I feel like a hypocrite as I pose this question as there was a time where I was calling for him to play more guitar whether live or on CD but for the past several years it seems like he is playing guitar on everything and almost seems uncomfortable on stage without it. At first I thought this was due to his decreased mobility due to hip issues, age or whatever as it seemed like a way to "hide" behind his guitar. And if so, I do not blame him, father time catches up with all of us but I seem to miss some of his instrument diversity. I feel like for a lot of songs he feels the need to insert blistering guitar solos or riffs and they are great but could it be that if you see it too much you are no longer in awe or appreciative of it? Like the thread implies, this is merely a question not a statement but something that I have struggled with and just curious if anyone else has questioned this.

I do recognize that this could appear to be "sacreligious" and please note that no one is a bigger fan of the Endorphina Machine, Interactive, Bambi, Electric Chair, PR, The Cross/Christ, etc..... than I so don't nuke me or think I am anti-rock guy cause not at all but I just miss a bit of that, as I said, diversity as I like when he does piano as well as bass. I know he has messed with the bass here and there in concert but it seems to be just a few bars and then he sets it down. The guitar thing really hit me when I was watching the French TV thing and he grabbed the guitar at the beginning of DMSR, now I know he handed it back realitively fast, but what did he need it for on that song you have a rhythm guitar player behind you, sort of.

A side thought is that most of us have access to every performance in some way so I know that for the average person who may see him every few years they are still amazed and I still am too even by the standards (watch Milan version of PR, whew!!) so I can appreciate that argument.

4everyours said:

I feel like a hypocrite as I pose this question as there was a time where I was calling for him to play more guitar whether live or on CD but for the past several years it seems like he is playing guitar on everything and almost seems uncomfortable on stage without it. At first I thought this was due to his decreased mobility due to hip issues, age or whatever as it seemed like a way to "hide" behind his guitar. And if so, I do not blame him, father time catches up with all of us but I seem to miss some of his instrument diversity. I feel like for a lot of songs he feels the need to insert blistering guitar solos or riffs and they are great but could it be that if you see it too much you are no longer in awe or appreciative of it? Like the thread implies, this is merely a question not a statement but something that I have struggled with and just curious if anyone else has questioned this.

I do recognize that this could appear to be "sacreligious" and please note that no one is a bigger fan of the Endorphina Machine, Interactive, Bambi, Electric Chair, PR, The Cross/Christ, etc..... than I so don't nuke me or think I am anti-rock guy cause not at all but I just miss a bit of that, as I said, diversity as I like when he does piano as well as bass. I know he has messed with the bass here and there in concert but it seems to be just a few bars and then he sets it down. The guitar thing really hit me when I was watching the French TV thing and he grabbed the guitar at the beginning of DMSR, now I know he handed it back realitively fast, but what did he need it for on that song you have a rhythm guitar player behind you, sort of.

A side thought is that most of us have access to every performance in some way so I know that for the average person who may see him every few years they are still amazed and I still am too even by the standards (watch Milan version of PR, whew!!) so I can appreciate that argument.

been thinking this myself. the beauty of his earlier guitar playing was the economy he displayed, letting the song breathe, keeping it low in the mix, nice and subtle. i'm thinking of something like when doves cry or alphabet st as examples. i'm tired of prince shredding guitar solos when they're not needed, he might think of himself as technically more competent but it's BORING!!! so predictable and unoriginal. his best tours have been when he lays off the guitar for the most part, but don't expect it to change soon considering he's just added a guitarist to the band who struggles with barre chords.

seems like Prince can't do just 1 thing right to escape complaints these days.

Personally I find his guitarplaying just brilliant, when you see him play live - it's chockingly good.

you guys are really ungrateful, imo.

Nah I love his guitar playing. Just wished he did a rock album - but he never will.

LOVE the guitar playing!

The more the better.

For me that has grown to be my favorite part of listening to new Prince music, live or otherwise.

thedance said:

seems like Prince can't do just 1 thing right to escape complaints these days.

Personally I find his guitarplaying just brilliant, when you see him play live - it's chockingly good.

you guys are really ungrateful, imo.

we're giving our opinions, how is that being ungrateful???

V10LETBLUES said:

LOVE the guitar playing!

The more the better.

For me that has grown to be my favorite part of listening to new Prince music, live or otherwise.

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Love the guitar,on his original early tours he played guitar in every song

thebanishedone said:

Love the guitar,on his original early tours he played guitar in every song

You make a great point, thanks! For the poster who talk about "complaining", I was not complaining just merely asking a question among other like minded people about something I observed and wonder if others thought the same. The notion by some folks on here that anything that could even suggest a negative Prince comment is to be banished and never uttered again is crazy.

