independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > "Prince could play at least 27 instruments..."
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 2 12>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 03/23/17 9:48pm

phatphuk

"Prince could play at least 27 instruments..."



Today I learned that I play more instruments than Prince...



Prince's recreated Tamboracca for sale from Paisley Park



Prince could play at least 27 instruments. In the credit of his debut album For You, he’s listed as the musician for: All vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Or bass, bass synth, singing bass, fuzz bass, Fender Rhodes electric piano, acoustic piano, Minimoog, Polymoog, ARP String Ensemble, ARP Pro Soloist, Oberheim 4-voice, clavinet, drums, syndrums, water drums, slapsticks, bongos, congas, finger cymbals, wind chimes, orchestral bells, wood blocks, brush trap, tree bell, hand claps, finger snaps



[Source: Fox 9/KMSP]



Aha! Do you see what he did there?



Just attributing the credits as "Prince: Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, and Percussion" would have covered all of the above "27 instruments". But of course, that would have made for yawn-inducing marketing copy.



If all musicians are allowed to couch our musical talents in those same terms, then I can truthfully say that I got Prince beat on the number of instruments that I can factually say that I "play"...



  1. Fisher Price 10-Key Toy Piano [on which I first discovered my musical powers]

  2. My Aunt's 20-key 1960s-era Fan-Driven Miniature Electric Organ

  3. Board Of Education Triangle In My Kindergarten Classroom

  4. Board Of Education Piano In My Kindergarten Classroom

  5. Elementary School Textbook With A Twangy Rubber Band Around It

  6. Elementary School Desk (aka "Kindergarten Congas")

  7. My 3rd Grade Best Bud's Dad's 1960s-vintage Danelectro

  8. My 4th Grade Best Bud's Dad's Gibson Les Paul

  9. Brass Bugle In Grade School Drum & Bugle Corp

  10. Snare Drum In Grade School Drum & Bugle Corp

  11. My Other Aunt's Living Room Upright Piano

  12. My Older Brother's $80 Teisco Tulip Electric Guitar

  13. The Snare Drum Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  14. The High Hat Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  15. The Mounted Tom Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  16. The Floor Tom Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  17. The Bass Drum Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  18. The Crash Cymbal Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  19. The Ride Cymbal Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  20. The Cowbell Attached To My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  21. My Other Older Brother's Living Room Upright Piano

  22. The Snare Drum Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  23. The High Hat Of My 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  24. The Left Mounted Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  25. The Right Mounted Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  26. The Floor Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  27. The Bass Drum Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  28. The Right Crash Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  29. The Left Splash Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  30. The Ride Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  31. The Chimes Attached To My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  32. My 5th Grade Bud's Older Brother's Fender P-Bass

  33. The Fender Strat Of The Guitarist In My First Punk Band

  34. The Gibson Hollow-Body Bass Of The Bassist In My First Punk Band

  35. The Gong In The Studio Where My First Punk Band Recorded Our First Demo

  36. My Fender Rhodes From My First Wedding Band

  37. My Korg Synth From My First Wedding Band

  38. My Bandmate's Moog From My First New Wave Band

  39. My Oberheim Synth From My First New Wave Band

  40. The Simmons Electronic Drums Of This One Kid I Used To Jam With

  41. The Ovation Bass Of A Good Bud That Used To Jam With Me And The Simmons Drums Kid

  42. My Ovation Breadwinner Electric Like Robert Smith's From The Cure That I Got For A Steal From Some Pawn Shop

  43. My Gretsch Country Gent Like John Squire's From The Stone Roses

  44. My Fender Tele Like Black Francis' From The Pixies

  45. My Oberheim OBX Drum Machine

  46. My Roland Drum Machine

  47. I Could Go On And On But I'm Starting To Bore Myself...



Ain't nobody bad…like me — unless you can play 48 instruments ;د)







2wf5ms7.png

    “Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed” — Friedrich Nietzsche 
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 03/23/17 9:53pm

steakfinger

I beat you handily because I've personally owned more than 48 instruments in my life. You're pretty good, though. cool

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 03/23/17 10:09pm

phatphuk



steakfinger said:

I beat you handily because I've personally owned more than 48 instruments in my life. You're pretty good, though. cool



That settles it. Sly Stone was right — Everybody Is a Star ;د)







I Warsh Myself With A Rag On A Stick!

