I think we all for the most part agree that P is at least a pretty damn good guitar player but what do we for the most part think he does best?

Is it:

a)Power Chords/straight out rifting on a track

b)Rhythm

c)Blues Guitar

d)Solos

or

e)Bass guitar

f)changeability, that is the ability to slide from one into another seemingly seamlessly.

I listed F because I was listening to I like it there on C&D and he seamlessly went from playing rhythm into power rifting and then back again in that just one song.

Just curious to see what the org as a whole thinks.

This thread was thought up while I was exercising and listening to C&D today.
[Edited 10/26/05 13:07pm]

I'd say rhythm guitar playing. His guitar breaks live are jsut insane sometimes, IMO.

He pretty much has the whole package IMO. One of the things I loved about the ONA tour was that he handled all the guitar duties twas great to see

If I had to single out one of his skills I'd say his rhythm playing. I haven't heard anyone else who can breathe life into a groove like Prince.

I agree. Funk rhythm playing.

Sometimes his guitar work is horrible sounding, (like on c and d), sometimes it sounds too clean ("rave unto the joy....") and he does sound a bit samey sometimes.


I guess i'd pick rhythm too. His solo's are a bit samey. Can he do van halen type solo's?

Reply to 'Prince as a guitarist.....what does he do best?'

Perfect timing. Knowing when to jump in the musical river so to speak!

I dunno, he does nothing really special, and I think that makes him a great player.

He is no Van Halen or Brian May or Eric Johnson.

I like how I can see him perform live
and play that guitar. I like how he plays the
instruments best.

thesexofit said:

I love C & D and as I said at the top thats what inspired this thread

DaX said:

Yes, I can see its as I said in an earlier thread, that he is underestimated even by his fans sometimes.

The thing that Prince has perfected over the years has nothing to do with style or technique. It's his sound. It's his fucking signature.

squirrelgrease said:

Exactly

I think he does it all well but I really love how he goes from playing power rifts right back into rhythm without a moments notice.

july said:

Thanks to BananaCologne



Thanks to Neversin

Thanks to BananaCologne and Larry Busacca

I love when he does the slide thing with his right hand

Not being a GUITARIST it is HARD to EXPLAIN to you... I think that listening to Say Purple Rain, Beautiful STRANGE, BAMBI and JOY IN REPETITION can give you an IDEA. Prince has RANGE... He is able to not only WAIL he could also do a FOREVER IN MY LIFE. I don't know but it's just his Range and INTENSITY he GIVES to his PLAYING it just Makes GOOSEBUMPS Go UP and Down Your SPINE.

squirrelgrease said:

YES! In the past I used to compare Prince with other guitar greats, like "ah, but he is not so fast as..." or "he doesn´t play jazz guitar like..."...but today I realize that what makes Prince special is the WAY he plays the guitar. When he is inspired, he can play with so much passion, and his vibrato rocks. His guitar screams sometimes, not to mention that his rythm guitar is great.
[Edited 10/29/05 20:40pm]

knowing what'll sound good at just the right spot

What I loved as well were the solos he played on Strollin' on the ONA tour. Very clean, melodic, just pretty. He doesn't play that way often, though.

DaX said:

What? Have you ever seen Prince play live? Prince beats these cats hands down. Go back and review

I would say that Prince is the best allrounder of all (pop)guitarists.

I'm sure there are better technical guitarplayers, but to me, when it comes to feeling and expression, Prince is really the bomb!

Boom!

Love2tha9s said:

Agree with this comment, especially the last thought. He can really nail a power rift and slide into rhythm very well. Having witnessed him live he plays more on feeling and passion vice being technically perfect. Since he composes on the guiter for the most part, he seems to be able to tackle some unique sounds on the guiter that you really don't get anywhere else. I personally tried to compare him to other great guiterists (like those mentioned in this thread), but it doesn't really work because he does have a signature sound. His chords are really quite simple, but they are very, very full at the same time. I also like his cover interpretations of classic rock hits that add spice to already great work.