Good one Whitnail, the guitar threads are always so informative. I have a special place in my heart for guitar players in general and Prince in particular.

Having no technical knowlege, I can't elaborate about his technical proficiency compared to others, I can only say that Prince is my favorite. Technically adept players can be boring for me at times...something that never happens with Prince.

When Prince plays I can hear everything from prayers to orgasms to the battle of Armegeddon, (The War)...IMO he is able to convey emotion like no one else I've experienced. His emotional intensity and intuitiveness speaks through the instrument and before you know it, the brotha is not only in your heart, mind and bone marrow but the composition of your DNA too.

Blackguitaristz is on point as usual. Prince's flair for showmanship certainly adds that something extra to the whole trip. His gestures, mannerisms, posture and even his facial expressions give the impression that he and his guitar actually become one entity...an experience which is phenomenal to witness.

It's frustrating at times that he's often underrated in this respect, the thing is, he's so versatile that there's a lot to take in all at once, especially for the casual music listener who is rarely willing pay close attention to any one particular aspect of an artist. It's one of the reasons that dumbed down music is so prevalent today.

Add to that the fact that most casual observers find him peculiar and too flamboyant, plus the fact that Prince does next to nothing to counteract that impression and it's not hard to understand why he's not more widely known first and foremost as an exemplary musician.

True story...I was talking about music with an Elton John fan once and when I mentioned Prince he told me he didn't like him because he thought Prince was odd, . I asked him how an educated man such as himself could fail to see the irony of his statement?

It makes me sad to think that Prince may not be recognized by the masses for his musicianship till we're all long gone...

...
[Edited 12/23/07 21:48pm]

babynoz said:

beautiful post, you have more or less hit the nail on the head, when one one puts the technicalities to bed, P on guitar is something to witness, he almost becomes one with the guitar, does the sort of stuff that makes you think you are in a dream and makes it look like any 2 yr old could do it.

there are many far better guitar players than P, I know a few personally, but even they have said, what he does on guitar is something only a genius can do, something that leaves you catching shadows.

In short what they meant is, he captures, beholds and brings you on a journey, a vast expression, of somewhere that does not exist and drops you off, grasping for air

babynoz said:

babynoz u have spoken 4 me and others. U truly have expressed your feelings where I can relate 2 every word you've typed. I am totally enjoying this thread. Prince guitar playing takes me places I never thought I could go. I truly feel the magic of his music. Again, thank u 4 expressing how so many of us feel

In the end, it's all subjective - it's how Prince's playing makes you feel. One can go into technical specifics, playing-wise (as a musician, I've been guilty of that in the past), but it's all comes down to the emotion Prince elicits when you hear/see him play (though it's more hearing him nowadays...)

I've noticed that as a guitar player, I've gone through different phases. First, getting inspired to play by P, among others. Then, getting exposed to technically superior players (Steve Vai, Allan Holdsworth, Shawn Lane, Satriani, etc.) and thinking that technical facility is the end/all be/all of guitar playing.

Then, after years of playing in bands/gigging, coming to the realization that it's also about playing with other musicians/locking in on a groove/established emotional contact with an audience. And RHYTHM playing. I've come in contact with some technical monsters who were lost when it came to playing rhythm/funk guitar...

It's also about the song, as well. There are tons of guys on myspace/youtube who have chops to burn in front of their camcorder, but who knows how that shredding translates to a band/song situation? That's where I dig Prince - his playing serves the song and he can take it to another place live, i.e. his guitar solo at the end of "Diamonds and Pearls". Love it!

Finally, one of the best things is going back and discovering the songs that made me want to pick up a guitar in the first place. For instance, hearing Prince do his thing on "Get It Up". Brings back memories...

Listen to BG - he's the man and he always has great stories to tell!!!
I've written a book

Great posts, Black.

RipPoPtheregoMYTOP said:

You should refrain from trying to post anything, as your nearly indecipherable and idiotic posts bring this thread down to kindergarten level.

JesseDezz has spoken

Whitnail said:[quote]

babynoz said:

beautiful post, you have more or less hit the nail on the head, when one one puts the technicalities to bed, P on guitar is something to witness, he almost becomes one with the guitar, does the sort of stuff that makes you think you are in a dream and makes it look like any 2 yr old could do it.

there are many far better guitar players than P, I know a few personally, but even they have said, what he does on guitar is something only a genius can do, something that leaves you catching shadows.