    “Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed” — Friedrich Nietzsche 
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 03/24/17 1:37am

GTsymbolover

What's even more impressive is the standard he could play them to, he was a modern day Mozart!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 03/24/17 2:17am

KaresB

phatphuk said:

Prince could play at least 27 instruments. In the credit of his debut album For You, he’s listed as the musician for: All vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Or bass, bass synth, singing bass, fuzz bass, Fender Rhodes electric piano, acoustic piano, Minimoog, Polymoog, ARP String Ensemble, ARP Pro Soloist, Oberheim 4-voice, clavinet, drums, syndrums, water drums, slapsticks, bongos, congas, finger cymbals, wind chimes, orchestral bells, wood blocks, brush trap, tree bell, hand claps, finger snaps

Just attributing the credits as "Prince: Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, and Percussion" would have covered all of the above "27 instruments".

.

Not quite:

It's perfectly reasonable to regard a bass guitar to be a different instrument than an electric or acoustic guitar. A bass requires a very different playing techique and (normally) has a totally different function in music. Drums do belong in the group of percussion instruments, yet again, playing a drum kit in a rock or jazz band requires a totally different playing techique and has a different function, than playing what is generally considered 'percussion'. There aren't many Airto Moreiras around who are excellent at both! The same distinction applies to keyboard instruments, as playing a piano is very different to playing a solo on a Moog, for example.

So a more realistic credits line would've been something like: "Prince: Drums, Bass Guitar, Piano, Synthesisers, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Percussion, Background & Lead Vocals."

Of course the "27 instrument" legend is bollocks and I see your point, yet I don't think anyone with a brain would assumed that Prince was playing 27 entirely different instruments. You can't blame his manager to use the claim for marketing though.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 03/24/17 2:19am

Adorecream

From an earlier thread, where we listed the 27 instruments, this is on the For You sleeve)

http://prince.org/msg/7/427778

.

1. Vocals

2. Background vocals

3. Guitars

4. Orr Bass

5. Ms. Poly Moog (Is that a synthesiser or a female character from a Lithuanian kids show lol)

6. Syndrums

7. Arp Pro Soloist

8. Arp String Ensemble

9. Synthesizer bass

10. Singing bass (!!!!)

11. Drums

12. Clavinet

13. Oberheim 4 voice

14. Arp Soloist (Standard Arp?)

15. Handclapsandfingasnaps.

16. Slapsticks (?)

17. Fingacymbals

18. Wind chimes

19. Congas

20. Electric guitars (Not sure you can play more than one at a time lol)

21. Water drums

22. Bongos

23. Fender Rhodes Piano

24. Mini moog

25. Fuzz bazz

26. Acoustic Piano

27. Orchestra Bells

28. Wood blocks

29. Guitar solo

30. Brush trap

31. Tree bell

32. Acoustic guitar

33. Bass Solo

.

Now breaking them down into groups we have

.

1. Vocals (2)

2. Synthesisers and Keyboards (9)

3. Bass instruments (5)

4. Guitars (4)

5. Drums and Drum machines (3)

6. Percussional Instruments (10) includes 3 wtf instruments (Tree bells, wind chimes and Wood blocks and 1 I don't consider an instrument - hand claps and finga snaps.

.

I don't get put off though, an early marketing gimmick was how many instruments he could play. Prince wa smarketed as this Stevie Wonder typer wunderkind who could play all these instruments, the list on For You is a bit silly, but he was proving his worth. I think it was un necessary becuase I am sure WB, Prince and his first band along with many of the people who dug him at the start, knew he was a genius, as he writing all the songs and producing the album along with the instrumental barrage.

.

