We always talk about his guitar influences, but I haven't seen this discussed on here before.

His dad, of course.

And Ray Charles.

Some gospel, churchy stuff, some jazz, sometimes some of the synth stuff from europe. Like everything he does, there seems to be many different elements, some classical, liberace, I've always thought the Purple Rain piano segment in Purple Rain was pure Lionel Richie.

mozfonky said:

He once said that the first thing he played on the piano were things like The Batman Theme. Stuff he heard. The man accumulates.

and don't let anyone tell you the man isn't very good and even distinctive on the keys. I've been trying to decipher his solo keys version of "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and I really don't know where to begin. If you ever get a chance, listen to the ONA piano medley, it's simply brilliant and even maddening for a mediocre piano player like myself.
[Edited 8/3/08 2:15am]

His father.

David. I just found out that the Harp is like the Piano...I didn't realize that.

prince sometimes reminds me of a new age mozart!

Dayclear said:

Yes I agree

It sounds to me like Prince hasn't really listened much to keyboard players specifically.

He has kind of his own style on piano, which doesn't come so much from what he knows as from what he doesn't know.
What I mean is, you can trace certain influences in his playing, but it's not properly mastered styles - it's more like he's
trying to sound like somebody or something, but doesn't really know how.

He does some bluesy noodling, which I guess you could say is inspired by Ray Charles, but it doesn't really sound like Ray Charles.
He sometimes employs some typical rock'n'roll piano cliches in the style of Jerry Lee Lewis or Little Richard, but it's not really the way they would play.
In his ballad playing, he seems to be searching for (but perhaps not finding) the kind of harmonies Joni Mitchell could come up with.
Other times he might play some quasi-latin/salsa patterns that are not really authentic, some flashy arpeggio stuff that's probably supposed to sound "classical" and brilliant,
some fast runs that vaguely resembles bebop jazz, etc.

I'm not saying Prince can't play - it's just obvious to me that he hasn't spent as much time checking out and practicing piano skills, as he has with the guitar.
But then again, that's also what makes his piano style unique.

RealMusician said:

That sounds really close to a dis....Being self taught and playing by ear are his biggest influences. He interprets what he hears in his head and lays those melodies down. Now myself I find that type of influence fascinating, but I'm sure his dad and the Minneapolis radio station's playlist in the 70's gave him something to help him too. I read somewhere that Pepe noticed that even when he played lead guitar he seemed to give everyone their parts including Linda. As musicians they were talented enough to pick up what he showed them, but he definitely showed the multi-instrumental prowess even then. I love his piano playing!!! ONA is bliss.

[Edited 8/3/08 13:03pm]

I think Joni's a big one...