It is not my impression that there are a lot of fans (or non-fans for that matter) that hate Prince as a guitar player at all. The discussion is at another level, whether Prince is among the best players of all time. More and more Prince is also recognized as a great guitar player in the media and to for example say that he is underrated, is simply rehashing a past narrative imo.

I also don't hear someone "hate" Prince as a guitar player. Might not know he was or think he's overrated, though. Also, I think that once you start listening to more broader spectrum of music, guitar-based jazz like Julian Lage or Ted Greene, Tim Lerch, also Country and many blues players, you realize calling him one of the best guitarists of all time (or those lists generelly in fact) is a bit silly. There really isn't someone like that, anyway.

He's a pop artist who was seen as more of a jack of all trades/all-rounder. People really just aren't familiar with his best guitar work, which is not seen on much of his most famous songs.

I've never heard anyone say they hate his guitar work.

I've heard some people say they think he's over-rated and not one of the all time bests as many fans believe. But that's not the same as saying they hate his guitar work. They're simply saying it's not as skillful as some people believe.

Prince is well-respected as a guitarist. He was really good at a lot of things. The most important thing is WHAT you play, not how fast you play it. Prince was an incredible rhythm guitarist. He was a very good soloist because his ideas were interesting. The issue for people like me is when non-musician fans decide he's the best guitarist that ever existed because they don't have any idea what they're talking about. That's when people like me step in with a little education. There are guys you'll never hear that could smoke Prince on guitar (athletically), myself being one of them. Prince wasn't even a pimple on Steve Vai's ass. That's just a fact. Having said all that, I would much rather listen to Prince play guitar than just about any of the guitar shredder/athletesa. There was no mysterious magic to Prince, it was all hard work and focus. He chose to split his hard work and focus among many disciplines. As a multi-instrumentalist myself I would say that the drumming on his second record is the strongest single instrumental performance on record aside from his incredible vocals.

Never heard of anyone hating Prince for his guitar playing in 40 years...

steakfinger said:

Prince is well-respected as a guitarist. He was really good at a lot of things. The most important thing is WHAT you play, not how fast you play it. Prince was an incredible rhythm guitarist. He was a very good soloist because his ideas were interesting. The issue for people like me is when non-musician fans decide he's the best guitarist that ever existed because they don't have any idea what they're talking about. That's when people like me step in with a little education. There are guys you'll never hear that could smoke Prince on guitar (athletically), myself being one of them. Prince wasn't even a pimple on Steve Vai's ass. That's just a fact. Having said all that, I would much rather listen to Prince play guitar than just about any of the guitar shredder/athletesa. There was no mysterious magic to Prince, it was all hard work and focus. He chose to split his hard work and focus among many disciplines. As a multi-instrumentalist myself I would say that the drumming on his second record is the strongest single instrumental performance on record aside from his incredible vocals.

Steak, remember, Vai even said he thought Prince was phenomenal as a guitarist. We all know Clapton loved him. Is Prince the greatest of all time, probably not but he is definitely among the best. Honestly, as you mentioned he spread his talents amongst several instruments, but do we really know the extent of his guitar skills (technically speaking)? Prince has never really full out freaked on the guitar. Even the RARHOF solo was crafted, but I get what you're saying.

[Edited 10/22/21 10:28am]

[Edited 10/22/21 10:29am]

steakfinger said:

Prince is well-respected as a guitarist. He was really good at a lot of things. The most important thing is WHAT you play, not how fast you play it. Prince was an incredible rhythm guitarist. He was a very good soloist because his ideas were interesting. The issue for people like me is when non-musician fans decide he's the best guitarist that ever existed because they don't have any idea what they're talking about. That's when people like me step in with a little education. There are guys you'll never hear that could smoke Prince on guitar (athletically), myself being one of them. Prince wasn't even a pimple on Steve Vai's ass. That's just a fact. Having said all that, I would much rather listen to Prince play guitar than just about any of the guitar shredder/athletesa. There was no mysterious magic to Prince, it was all hard work and focus. He chose to split his hard work and focus among many disciplines. As a multi-instrumentalist myself I would say that the drumming on his second record is the strongest single instrumental performance on record aside from his incredible vocals.

