If there was a list of the greatest guitarists in the past 50 years where do u think Prince would be on that list? I think Prince is very underated as a guitarist, mainly because he is so good at everything else! So where do U think he ranks? .....I say top 10!

No. I think he's got a few good licks, but if you break it down, he wouldn't make the top 10. (for me, this is my opinion)

Ever heard of Strunz and Farah?

theSpark said:

No I never heard of Strunz And Farah....whos that?

I agree with theSpark as well. You gotta know more guitarists out there to really feel the craft. Granted, Prince has come a LOOONG way in his abilities and tone AND is definely worthy of some recognition as a guitarist but (for me) he still falls in that "Friggin' Awesome Multi-instumentalist/Songwriter" category. Being exposed to a lot of "real" jazz will open your ears to what can be done on the guitar. Prince is still a production wiz, no question. He's really developed a unique tone which is life long progress as a guitarist. No doubt, he's still growing and we're listening.

Also, are you asking musicians here on the org this question or in general? You may have better results if this thread was moved to the "Music: Non-Prince" forum.

If so, I can move it for you.

see....that's where I have a ?uestion about the whole thing...

He is "Hendrixian like" to me...(and Hendrix is the reason why I picked up a guitar--left handed and black? Yeah, I can do this...)

no one can conjure up what Prince can do--just ask Clapton and a host of others...

Yes, there are other more "technically proficient" musicians out there but there's something more--LIKE MOVING A CROWD

So, here's the ?uestion....

Is it about technique, or is it about emotion?

Case in point: Stevie Wonder is not one of the most technically Proficient musicians out there, but you can't argue his output (niether: James, or Sly, or George, or Miles, nor a host of others...)

So what do you do?

As a "musician"--->is one an "automaton" or is one still human?

Meaning: Is it about BLOOD or samples?

if its about the latter, then I suck and you should never listen to another thing I have to offer...

(feel free to call me on this one Kelly...)
(Feel free to orgnote me on this one SPARK)





Jshua
[Edited 10/4/05 20:08pm]

yamomma said:

I agree with U when u say I need 2 know more guitarists out there 2 really feel the craft. I'm a huge fan of Hendrix,Clapton,and Santana. But what I think makes Prince stand out from most guitarists is his ability 2 cross over 2 almost any genre of music and Rock Out. I've seen him do some blues solos that will blow Ur mind....and then he can do rock with the best of them,not 2 mention his pop guitar abilities....I was asking ever1 in general there opinion. If U think it make get more responses in another forum feel free 2 move it...Thanx

Moving to Prince: Music and More

He wouldn't make the top 1500 unfortunately. There is a guitar wiz living in every block everywhere in the world. I personally know at least twenty guys who will play more inventive and technically advanced stuff than Prince does. However, when he writes his solos as on "Shh!" and "The Question Of U" it's top bollocks, but that's more of a skill in composition not a merit as a mere guitarist.

No. He hasn't been an innovator, doing completely new things on the guitar. And his style is not instantly recognizable like a Stevie Ray Vaughn. He's too derivative of Hendrix & Santana. His fast runs tend to be unclear, like he's covering up something with the distortion (take the very end of 3 Chains o Gold as an example).

He plays nice melodic stuff, and pulls out a new trick every now & then. His rhythm playing is good.

He's good at every instrument he plays--that's where he really sets himself apart from the others.

I think most people here haven't really heard Prince play guitar. He's a lot more diverse and capable of playing a lot more different styles than his own music allows him. Listen to him in private sessions and you'll be amazed.

RepoMan said:

I just heard "I Got The Ride" (I think that's the name of the song)For the first time. And I think that that was some of Prince's best guitar work he's ever done. It sounds like he was trying to emulate Buddy Guy, but he still sounded good. As far as him being in the top 150 guitar players, I would also have to say no. Not even close, but the difference is that Prince can create his own music, whether it be on guitar, piano, keyboard or whatever. Most of of the rest of those guys either need outside help with the lyrics, writing and arrangements, Or they're just sidemen.

It's what Prince doesn't play, and where it is in the mix that makes him a master.

oh and tell me why do you think prince cant get in top 150 list if
santana ,jimmy page and simular guys get on those list.
prince is much better guitar player then those two.
even that kurt cobain guy gets on top 100 lists.

guitar playing is not about tehniq.it's about expressing your soul .
playing very fast is just a phase for evey guitar player(except yngwie malmesten)
nuno betencurt famous shreader from extreme plays much more relexade these days.
steve vai also (have you heard "lotus flower)
if the tehniq was measure jimi hendrix would never be proclaimd as the best guitar player ever.

clapton had the same amount of tehniq as jimi did,but jimi had something else beside the tehniq.

i come to a conclusion that ppl here on org judge prince playing only by older recordings.

prince was always good,
but in the last few years he become the closest he ever did to become virtuoso guitar player/

check out one nite alone recordings,news,xpectations,
glass cutter,2004 aftershow (he killed it on miss u,knee deep,no diggity ,the ride).
prince plays perfect essencial guitar solos.
combination of soul and tehnical point of playing.

i bet that those shreading only guys when listen to some of prince stuff find something intersting in his playing.
and in the creativity on guitar department prince is one of the best .
and he absolutly deserves it.

thebanishedone said:

agreed 100%

who cares about those soulless speed-demon fretboard shredders??
it's not finger gymnastics. it's music.
And prince makes that instrument sing and soar like a very very select few.

he's number 1 with a bullet, on my charts.

thebanishedone said:

My Point Exactly!!! Thank U.....Its about soul and sound not technique! If Jimi was still alive he would say the same.....I don't care about how "good" U R. I care if the solos ur playing R talking 2 me . Prince talks 2 me when he plays...That what makes a great guitarist. Expression thru instrument!!!!

And oh Yeah...Tell me how Kurt Cobain can make a guitar list? He couldn't play as good as Prince if Prince had had both arms chopped off!!!!

Styles said:

first of all Stevie and Sly at least ARE technically proficient multi-instrumentalists, and Miles plays one motherfucker of a trumpet, he does have a full be-bop pedigree. Sure Stevie's not gonna outrank Niel Peart on a list of greatest drummers list or anything, nor is Sly exactly the next Oscar Peterson on piano, but their abilities as singers, songwriters, arrangers and producers on top of their multi-instrumentalist skill would place them pretty high on a list that takes all things into consideration. Likewise with prince, he is proficient on several instruments, he's just not a certified top of the line virtuoso on all of them, and his ability to play guitar is just one of many facets to measure him by.

We're actually saying the same thing....







Jshua


p.s. Meaning--->I agree!

jacktheimprovident said: