"Eleanor Rigby" does not have a standard pop backing; none of the Beatles played instruments on it, though John Lennon and George Harrison did contribute harmony and backing vocals. Instead, McCartney used a string octet of studio musicians, composed of four violins, two cellos, and two violas all performing a score composed by producer George Martin. For the most part, the instruments "double up"�¢â�¬â��that is, they serve as two string quartets with two instruments playing each part in the quartet.
-- Arr. for For Sting Quartet by Carlos Chahin