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Thread started 11/29/21 9:52am

funkman88

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How does Prince rank amongst the greatest multi-instrumentalist of all time?

6.FLAVOR FLAV-PUBLIC ENEMY

He sang in the youth choir at his church and mastered the piano, drums and guitar at an early age. FLAV is proficient in fifteen instruments .

5.Dave Grohl
Instruments:
Vocals, drums, guitar, bass, piano, percussion
Grohl’s post Nirvana 15-track demo had everything – except for one guitar part – recorded by himself.

4.Trent Reznor

Saying that Nine Inch Nails leader is a brilliant artist would be an understatement. Besides the creativity and great vocal work, he is also known for his multi-instrumentalist skills.

3. Stevie Wonder
Instruments:
Vocals, keyboards, harmonica, drums, bass guitar, congas, bongos, keytar, accordion, harpejji
On Superstition he played all instruments except horns and guitar!

2.Paul McCartney

Like being in one of the best musical groups of all time wasn't enough, even well into his 70s McCartney still rocks. And not only as a bassist and a vocalist but as guitarist, pianist, and drummer as well.

1. Prince

And the definite winner of this list is the all mighty, the one and only, Prince. It's one thing to know how to play a couple of tunes and licks on various instruments. But it's a whole new level of awesomeness if you are proficient on each of them. Well, Prince was one of those guys. Besides his impeccable vocal skills and wicked guitar playing, Prince mastered bass, drums, and keyboards.

Do u agree with this list? who would u add and is Prince truly number 1?

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Reply #1 posted 11/29/21 3:44pm

TrivialPursuit

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I think they're all worthy of a top spot.

I really think it comes down to production and how they use those talents to make a record, and just how good is the record. For Wonder to play mostly everthing on "Superstition" is amazing.

I believe Paul is as much "being music" was Prince was. He's just insanely gifted.

Trent can play a lot, but he's more of a computer nerd. Yes, he can play stuff, but there's so much of his music that is another keyboard going through another computer. Now, what he's done with that, and damn near creating the Industrial music genre is nothing short of innovative. Not only was people like Ministry or Marilyn Manson getting influence from that, but frankly folks like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and the like, were influenced by Trent's harder music. It took all the glam out of 80s heavy metal and injected a mixture of dirt, grease, anger, and a new rebellion into it.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #2 posted 11/29/21 4:29pm

Hamad

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Sly Stone, Shuggie Otis, Todd Rundgren & D’Angelo come to mind for me. Prince was the pinnacle for sure.
Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future...

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Reply #3 posted 11/29/21 11:31pm

BartVanHemelen

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TrivialPursuit said:


Trent can play a lot, but he's more of a computer nerd. Yes, he can play stuff, but there's so much of his music that is another keyboard going through another computer. Now, what he's done with that, and damn near creating the Industrial music genre is nothing short of innovative. Not only was people like Ministry or Marilyn Manson getting influence from that, but frankly folks like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and the like, were influenced by Trent's harder music. It took all the glam out of 80s heavy metal and injected a mixture of dirt, grease, anger, and a new rebellion into it.

.

LOL. Just hilarious. Dude, educate yourself.

.

Hint: Front 242, Throbbing Gristle (who founded a record label called Industrial Records in the 1970s), Cabaret Voltaire, KMFDM, Front Line Assembly, Laibach, Clock DVA, Nurse With Wound, Einstürzende Neubauten, etc.

.

FYI: Ministry released an industrial album before Trent formed NIN.

© Bart Van Hemelen
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Reply #4 posted 11/30/21 12:11am

JorisE73

Marcus Miller

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Reply #5 posted 11/30/21 1:23am

funkman88

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JorisE73 said:

Marcus Miller


He just bass
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Reply #6 posted 11/30/21 1:23am

TrivialPursuit

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BartVanHemelen said:

LOL. Just hilarious. Dude, educate yourself.

.

Hint: Front 242, Throbbing Gristle (who founded a record label called Industrial Records in the 1970s), Cabaret Voltaire, KMFDM, Front Line Assembly, Laibach, Clock DVA, Nurse With Wound, Einstürzende Neubauten, etc.

.

FYI: Ministry released an industrial album before Trent formed NIN.


You can't even make a line break without typing a period. Educate yourself, dude.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #7 posted 11/30/21 1:56am

Wolfie87

Can't we just let him have this one. He always end up being screwed in top lists. Purple Rain getting fucked over in 1985, SOTT getting fucked over in 1988. "Not enough good Guitar player, overated". "Not good enough on keys, Chic Corea is waaay better", "not enough on synths, Gary Numan waaaaay better". Even though we know he is objective the motherfcking GOAT in the music field. 8000+ songs in the vault ain't enough?!?!?!

