Back in the day... news articles always used to say how Prince played like 20 or 30 instruments (something like that).

I always wondered... just what are these instruments... since apparently he does not play horns or woodwinds (which is why Eric Leeds and Matt B. were always so important).

Now, I'm not knocking Prince... God knows he is an unbelievable musician on Piano and Guitar alone... not to mention bass and drums. But how did they get over 20 instruments???

Here's my attempt to reconcile:

1. Piano
2. Guitar (electric)
3. Guitar (acoustic)
4. Bass Guitar
5. Drums
6. Electric Piano (e.g. Rhodes)
7. Elec. Keyboards/Synths
8. Organ

This is where it gets kinda weird...does he even play Latin percussion like Sheila??

9. Timbales
10. Congas
11. Bongos
12. Drum Machine (Linn)

I'm sure there are more specific percussion peices like cabasa, bells etc... but is that how they got to over 20?

Just curious. I would love to be 1/2 as good as he is any any one instrument! (I'm trying with keyboards!)

T.A.M.B.O.R.I.N.E of course . . .

and do tap shoes count?? did anyone else get the feeling on the Gold Album that Prince was clicking tap shoes on a counter top with his hands and recording it for a couple tracks?
[This message was edited Thu Aug 21 9:58:31 PDT 2003 by Lenae]

If you look on microsoft encarta it staes he plays the sax... Look.

Prince (1958- ), American pop singer and songwriter. Born Prince Rogers Nelson in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he and a friend formed Grand Central, a soul-rock group, while still in junior high school. At that age Prince was already adept on keyboard, guitar, and drums, and by the time he finished high school he had mastered the saxophone and at least ten other instruments.



"Prince," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2000. © 1993-1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

on his "FACE DOWN" video there is a brief snippet of Prince playing the Violin...


PEACE N B WiLD!!!

I don't trust Microsoft (for anything actually!) .

Besides, I distinctly remember an article with Prince or Eric... specifically talking about how Prince said if he played sax, he would play it the way Eric does... and Eric thought that was such an amazing compliment. It was clear that Prince doesn't play it from the article. Not to mention that on Madhouse, Eric said Prince played everything except sax, so why bother with Eric if he could do it himself?

And anyway, that still leaves 10 more instruments to go...even according to this entry!

Horntooter said:

GaryMF said:

I recall hearing / reading that Prince can play the sax at a basic level (from a younger age), but regrets not taking his playing further.

Also add to the list:

Harp (Starfish and Coffee)
Harmonica? (Theives in the temple)

Theres probably more, but most variants of keyboards, drums and guitar.

gambool said:

Exactly what i was thinking!

Supposedlt but don't quote me Candy Dulpher has heard him play the SAX and said he was not that bad at all!!!

From "For You" liner notes it says he played:

guitars
Orr bass
Ms. Poly Moog
syndrums
Arp Pro Soloist
Arp String Ensembe
synth bass
singing bass
drums
clavinet
Oberheim 4-voice
slapsticks
Finga cymbals
wind chimes
congas
electric guitars
water drums
bongos
piano
Mini-moog
Fuzz bazz
Handclapsandfingasnaps
acoustic guitar
acoustic piano
woodblocks
brush trap
Orr bass
tree bell
bass solo


I know a few of these are the same thing, and I'm not sure Handclapsandfingasnaps counts as an instrument, but there you go!


Oh, and he can play horns. From a love4onanother Q&A session:

"U: Did U ever play the horns on any of your recordings?
P: Yes, but not often. "

Oh, another one for the list:

"U: Which instrument is the most fun for you to play?
P: My wife. "
[This message was edited Thu Aug 21 11:23:54 PDT 2003 by 1p1p1i3]

gambool said:

synth



sample





-SWANGkickssomesh*t

Ted said:

Ive heard he can play 26 but he probably plays about 6 of them proficiently.

thousands

NikkiVail said:

ummm...a lot!

Ted said:

No, she said it was bad and made her laugh.

BlaqueKnight said:

True, the other intruments are all variations of the above. Though I'd rather say he knows how to play piano than keyboards in that perspective.

Can I just say how proud I am that we've gotten through this thread without a "skin flute" response?



I think the Org is growing up.

4jamiestarr said:

He was HOLDING the violin (incorrectly I might add) and FAKING.

FunkMistress said:

That was...untill you mentioned it.

FunkMistress said:

If only.

i heard or read this a few years back,but he can play 60+ instruments..dont ask me which ones or what..this is what ive always believed since..who knows!!!

love..

i heard it was a billion

XxAxX said:

Name 'em all! LOL!

EvilSkittle said:

Sorry I hate Mis-Quoting !!!
MY APOLOGIES .ORG MEMBER

XxAxX said:

i'm just going by what prince said

he plays them all so well

Stevie plays a lot too, and don't forget he is blind. Stevie is a much better drummer as well.

Ted said:

Well you can quote me now, because Candy in fact told me he played Sax a long time ago, and she listened to the demo's and it didn't sound bad at all...

Funny because this exact thread is discussed here aswell


http://www.housequake.com...stid=96255

Oh well, but this is actually discussed a million times before, so go figure :p

I think allot of it comes to sounds from a Keyboard.. and some manager tried to over state someones Bio