In short what they meant is, he captures, beholds and brings you on a journey, a vast expression, of somewhere that does not exist and drops you off, grasping for air[/quote]

That's perfect!

You can even apply a boxing analogy to this thread: Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the more technically proficient fighter, but Arturo Gatti's all-out style touched something in people. For many, it was all about the heart "Thunder" Gatti showed, not the technical aspects of his style. It was the emotion and feel behind it all that endeared Gatti to the masses.

Same as many of the folks posting on here and fans of Prince's guitar playing in general. I've seen words like emotion and soul used in describing aspects of his playing. That's what it ultimately comes down to. How's Prince's playing/showmanship affects the listener.

In the end, as Eddie Van Halen himself once said, "there are twelve notes (in Western music) and what you do with those twelve notes is up to you."

Happy Holidays

Jeffiner said:[quote]

Whitnail said:

Not exactly. You see, for some of us that breathtaking "somewhere" does indeed exist and he doesn't just drop you off, he's the tourguide during the whole journey.

That, my friend, is what I "meant".

Whitnail said:

I was gonna edit your post at first, but re-read it and found it to be along the lines of my thinking (save for the bolded part).

Prince just HAS to go down in history as one of illest. As far as I know (I don't play myslef), he does okay with meatl-heads. All these muh'truckas do is shred right? But Prince has this "prettiness" to his playing. This kind of beautiful de-harmonic thing going on that I wish somebody would step up and try to challenge. For reals.
Lemme read some more.

JesseDezz said:

I totally get everything you're saying JesseDezz. I always read the guitar threads with interest so I've read some of your previous entries. What you said about locking in on a groove is right on point...good observations.

pennylover said:

Whitnail said:

Thanks. The fact that he makes it look effortless is yet another mind blowing aspect of the whole trip. Good point,

blackguitaristz said:

I was going 2 make a few comments but Black left me with no words 2 add. Excellent post.

Graycap23 said:

prince plays a pretty mean gueetar

Jeffiner said:

wow, that must have been the bomb, where you a P fan back then?

Well first off, let me wish all of u a Merry Christmas and that your days may be right as rain. I would like to thank all of u who have posted addressing my posts. Very kind...very kind indeeed. U all have made great points as well and ones that I agree with. Let me add to this topic, P's signature solo, Purple Rain. This to him is what the Star Bangled Banner was to Hendrix. And to P's blessing, he's still around and living, be able to play it. Where as Jimi was only 27 when he left this place. Very, very young, to have a life ended. P, on the other hand, no matter what period or year, or band lineup he may be using, whenever he plays this solo live...it's really the only person that I have witnessed live who, at times, has caused my eyes to well up with tears. I've grown up with Prince. I was just a little kid back in 78 when I first got hipped to P. But I've follwed him very closely since his second album and have seen him live in concert beginning with the Contoversy tour. I say all this because I experienced Prince when P was forming. Before he became a superstar. I just didn't hear about how wild P was in the early 80's but I witnessed it first hand. By the time 84 rolled around, Prince OWNED that year musically. I saw him 4 times on the Purple Rain tour alone. Seeing P playing the music from the film that had only been out a few months was something else. When P got to the song Purple Rain, I can't describe the vibe that was in that arena. Night after night, this is where P TRULY went somewhere else. It was highly spritual. I have see Prince actually have tears run down his face while playing this solo. This is no lie. I rarely speak of this on this site because I never really felt it fitting. But I have never seen any other artist connect with a crowd while playing a guitar solo like P has. EVERYONE knows the melody of the solo. It's like a song within itself actually. Then in 85 at those shows, it was an emotional element. P, for the first time, saw that he was loved, for something. And u could see that it moved him. P would play that solo, at times, for 15, 20 minutes straight. I think he could play that solo for hours, if he had the right audience.

blackguitaristz said:

Let's take a road trip.....I know where he is.

blackguitaristz said:

