Anyone know if Prince can play the sitar, and if he can, how skillfully?

Thanks

therapyisback said:

Possibly. Wendy played one on the original Dream Factory demo of 'Strange Relationship', so I wouldn't doubt that Prince could play it.

My cousin is a highly skilled guitarist, and a few years back he learned to play the sitar, and learned very quickly. I don't think it would be a massive transition for any skilled guitarist.

That is a rumor I could believe, even if I hadn't seen it with my own two eyes.

therapyisback said:

While a sitar and a guitar both have large bodies, necks, and strings, the traditional approaches to playing each instrument are very much different to one another.

I'm sure Prince could tinker around on a sitar and come up with the some cool noises, but there's no way he could be considered an accomplished sitar player without practising or taking lessons. He's become such a phenonmenol guitar player as a result of practise... I bet he could be with the sitar as well.

Personally i think he can play it, if he really wants, but I don't think he ever played the instrument himself on his albums.

I believe that one ATWIAD the sitar is played by Wendy's brother, Jonathan Melvoin.
And on different songs from 'The Dream Factory' project, Wendy is playing the instrument (Is that her on The Cross too?).
On songs that became after that (Glam Slam, Thieves in the temple, Thunder, The Max, Seven) i think the sitar-sounds are sampled.
[Edited 7/17/08 9:08am]

Militant said:

Lisa plays sitar on the SOTT version (Is it the same?)

I guess if he wanted he could play what he wanted

thanks for that question!

i prefer threads about musical instruments over threads about his ass, personally.

leonciolm said:

There is no sitar on the SOTT version, if i recall. It got taken out of the mix.

I've always loved when Prince used sitar in his songs.