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Thread started 05/07/16 3:50pm

RiotPaisley

Prince as a drummer

So much attention is paid to his guitar playing and rightly so. I haven't seen much talk about him and his sick beats. I read an article about it a few years ago but have no idea where it was from.

He was a master of the low end for sure and always had great drummers for his bands. Anyone got some favorite beats? I learned how to ride the kick drum thanks to She's Always in my Hair. So cool. I miss the kit I had. sad
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Reply #1 posted 05/07/16 3:56pm

endiadj

the sign o the times tour when was beating for sheila. his work on drums doesn't get enough cred. he was special.
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Reply #2 posted 05/07/16 3:56pm

Guitarhero

Same goes for his bass guitar playing too.

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Reply #3 posted 05/07/16 3:58pm

paulludvig

The Flesh session cool

The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #4 posted 05/07/16 4:26pm

Replica

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Among his 4 most notable instruments keys, guitar, bass and drums... Drums is his whathe he is the least good at. And that's kinda ironic, as everything he does is so rhythmical and percussive in a way. He kind of is drums like James Brown. But the only thing he lacked on the drums imo is technique. His timing was fantastic though, a he had a vision. He knew what would work for the song. This is his best skill imo.
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Reply #5 posted 05/07/16 4:39pm

RiotPaisley

Replica said:

Among his 4 most notable instruments keys, guitar, bass and drums... Drums is his whathe he is the least good at. And that's kinda ironic, as everything he does is so rhythmical and percussive in a way. He kind of is drums like James Brown. But the only thing he lacked on the drums imo is technique. His timing was fantastic though, a he had a vision. He knew what would work for the song. This is his best skill imo.


Maybe I should rephrase cuz I guess I meant more like his ability to come up with beats. I should look for that article- great read. im not finding it on a quick google search. I printed it maybe I'll dig it up and post it.

He's great on bass-er base a bass is a fish. wink

I love that Sheila E solo on SOTT. I love her video- I think GL? when she kicks the cymbal. I feel like I remember her having hips / leg probs as well. I saw a special with her and she was drumming in some sneakers.
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Reply #6 posted 05/07/16 5:13pm

SPYZFAN1

I always loved P's drumming style on his early records. He was in solid and in the pocket. His "spotlight" drum solos in the "America" and "Beautiful Night" videos were pretty happening too.

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Reply #7 posted 05/07/16 5:27pm

RogerRoger

He was a decent drummer, with great musicality.
But listen to The Cross, and compare start vs end tempo (typical drummer newbie thing to let the tempo run).
Still more than great song.
[Edited 5/7/16 17:28pm]
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Reply #8 posted 05/07/16 5:56pm

RiotPaisley

RogerRoger said:

He was a decent drummer, with great musicality.
But listen to The Cross, and compare start vs end tempo (typical drummer newbie thing to let the tempo run).
Still more than great song.
[Edited 5/7/16 17:28pm]


Lol Drummer newbie? What?

K.I.S.S keep it simple stupid

Anotherloverholeinyourhead

Some of the best drummers were the least fancy. It's about keeping a tight band. Not showing off. IMHO
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Reply #9 posted 05/07/16 8:06pm

purplepolitici
an

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Madhouse, Flesh n Dirty mind drums = drooling
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Reply #10 posted 05/07/16 8:22pm

weirdozmedia

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777-9311 and When Doves Cry, I really like his drum programming stuff. Also Lady Cab Driver which sounds like he was playing real drums over the drum machine, such nasty grooves.

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Reply #11 posted 05/07/16 8:58pm

PeteSilas

Tambourine. his biggest impact was his usage of drum machines, he was a huge influence for using drum machines and his making of beats. To his credit, when everyone started using them he says he threw his away. Of course he always would go back to them so either he was speaking figuratively or bought some more.

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Reply #12 posted 05/07/16 10:17pm

imprimis

Also. . .

.

If It'll Make U Happy

Irresistible Bitch (1983/B-Side Version)

Shortberry Strawcake

Love or $

Girls and Boys (*I don't believe this to be either Bobby Z or Sheila)

Dream Factory

---->Sexual Suicide

Make Yo Mama Happy

Rockhard in a Funky Place

.

[Edited 5/7/16 22:29pm]

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Reply #13 posted 05/07/16 10:53pm

RiotPaisley

PeteSilas said:

Tambourine. his biggest impact was his usage of drum machines, he was a huge influence for using drum machines and his making of beats. To his credit, when everyone started using them he says he threw his away. Of course he always would go back to them so either he was speaking figuratively or bought some more.



That's where the article was going. I think it's cool. Drum machines. That's a good way to make dance music.

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Reply #14 posted 05/08/16 12:14am

TheW00denLeg

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weirdozmedia said:

777-9311 and When Doves Cry, I really like his drum programming stuff. Also Lady Cab Driver which sounds like he was playing real drums over the drum machine, such nasty grooves.

777-9311 was a stock sound on his LM1. Somebody said that in a recent interview, I forgot who it was though. I think it was Questlove or one of the Jam/Lewis guys. Questlove told how he would try to play this song for months until he realised it´s a drum machine lol

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Reply #15 posted 05/08/16 12:21am

RiotPaisley

Did he ever talk process? Did he build off beats or work around guitar riffs? Or was stuff built around lyrics?

Or did full songs just come to him like divine inspiration?
[Edited 5/8/16 0:27am]
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Reply #16 posted 05/08/16 6:54am

jdcxc

purplepolitician said:

Madhouse, Flesh n Dirty mind drums = drooling


Yes. Madhouse drum work is incredible. Prince was a great pocket drummer and his compositional genius shows through in his Linn programming.
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Reply #17 posted 05/08/16 7:00am

paulludvig

I notice many are referring to Prince as a pocket drummer, but I think his drumming was pretty fancy and loose.
The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #18 posted 05/08/16 7:02am

Dandroppedadim
e

i'm guessing prince was the drummer on God (inst.), Another Lonely Christmas, Alexa De Paris and Desire which are all stunning performances imo.

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Reply #19 posted 05/08/16 8:46am

weirdozmedia

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TheW00denLeg said:



weirdozmedia said:


777-9311 and When Doves Cry, I really like his drum programming stuff. Also Lady Cab Driver which sounds like he was playing real drums over the drum machine, such nasty grooves.



777-9311 was a stock sound on his LM1. Somebody said that in a recent interview, I forgot who it was though. I think it was Questlove or one of the Jam/Lewis guys. Questlove told how he would try to play this song for months until he realised it´s a drum machine lol



Yeah I just saw that Jesse Johnson had posted that pattern came programmed into the LM by the drummer from Tower of Power. Now I wanna hear the stock pattern and see how much (or little) P changed it up.
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