Knightoflight said:

Just don`t understand absolute opinions of posters.

Life matters. Love matters. Times are changing. Opinions and money is nothing.

I didn`t mean to offend anybody. I just posted a link to the tutorial that sounds right to my ears.

I could be wrong - whatever. One could decide what way to go. Just funny to read when somebody argue on one exact chors because he THINKS ut should be played that way. Nobody except Prince knows how to play it. And even for Live shows he plays it differently...

Don`t see a problem here

(if it's directed at me) i didn't say "Purple Rain should be played this way" – I said the four chords that I listed are those that you can hear on the original album. Of course, any music could be played a zillion different ways, I was merely talking about how to play PR the way Wendy did on the recording.

About the tutorial you posted: as I said, the guy maybe deliberately played simpler chords to make it easier for beginners. The way he plays it might sound good to someone, but simply it does not sound the way Purple Rain was played on the album, because he plays it differently.

To say that "nobody except Prince knows how to play it" is plain childish. Of course he (or anyone else) can play it differently every night, that's not the point. We were talking about the original recording.

RodeoSchro said:

First of all, y'all need to check yourselves. Jay has contributed a lot of Prince tabs, going back at least as far as "Gold", and I can't remember any of them being wrong or incorrect. So thanks, Jay, for the tabs.

Second, the song sounds just about right, but I agree that using the thumb isn't the best way. In the seminal interview with Prince in "Guitar Player" magazine, there was a sidebar on how to actually play "Purple Rain" like Wendy did. Look it up.

Third, grow up everyone.

Thanks RodeoSchro,

Here`s a high 5 right back at you!

Those tabs from way back in the day were put together by a 14 year old me - I love how we`ve been able to move from text files to video files to share our guitar wisdom!

Anyhow, several of these Prince fans on the ORG are the reason for why Prince wants to distance himself from large parts of his fanbase - they`re nerdy and don`t listen to much more than him.

Whatever... I`ve got another video...

Muchos gracias again for the props - looking forward to your next post.

Peace

Jay

statequest said:

jayARDAHB said:

Hey statequest,

Appreciate the feedback!

Cheers,

J

Hey J, I seriously like your post. It's all about the music!

I'll be waiting to hear your next video.

Hey Statequest,

In honour of the little dorks who came into this post with nothing but Prince in their music collections, I`ve recorded a video of me playing When U Were Mine.

While these new dorks would have preferred that I played their favourite classic jams like Golden Parachute, Push It Up and I Like Funky Music, I`ve preferred to play a song from a time in Prince`s career where he was pushing boundaries.

It`ll be up soon... Thanks again for the positive feedback. The music is what it really is all about!

Peace brother!

Jay

Oh, no, not another video, please!

That Slow Love one was really uncalled for... And I'm not even referring to the posing, but to the fact that what you managed to bang out on that poor strat had nothing to do with the actual song

KaresB said:

Oh, no, not another video, please!

That Slow Love one was really uncalled for... And I'm not even referring to the posing, but to the fact that what you managed to bang out on that poor strat had nothing to do with the actual song

Hahahaha!!!

Don`t make me do it!!!

You`re right though about Slow Love - the guitar part in the actual song is very different.

My video highlighted the chords but out with the old and in with the new.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ESJVSsLMmE

There`s the link to the new video!

KaresB... I`d love to hear you play one of these days!

jayARDAHB said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ESJVSsLMmE

There`s the link to the new video!

KaresB... I`d love to hear you play one of these days!

TUNE THAT GUITAR, man...!

seriously...

I assume you're using a tuner, but a guitar can never be perfectly tuned with a tuner, not even with a peterson. In fact, a guitar, by nature, can never be perfectly tuned – you can just find the right compromise in tuning that fits your own way of playing. It's almost an art itself... But you need to learn it.

KaresB said:

jayARDAHB said:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ESJVSsLMmE

There`s the link to the new video!

KaresB... I`d love to hear you play one of these days!

TUNE THAT GUITAR, man...!

seriously...

I assume you're using a tuner, but a guitar can never be perfectly tuned with a tuner, not even with a peterson. In fact, a guitar, by nature, can never be perfectly tuned – you can just find the right compromise in tuning that fits your own way of playing. It's almost an art itself... But you need to learn it.

The guitar is tuned dude!!!

I used a tuner - it`s tuned!

The guitar sound maybe hampering the sound quality but believe me - that guitar was tuned moments before the video was recorded.