Prince was a breath of fresh air at a time when meat and potatoes rock music and synthesised disco was dominating music (Disco was simple, but very funky music I loved - I guess Prince dug the dance sound but he listed those instruments as he was trying to let us know he was serious and more than another funky young Black artist riding the disco/funk bandwagon). With the list Prince proved he was a one man studio and there was more to him than some catchy dance music.

[Edited 6/14/16 4:32am]

Got some kind of love for you, and I don't even know your name
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 03/24/17 2:37am

KaresB

GTsymbolover said:

What's even more impressive is the standard he could play them to, he was a modern day Mozart!

.
Not that it's an indicator of greatness in art, but actually Mozart played fewer instruments (violin + viola, piano + church organ) than Prince.
.
Mozart, however, was a far greater composer – Prince could've never written a 'Requiem' or a 'Don Giovanni', so in that regard the comparison is not justifiable. Prince has never studied composing and without those skills, talent can only get you so far.

.

There is something though that makes the statement true in my eyes too: Mozart and Prince were indeed equally creative, they both created effortlessly – and what's even more important yet often forgotten is that they were both VERY childish in every sense of the word. They were able to create as fearlessly as only children can, and they were also very playful and funny blokes, with sometimes very childish reactions to issues that should've been handled more professionally.

.

Oh and by the way: Mozart had a FAR dirtier mind than Prince. Just read his letters.
.

[Edited 3/24/17 2:45am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 03/24/17 3:33am

KaresB

Adorecream said:

Prince was a breath of fresh air at a time when meat and potatoes rock music and synthesised disco was dominating music (Disco was simple, but very funky

.
"Disco was simple"? LOL Just ask Nile Rodgers. It may sound simple but actually it's far from being simple.

Simple music is simple, whether it's rock or disco or polka or whatever.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 03/24/17 8:25am

novabrkr

KaresB said:

phatphuk said:

Prince could play at least 27 instruments. In the credit of his debut album For You, he’s listed as the musician for: All vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Or bass, bass synth, singing bass, fuzz bass, Fender Rhodes electric piano, acoustic piano, Minimoog, Polymoog, ARP String Ensemble, ARP Pro Soloist, Oberheim 4-voice, clavinet, drums, syndrums, water drums, slapsticks, bongos, congas, finger cymbals, wind chimes, orchestral bells, wood blocks, brush trap, tree bell, hand claps, finger snaps

Just attributing the credits as "Prince: Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, and Percussion" would have covered all of the above "27 instruments".

.

Not quite:

It's perfectly reasonable to regard a bass guitar to be a different instrument than an electric or acoustic guitar. A bass requires a very different playing techique and (normally) has a totally different function in music. Drums do belong in the group of percussion instruments, yet again, playing a drum kit in a rock or jazz band requires a totally different playing techique and has a different function, than playing what is generally considered 'percussion'. There aren't many Airto Moreiras around who are excellent at both! The same distinction applies to keyboard instruments, as playing a piano is very different to playing a solo on a Moog, for example.

So a more realistic credits line would've been something like: "Prince: Drums, Bass Guitar, Piano, Synthesisers, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Percussion, Background & Lead Vocals."

Of course the "27 instrument" legend is bollocks and I see your point, yet I don't think anyone with a brain would assumed that Prince was playing 27 entirely different instruments. You can't blame his manager to use the claim for marketing though.


Yes, playing the piano and playing a monophonic synth is a completely different type of a thing. It's sort of funny to me how much that gets overlooked by people that do not play keyboards themselves. However, I'm very used to people lumping all keyboard instruments together and won't even try to challenge people that seem to have no idea how different they can be from each other.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 03/24/17 8:42am

KaresB

novabrkr said:

KaresB said:

.

Not quite:

It's perfectly reasonable to regard a bass guitar to be a different instrument than an electric or acoustic guitar. A bass requires a very different playing techique and (normally) has a totally different function in music. Drums do belong in the group of percussion instruments, yet again, playing a drum kit in a rock or jazz band requires a totally different playing techique and has a different function, than playing what is generally considered 'percussion'. There aren't many Airto Moreiras around who are excellent at both! The same distinction applies to keyboard instruments, as playing a piano is very different to playing a solo on a Moog, for example.

