 Recording began at Ascot Sound Studios , Lennon 's newly built home studio at Tittenhurst Park , in May 1971 , with final overdubs taking place at the Record Plant , in New York City , during July . Relaxed and patient , the sessions began during the late morning , running to just before dinner in the early evening . Lennon taught the musicians the chord progression and a working arrangement for " Imagine " , rehearsing the song until he deemed the musicians ready to record . In his attempt to recreate Lennon 's desired sound , Spector had some early tapings feature Lennon and Nicky Hopkins playing in different octaves on one piano . He also initially attempted to record the piano part with Lennon playing the white baby grand in the couple 's all @-@ white room . However , after having deemed the room 's acoustics unsuitable , Spector abandoned the idea in favour of the superior environment of Lennon 's home studio . They completed the session in minutes , recording three takes and choosing the second one for release . The finished recording featured Lennon on piano and vocal , Klaus Voormann on bass guitar , Alan White on drums and the Flux Fiddlers on strings . 
 Recording began at Ascot Sound Studios , Lennon <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>newly built home studio at Tittenhurst Park , in May 1971 , with final overdubs taking place at the Record Plant , in New York City , during July . Relaxed and patient , the sessions began during the late morning , running to just before dinner in the early evening . Lennon taught the musicians the chord progression and a working arrangement for " Imagine " , rehearsing the song until he deemed the musicians ready to record . In his attempt to recreate Lennon <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>desired sound , Spector had some early tapings feature Lennon and Nicky Hopkins playing in different octaves on one piano . He also initially attempted to record the piano part with Lennon playing the white baby grand in the couple <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>all @-@ white room . However , after <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>having</mark></a> deemed the room <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>acoustics unsuitable , Spector abandoned the idea in favour of the superior environment of Lennon <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>home studio . They completed the session in minutes , recording three takes and choosing the second one for release . The finished recording<a href='been_done' title='7'><mark></mark></a> featured Lennon on piano and vocal , Klaus Voormann on bass guitar , Alan White on drums and the Flux Fiddlers on strings . 
Recording began at Ascot Sound Studios , Lennon  newly built home studio at Tittenhurst Park , in May 1971 , with final overdubs taking place at the Record Plant , in New York City , durin July . Relaxed and patient , the sessions began during the late morning , runnin to just before dinna in da early evening . Lennon taught tdamusicians thdahord progression and a working arrangement fa " Imagine " , rehearsing the song until he deemed the musicians ready to record . In his attempt to recreate Lennon  desired sound , Spector had some early tapings feature Lennon and Nicky Hopkins playing in different octaves on one piano . He also initially attempted to record thedaano part w Lennon playing the white baby grand in the couple  alll @-@ white room . However , after done deemed the dam  acoustics unsuitable , Spector abandoned the idea in favour of the superior environment of Lennon  home studio . They completed the session in minutes , recording three takes and choosing the sdand one for release . The finished recording been featured Lennon on piano and vocal , Klaus Voormann on bass guitar , Alan White on drums and the Flux Fiddlers on strings .