The guitar is worth 50.00 and I`m playing through a ZOOM505. The video was recorded using a FLIPCAM. The thing doesn`t need to be tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

J

jayARDAHB said:

KaresB said:

TUNE THAT GUITAR, man...!

seriously...

I assume you're using a tuner, but a guitar can never be perfectly tuned with a tuner, not even with a peterson. In fact, a guitar, by nature, can never be perfectly tuned – you can just find the right compromise in tuning that fits your own way of playing. It's almost an art itself... But you need to learn it.

The guitar is tuned dude!!!

I used a tuner - it`s tuned!

The guitar sound maybe hampering the sound quality but believe me - that guitar was tuned moments before the video was recorded.

The guitar is worth 50.00 and I`m playing through a ZOOM505. The video was recorded using a FLIPCAM. The thing doesn`t need to be tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

J

It doesn't matter if it's worth $50., you could still tune it (unless your strings are old) but in this video it is out of tune. Your D string is sharp., your G is flat, and your guitar's bridge is not set correctly. (I bet if you tune open strings and then play octaves, at least your B and E strings would be off.)

if you can't hear it isn't tuned properly you have no business making music

that posing makes it even more hilariously ridiculous

[Edited 8/30/11 18:33pm]

jayARDAHB said:

KaresB said:

TUNE THAT GUITAR, man...!

seriously...

I assume you're using a tuner, but a guitar can never be perfectly tuned with a tuner, not even with a peterson. In fact, a guitar, by nature, can never be perfectly tuned – you can just find the right compromise in tuning that fits your own way of playing. It's almost an art itself... But you need to learn it.

The guitar is tuned dude!!!

I used a tuner - it`s tuned!

The guitar sound maybe hampering the sound quality but believe me - that guitar was tuned moments before the video was recorded.

If you read KaresB's post again, you'll see that they're not saying that you didn't use a tuner, or even debating whether or not you tuned it before you started playing.

It seems there's a distinction between a guitar having just been tuned and it actually being in tune.

Listen to the video yourself - does it sound in tune to you?

Personally I think that one sounds considerably better than the first vid, but I'm by no means an expert. I've actually appreciated reading this thread because it's offered so many different perspectives from different musicians about how PR could be played and helped me appreciate the nuances of the instrument.

Perhaps if the thread had been presented as a discussion about how to play PR, rather than a "no correspondence will be entered into" instructional post, it would have been a more pleasant experience.

A couple of people have said it already and I'd echo their advice. Attitude counts for a lot. There have been some questionable attitudes here (and, in fairness, I count myself amongst them), but the arrogance with which you started the thread and your apparent unwillingness to take on board constructive criticism makes for somewhat of a 'smartass magnet', particularly around these parts.

They say that Prince gets exactly the fanbase he deserves. On a micro scale then, perhaps you get the replies you deserve?

It may sound strange, but try closing your eyes and listening to the video as if it were someone else playing.

What advice would you have for them?

It would be so awesome if the camera panned back at the end to show Prince sitting there, smiling.

Otherwise, I got nothin' to say about this.

Dewrede said:

if you can't hear it isn't tuned properly you have no business making music

that posing makes it even more hilariously ridiculous

[Edited 8/30/11 18:33pm]

Oh take a pill...

We were having some fun at our place...

The faces and the hat are just for kicks...

Loosen up and just have a laugh!

Chiquetet said:

jayARDAHB said:

The guitar is tuned dude!!!

I used a tuner - it`s tuned!

The guitar sound maybe hampering the sound quality but believe me - that guitar was tuned moments before the video was recorded.

If you read KaresB's post again, you'll see that they're not saying that you didn't use a tuner, or even debating whether or not you tuned it before you started playing.

It seems there's a distinction between a guitar having just been tuned and it actually being in tune.

Listen to the video yourself - does it sound in tune to you?

Personally I think that one sounds considerably better than the first vid, but I'm by no means an expert. I've actually appreciated reading this thread because it's offered so many different perspectives from different musicians about how PR could be played and helped me appreciate the nuances of the instrument.

Perhaps if the thread had been presented as a discussion about how to play PR, rather than a "no correspondence will be entered into" instructional post, it would have been a more pleasant experience.

A couple of people have said it already and I'd echo their advice. Attitude counts for a lot. There have been some questionable attitudes here (and, in fairness, I count myself amongst them), but the arrogance with which you started the thread and your apparent unwillingness to take on board constructive criticism makes for somewhat of a 'smartass magnet', particularly around these parts.

