On the released material from Prince, where he plays all the instruments himself, how is he on bass? Does he play low keys instead? The bass is not clear to me on some tracks, esp. on the Prince album.

yeah, his first couple albums you really couldn't grab onto the basslines, 'specially on for you...the only cut on the prince album that had a real distinct bassline was "sexy dancer", pretty much. later on down the line he had some pretty cool ones, tho'...

play that muthafuckin bass!

Yeah, he's decent. I'm actually a big fan of his bass sound.

savoirfaire said:

It's not a prince song but I think... 777-9311 is one of the tighter bass lines he has done. I think that is him on bass. Could be wrong though.

jojofran said:

Prince is 777-9311 with the Time adding vocals or is that Morris and Prince on vocals

If you're just looking for tight bass lines of his, the more popular ones are Partyup and Let's Work.

He allegedly did all the bass for Madhouse 8, there's some cool stuff there, and of course What's My Name? is quite a lot of fun.

Prince is very impressive on bass.

Don't forget Controversy. It is monotone but it's powerful!

777-9311 is Prince's bass moment. Release It is good too.

I was told, and i thought it was common knowledge that a HUGE amount of Prince's bass parts are done using a keyboard.

someone technical (or into Linn and related equipment) may be able to explian further, but there are these small keyboards that play monotone bass notes. (you can see one in 'The Neptunes Presents Clones' inner sleeve).

it's not a complaint, i just always thought it wa the case.

Clooreen Baconskin

rdhull said:

oh hell yeah!

I saw a documentary a while back and it showed Prince in the studio laying the bass lick on the breakdown in 'Partyman', it was so powerful, but listening to the released song, you can't hardly hear it.Everytime i hear Partyman i hear that segment in my head going 'DOOOWWWMMM!'

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Hey, now y'all got a theme song.

Prince could always jam on the Bass. No problem, but he always wrecked the house with the lead guitar!

july said:

I've always liked Prince's bass playing much much more than his guitar work.

PFunkjazz said:

CO-SIGN! Much betta bass player than a guitarist - but conidering HOW good He is on that mutha, says a lot!

He's an Xcellent bassist. Wouldnt U love 2 love me where he plays the notes can be contrasted with Lady Cab Driver where he just hits the bass, the 'motherdub'. These 2 songs go someway as 2 proving his capabilities.

Marrk said:

I love that so much.

As a bass player myself I must say that he is good. Not great. But good. People that are great are cat's like Victor Wooten, Victor Bailey, Stanley Clarke, etc. But homeboy holds it down. I wish he would come out with a bass album. Maybe we aren't getting the full scale of his musicianship on that instrument?

For those who say that Prince didn't hold it down on bass on his first 2 albums listen to I'm yours.


Brotha is tearing it up on bass in that song. I mean seriously! If you doubt his skills just take a listen.

I wish he would play that live.

unremarkable said:

me2!

jojofran said:

Same thing with his status in the guitar heirarchy. Good, but not great.

PFunkjazz said:

Agreed.

bananacologne said:

Are funkin kiddin me. mutha funker. Prince wrecks the house with both the Bass and lead guitar!

bananacologne said:

Take this mutha funker... lol... btw: Nice shirt.

Try the bass line from Lets Work on for size. Or watch him get nasty when he played Face Down onstage. Or dig him go head to head with Larry Graham on that short intro to Kiss on the Rave DVD. Plenty of bass from Prince

july said:

That shirt is funnier than hell, I hope he doesn't really go out in public dressed lik that.

july said: