I hear numbers flying around like 26 or 28... Surely that aint so unless things like tamborine and triangle are included. So what can he really play. Other than the obvious like guitar, keyboard and drums... (all derivatives included)...

The answer is in the question

I once read "everything except hornz"

His 'very' own instrument. (The dirty one)

Meat whistle.

skin flute...?

Off topic, did he really play that PIANO in the UTCM opening credit?? If thats him then (Piano) it is !

The hairy bagpipes...

JamesMarshallHendrix said:

That's a good one. I haven't heard of that saying before.

He can really play the guitar. I've heard him.

The "One Stringed Banjo".

...oh, and he played Harmonica on the 12" Pop Life single.

Really.

squirrelgrease said:

yep, but don´t 4get the harmonica in Thieves in the Temple.

Yeah, he and Alanis are both really talented harmonica players.

whatever.


Prince plays:

1) Drums/percussion
2) electric bass
3) piano/keys/organ
4) acoustic and electric guitars.

That's what I've seen. I've never seen any proof of him playing dozens of different kinds of instruments. Maybe he can play the sitar by now. But, I've never seen him do it...

Harmonica GUITAR BASS PIANO ORGAN HORNZ STRINGS DRUM MACHINE ECT... THE REASON I KNOW ALL THIS IZ BECUZ I BOUGHT THE SAMPLE KIT FROM NPGMC

soulsinger56 said:

what sample kit? the 7 CD set?

soulsinger56 said:

Bullshit!

It was never sold...

We have had that discussion here before. I remember I got upset because people were bringing up that silly "26-instruments-issue". Surprisingly, I as a music scholar, couldnt even name 26 instruments. Fact is, Prince plays:
- guitar, and that quite good. I even like his rhythm guitar.
- bass, pretty decent and VERY much influenced by the Larry Graham of the Sly and early GCS days
- piano. He plays good piano. Not outrageous, but good.
- drums. down with the funky, but the jazz he shouldnt mess with really.
that makes four instruments, not 26. However, if you count in different keyboard variations such as moog, fender rhodes, clavinet, etc. you might add up a few more. still you wont reach the 26. he might play triangle and cowbell, yes, and dont underestimate that!!! the cowbell is an extremely underrated pacemaker in funk, and not easy to play. I havent heard or seen him play it though.
his skills on percussion sound pretty weak. the short performace on the computer-timbales he is giving us in the RAVE video is pretty embarassing.
In general, Prince is not playing ANY instrument good enough to really deserve the title MASTER. He does not reach a Grant Green on guitar, an Elvin Jones on drums, a Herbie Hancock on Piano and a Larry Graham on Bass. Nowhere near.
But what makes Prince such a special artist is his talent to play ALL of the above pretty decent AND to sing AND to dance AND to write music.

soulpower said:

I agree with you soulpower. But "even" like his rhythm guitar?
I think that's almost better than his lead guitar work.

I know on for you he didn't really play 26 instruments. Most of what was listed were just diffrent types of sythersizers

all of the above and I have heard he plays some Harp (as in the big stringed kind) and some sax but certainly is no master at it. The most amazing thing about his multi-instrumental talent is that he truley has a voice on each instrument he plays. many recording artist make a big deal out of the fact that they play several instruments but very few actually have a sound of their own on each on of them. I agree with ya though he is primarily guitarist/bassist/keys/vocalist/drums/producer. wheeew...!

Prince can only play one instrument...

The "Whatever".

(it says so in the tour programmes)

stevenpaul said:

Great Points by You&SoulPower.there are many Multi-Instrumentalist in the Business&at Home but very few have there own Sound Overall IMHO.I give Prince Props for that.I think He is a Real Good Instrumentalist, but the Sound the Man had back in the day&the Vamp He still can get is something that still shines to me.He Has managed to truly Create a Fusion of Sounds&Vibes that has made for Good Music.while I easily Prefer His early Stuff far more, the Guy still knows the Importance of Sound as to just hiding behind on a 5 Minute Solo with every Track.

Jon said:

Good call, I would have it myself if it was to be had. Do you think that Warner stopped that from coming out? Or was it just another, 'oops it slipped my mind that I promised the fans this set' thing?