They say that Prince gets exactly the fanbase he deserves. On a micro scale then, perhaps you get the replies you deserve?

It may sound strange, but try closing your eyes and listening to the video as if it were someone else playing.

What advice would you have for them?

Actually, you are right... the posts from some of the members of this board are great... they were well deserved - thanks to KaresB, statequest, Garymf, novabrkr, Rodeoschro and mwu for their thoughts.

The others can continue watching my video - I'd love to see some of them make their own! It would be fun!

No, I meant you should really tune that guitar.

If you used a tuner then it's possible that you just have one of those guitars that go out of tune easily when you're doing the other strings. Something might be a bit miscalibrated there.

Some of those tuners can a bit of a hit and miss too. If you're using one of those software based ones, try some other program instead. There should be quite a few free ones available on the net these days.

statequest said:

Hi GaryMF. Sorry. Yeah. Not the sustained thing. I meant sus2. I should be more clearer. Nevermind, I sometimes do that thing where I nod my head when someone asks me question on the phone. Not thinking lol!

I don't know about the D thing, but it's definitely a G in the bass. I did say that...right?.. I did lol.

That JUMP Van Halen song sounds like it has a load of sus4 and sus2 notes. Note to self...will learn one day.

[Edited 8/30/11 15:27pm]

Hey I don't know that much (esp about guitar since I play keyboards!) but I did learn about "SUS" chords a few years ago (even though had been playing that Bbsus2 not knowing what it was for YEARS!)

G in the bass? Yeah on the 2nd chord for sure... the Gbm7 (or 9th whatever you feel like ).

Jump.... I once figured out the main riff on synth but I can't remember it now. As I think about it, I think it does this thing that is pretty commonwhere it goes from like the Sus to the "regular" chord. It's a common way to resolve a progression in pop. e.g. play a Csus4 where you play an C triad on synth but play "F" in stead of the middle E. Do that a few times and then "resolve" to a standard C major (move the F to the E).

jayARDAHB said:

KaresB said:

Oh, no, not another video, please!

That Slow Love one was really uncalled for... And I'm not even referring to the posing, but to the fact that what you managed to bang out on that poor strat had nothing to do with the actual song

Hahahaha!!!

Don`t make me do it!!!

You`re right though about Slow Love - the guitar part in the actual song is very different.

My video highlighted the chords but out with the old and in with the new.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...ESJVSsLMmE

There`s the link to the new video!

KaresB... I`d love to hear you play one of these days!

Heya Jay. Nicely done! You definitely sound like you're attempting to play both guitar parts in song's first chorus, which is very interesting.

You're a joker though 'The facial expressions plus the shout out at the end, plus the slanted video camera!'

KaresB said:

It doesn't matter if it's worth $50., you could still tune it (unless your strings are old) but in this video it is out of tune. Your D string is sharp., your G is flat, and your guitar's bridge is not set correctly. (I bet if you tune open strings and then play octaves, at least your B and E strings would be off.)

Tuning lol. KaresB. I think you're right. Nevermind. This reminds me of the Wendy & Lisa video where they took about 3 minutes to tune up, or rather, Wendy did. But it was some weird/hilarious/funny tuning, drop D tuning, drone tuning thing.

statequest said:

KaresB said:

It doesn't matter if it's worth $50., you could still tune it (unless your strings are old) but in this video it is out of tune. Your D string is sharp., your G is flat, and your guitar's bridge is not set correctly. (I bet if you tune open strings and then play octaves, at least your B and E strings would be off.)

Tuning lol. KaresB. I think you're right. Nevermind. This reminds me of the Wendy & Lisa video where they took about 3 minutes to tune up, or rather, Wendy did. But it was some weird/hilarious/funny tuning, drop D tuning, drone tuning thing.

thanks, never seen this before. (this tuning she plays is soooo Joni Mitchell... )

Anyway: tuning really is not just a matter of setting each string until the dial of the tuner is in the middle (especially not if you're not using a Peterson tuner). There's far more to it and noone with an ear should rely solely on a tuner.

KaresB said:

i just don't hear a D note in the first strum of Purple Rain, she just didn't play that on the released version. I only hear a Bb sus2 chord.

[Edited 8/28/11 5:06am]

That's impossible: from your posts on this thread it's easy to gather you have definitely very good ears. So I can't understand you're not hearing the D bass clearly.

