How do you rate Prince as a guitar player?

Interesting. I always wondered why another lead guitarist in his new band - why not a 3 piece and let Prince take all the guitar.

 

I don't think anyone holds "technical expertise" against anyone, except when technical expertise becomes the sole reason for the music. To a certain extent, I think technical expertise is largely irrelevant in pop/rock, if not antithetical to the whole enterprise. Technical facility, applied tastelessly, becomes a barrier to emotional communication. Some of the greatest rock and roll was performed by jazz musicians who were punching a clock (Motown's Funk Brother, the Wrecking Crew) or guys who knew not to play so many goddamn notes behind a great singer, like the studio musicians at Muscle Shoals or Stax/Volt.

So why do I like the solo at the end of the R&RHOF performance of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"? Because at that point, the song has been building for several minutes and Prince's solo, however indulgent and showy it might have been in another context, provides some sort of release from the pent-up emotions of the otherwise dirge-like song.

Also, it was a show, not a studio recording, and in that context showmanship matters. I ended up grinning through the whole thing like Dhani Harrison, because like everyone else I was thinking, "Holy sh!t, that's Prince and he's playing guitar." A guitar geek non-fan friend wrote me afterwards and said something to the effect that while all the other guitarists on stage probably could have performed that solo, Prince actually did it and looked good doing it: "You can't beat star power."

 

Since I'm a guitar player, I feel obligated to voice my opinion on this topic. Is he a good guitar player? Yes. Very good. Do I wish I had his talent on the instrument? You bet!! But, I get the sense that he perfected a particular style/technique and milked it for all it's worth. In other words a one-trick pony. Every song/video I've heard/seen it's the same schtick.

 

Didn't like his music, but thought he was a damn fine guitar player !

 

I thought I read somewhere recently that he in fact said he wasn't able to play the guitar much anymore. Possibly because of his hip pain...?

 

You mean like 99% of all the great guitar players that ever lived have done?

 

Prince was arguably my favorite guitar player. I wish he'd done more guitar-based work - I loved the rockers!

 

His guitar on 777 is sizzling.

 

What style did Prince oerfect that hasn't been done before? He is not an innovator when it comes to guitar unlike Holdsworth, Malmsteen, Van Halen,, and Vai. As for one trick pony, almost all guitarists have the bag of licks that they use over and over. If Gary Moore was alive he could have killed that song .




You need to watch Yngwie Malmsteen performing in 80's, mind bogling technique and an amazing showmanship. Check out Kree Nakorie with Alcatraz, 20 years old and no one could play like that in the 80's., .OR watch Steve Vai performing "For the Love of God with Violinist Anne Marie Calhoun.


Amazing Violinists Ann Marie Calhoun and Alex DePue performing with Steve Vai »

I play guitar have been playing for 30 years and IMHO Prince couldn't hold a candle in the lead department to the following players:

Allan Holdswirth, Ymgwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, John McLaughlin, Frank Gamable, Paul Gilbert, John Sykes, Al Di Meola, Gary Moore, Michaek Angelo, And Frank Zappa.

Just because he is famous and is playing over a Beatles song doesn't make it the most blistering solo ever.

 

Wrong link for Steve Vai. Here is the correct link:

 

Love Sykes's solo on Whitesnake's "Is This Love" ... makes the song worth listening to.

And come on ... sure, there's been some hyperbole about Prince as a guitarist, only natural because he just died. Same will happen when some of those guys you mention die too. But he could "hold a candle" to them, even if he wasn't quite as good.

 

You hit in right on the head. Once a star dies they get elevated. Like I said before He was not an innovator on guitar. Your statement quite as good, Should be not nearly as good. It takes way more skill to play Jazz Fusion than standard Rock/pop guitar. The best musicians in Jazz, Jazz fusion never get recognised becasue of the music they play.

So we can agree to disagree. But to each his own, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Did you watch the Steve Vai video i posted? Please watch.

Cheers

 

I think the best way to put this was that Prince was a great rock/funk/R&B guitarist...but he was not terribly innovative. He will never be remembered as a guy who changed the landscape of guitar playing (guys like Hendrix, Van Halen, Holdsworth, Malmsteen, etc.). That being said, he was a total bad-ass on the guitar, especially because he was essentially a part-time guitarist.

And, just to be clear, saying that he was a great player who wasn't an epochal innovator is in no way damning with faint praise.

 

Nicely put WL. I can definitely hear the innovations of Vai, Malmsteen, Van Halen, Holdsworth, etc. but I don't listen to them and enjoy their music. (Can't say the same about Hendrix, I'm a fully freak flag Hendrix fan). I really enjoy Prince's playing.

 

OUTSTANDING!!!

 

I just posted this clip in the RIP thread but thought some of the Hoffmanites following this thread might enjoy it as well. Kind of unusual as it has a country flavor but rocks in the end.

 

A great solo from Prince here:

 

Here also. Amazing how he goes from such an intense solo straight into the most delicate of ballads:

 

Whatever kind of music it was Prince could hang with anyone on guitar!
Blues go for it.
Rock definitely.
Jazz without a doubt.
Country you bet.
Gospel yep.
Funk naturally.

The man could absolutely play the guitar, and don't forget he knew how to absolutely thump a bass as well.

He was an absolutely great guitarist!

 

Outstanding. I only saw him live once, but he was by far the best musician I had ever seen live. And if someone like Eric Clapton says he was one of the best, then I'll take his word for it.

 

Check out Prince's versions of While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Creep and Superstition among others in the article below.

http://www.bustle.com/articles/1564...rove-shredding-was-his-most-underrated-talent

 

The WEXP "Compares" tribute featured a hot Whole Lotta' Love into Even Flow by Pearl Jam

 

Hendrixian.

 

totally!!! iv'e seen a lot of great guitar players who hendrix influenced (SRV, buddy guy, eric johnson, john mayer (with trio), etc....) but in my opinion prince was closer to hendrix than all of them. he seemed to be able to do anything he wanted on guitar. maybe not an innovator, but a virtuoso on the highest level.

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=605521909603372