From what I've heard of the new album there are a lot of parts where there are just strings and no real instruments.... the start of fix you, start of square one, end of white shadows, ect.... songs on AROBTTH were also loaded w/ strings (Politik, In my Place)... does the band write/ play these parts? from what instrument do these "strings" come from? just curious, because it seems to be a big part of the coldplay sound.

The strings that are used on A Rush Of Blood To The Head are real. I looked it up in the credits. It says:

 

Chris Tombling Strings

Laura Melhewish Strings

Susan Dench Strings

Leo Payne Strings

Anne Lines Strings

Richard George Strings

Peter Lale Strings

 

The string arrangements were made by Coldplay and Audrey Riley.

 

On stage they would use no strings at all or strings from a synthesizer or a backing track i think.

Guy plays the synth on stage.... :blush:

alot of those arnt strings...some are organs...b3's and rolands...

(white shadows...the big part on square one...beginning of Fix You..those are organs)