The song starts with just the guitar. The bass on that very first chord is CLEARLY a D (XX0311). That's a Bbsus2/D here and in the moon.

When Prince starts singing, the rest of the instruments join in, and the bass is playing a Bb bass, thus turning the 'complete chord' into a Bb add2 rather than a Bbsus2 because if we see this chord from the Bb bass then we have Bb D Bb C F, with D being the major third of Bb. Thus there wouldn't be a 'suspended third' but an 'added second'.

Listen carefully to the very first guitar strum at the beginning of the song. You HAVE TO hear that D bass. Hell, that D is even the note that lasts longer when the chord sound starts to fade.

vitriol said:

KaresB said:

i just don't hear a D note in the first strum of Purple Rain, she just didn't play that on the released version. I only hear a Bb sus2 chord.

[Edited 8/28/11 5:06am]

That's impossible: from your posts on this thread it's easy to gather you have definitely very good ears. So I can't understand you're not hearing the D bass clearly.

The song starts with just the guitar. The bass on that very first chord is CLEARLY a D (XX0311). That's a Bbsus2/D here and in the moon.

OK, you're right never realized this though, i must've heard it a thousand times and it just burned into my ears the way i always percieved it to be. I was wrong. I guess it's because between the first chord and the second, she plays the Bb-Bb-A-G bassline and in my mind that "obviously" meant that the bass of the first chord is also Bb...

^I'd always thought the song was played in a 'pure' Bbsus2 but there was always 'something missing' that I couldn't identify.

The I saw Wendy explaining (and playing) the inversion and when I tried it I was like: Wow! This DOES SOUND exactly like the record!

BTW, I must thank you a lot for the 4th open string D note idea in the Gm11 chord instead of using the usual F, it sounds wonderful and I had never figured that out!

vitriol said:

KaresB said:

i just don't hear a D note in the first strum of Purple Rain, she just didn't play that on the released version. I only hear a Bb sus2 chord.

[Edited 8/28/11 5:06am]

That's impossible: from your posts on this thread it's easy to gather you have definitely very good ears. So I can't understand you're not hearing the D bass clearly.

The song starts with just the guitar. The bass on that very first chord is CLEARLY a D (XX0311). That's a Bbsus2/D here and in the moon.

When Prince starts singing, the rest of the instruments join in, and the bass is playing a Bb bass, thus turning the 'complete chord' into a Bb add2 rather than a Bbsus2 because if we see this chord from the Bb bass then we have Bb D Bb C F, with D being the major third of Bb. Thus there wouldn't be a 'suspended third' but an 'added second'.

Listen carefully to the very first guitar strum at the beginning of the song. You HAVE TO hear that D bass. Hell, that D is even the note that lasts longer when the chord sound starts to fade.

You're right!

+ EDIT NOTE Should take aural training more seriously!!! Thanks. It's even in that Purple Rain backstage video! Awesome chords. It's true, the bass adds the bB. Nice!!! Favourite post of the year so far.

[Edited 8/31/11 9:17am]

vitriol said:

^It's not an 'opinion', it's a 'fact'...

Have you seen that video?

There.

Billmenever said:

vitriol said:

^It's not an 'opinion', it's a 'fact'...

Have you seen that video?

There.

haha!

vitriol said:

Finally, the chords posted by KaresB are correct, but everybody forgets the first chord should be Bb sus2/D. It's a first inversion of the chord and the bass is on the third of that chord (i.e. D). Wendy explains that on DVD2 of the Special Edition of Purple Rain.

[Edited 8/28/11 4:38am]

I think you are right about the bass note of the Bb sus2/D being the open D. If you look at The Makings of Rain video you can clearly see that Wendy never frets the B at the second fret of the A string, not with her thumb or any other finger. Personally the tonality sounds cooler on one guitar if you fret the B at the second fret of the A string with the middle finger, let the open D ring,fret the 3rd fret of the G with the pinky and barre the 2nd fret of the B and E strings with the index finger.

But in the video, it looks to me like she is simply playing the Bbsus2/D polychord with the open D as the lowest note while she leisurely mutes the open low E and A strings with her thumb near the 3rd position...I haven't got the special edition of PR, but to hear Wendy talk about that sequence is worth the price for me!

better than i could do anyway

i enjoyed your vids, u made me smile. cute pink guitar, u got some style

DoffieParker said:

better than i could do anyway

i enjoyed your vids, u made me smile. cute pink guitar, u got some style

Thanks DoffieParker!

Jaydeep10000