independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > Prince playing 2 instruments simultaneously
« Previous topic  Next topic »
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 11/09/11 12:15pm

rob1965

avatar

Prince playing 2 instruments simultaneously

Anyone ever seen Prince play 2 instruments at the same time? I've seen it once on TV, on a short documentary where he was sort of "warming up" for an after show. He was playing the keyboards and the guitar at the same time. He was playing the guitar chords with his left hand wearing a glove so the sound of the guitar was somewhat smuthered, sounding more quiet, while he played a keyboard solo with his right hand. Amazing, especially since it sounded in no way out of tune or whatever. It really sounded great.cool

'Liberate My Mind'
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 11/09/11 12:32pm

bobbyperu

He did exactly that in the Melkweg! I couldn't believe my eyes. He played the bass with his left hand and the keys with his right. Can't remember exactly on what song, but it was somewhere early in the show. One of those magical Prince moments. Although it has to be said that Ida played the main bass line.
On a side note, this is not totally unique. During the sessions for Bob Dylan's legendary Blonde on Blonde LP, bass player Charlie McCoy announced that he wanted to play some trumpet. Bob said no because he didn't like to overdub anything. But then he saw Charlie play bass and trumpet at the same time and his mouth just fell open. I know how he must have felt. I saw it happen at that unforgettable night in Amsterdam in July.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 11/09/11 1:43pm

squirrelgrease

avatar

In addition to Prince doing this recently and once in a while throughout his live career, he famously jammed on guitar and keyboard at the same time for the CD-Single, NPGMC and Napster releases of The Work Part 1 (not the album version, though).

If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 11/09/11 1:53pm

Mindflux

avatar

There is also "video evidence" of such a thing (although not quite as remarkable as the guitar/keys combo), on the Rave DVD.

Before 1999, Prince is jamming a bassline on the synth and occassionally playing a drum (possibly a timbale). What he's doing with the drum is fairly simplistic (hence why I say less remarkable), but its never out of time and he doesn't drop his work on the keys at all. You can see him putting the drumstick in his mouth when playing the keys with both hands.

...we have only scratched the surface of what the mind can do...

My dance project;
www.zubzub.co.uk

Listen to any of my tracks in full, for free, here;
www.zubzub.bandcamp.com

Go and glisten wink
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 11/09/11 1:59pm

squirrelgrease

avatar

^ That's right. I forgot about that.

If prince.org were to be made idiot proof, someone would just invent a better idiot.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 11/09/11 2:14pm

steakfinger

There's a track on Crystal Ball, Calhoun Square, wherein he palys bass and something that sounds like a clavinet at the same time. The liner notes claim that the track was recorded live in the studio and that Prince played the bass and keyboard together.

On a side not, as musician that plays many of the same instruments Prince does - this is not as hard as it looks. That's not to take anything away from Prince, just saying.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 11/09/11 2:18pm

soulyacolia

avatar

He played guitar and keys simultaneously a couple of times at Malahide castle this summer very cool cool
if you've gotta pay for things that you've done wrong I've gotta big bill coming at the end of the day- Gil Scott Heron

Prince.org where fans of Prince meet and stay up too late
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 11/09/11 2:27pm

Mindflux

avatar

steakfinger said:

There's a track on Crystal Ball, Calhoun Square, wherein he palys bass and something that sounds like a clavinet at the same time. The liner notes claim that the track was recorded live in the studio and that Prince played the bass and keyboard together.

On a side not, as musician that plays many of the same instruments Prince does - this is not as hard as it looks. That's not to take anything away from Prince, just saying.

Indeed, although, it does depend on the complexity of what's being played, of course wink

...we have only scratched the surface of what the mind can do...

My dance project;
www.zubzub.co.uk

Listen to any of my tracks in full, for free, here;
www.zubzub.bandcamp.com

Go and glisten wink
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 11/09/11 2:29pm

Farfunknugin

avatar

I witnissed P doing this back in 98 at the club townshend aftershow in sf.

He strolled out in his white npg parka w/ the gold symbol guitar & started "The Ride" while playing both keys & guitar. Too cool.

[Edited 11/9/11 14:30pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 11/09/11 2:41pm

Sander250

avatar

He played guitar en keys in Rotterdam on the 26th of july 2011.

In 1998 saw him play guitar and eat a sandwich simultaneously during aftershow in Nighttown - Rotterdam, does that count too biggrin

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 11/09/11 4:15pm

alphastreet

YEAH he plays his instrument lol

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 11/09/11 7:39pm

RuthCass

avatar

Sander250 said:

He played guitar en keys in Rotterdam on the 26th of july 2011.

In 1998 saw him play guitar and eat a sandwich simultaneously during aftershow in Nighttown - Rotterdam, does that count too biggrin

That's genius lol

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 11/09/11 8:18pm

rap

Don't forget Prince of Paisley Park. Guitar and keys.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 11/09/11 9:10pm

micv

He played guitar and piano simultaneously at the final Oakland show on Feb. 24... It was very cool to see.

[Edited 11/9/11 21:10pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 11/09/11 10:09pm

rob1965

avatar

Sander250 said:

He played guitar en keys in Rotterdam on the 26th of july 2011.

In 1998 saw him play guitar and eat a sandwich simultaneously during aftershow in Nighttown - Rotterdam, does that count too biggrin

Only if he ate a sandwich, played the guitar (left) and keyboards (right) at the same time. cool

'Liberate My Mind'
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 11/10/11 1:48am

ohYeeeeeah

I witnessed him playing the guitar and the keys on several tracks at the hippodrome aftershow in London in 1998. Amazing stuff.

I'm a musician myself and I read someone stating it was not that hard. Well my answer is it depends on what you're playing. Prince has an amazing hands coordination. It's insane.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 11/10/11 5:20am

SpookyElektrix

didnt he do this recently in one of the scandinavian shows?

i think it was sweden?!? I saw a clip of it on youtube.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 11/10/11 10:44am

Trashcat

avatar

At the intro of Controversy, Prince played his Hohner and tapped on the drums simultaniously.

2010 Gelredome in The Netherlands.

Have a look at 'The W2A: Euro Tour Song Survey' http://prince.org/msg/12/362417
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 11/10/11 12:12pm

tollyc

I have seen this multiple times at Paisley Park circa 1995-1999.

He would jam with the goldenaxxe while strumming the guitar.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 11/10/11 7:29pm

NoNameReporter

I saw him play his keyboards (4 of them) with drumsticks in Studio B at Paisley Park in the summer of '99. It was straight sick. I've never seen anything like it. "let me hit the rims" and then he put the microphone down and built the rhythm off of the keyboards. It was impressive!

Does this qualify?

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 11/10/11 7:43pm

kewlschool

avatar

He probably played with 2 woman at once. wink Probably using more than 1 instrument at a time.

99.9% of everything I say is strictly for my own entertainment
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 11/10/11 9:57pm

rob1965

avatar

NoNameReporter said:

I saw him play his keyboards (4 of them) with drumsticks in Studio B at Paisley Park in the summer of '99. It was straight sick. I've never seen anything like it. "let me hit the rims" and then he put the microphone down and built the rhythm off of the keyboards. It was impressive!

Does this qualify?

Oh yes! cool headbang

'Liberate My Mind'
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > Prince playing 2 instruments simultaneously