That role in Purple Rain sure made him a villain in the music industry. Too cocky, too good self esteem, too many women.

But hey, I guess it's okay when Motley Crew does it. Getting laid with many women too. That's acceptable, but Prince, naaaaah man.
[Edited 11/30/21 1:57am]
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Reply #8 posted 11/30/21 2:24am

JorisE73

funkman88 said:

JorisE73 said:

Marcus Miller

He just bass



Yeah sure, that's why he played piano, saxophone, clarinet, drums, bass, guitar, xylophone and more during his many Montreux Jazz and North Sea Jazz shows.

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Reply #9 posted 11/30/21 2:48am

Free2BMe

funkman88 said:

6.FLAVOR FLAV-PUBLIC ENEMY


He sang in the youth choir at his church and mastered the piano, drums and guitar at an early age. FLAV is proficient in fifteen instruments .




5.Dave Grohl
Instruments:
Vocals, drums, guitar, bass, piano, percussion
Grohl’s post Nirvana 15-track demo had everything – except for one guitar part – recorded by himself.


4.Trent Reznor


Saying that Nine Inch Nails leader is a brilliant artist would be an understatement. Besides the creativity and great vocal work, he is also known for his multi-instrumentalist skills.



3. Stevie Wonder
Instruments:
Vocals, keyboards, harmonica, drums, bass guitar, congas, bongos, keytar, accordion, harpejji
On Superstition he played all instruments except horns and guitar!



2.Paul McCartney


Like being in one of the best musical groups of all time wasn't enough, even well into his 70s McCartney still rocks. And not only as a bassist and a vocalist but as guitarist, pianist, and drummer as well.



1. Prince


And the definite winner of this list is the all mighty, the one and only, Prince. It's one thing to know how to play a couple of tunes and licks on various instruments. But it's a whole new level of awesomeness if you are proficient on each of them. Well, Prince was one of those guys. Besides his impeccable vocal skills and wicked guitar playing, Prince mastered bass, drums, and keyboards.




Do u agree with this list? who would u add and is Prince truly number 1?




I would put Bruno Mars very high on this list. He is an impeccable vocalist, songwriter, producer, as well as guitarist, pianist, drummer, multi instrumentalist, etc.
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Reply #10 posted 11/30/21 4:24am

fortuneandsere
ndipity

I would give it to Sly Stone. He had better teeth than Prince, and used them to good effect.


The world's problems like climate change can only be solved through strategic long-term thinking, not expediency. In other words all the govts. need sacking!

If you can add value to someone's life then why not. Especially if it colors their days...
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Reply #11 posted 11/30/21 1:53pm

love2thenines2
003

fortuneandserendipity said:

I would give it to Sly Stone. He had better teeth than Prince, and used them to good effect.





Yes...it was at the top ever to use his nose in a particular way...the one and only straight away the white line...yes...his nose as his best instrument...the best ever!
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Reply #12 posted 11/30/21 2:47pm

SPYZFAN1

Jara Harris from Slapbak...dude is frightening. Lewis Taylor is great too. Although they may not be in the same league, Bootsy Collins and Larry Graham played several different instruments on their earlier albums. MeShell, Mayer Hawthorne and Louis Cole are great too.

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Reply #13 posted 11/30/21 2:50pm

SPYZFAN1

..and Marcus Miller has plenty of videos on his FB page of him playing different instruments on his own original compositions. He also played all the instruments on Miles' album "Tutu".

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Reply #14 posted 11/30/21 6:59pm

lavendardrumma
chine

That's a pretty individual weird list. The thing is anyone who has worked with Prince has conveyed that he was a better musician than we even realize.

My vote is Flav. He doesn't record, he's had almost no influence on the Bomb Squad since they became big, who knows how long he goes between playing at all, but then just for fun he'll grab a bass and play like a session player for 7 minutes straight, then walk over to the drums and do the same. He doesn't compose music though.

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Reply #15 posted 11/30/21 7:18pm

funkman88

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SPYZFAN1 said:

..and Marcus Miller has plenty of videos on his FB page of him playing different instruments on his own original compositions. He also played all the instruments on Miles' album "Tutu".

but not the virtuostic level of Prince...

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Reply #16 posted 12/01/21 12:55am

Marrk

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love2thenines2003 said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

I would give it to Sly Stone. He had better teeth than Prince, and used them to good effect.