I totally get what you're saying...but it makes me laugh hard when I hear people say things like 'pimple on Vai's butt' type analogies. That makes it seem that Prince was some how...not great. As steakfinger said, he'd rather listen to Prince. Who on earth cares if a player can play 500 notes in a sec....it doesn't sound good. Melody is everything and guitar olympics is a sport. I'm for music. If Steve Vai is a star, Prince is a damn Galaxy... you see what I mean????

All of the guitar forums that I've surfed over the years (before and after his death) have all given P props. Some of them weren't fans of his music, but have said he was good....Even some of the heavy metal guys posted they liked his playing....I've only read a few small comments by some that they didn't like his tone ("too processed/too many effects").

Hamad said:

Matter of perspective, most people I know are not even aware he’s a guitar “soloist”. Fewer of that group are aware how insanely talented he is as a rhythm guitarist (Jimmy Jam & Niles Rodgers vouched for him as the best rhythm guitarist ever, and I agree although I’d throw in Roger Troutman as well). The only ones I noticed who seem to downplay his guitar skills - or musicianship in general - are typically white critics, and the comical thing is they’ll favor somebody who’s bland & mediocre in his place. If they complimented his skills, usually it’s in a condescending & backhanded tone. And I for one, have zero interest or desire in what they think about black musicians. So, there’s that. Are there better guitarists than Prince? Sure! Eddie Hazel & Santana come to mind, and I love them both. But if I’m looking to hear versatility - which I do most of the time - Prince’ playing is the only thing that permeates my entire being. It’s just resonates with me on a personal level. It’s fine if some people don’t like his playing, they don’t have to, but to call it overrated, that’s a diarrhea take for the ages

Well Put! I think that many guitar critics and rock journalists dont value rhythm in playing enough (ie Ike Turner, Tony Maiden).

Prince did.

steakfinger said:

That's when people like me step in with a little education. There are guys you'll never hear that could smoke Prince on guitar (athletically), myself being one of them.

Are you the dude who comes into threads to condescend to Prince's "simplistic" songwriting, too?

Does your mastery of music theory "smoke" his attempts as well? Please continue to educate.

Hamad said:

Matter of perspective, most people I know are not even aware he’s a guitar “soloist”. Fewer of that group are aware how insanely talented he is as a rhythm guitarist (Jimmy Jam & Niles Rodgers vouched for him as the best rhythm guitarist ever, and I agree although I’d throw in Roger Troutman as well). The only ones I noticed who seem to downplay his guitar skills - or musicianship in general - are typically white critics, and the comical thing is they’ll favor somebody who’s bland & mediocre in his place. If they complimented his skills, usually it’s in a condescending & backhanded tone. And I for one, have zero interest or desire in what they think about black musicians. So, there’s that. Are there better guitarists than Prince? Sure! Eddie Hazel & Santana come to mind, and I love them both. But if I’m looking to hear versatility - which I do most of the time - Prince’ playing is the only thing that permeates my entire being. It’s just resonates with me on a personal level. It’s fine if some people don’t like his playing, they don’t have to, but to call it overrated, that’s a diarrhea take for the ages

Roger was vastly underrated as was Eddie Hazel.

steakfinger said:

Prince is well-respected as a guitarist. He was really good at a lot of things. The most important thing is WHAT you play, not how fast you play it. Prince was an incredible rhythm guitarist. He was a very good soloist because his ideas were interesting. The issue for people like me is when non-musician fans decide he's the best guitarist that ever existed because they don't have any idea what they're talking about. That's when people like me step in with a little education. There are guys you'll never hear that could smoke Prince on guitar (athletically), myself being one of them. Prince wasn't even a pimple on Steve Vai's ass. That's just a fact. Having said all that, I would much rather listen to Prince play guitar than just about any of the guitar shredder/athletesa. There was no mysterious magic to Prince, it was all hard work and focus. He chose to split his hard work and focus among many disciplines. As a multi-instrumentalist myself I would say that the drumming on his second record is the strongest single instrumental performance on record aside from his incredible vocals.

This is an example of what I meant... There are lots of people who argue his guitar playing was over-rated, but that's not the same thing as saying they hate his guitar playing. Those are two different questions. I don't think I've heard anyone say they actually hate his guitar playing.

WhisperingDandelions said: