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How does Prince hold up next to lead guitarists from rock and metal bands? I'm talking about guys like Slash, Kirk Hammet, Zakk Wylde, Eddie Van Halen etc. I see a lot of fans bemoan Prince's lack of recognition in the guitar community, but I would argue it's really only been in the last 15yrs or so that Prince could shred at a level comparable to some of these guys. In the 80s, Prince's lead playing was fairly rudimentary,and certainly not virtuosic by any stretch. It was his rhythm playing and the overall quality of his songwriting which more than made up for any shortcomings he had when it came to busting out a good guitar solo. There is no doubt that Prince has improved tremendously over the years as a lead player and whilst he still may not possess virtuosic levels of skill on the axe comparable to the likes of Paul Gilbert or Buckethead, I would say he is most definitely world class. I think what Prince now has over rock guitarists like Slash et al is that he has spent time honing both his lead AND rhythm chops, whereas the likes of Slash, Kirk Hammer and EVH were lead guitarists from day one and their rhythm skills are fairly unremarkable. | |
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Prince will kick any and all of those guys' asses! as an all around performer he's still the guy to beat!
nobody cares about technical this or that anymore.. only 80's guitar nerds! Prince doesnt do all that 'sweep picking' and classical mumbo jumbo.. but i'd bet anything he could pick it up if he wanted to.. Guitar (IMO) is simply a tool to complete songs to prince.. & Any REAL musician knows that sometimes playing even NOTHING is the best thing to do.. Prince knows what he's doing!
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Prince smokes them all.........except Buckethead. FOOLS multiply when WISE Men & Women are silent. | |
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I think Prince's lack of recognition in the guitar community is based purely on the fact that only approximately 30% of his catalog is comprised of rock music. Otherwise he outperforms most if not all of the rock and metal guitarists. "Never let nasty stalkers disrespect you. They start shit, you finish it. Go down to their level, that's the only way they'll understand. You have to handle things yourself." | |
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Prince is good on the guitar,but is he good as Eddie VanHalen or Steve Vai. Close but no cigar why in God's name do u wanna make me cry | |
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All of those guitarists (except Kirk) are great at what they do. We all know P can rock and wail when he wants to, but I never considered him a shredder. I agree with the statement that the guitar is his writing tool also. I disagree (in a friendly way) about EVH's rhythm chops. Eddie's rhythm playing has always been very tight and locked in with Alex. EVH has always said "Rhythm guitar is 98% of what you play". | |
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his rock style is pure '70s, he is a lot closer to Jimmy Page, Santana or Joe Perry than Y.Malmsteen or Steve Vai, thankfully [Edited 5/16/15 8:26am] ![]() | |
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THIS!
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Jimi was all about rhythm too!
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What's amazing is that Prince can hold his own against anyone on guitar and a lot of those guitar guys definitely respect his playing. What I love is that guitar is just another colour for Prince - he's just as talented at lots of other aspects of music. You take the guitar out of the hands of those metal guitar guys and what would they do on stage? Prince isn't defined only by guitar like them - he's so much more. | |
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"Jimi was all about rhythm too"......No doubt about it. He took what he learned from Curtis, Womack and Ike Turner and made it his own thing. The "Axis" record is a perfect example of his great rhythm work. | |
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I agree, Susan. | |
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Well, to me he is one of those artists. He is just another great guitar player; more in a Clapton-Hendrix-Ernie Isley vein and quite different from Vernon Reid (Living Colour), Eddie Hazel (Funkadelic), Michael "Kidd Funkadelic" Hampton, Dr. Know (Bad Brains), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Jimi Hazel (24-7 Spyz), Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) | |
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Anyone who plays guitar should respect Prince... Steve Vai is a MEGA fan! Google 'Steve Vai Prince".
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Steve Vai says he loves Prince, but he's also said that Prince has never exploded on the guitar like Steve suspects he can. | |
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thats it..he hasnt blown up ..like he can | |
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that buckethead is a freak..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEDB4xJsXVo | |
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Buckethead.......is the man. FOOLS multiply when WISE Men & Women are silent. | |
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I'd love to see Prince do an Eddie Van Halen kind of solo Maybe ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
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I love Bucky too...he can shred and funk when he wants to. P definetly has a lot of Ernie Isley in him too. | |
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Damn... I sooooo agree with this! Prince not only can play guitar as great and better than the rest but there's a whole host of other things he can do on stage as well.. (sing, dance, piano, drums, etc.)... Virtually any and everything! I don't see any other metal act so gifted in so many limitless things like Prince. Mr. Nelson is in a class entirely of his own. The best of the best! | |
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To me, it's tough to answer a question like this because I think it all comes down to subjectivity and taste. I don't know that the world's most famous guitarists look at each other and think, "Compared to s-and-so, am I Ralph Macchio or am I Steve Vai?" | |
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James Brown/Sly Stone.
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At the end of the day, people want to hear good songs..melodies, harmonies and words that stay with them. That's what P has always been able to do. Not saying that everything he's done is great, but he's written classics. Out of the hard rock guys, EVH has pretty much done the same with the hits (not only on guitar but keys too). | |
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Seriously? I mean...Purple Rain, Computer Blue, Bambi, I´m Yours, Let´s Go Crazy, the rehearsal versions of Something In The Water. Are they that bad when judged by a guitar player? By the way, I don´t play guitar. " I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?" | |
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polished and sophisticated than Prince.
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Side bar: Even Clare Fischer said Prince was the sickest guitar player. He thought Prince was good on a lot of things, but what impressed him the most was his guitar playing. 99.9% of everything I say is strictly for my own entertainment | |
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he got smoked on guitar by van halen at paisley parked when they jammed. | |
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This is an apples/oranges thing. It's like comparing two things that really can't be compared. . Jeff Beck vs Stevie Ray Vaughn or EVH vs Ritchie Blackmore . Moronic arguments make you dumber in the long run, nobody wins. | |
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