So a more realistic credits line would've been something like: "Prince: Drums, Bass Guitar, Piano, Synthesisers, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Percussion, Background & Lead Vocals."

Of course the "27 instrument" legend is bollocks and I see your point, yet I don't think anyone with a brain would assumed that Prince was playing 27 entirely different instruments. You can't blame his manager to use the claim for marketing though.


Yes, playing the piano and playing a monophonic synth is a completely different type of a thing. It's sort of funny to me how much that gets overlooked by people that do not play keyboards themselves. However, I'm very used to people lumping all keyboard instruments together and won't even try to challenge people that seem to have no idea how different they can be from each other.

.

Indeed.
And let's not even talk about a church organ, for example. (Or even just a B3)
.

[Edited 3/24/17 8:46am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 03/24/17 9:47am

phatphuk



KaresB said:

I don't think anyone with a brain would assumed that Prince was playing 27 entirely different instruments



Because I never owned the For You album — nor never read the credits anywhere before yesterday — I, believe it or not, was one of the gullible brainless suckers that believed Prince factually played "27 instruments".



Up until reading that Fox 9 article yesterday, I had always taken it on faith that Prince meant that he literally could play every instrument on the planet.



I seriously imagined Prince could play violin, cello, oboe, french horn, flute, xylophone, tuba, harp and every other obscure instrument of an entire symphony orchestra.



But you are right. It was just marketing "bollocks". Nevermind. HaHaHaHaHa!







I Warsh Myself With A Rag On A Stick!

    “Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed” — Friedrich Nietzsche 
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 03/24/17 10:16am

wonderboy

Don't forget Coke bottles (on Cool).
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 03/24/17 10:19am

KaresB

phatphuk said:

KaresB said:

I don't think anyone with a brain would assumed that Prince was playing 27 entirely different instruments

Because I never owned the For You album — nor never read the credits anywhere before yesterday — I, believe it or not, was one of the gullible brainless suckers that believed Prince factually played "27 instruments".

Up until reading that Fox 9 article yesterday, I had always taken it on faith that Prince meant that he literally could play every instrument on the planet.

I seriously imagined Prince could play violin, cello, oboe, french horn, flute, xylophone, tuba, harp and every other obscure instrument of an entire symphony orchestra.

But you are right. It was just marketing "bollocks". Nevermind. HaHaHaHaHa!

.
Thinking about it now, I'm pretty sure I must have played at least 30 instruments in my life, if not more. smile Not claiming to be brilliant or even just good on all of them of course, but was Prince brilliant on the wind chimes? Did he have a wicked wood blocks technique? Finger cymbals? smile

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 03/24/17 11:35am

TheLotus

KaresB said:

GTsymbolover said:

What's even more impressive is the standard he could play them to, he was a modern day Mozart!

.
Not that it's an indicator of greatness in art, but actually Mozart played fewer instruments (violin + viola, piano + church organ) than Prince.
.
Mozart, however, was a far greater composer – Prince could've never written a 'Requiem' or a 'Don Giovanni', so in that regard the comparison is not justifiable. Prince has never studied composing and without those skills, talent can only get you so far.

.

There is something though that makes the statement true in my eyes too: Mozart and Prince were indeed equally creative, they both created effortlessly – and what's even more important yet often forgotten is that they were both VERY childish in every sense of the word. They were able to create as fearlessly as only children can, and they were also very playful and funny blokes, with sometimes very childish reactions to issues that should've been handled more professionally.

.

Oh and by the way: Mozart had a FAR dirtier mind than Prince. Just read his letters.
.

[Edited 3/24/17 2:45am]

.

I don't think we know this for sure. Do we know that he tried to compose similar and failed? Personally, I think Prince could make brilliant, original music in any genre he chose.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 03/24/17 11:47am

leadline

avatar

In an Australian TV interview back from 2004, Prince said he could play ALL instruments, and that its just a matter of what he can play well or not well.

