He was a guitar player and piano/keyboard player that could do enough on drums (at times - he had moments but was more of a programmer) and a fairly good bass player (especially when he was young). His genius is not being able to play multiple instruments - people at church could and still do that. His genius was his ability to meld all the instruments to sound like a full band and beyond that, to write catchy pop songs. He was a songwriter - an excellent songwriter who actually collaborated better than being a one-man band. The one-man myth is overrated. It's always best to have people that know the instrument specialize to get a truly full sound. Prince knew this which is why he collaborated more as he got older. The 1-man band played well in his early days yet beginning with 1999 to his death he pretty much always had healthy doses of collaboration. Still a great guitar player and is my favorite in this area.
"Every instrument" is an overstatement (even with a "basically" put in there, ha ha) but he certainly could play the varying types of guitar, keyboard and percussive instruments very well. He's a good lad! 🙂
this is actually a pretty good vid, you did pretty good tbh. im just bewildered that there's not more or older vids in yt that showcase more content abt prince😐
Prince was a musical prodigy, but he did not play 27 instruments in any capacity. Prince had fluency in the rhythm section instruments: Guitars, keyboards, drums, percussion. But he did not play woodwind, brass or many instruments in the string family. Such as cello, violin, viola, sitar, steel Guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, etc. With over 1500 different musical instruments in the world Prince did well with his mastery of almost four.
People are forgetting that voice is also an instrument. The guy did an entire Acapella track with background and lead vocals on that first album, Bobby McFerrin style. But for the most part, I agree with you. If you grew up in 20th century, drums, bass, guitar and pianos were laying around everywhere for you to learn to play. I only recently took up banjo playing in my late forties, but I played the other instruments as a kid.
The "27 instruments" mentioned on his first album were the actual 27 instruments used to make the album. For example, he used several different synthesizers. Each one is a different instrument but if you can play one you can play them all. One of his recording engineers said he hired a woman to play harp for one project. He wasn't satisfied with what she played so he hired a harp and played it himself.
Prince is an impressive artist, yes, but it's misleading to say "he can play 27 instruments". I mean, there are lots of different keyboards in the list, the skill is no different than that required to play a piano. Playing a piano, a Moog, or a Yamaha DX7 is the same. And... can you really call finger snaps and hand claps "instruments"? I can play that too. Anybody with two hands can clap. But don't get me wrong, I'd be glad to possess 1% of Prince's musical abilities, even though I'm not really fond of his music. But his musical abilities, hell yeah!
Yeah, I never understood that hype. No doubt, the guy is a legendary multi-instrumentaiist but just keep it real. He could play keyboards, guitar, bass, and percussion. That's all that needs to be said. When you saying "EVERY," I mean, come on. That's like saying, "I can operate every type of vehicle, " and you list Audi, Pinto, Cadillac, etc.
Actually Prince was a keyboard player and guitarist, and excellent vocalist and added percussion. He played drums but he wouldn't call himself a drummer. He didn't play wind instruments. The 27 instruments thing falls apart when you realize they're just breaking down percussion and synths. Although he played all the parts, he didn't do them simultaneously. He multitracked.
I would like to watch Prince all 27 instruments
He was a guitar player and piano/keyboard player that could do enough on drums (at times - he had moments but was more of a programmer) and a fairly good bass player (especially when he was young). His genius is not being able to play multiple instruments - people at church could and still do that. His genius was his ability to meld all the instruments to sound like a full band and beyond that, to write catchy pop songs. He was a songwriter - an excellent songwriter who actually collaborated better than being a one-man band. The one-man myth is overrated. It's always best to have people that know the instrument specialize to get a truly full sound. Prince knew this which is why he collaborated more as he got older. The 1-man band played well in his early days yet beginning with 1999 to his death he pretty much always had healthy doses of collaboration. Still a great guitar player and is my favorite in this area.
"Every instrument" is an overstatement (even with a "basically" put in there, ha ha) but he certainly could play the varying types of guitar, keyboard and percussive instruments very well.
He's a good lad! 🙂
The proviso speaks a thousand words ;) ... very talented none the less!
@@brain_spill - Indeed. Very, very talented! 🙂
this is actually a pretty good vid, you did pretty good tbh. im just bewildered that there's not more or older vids in yt that showcase more content abt prince😐
Thank you! I'm surprised there isn't more either!
Rip Skipper
Prince was a musical prodigy, but he did not play 27 instruments in any capacity.
Prince had fluency in the rhythm section instruments: Guitars, keyboards, drums, percussion. But he did not play woodwind, brass or many instruments in the string family. Such as cello, violin, viola, sitar, steel Guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, etc. With over 1500 different musical instruments in the world Prince did well with his mastery of almost four.
People are forgetting that voice is also an instrument. The guy did an entire Acapella track with background and lead vocals on that first album, Bobby McFerrin style.
But for the most part, I agree with you. If you grew up in 20th century, drums, bass, guitar and pianos were laying around everywhere for you to learn to play. I only recently took up banjo playing in my late forties, but I played the other instruments as a kid.
Idk if u read the credits on for you album you'll count 27
I hope this shows the guy actually playing 27 musical instruments!!!
Some might say I was growing my hair to that of Rockstar levels. This is lockdown and nothing else 😂
I'll be amazed if he did'nt play any wind instruments
Rip prince
Je suis grand fan de Prince mais je ne l'ai jamais vu jouer des instruments à vent
The "27 instruments" mentioned on his first album were the actual 27 instruments used to make the album. For example, he used several different synthesizers. Each one is a different instrument but if you can play one you can play them all.
One of his recording engineers said he hired a woman to play harp for one project. He wasn't satisfied with what she played so he hired a harp and played it himself.
Prince is an impressive artist, yes, but it's misleading to say "he can play 27 instruments". I mean, there are lots of different keyboards in the list, the skill is no different than that required to play a piano. Playing a piano, a Moog, or a Yamaha DX7 is the same.
And... can you really call finger snaps and hand claps "instruments"? I can play that too. Anybody with two hands can clap.
But don't get me wrong, I'd be glad to possess 1% of Prince's musical abilities, even though I'm not really fond of his music. But his musical abilities, hell yeah!
I doubt 25 of those instruments had keyboards. If you wanna count those, the number would be far higher than 27
Yeah, I never understood that hype. No doubt, the guy is a legendary multi-instrumentaiist but just keep it real. He could play keyboards, guitar, bass, and percussion. That's all that needs to be said. When you saying "EVERY," I mean, come on. That's like saying, "I can operate every type of vehicle, " and you list Audi, Pinto, Cadillac, etc.
the "27" refers to the specific instruments Prince played on his first album.
Guitar bass drums and keys 27 instruments lol
Don't forget those finger snaps and claps 😉
Didn’t he keck out his band one time and played all the music himself and all the hormones and his main vocals and made the music with out them
Acoustic guitar electric guitar is the same lolll
All the guitars 🎸
@@brain_spill bass is a very different type of guitar
💜🐾
Is or Was .. he dead
Finger snaps and hand clap’s count as instruments? I suppose so.
Apparently so 😂
@@brain_spill and vocals
@@jacestephenweatherall1732 vocals, finger snaps and hand claps all come from the same instrument. The human body.
Actually Prince was a keyboard player and guitarist, and excellent vocalist and added percussion. He played drums but he wouldn't call himself a drummer. He didn't play wind instruments. The 27 instruments thing falls apart when you realize they're just breaking down percussion and synths. Although he played all the parts, he didn't do them simultaneously. He multitracked.