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Eight seconds into this song, there is what I think is an electric guitar. Does anyone know how to produce that sound? Is it even an electric guitar?

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    this question clearly has a definitive answer. Does not look to broad to me. – Neil Meyer Jul 30 '15 at 8:30
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This effect is called volume swell. It's achieved by fading in notes using your volume knob or a volume pedal.

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    You beat me to it was just about to post the same. – Neil Meyer Jul 30 '15 at 8:29
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    Just to be clear, it is an electric guitar, played with volume swells. And there's a touch of feedback, delay, and reverb. – Todd Wilcox Jul 30 '15 at 11:25
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Just a bit more info on cyco130's answer : 'Tis indeed a volume swell effect, and is an electric guitar.

The technique is to pluck the note with the volume turned down, then bring the volume in - either via a volume pedal or using the volume control on the guitar.

Some guitars make this easier because the volume control is easily reachable from where your hand would be when playing. A Fender Stratocaster is the classic example: it's easy to pluck a string then turn the volume up. Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits used this to good effect.

There are also effects which do this automatically. They detect when you have strick a note, and fade the sound in for you with settable speed - of- volume - increase.

If you'd like a cheap-but-effective example, the Zoom 505ii pedal has this built-in.

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Sounds like either a guitar with volume swells, or a electric keyboard. In my experiences sounds more like a keyboard. Or some kind of synth sound (coming from a keyboard)

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