"You always get the dream that you deserve, from what you value the most" -Prince 2013
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 03/24/17 11:59am

KaresB

TheLotus said:

KaresB said:

.
Not that it's an indicator of greatness in art, but actually Mozart played fewer instruments (violin + viola, piano + church organ) than Prince.
.
Mozart, however, was a far greater composer – Prince could've never written a 'Requiem' or a 'Don Giovanni', so in that regard the comparison is not justifiable. Prince has never studied composing and without those skills, talent can only get you so far.

.

There is something though that makes the statement true in my eyes too: Mozart and Prince were indeed equally creative, they both created effortlessly – and what's even more important yet often forgotten is that they were both VERY childish in every sense of the word. They were able to create as fearlessly as only children can, and they were also very playful and funny blokes, with sometimes very childish reactions to issues that should've been handled more professionally.

.

Oh and by the way: Mozart had a FAR dirtier mind than Prince. Just read his letters.
.

[Edited 3/24/17 2:45am]

.

I don't think we know this for sure. Do we know that he tried to compose similar and failed? Personally, I think Prince could make brilliant, original music in any genre he chose.

.
Oh c'mon. biggrin You can't be serious. If you are, you have absolutely no idea about music.
.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 03/24/17 12:15pm

phatphuk



KaresB said:

.
Thinking about it now, I'm pretty sure I must have played at least 30 instruments in my life, if not more. smile Not claiming to be brilliant or even just good on all of them of course, but was Prince brilliant on the wind chimes? Did he have a wicked wood blocks technique? Finger cymbals? smile



I can almost hear Owen Husney in the booth right now...























NEEDS MORE COWBELL!







I Warsh Myself With A Rag On A Stick!

    “Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed” — Friedrich Nietzsche 
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 03/24/17 12:59pm

fortuneandsere
ndipity

KaresB said:

GTsymbolover said:

What's even more impressive is the standard he could play them to, he was a modern day Mozart!

.
Not that it's an indicator of greatness in art, but actually Mozart played fewer instruments (violin + viola, piano + church organ) than Prince.
.
Mozart, however, was a far greater composer – Prince could've never written a 'Requiem' or a 'Don Giovanni', so in that regard the comparison is not justifiable. Prince has never studied composing and without those skills, talent can only get you so far.

.

There is something though that makes the statement true in my eyes too: Mozart and Prince were indeed equally creative, they both created effortlessly – and what's even more important yet often forgotten is that they were both VERY childish in every sense of the word. They were able to create as fearlessly as only children can, and they were also very playful and funny blokes, with sometimes very childish reactions to issues that should've been handled more professionally.

.

Oh and by the way: Mozart had a FAR dirtier mind than Prince. Just read his letters.
.

[Edited 3/24/17 2:45am]

Prince did Batman soundtrack same age as Mozart composed Don Giovanni. I would say Batman was his last 10/10 album - not to say it was perfect but very close.

Which reminds me, I'm gonna post my ratings for every album in his official catalogue smile

The world's problems like climate change can only be solved through strategic long-term thinking, not expediency. In other words all the govts. need sacking!

If you can add value to someone's life then why not. Especially if it colors their days...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 03/24/17 1:28pm

phatphuk



TheLotus said:



KaresB said:

.
Not that it's an indicator of greatness in art, but actually Mozart played fewer instruments (violin + viola, piano + church organ) than Prince.
.
Mozart, however, was a far greater composer – Prince could've never written a 'Requiem' or a 'Don Giovanni', so in that regard the comparison is not justifiable. Prince has never studied composing and without those skills, talent can only get you so far.

.

There is something though that makes the statement true in my eyes too: Mozart and Prince were indeed equally creative, they both created effortlessly – and what's even more important yet often forgotten is that they were both VERY childish in every sense of the word. They were able to create as fearlessly as only children can, and they were also very playful and funny blokes, with sometimes very childish reactions to issues that should've been handled more professionally.

.

Oh and by the way: Mozart had a FAR dirtier mind than Prince. Just read his letters.
.

[Edited 3/24/17 2:45am]

.

I don't think we know this for sure. Do we know that he tried to compose similar and failed? Personally, I think Prince could make brilliant, original music in any genre he chose.