4everyours said:

thebanishedone said:

Love the guitar,on his original early tours he played guitar in every song

You make a great point, thanks! For the poster who talk about "complaining", I was not complaining just merely asking a question among other like minded people about something I observed and wonder if others thought the same. The notion by some folks on here that anything that could even suggest a negative Prince comment is to be banished and never uttered again is crazy.

well this IS a Prince fan forum.... you're gonna get that every now and then.lol

but to answer your question... i semi-agree with you.... i think I prefer when he had a rhythm guitar that was able to hold down those parts while he did something else on piano or anything else he decided to do during the song.

but at the same time... the mans a great player and i love hearing him play.

I guess what i'm really saying is... i'm torn. lol.

4everyours said:

I feel like a hypocrite as I pose this question as there was a time where I was calling for him to play more guitar whether live or on CD but for the past several years it seems like he is playing guitar on everything and almost seems uncomfortable on stage without it. At first I thought this was due to his decreased mobility due to hip issues, age or whatever as it seemed like a way to "hide" behind his guitar. And if so, I do not blame him, father time catches up with all of us but I seem to miss some of his instrument diversity. I feel like for a lot of songs he feels the need to insert blistering guitar solos or riffs and they are great but could it be that if you see it too much you are no longer in awe or appreciative of it? Like the thread implies, this is merely a question not a statement but something that I have struggled with and just curious if anyone else has questioned this.

I do recognize that this could appear to be "sacreligious" and please note that no one is a bigger fan of the Endorphina Machine, Interactive, Bambi, Electric Chair, PR, The Cross/Christ, etc..... than I so don't nuke me or think I am anti-rock guy cause not at all but I just miss a bit of that, as I said, diversity as I like when he does piano as well as bass. I know he has messed with the bass here and there in concert but it seems to be just a few bars and then he sets it down. The guitar thing really hit me when I was watching the French TV thing and he grabbed the guitar at the beginning of DMSR, now I know he handed it back realitively fast, but what did he need it for on that song you have a rhythm guitar player behind you, sort of.

A side thought is that most of us have access to every performance in some way so I know that for the average person who may see him every few years they are still amazed and I still am too even by the standards (watch Milan version of PR, whew!!) so I can appreciate that argument.

...There's such a thing as too much guitar?

His guitar playing has improved, and it keeps him engaged with the songs. Whenever he takes it off, the energy drops.

treehouse said:

His guitar playing has improved, and it keeps him engaged with the songs. Whenever he takes it off, the energy drops.

that's because the bands he's been using for years haven't the fearlessness of the revolution or the early npg. in those days prince could lay off playing and create some drama and tension in his performance, wendy and brownmarks rhythm playing was always simple and in the pocket allowing the epic baby i'm a star extended jams to be different every night he played. levi seacer was a great musician and bandleader in his own right too, i don't see that in his band at the moment.

Prince only do what he does the best in the world play guitar

Only thing I have a problem with in Prince's guitar, is the solos. I love the solos but NOW a days he seems to go overboard with the solos. And Im like ok Prince we all know you can play.

robertgeorgeakabob said:

that's because the bands he's been using for years haven't the fearlessness of the revolution or the early npg.

I don't disagree, but I don't think that's it entirely...I doubt he was even capable of the solos on Fury during SNL, or While My Guitar Gently weeps until recently.

Playing Purple Rain 150+ times a year would get boring without him finding something inspiring about it, and while I do think he's overcompensating for Andy Allo, I also think the passion in those guitar solos is genuine, more than filler. Better the guitar than his overbearing backup singers taking over. If that era is over, I'm happy. Oh, and worse yet, was the Purple Rain era when the kick drum would solo for 2 minutes waiting for Prince to come back on stage with a new hat on.

i enjoy the way Prince takes on his guitar.... he is great at it and should never stop... Prince is a supa cool guitar player

I do enjoy him playing his guitar, no problem with that at least it's him doing what he loves to do. I'd say more guitar & Prince, less Maceo maybe...

The instrumentation matters very little to me with Prince. He could write, record and perform on with rubber band, like this:

... but in the end, it's more important that he sells his passion for what he does to me.

nah he needs to play more guitar. I wish he would go more rock rather this funk style he always try to do. The only bad thing to me is that his guitar playing the last few years has been really sloppy and lazy. HOWEVER, I would rather hear that than anything else he does like these dance jams or ballads. The more guitar the better, sloppy or not

Oh and I HATE when he plays Piano. That is the ultimate snooze fest when he does these piano medleys. Thats what I wish he would stop doing. Guitar...keep playing!!

Timmy84 said:

Nah I love his guitar playing. Just wished he did a rock album - but he never will.

Yeah, but you burn your own Prince rock album, and it'll have dozens of songs on it!

RodeoSchro said:

Timmy84 said:

Nah I love his guitar playing. Just wished he did a rock album - but he never will.

Yeah, but you burn your own Prince rock album, and it'll have dozens of songs on it!

TRUE!