The Toilet Paper Harmonica: A Beatles’ Experiment in Sound
One of the more bizarre yet creative experiments during the recording sessions for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band occurred on February 24, 1967, when The Beatles spent about 30 minutes in the bathroom experimenting with toilet paper and combs to create a unique, harmonica-like sound for the track “Lovely Rita.”
Introduction
This quirky idea came about when the band sought to achieve the strange, buzzing sound heard during the middle eight and outro of the song. Rather than using high-tech synthesizers, they turned to a much more unconventional instrument: a comb wrapped in thin EMI-issue toilet paper. The band, including John, Paul, and George, gathered in the studio lavatory—a space chosen for its distinct tiled acoustic echo. They began humming and blowing through the combs, producing a sound similar to a kazoo, with the toilet paper vibrating against the comb’s teeth. The result was a buzzing “honking” sound that perfectly matched the whimsical, psychedelic feel of the track.
Background
This “comb and paper” choir can be heard in the backing track of “Lovely Rita,” providing a percussive, melodic buzz beneath the piano solo. The use of toilet paper, particularly the embossed variety with “Property of EMI” stamped on it, was a product of the studio’s bureaucratic nature, where the Beatles discovered that different thicknesses or “plies” of the paper produced varying vibration frequencies.
The makeshift harmonica is a prime example of the “anything goes” spirit of sonic experimentation that defined the Sgt. Pepper era. The Beatles’ inventive approach to sound knew no bounds, and this humorous bathroom session added a touch of playful creativity to one of their most iconic albums.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
Would you stand up and walk out on me?Lend me your ears and I’ll sing you a songAnd I’ll try not to sing out of keyOh, I get by with a little help from my friendsMmm, I get high with a little help from my friendsOoh, I’m gonna try with a little help from my friendsWhat do I do when my love is away?(Does it worry you to be alone?)How does it feel by the end of the day?(Are you sad because you’re on your own?)No, I get by with a little help from my friendsMm, I get high with a little help from my friendsOoh, I’m gonna try with a little help from my friendsDo you need anybody?I need somebody to love(Could it be anybody?)I want somebody to loveYes, I’m certain that it happens all the time(What do you see when you turn out the light?)I can’t tell you but I know it’s mineOh, I get by with a little help from my friendsMm, I get high with a little help from my friendsOoh, I’m gonna try with a little help from my friendsDo you need anybody?I just need someone to love(Could it be anybody?)I want somebody to loveOh, I get by with a little help from my friendsMm, I’m gonna try with a little help from my friendsOoh, I get high with a little help from my friendsYes, I get by with a little help from my friendsWith a little help from my friends