Prince hired people who specialized in composing and arranging strings. Something tells me that the reason he might have subcontracted that work out, would be because he knew he couldn't do it himself.



So if he couldn't compose for strings, then it's fair to say he couldn't compose original "long hair" music.



Even if Price tried dabbling in classical music, I personally wouldn't expect that he would have set the serious classical music scene on fire. Case in point — Paul McCartney.







I Warsh Myself With A Rag On A Stick!

    “Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed” — Friedrich Nietzsche 
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 03/24/17 1:37pm

fortuneandsere
ndipity

phatphuk said:



Today I learned that I play more instruments than Prince...



Prince's recreated Tamboracca for sale from Paisley Park



Prince could play at least 27 instruments. In the credit of his debut album For You, he’s listed as the musician for: All vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Or bass, bass synth, singing bass, fuzz bass, Fender Rhodes electric piano, acoustic piano, Minimoog, Polymoog, ARP String Ensemble, ARP Pro Soloist, Oberheim 4-voice, clavinet, drums, syndrums, water drums, slapsticks, bongos, congas, finger cymbals, wind chimes, orchestral bells, wood blocks, brush trap, tree bell, hand claps, finger snaps



[Source: Fox 9/KMSP]



Aha! Do you see what he did there?



Just attributing the credits as "Prince: Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, and Percussion" would have covered all of the above "27 instruments". But of course, that would have made for yawn-inducing marketing copy.



If all musicians are allowed to couch our musical talents in those same terms, then I can truthfully say that I got Prince beat on the number of instruments that I can factually say that I "play"...



  1. Fisher Price 10-Key Toy Piano [on which I first discovered my musical powers]

  2. My Aunt's 20-key 1960s-era Fan-Driven Miniature Electric Organ

  3. Board Of Education Triangle In My Kindergarten Classroom

  4. Board Of Education Piano In My Kindergarten Classroom

  5. Elementary School Textbook With A Twangy Rubber Band Around It

  6. Elementary School Desk (aka "Kindergarten Congas")

  7. My 3rd Grade Best Bud's Dad's 1960s-vintage Danelectro

  8. My 4th Grade Best Bud's Dad's Gibson Les Paul

  9. Brass Bugle In Grade School Drum & Bugle Corp

  10. Snare Drum In Grade School Drum & Bugle Corp

  11. My Other Aunt's Living Room Upright Piano

  12. My Older Brother's $80 Teisco Tulip Electric Guitar

  13. The Snare Drum Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  14. The High Hat Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  15. The Mounted Tom Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  16. The Floor Tom Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  17. The Bass Drum Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  18. The Crash Cymbal Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  19. The Ride Cymbal Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  20. The Cowbell Attached To My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  21. My Other Older Brother's Living Room Upright Piano

  22. The Snare Drum Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  23. The High Hat Of My 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  24. The Left Mounted Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  25. The Right Mounted Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  26. The Floor Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  27. The Bass Drum Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  28. The Right Crash Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  29. The Left Splash Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  30. The Ride Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  31. The Chimes Attached To My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  32. My 5th Grade Bud's Older Brother's Fender P-Bass

  33. The Fender Strat Of The Guitarist In My First Punk Band

  34. The Gibson Hollow-Body Bass Of The Bassist In My First Punk Band

  35. The Gong In The Studio Where My First Punk Band Recorded Our First Demo

  36. My Fender Rhodes From My First Wedding Band

  37. My Korg Synth From My First Wedding Band

  38. My Bandmate's Moog From My First New Wave Band

  39. My Oberheim Synth From My First New Wave Band

  40. The Simmons Electronic Drums Of This One Kid I Used To Jam With

  41. The Ovation Bass Of A Good Bud That Used To Jam With Me And The Simmons Drums Kid

  42. My Ovation Breadwinner Electric Like Robert Smith's From The Cure That I Got For A Steal From Some Pawn Shop

  43. My Gretsch Country Gent Like John Squire's From The Stone Roses

  44. My Fender Tele Like Black Francis' From The Pixies

  45. My Oberheim OBX Drum Machine

  46. My Roland Drum Machine

  47. I Could Go On And On But I'm Starting To Bore Myself...



Ain't nobody bad…like me — unless you can play 48 instruments ;د)







2wf5ms7.png

2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png2wf5ms7.png

The world's problems like climate change can only be solved through strategic long-term thinking, not expediency. In other words all the govts. need sacking!

