Watching quite a bit of concert footage of Prince recently, it struck me that when P plays bass he always seems to play it in a funk style (slapping and popping). As he's loved for his versatility and range of styles, I'm just wondering if anyone's seen him playing bass in a rock or jazz style, incorporating more chords and melodies in his playing or does he leave that to Rhonda et al?

I dont think Ive ever seen him play the bass in jazz/rock style, though the most impressive bit of playing would have to be the long jam on face down (Oakland 98 DVD)

[Edited 8/21/10 18:35pm]

Slapping is a flashy way 2 rock the bass.

The crowd wants to hear some slamming stuff and seeing how he rarely plays bass live it wouldn't make much sense to strum along like a wuss.

Rarely have I seen him play bass "fingerstyle" where the striking hand fingers the strings instead of slapping and popping, but if you want to hear Prince playing in a jazz style on bass, listen to the coda on the end of "If I Was The Man In Your Life" from Musicology, Madhouse 8, "On The Couch", "Reflection", "Call My Name". Prince's bass playing was mainly influenced by percussive players like Larry Graham, so his primary technique won't sound Jaco Pastorious or Rocco Prestia.

Watch the bass solo during the intro to Face Down in the Oakland JOTY tour. He plays it like a guitar.... Amazing!

It's so funny I came across this post - I have that snippet of Prince throwing down on the "777" bassline from the One Night Alone In Copenhagen Boot on repeat right now. Prince's bass skills are RIDICULOUS. That comes on random on my iPod sometimes, it always forces out an audible gasp:-D

Listen to the bass solos on Everywhere from Rainbow children

it shows Prince evolution as a bassist.

Also bass solo on Sensual Everafter is killer

thebanishedone said:

Listen to the bass solos on Everywhere from Rainbow children

it shows Prince evolution as a bassist.

Also bass solo on Sensual Everafter is killer

Oh! That was Prince? Always thought it was Rhonda!

of course it's Prince

Hatman said:

thebanishedone said:

Listen to the bass solos on Everywhere from Rainbow children

it shows Prince evolution as a bassist.

Also bass solo on Sensual Everafter is killer

Oh! That was Prince? Always thought it was Rhonda!

Totally agree with the banishedone. Check the personnel credits on TRC album. Plus Rhonda even admitted in an interview that did didn't play on TRC album. What I love about "Everywhere" is that he is playing with an off-meter drum beat, probably in 7/4 and it's amazing to hear him use diatonic triads and mix-up his chords, instead of using one or two notes to build around. The more I think about on bass, he has greatly improved. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall during the Musicology Tour rehearsals to see Rhonda and Prince go over bass parts for certain songs. See what he would play and how Rhonda would embellish them.

Prince has always been a great bass player - superb feel...

jjam said:

Prince has always been a great bass player - superb feel...

Yep!