As mentioned, I have see P play this solo on different tours with different lineups and really, it's the only time in the whole show where I actually see the love that he has for God. And the love he has for the guitar. The love he has for Jimi Hendrix. During the PR shows, his solo would be mixed with joy, pain, anger, the need to be loved and admired. And his paying tribute to Hendrix, Carlos, Eddie Hazel and Ernie Isley was eveident. Towards the end, u could see the amazement on his face that he had indeed made it. And he made it on his own terms. Never forget that P wanted to be admired as a guitarist. He wanted what Jimi had. And that Purple Rain solo captured it to the masses, to a degree. Since the 90's, whenever he plays this solo, it's like he's playing it for his children. P KNOWS that this album and film "made him". He knows this. And at times, I've still witnessed the rage and pain in his face. I've still heard that in his playing. And that's because he has put his emotions in that solo.I think whatever he's going through, it's going to come out during that solo. Probably still to this day.

This has to be the greatest thread ever on the org. I'm not a guitar player but know what I like. I like emotion, nobody does it better than Prince. His guitar IS him. It speaks to me. I've heard technically greater players like Satriani and Malmsteen and they are darn good but they don't take me to the places Prince takes me.

Whitnail said:

That's definitely true when you're talking about a traditional, structured way of learning and the deeper you get into it the worse it gets.

Someone showing you a couple of things and letting you run with it is a much different experience and result.
[Edited 12/25/07 13:21pm]

blackguitaristz said:

My Brotha, I had to go back and read your words a few more times because a lot of what you say is as if you're reading my mind. We've had any number of guitar threads around here but they usually focus on the more technical aspects. This thread is one of the few where we actually attempt to describe the more intangible aspects of Prince on guitar and for that I must again thank Whitnail and others whose comtributions are much appreciated.

Like you, I remember Prince before he blew up and have been witnessing his evolution ever since but unlike you I did not see him up close and personal till much later although I'm closer to his age than yourself.

What you said about the Purple rain solo really touched me because that's exactly what was in my mind when I wrote that I can hear prayers in his playing. The first time I witnessed it up close and personal I couldn't stop crying and it's something that stays with you. I tell ya, my friend and I were in a row with total strangers and all we could do was hold one another. Since then I've been right in front of him a few more times when he gets into the zone and let me tell you bro...there are no words.

That's why I said above that that place is very real for some of us...I know because I've zoned out right along with him during those times. The energy being exchanged between Prince and ourselves changes as he takes it to another level...there's some serious consciousness raising and a kind of synchronicity going on. I understand why you've hesitiated to mention it in the past but I'm mighty glad you brought it up here and now. It might be off putting to some but I assure you I ain't afraid to go there.

You're right on point when you stated that it still happens even to this day, I can see the range of emotions play out on his face as he speaks through his guitar more clearly than mere words could ever express. The notion that he can be reminiscent of Jimi, Carlos, Ernie, and Eddie and still be a singular, exquisite talent unto himself fills my heart just thinking about the fact that he's still here with us.

Despite other considerations, at the end of the day that connection is what it's all about...that love. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts...now ya got me all choked up.

Purple Rain, where do i start, it is a piece of music that some days I like and other dayz not, I saw P live at the O2 9 times, and I used make a joke of going to the loo during PR. The element that i dont like about the song is that, all these friends I know, would only remember him by that song.

On the 28th of August, I was standing at the front of the symbol stage, P started PR with the piano, then took out his symbol guitar and played the most extrodinary version of PR that I have ever heard, I was dumbfounded, he let rip into it, the crowd went beserk, at one stage he was about 10 feet away from me, I looked at his face, as he poured untold amounts of emotion into that guitar, it was simply sensational, he was totally lost in the music.

The 28th mainshow was the most guitar based concert he did during 21 nights, IMO, and later that night he went on to do an aftershow, that will probably go down in history as one of his best, just P (on guitar)with a Bassist and Drummer.


Damn, i have tears welling in my eyes writing this, thank you all. This is what it is all about

Whitnail said:

Praise Moses


[Edited 12/25/07 16:14pm]

Dance said:

eh, should I have said a camel, donkey and a few chaps following a star

Whitnail said:

Whatever dude, thanks for the heads up.


P, bass n drums

Im sorry..I tried my best to not take it here..But, some People need to know the "REAL" deal ! watch this starting at 4:15 mins !!!