If you can add value to someone's life then why not. Especially if it colors their days...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 03/24/17 1:52pm

phatphuk



fortuneandserendipity said:

phatphuk said:



Today I learned that I play more instruments than Prince...



Prince's recreated Tamboracca for sale from Paisley Park



Prince could play at least 27 instruments. In the credit of his debut album For You, he’s listed as the musician for: All vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Or bass, bass synth, singing bass, fuzz bass, Fender Rhodes electric piano, acoustic piano, Minimoog, Polymoog, ARP String Ensemble, ARP Pro Soloist, Oberheim 4-voice, clavinet, drums, syndrums, water drums, slapsticks, bongos, congas, finger cymbals, wind chimes, orchestral bells, wood blocks, brush trap, tree bell, hand claps, finger snaps



[Source: Fox 9/KMSP]



Aha! Do you see what he did there?



Just attributing the credits as "Prince: Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, and Percussion" would have covered all of the above "27 instruments". But of course, that would have made for yawn-inducing marketing copy.



If all musicians are allowed to couch our musical talents in those same terms, then I can truthfully say that I got Prince beat on the number of instruments that I can factually say that I "play"...



  1. Fisher Price 10-Key Toy Piano [on which I first discovered my musical powers]

  2. My Aunt's 20-key 1960s-era Fan-Driven Miniature Electric Organ

  3. Board Of Education Triangle In My Kindergarten Classroom

  4. Board Of Education Piano In My Kindergarten Classroom

  5. Elementary School Textbook With A Twangy Rubber Band Around It

  6. Elementary School Desk (aka "Kindergarten Congas")

  7. My 3rd Grade Best Bud's Dad's 1960s-vintage Danelectro

  8. My 4th Grade Best Bud's Dad's Gibson Les Paul

  9. Brass Bugle In Grade School Drum & Bugle Corp

  10. Snare Drum In Grade School Drum & Bugle Corp

  11. My Other Aunt's Living Room Upright Piano

  12. My Older Brother's $80 Teisco Tulip Electric Guitar

  13. The Snare Drum Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  14. The High Hat Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  15. The Mounted Tom Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  16. The Floor Tom Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  17. The Bass Drum Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  18. The Crash Cymbal Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  19. The Ride Cymbal Of My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  20. The Cowbell Attached To My 4-Piece Orange Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  21. My Other Older Brother's Living Room Upright Piano

  22. The Snare Drum Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  23. The High Hat Of My 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  24. The Left Mounted Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  25. The Right Mounted Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  26. The Floor Tom Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  27. The Bass Drum Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  28. The Right Crash Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  29. The Left Splash Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  30. The Ride Cymbal Of My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  31. The Chimes Attached To My 5th Grade Bud's 6-Piece Blue Sparkle Sears Drum Kit

  32. My 5th Grade Bud's Older Brother's Fender P-Bass

  33. The Fender Strat Of The Guitarist In My First Punk Band

  34. The Gibson Hollow-Body Bass Of The Bassist In My First Punk Band

  35. The Gong In The Studio Where My First Punk Band Recorded Our First Demo

  36. My Fender Rhodes From My First Wedding Band

  37. My Korg Synth From My First Wedding Band

  38. My Bandmate's Moog From My First New Wave Band

  39. My Oberheim Synth From My First New Wave Band

  40. The Simmons Electronic Drums Of This One Kid I Used To Jam With

  41. The Ovation Bass Of A Good Bud That Used To Jam With Me And The Simmons Drums Kid

  42. My Ovation Breadwinner Electric Like Robert Smith's From The Cure That I Got For A Steal From Some Pawn Shop

  43. My Gretsch Country Gent Like John Squire's From The Stone Roses

  44. My Fender Tele Like Black Francis' From The Pixies

  45. My Oberheim OBX Drum Machine

  46. My Roland Drum Machine

  47. I Could Go On And On But I'm Starting To Bore Myself...



Ain't nobody bad…like me — unless you can play 48 instruments ;د)







2wf5ms7.png





48 exactly ;د) thumbs up!







