Everyone is always harping on about what an amazing multi-instrumentalist prince is, and I was curious whether his talents actually go beyond guitar, drums, keys and vocals?

I've heard lot about how he 'plays all the instruments on his records', but is he actually known to be a great horn player for instance? never seen him pick up a brass instrument or string instrument other than the three mentioned above before for instance?

I do know however that other multi-instrumentalists such as Paul McCartney dabble with reed instruments and slightly off the wall instruments on their records. It would be interesting to know a bit more about prince's abilities beyond the obvious instruments he plays all the time in concert.

How would he play trombone with his li'l bitty arms?

well in the Face Down video u can see Prince play the saxophone and the violin

well in the Face Down video u can see Prince play the saxophone and the violin

This topic has been popping up ALOT.
P plays Guitar (Electric/acoustic), Bass, Drums (Percussions, etc) and Keyboard.
He played sax when he was a kid but quit. But apparently has showed off his playing to his band members because I know one of them has commented on it before.
For all I know, he might be able to fiddle around with more instruments than what I named, but he never has on record or stage.

bluestar2006 said:

Hmm, I'm not sure I would refer to face down as a track that features quality sax or violin playing, it's all samples and keyboards isn't it?

ToraToraDreams said:

But what of the old reports of he play 27 instruments etc, etc....

is this:

1. 6 String guitar
2. 12 String guitar
3. Hi tom tom
4. Mid Tom tom.
5. Piano
6. Harpsichord
7. Organ
8. Triangle
9. Ear banjo
etc. etc. ?

He plays a mean cowbell!

bluestar2006 said:

You can see him pretending to play them.

I think Prince may be slightly overrated in that he can play every fikin insrument known to man (=.=')

He surely succeeds in drums, keys, guitar, bass and all that jazz mentioned, but as far as wind instruments I dont think so! That's why he gets amazing musicians like Mr. Eric Leeds or Atlanta Bliss to play that for him.


Oh yeah, he can play a mean harmonica

Bewdy said:

27 instruments? That's called marketing. Its the same reason his age was bumped down two years.

You know I find this kinda disappointing.

For years I had believed that prince had this ability to play each and almost every instrument, and it seems the reality is that while he may have mastered guitar, drums and keys, that is in fact a very small portion of the instrument family, and certainly not the impression which has been the mystique which has been so overplayed in the media, and confirmed by prince himself many times.

I've lost count of the number of times I've heard the phrase, "he plays every instrument in his band, better than his band members" and this clearly isn't true!

Bewdy said:

he would rock that thing on stage.

Box said:

and the crowd goes AHHHHH!!!



this is what happens when you play purple rain to soon.

If I am correct Candy once mentioned that he actually could play the sax but wasn't quite a expert on it. Someone here to back this up?

bluestar2006 said:

That was special effects man, like how kermit gets a voice.

hollywooddove said:

dualboot said:

I've heard this referred to often enough but I've never seen the source record provided.

Eric Leeds has said in interview that Prince cannot play the saxophone, as he did not have the embouchure for it.

bluestar2006 said:

Video's don't count.

Bewdy said:

That's pretty kick-ass by itself.

Maceo Parker said that he's NEVER seen Prince try to play a horn but he feels that he could if he wanted to.

Graycap23 said:

i beg to differ...

Candy Dufler said she heard P play the sax once and it made her laugh. Don't know if that's good or bad.

If you listen to the song "The Love We Make", there's a quick and short horn drone. I always suspected that it was P playing it.

The guy can pick up any instrument and play it - he's a musical genius

He may not play all instruments well but trust me he can (and has) played more than 27
[Edited 3/28/08 9:13am]

.....HUH?????

Man there is some really bollocks replies on here!

It seems from the comments on this post that the reality is that prince really is a guitarist/drummer/pianist/vocalist. That's 3 instruments, not including variants and the singing of course.

It seems a bit weird that because he can do these well some of you think that he can play any instrument if he wanted too?!? I suspect the people who believe this aren't musicians, otherwise they would at least have an understanding of what it would take to 'play' something other than the three instruments mentioned above well.

Blimey there's some really starry eye'd people on this board.

Bewdy said:

AGREED...That's why he has a band..you would think everyone knowns this?

Does this man look like he can blow a horn?

http://ickmusic.com/pics/...prince.jpg

KidaSaurusRx said:[quote]



whatever he plays, he 's playing us???? We're the one begging for his attention.....EVERY FRIGGIN DAY.....