guitar, a bass guitar, drums, a piano, a synthesizer with different effects, and a zipper. With the exception of the zipper, these are all typical instruments in alternative rock. The sound of a zipper being zipped and unzipped was incorporated solely because of the uniqueness of the sound, which appealed to the band. Heavy distortion effects are added to these instruments, as they complement the chords used throughout the song.