I Warsh Myself With A Rag On A Stick!

    “Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed” — Friedrich Nietzsche 
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 03/24/17 3:25pm

Menes

KaresB said:

TheLotus said:

.

I don't think we know this for sure. Do we know that he tried to compose similar and failed? Personally, I think Prince could make brilliant, original music in any genre he chose.

.
Oh c'mon. biggrin You can't be serious. If you are, you have absolutely no idea about music.
.

I think I read somewhere that he tried to write the NBC today show theme song several times (during the Bryant Gumbel era) and it wasn't well recieved.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 03/24/17 4:11pm

Adorecream

KaresB said:

Adorecream said:

Prince was a breath of fresh air at a time when meat and potatoes rock music and synthesised disco was dominating music (Disco was simple, but very funky

.
"Disco was simple"? LOL Just ask Nile Rodgers. It may sound simple but actually it's far from being simple.

Simple music is simple, whether it's rock or disco or polka or whatever.

I love disco, but even I will admit, it is hardly high art. It is very pleasing drum machines, synths, catchy bass and glossy vocals all set to a perfect and frantic dance beat!

.

The work of Chic can never be underestimated, but still it is not on the level of say classical music. In all honesty I have tried to get into classical many times (Living with an older gay man and knowing older gay men, classical music is everywhere, they love it), but can't I will play classic disco cuts forever. Still I don't consider it high art or the pillars in a romanesque building, its booty shaking beats and gold lame along with flares shaking.

Got some kind of love for you, and I don't even know your name
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 03/25/17 2:49am

novabrkr

Disco might not be high art, but the arrangements were often fairly complicated.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 03/25/17 9:25am

Wlcm2thdwn3

avatar

I saw a picture with Princee standing behind a harp. someone asked me if he could play it. I just said why not? He can play everything else !

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 03/25/17 9:45am

TrevorAyer

P forgot to list the skin flute and butt trumpet ... i heard he could play them both at the same time
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 03/25/17 11:28am

phatphuk



leadline said:

In an Australian TV interview back from 2004, Prince said he could play ALL instruments, and that its just a matter of what he can play well or not well.



The word of the day for March 25th, 2017 is "Braggodicio" <synonym: "Bollocks!">























INDUBITABLY!!







I Warsh Myself With A Rag On A Stick!

    “Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed” — Friedrich Nietzsche 
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 03/25/17 10:13pm

Adorecream

TrevorAyer said:

P forgot to list the skin flute and butt trumpet ... i heard he could play them both at the same time


.
Not forgetting the one eyed skin flute, cream horn, the one eyed piccolo and the guitar handle shoved in the ass. Seriously in the cream video Prince spins the guitar around into his crotch and points the fret stock at his anus like its a giant penis with balls.
.
Don't forget the guitar masturbation and of course when Prince would lay his guitar down and hump it between the Dirty Mind and Purple Rain eras. He stopped jacking the guitar off around this time to create a more family friendlt image?. lol
[Edited 3/26/17 2:28am]
Got some kind of love for you, and I don't even know your name
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 03/26/17 9:06pm

ISaidLifeIsJus
tAGame

avatar

jester

TrevorAyer said:

P forgot to list the skin flute and butt trumpet ... i heard he could play them both at the same time

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 03/27/17 5:00pm

phatphuk



TrevorAyer said:



butt trumpet





Do you mean as in, "Beans, Beans, The Musical Fruit..."?



Fnarr-fnarr-fnarr-fnarr!







2wf5ms7.png

[Edited 3/27/17 17:01pm]

    “Sometimes People Don't Want To Hear The Truth Because They Don't Want Their Illusions Destroyed” — Friedrich Nietzsche 
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 2 12>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > "Prince could play at least 27 instruments..."