Yes...it was at the top ever to use his nose in a particular way...the one and only straight away the white line...yes...his nose as his best instrument...the best ever!

Still alive though!

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Reply #17 posted 12/01/21 1:05am

JorisE73

funkman88 said:

SPYZFAN1 said:

..and Marcus Miller has plenty of videos on his FB page of him playing different instruments on his own original compositions. He also played all the instruments on Miles' album "Tutu".

but not the virtuostic level of Prince...


Marcus Miller is better than Trent Reznor, Dave Grohl, Paul MCcartney, Flavor Flav and Stevie Wonder on any instrument. Dave Grohl is probably only a better drummer and Stevie Wonder better on keys.
Marcus Miller is on par with Prince (Princ is just a much better drummer, guitarist and pianist)

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Reply #18 posted 12/01/21 1:07am

love2thenines2
003

JorisE73 said:

funkman88 said:

but not the virtuostic level of Prince...


Marcus Miller is better than Trent Reznor, Dave Grohl, Paul MCcartney, Flavor Flav and Stevie Wonder on any instrument. Dave Grohl is probably only a better drummer and Stevie Wonder better on keys.
Marcus Miller is on par with Prince (Princ is just a much better drummer, guitarist and pianist)

...and much much better vocalist in any way.....Prince is untouchable .....and will be if only a new Mozart is coming.....not before centuries ...me think !

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Reply #19 posted 12/01/21 1:34am

Vannormal

I will never understand these pointless competitions amongst fans.

Which always end in unasked disputes and irrelevant egocentric comparissons.

Same goes for nominations and awards.

Even the damn Nobel Prize... or any serious literature prize, film prizes, whatever is invented to divide the so called chosen 'best'.

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves. And wiser people so full of doubts" (Bertrand Russell 1872-1972)
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Reply #20 posted 12/01/21 1:41am

TheEnglishGent

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I don't care who's the 'best', but Prince is my favourite one.

RIP sad
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Reply #21 posted 12/01/21 1:42am

SantanaMaitrey
a

We really should include all the members of The Band in this list: Garth Hudson, Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel, who were all multi instrumentalists.
If you take any of this seriously, you're a bigger fool than I am.
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Reply #22 posted 12/01/21 7:07am

Graycap23

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I'm rolling w Prince, Stokley, Marcus Miller & McCartney.

FOOLS multiply when WISE Men & Women are silent.
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Reply #23 posted 12/01/21 7:32am

Hamad

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Forgot to mention Leon Sylver III, he’s an amazing multi-instrumentalist and a very underrated bassist, I could recognize his baselines right away because they’re so melodic.
Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/QLH82
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Reply #24 posted 12/01/21 8:25am

funkman88

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Hamad said:

Forgot to mention Leon Sylver III, he’s an amazing multi-instrumentalist and a very underrated bassist, I could recognize his baselines right away because they’re so melodic.

No we didn't we know he can't touch flavor flav
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Reply #25 posted 12/01/21 2:28pm

SPYZFAN1

Who cares if he's not at the virtoustic level of P?..I enjoy his talent..it's not a contest to me. Another one is Johnny "Guitar" Watson. He started out as a piano player and later moved to guitar. He played most of the instruments on his albums....I'd have to throw Ike Turner in there too (guitar/piano/synth/bass/percussion) on his solo albums.

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Reply #26 posted 12/01/21 9:26pm

pernil

Jeff Lynne (of ELO) is another masterful multi-instrumentalist, comfortable on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and an amazing vocalist, producer, songwriter. Not to be overlooked!

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Reply #27 posted 12/01/21 10:50pm

TrivialPursuit

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pernil said:

Jeff Lynne (of ELO) is another masterful multi-instrumentalist, comfortable on guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and an amazing vocalist, producer, songwriter. Not to be overlooked!


I fucking LOVE ELO. Lynne really is a genius at things. Even his re-recordings for a Best of type package were stellar. You could hardly hear the difference. They were just so much clearer and nicer to hear.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #28 posted 12/02/21 12:18am

JorisE73

funkman88 said:

Hamad said:
Forgot to mention Leon Sylver III, he’s an amazing multi-instrumentalist and a very underrated bassist, I could recognize his baselines right away because they’re so melodic.
No we didn't we know he can't touch flavor flav


Ah, so this just another one of your trolling theads. Gotcha thumbs up!
No need for any more serious replies I guess.

[Edited 12/2/21 0:19am]

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Reply #29 posted 12/02/21 12:25am

pernil

Lindsey Buckingham is another multi-instrumentalist I rate highly as an original songwriter and incredible producer.

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