prince plays keys,synths,piano,bass,guitars,drums,etc..we all know!but its not only him that got the multi instrumentalists capacity,name other multi-instrumentalists that u like and put it in particular order..from the m,ost u like 2 the least u like,and put prince in any position.
starting from me:

1.prince
2.lewis taylor
3.todd rundgren

ONE MORE REASON 2 PUT PRINCE IN TOP MULTI-INSTUMENTALIST LIST:
there's nobody outthere but PRINCE whose multi-instrumentation capacity has landed him on THREE DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS MAGAZINE(covers,spotlight,articles,clinic)such as:GUITAR PLAYER(NUMEROUS TIMES),BASS PLAYER(1999,2004),KEYBOARD PLAYER(NUMEROUS TIMES).
if u know sum other guy who also did this,RAISE UR HANDS?hmmm,nobody?...

again my top multi-instrumentalist LIST goes like this,in rank order:
1.PRINCE,yeah PRINCE!not STEVIE,because...STEVIE'S NOT AN ELECTRIC GUITAR AND BASS PLAYER like PRINCE!
2.TODD RUNDGREN
3.LEWIS TAYLOR

4 all of u stevie's cock sucker fanatics...carry on..carry on!
[Edited 9/13/04 0:30am]

hmmm....

well, I'd definitely put Prince at the top....

Depending on how many instruments they have to be able to play, my other favourites would have to be Hawksley Workman, Paul McCartney, Beck, David Bowie, Victor Wooten, and Frank Zappa, though he only really plays Clavinet and Guitar. The stuff of his I have only has limited amounts of him playing percussion and bass. The fact that he conducts people standing at sound effects boards to make random composition should be considered at least half of an instrument .

yeah, I'ma leave it at that.

Rundgren tops Prince to be honest. He is even an alright horn player which Prince certainly isn't. Prince is probably better on keyboards than Todd though. I've never heard Todd do a jazzy piano solo for example.

Novabreaker said:

yeah,thats my question too,how about prince horns playing?u've listened 2 dear mr.man right?(musicology),there's a saxophone semi solo lines,and theres nobody credited, except john blackwell for drums,and rhonda for bass,al other instruments by prince.did he play the sax?its qite good

elmariachi said:

u kno that wasn't prince playing. what u think he got maceo and candy 4? if it wasn't them playin he was usin the synth horns again. cuz u kno and i kno if prince had FINALLY figured out how to play the horns he would b exploitin it to high heaven

Wake up!

Stevie Wonder

....does it all, without sight.....

John Paul Jones.

MrTation said:

yep, stevie is a great keyboardist and also a great drummer.but 2 me a multi instrumentalist at least has 2 play drums,bass,guitar,and keys. stevie does all his thing by keyboards and synths. he doesnt play electric guitar or bass.but thats not a disrespect.its just on the multi-instrumentalist part.

elmariachi said:

Really? What if they play an instrument other than the ones you mentioned? What does that make them then?

This cat (Junie Morrison) knew how to hold it down.

Prince
Sly Stone
Stevie Wonder
Raphael Saadiq
Van Hunt

...these are the only names that come to mind.

minneapolisgenius said:

im sayin at least.because those instruments (drums,bass,keys,guitar) require different approach.4 example,i dont consider a guy who can play alto sax,tenor sax,and baritone sax,as a multi-instrumentalist. back 2 ur question,
what if they play an instrument other than the ones i mentioned?
thats alright,but still.. at least (4 me) he/she has 2 play drums,bass,guitar,keys.thats why i dont include stevie in my list,becos he doesnt play electric bass and electric guitar.but thats just me.

BlaqueKnight said:

Agreed!! When it comes to somebody like Prince or Stevie, you're talking about such gifted geniuses that I would think longand hard before I use the word can't in terms of their abilities.

BlaqueKnight said:

I've seen a picture of Stevie and a bass guitar and often wonder if he really can play the instrument. I wouldn't put anything past that man, though, so I'm sure he probably does!

Patrice Rushen & Angie Winbush(Of course after Steveland & Prince).

Remember Hee Haw? Roy Clark: banjo, fiddle, guitar, spoons, washboard, comb.

Prince? Redneck, pul-eeez. Not even a close 2nd.

sinisterpentatonic said:

Yes, Junie
Sir Paul (played everything on his first solo album)
Todd Rundgren
Shuggie Otis
Sly
Bootsy (yes, Bootsy plays drums, bass, guitar and keys)
Ernie Isley (played everything on his solo album 'High Wire'.
Lenny

Oh man! I can't believe I forgot Stevie! Thanks, Mr. Tation

For me

Stevie
Bowie
Rundgren
Prince
Larry Graham


btw, what instruments did sly play?

jacktheimprovident said:

Keyboards
Bass
Guitars
Drums

I don't know what else, but he plays at least as much as Larry Graham.
BTW, Bootsy is a multiinstrumentalist as well.

BlaqueKnight said:

hahaha!i've never said i hate stevie,damn!he's my hero,but thats up 2 me if i dont include him in my best multi-instrumentalists list! if u got the proof that he plays electric guitar and electric bass on his albums..prove it man!i onlys see guys like jeff beck or sum electric bass players on the credit. even tho stevie always got sum killer synth bass lines. but still...synth guitars and synth bass are different than electric guitar or electric bass.
[Edited 8/31/04 22:47pm]

This issue is currently under debate in the "who's more talented prince or stevie wonder" thread. I for one know that stevie at least plays bass and guitar, other have claimed that he can play a ton of other non-drum, non-keyboard, non-harmonica instruments too eg harp, violin, etc.

jacktheimprovident said:

But can he play the Triangle?

jacktheimprovident said:

PROOF?
is there any recording of stevie playing real ac/el guitar (not synth) or real bass (not synth), or whatever ton of other non-drum,non-keyboard,non-harmonica instruments to back it up? as far as i know its only a claim. whilst prince shows he plays various instruments on his records and his live shows.
dont get me wrong. i love stevie. but on the multi-instrumentalist side,im trying 2 b objective on facts, not fanaticism. so ,again..dont hate me just becoz i dont include stevie on my list.

but its all up 2 u 2 put whoever on ur own list. friggin' simple eh?
[Edited 9/1/04 10:23am]

elmariachi said:

A simple look at the CD booklets of any of Stevie's CDs should clear this up for you. Fanaticism has nothing to do with it.

MrTation said:

BROWSING...electric guitar or electric bass by stevie wonder....hmmmm....nothing...lets take a listen...hmmm,oh thats a synth bass again,hmmm now that an acoustic guitar line on a synthesizersm...hmmmm...wait!there's an electric guitar...lets see the credit....hmmm...jeff beck,not stevie....xcuse me,did i miss something?could u tell me which album?which song?that has stevie playing real bass or real guitar?

I'm pretty sure I say guitar and bass credits on jungle fever and conversation peace and maybe some others. someone who has all the credits handy should help us outl. Once again though, I've seen pictures of Stevie playing a bass.