14 DETAILS that Make the PURPLE RAIN SOLO Legendary!

[@edwardjohnson5527]

Purple Rain... there aren't words to describe the greatness of it. Prince will never be forgotten.

[@brushstroke3733]

Space in solos is so important to me. I often find shredders don't move me emotionally and it's because there are too many notes for me to latch on to any or to rest anywhere. Great job pointing out the details.

[@garycook4030]

Couldn’t agree more

[@icoz7]

Now I want a Purple Rain film review from a musician from the midwest!

[@Krommer1000]

This!😃

[@KimberlyBowling]

Yes!! More Prince!

[@meatrocket1]

Absolutely 👍

[@garydavidprinceable]

Awesome vid and so well played. Prince was a tremendous guitarist and very much underrated.

[@HannahCope88]

Damn you played this beautifully! The tone is just perfect👌, I could listen to you play it forever. I love this solo so much! Such a special song for me I listened to it so much when I was in my teens. These details are just awesome, they really do add so much to the song. Prince is pretty much the reason i'd love to get a Tele some day. That's a Nashville Tele you have there isn't it? Really looking forward to the website lesson😊🤘🏻🔥 Happy 40 years to Purple Rain. I remember hearing of Prince's passing on the news and man that messed me up, can still remember the day.. but his music will live on💜

[@toddwilliams3224]

Air guitared this every night in 1986 as an 8th grader, learned to play the guitar at 21, and after watching your video got inspired to learn it for real. Great video! Bucket list item checked off, can finally say I can play this. You make great videos, love your channel. Purple Rain is epic and Prince is as goods as it gets, a musical genius. Thanks for breaking this down! 🤘🤘

[@Dan-jg8hl]

Has this been tabbed on the website?

[@Krommer1000]

Fantastic! Keeping fingers crossed for a "Let's Go Crazy" breakdown.

[@Dieselpower994]

Awesome job man, nailed the tone and everything. Purple rain is a great album and movie! Thanks for doing it justice and it’s nice seeing someone else have as much appreciation for it!

[@andrewhudson7108]

Look up “Prince Concert 1983: First Avenue”. The concert was for charity and was the debut of guitarist Wendy Melvoin and the songs from Purple Rain. And the live recording of the song itself became the recording on the album (with some edits). Even the “Woo!” is from an audience member and that solo was improvised on the spot.

[@n34z3r]

Absolutely it was the exact version minus 1 verse that didn't make sense to the song. Also Jungle Love was the live version by The Time (since we were on live Purple Rain stuff).

[@jasonbarrows8386]

Live in Syracuse is such a journey for me to listen to, every time. Purple Rain’s solo (including its intro lead guitar riffs) is absolutely epic. Thank you for making this video brother. I’m committing to playing with this solo this week because of you.

[@mattjohansen5264]

I'm from Minneapolis and spent a lot of time at First Avenue. You can feel Prince in the walls, the air,.. everywhere. Really miss his genius.

[@bobhoffman2777]

terrific lesson and content. One issue- the solo was edited from the 83 live performance. The motif- great content- is from the film footage is not the same from the live perfomance. Probably doesnt matter much but something to consider.

[@andrewpappas9311]

I’ve always loved this solo, definitely Prince’s absolute best and I still say that he plays with the same emotion as David Gilmour and it’s great

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

One of those songs that will always give me chills. I’ve heard it done so many ways, but nothing beats how Prince did it.

[@jimglass3106]

Proud to be a metalhead standing with you in unifying admiration of The Purple One,my friend! Great jacket,by the way. Prince and Duran Duran are way more metal than people realize.

[@waynebake1123]

10:38 the movement to first fret adds some staccato feel to music. At least thats how I hear it.

[@Vykk_Draygo]

You can play staccato at any point on the neck. So, that seems unlikely.

[@kueller917]

Details matter so much for Prince. All those little bends, mutes, rests, and grace notes all feel intentional and important. He really mastered the guitar and knew exactly how to extract what he wanted from it in a way only a few have achieved. One thing I also like with this solo that I find many miss is how every note almost feels "late". He really squeezes every bit of sustain from each note and it creates a constant tension and release that gives the solo its emotion. It's very easy to mess up since in the excitement of a solo we tend to rush.

[@mznxx319]

Really nice job! As someone who has studied Prince's guitar playing for nearly 40 years, there are a few tiny details to improve on if you wanna recreate the record - some of the longer runs are hard to get just right, and I think you've got an extra couple of notes on that bit around 0:49. As for the little motif that some folk think is a trill but is actually just delay, Prince always does a little slide up the string after each phrase, it's not so audible to be honest so you can totally skip it, and of course Prince messed around with the solo a lot over the years just to keep things interesting. Awesome job.

[@bryancopeland2540]

Excellent video!! I’ve been a huge fan of Prince ever since Purple Rain came out. Great memories driving around in my mom’s Camaro with her listening to this album! He was such an amazing artist! Truly missed. Thanks for this video, really enjoyed this!

[@markusdiersbock4573]

Is the jacket an easter egg??? Adam Ant "PRINCE Charming" outfit

[@sebekamps7108]

Wow, you are doing this amazing..... I have seen 130 Prince shows and you are spot on!

[@grantthepilgrim]

Such an emotional and beautifully melodic solo. Compliments the song perfectly. Great breakdown mate. Take care

[@Sam-rz3rd]

Great demo thanks! Would be great if you did a break down on the guitar sounds. @10:26 - I feel he does the single note on the first fret (also slightly muted) as it doesn't have as much power/tone as higher up, so it sets up the importance of the melody to follow. I've noticed that in a lot of his songs, even on keyboard, kind of a ghost note, but not quite. It also looks cool!

[@MMXKHXCP]

That tele is so nice man

[@chrisklassen7519]

This solo is what made me want to pick up the guitar 40 years ago!!! Maybe now I can finally play it!!! Thanks! 💜🎸

[@BucNasT]

I don't think I've ever seen you more into a solo than that one 💜

[@McHale72]

A few years ago someone posted the concert footage that Purple Rain was taken from. The solo was longer in the original and they cut it for the album. Prince's people had it pulled and I haven't seen it since but I know there's an MP3 of the full version out there.

[@mikal]

He actually does some trills on that last part, around what you're playing at the 0:57 mark.

[@mr.b73]

Came here to say this. The rest of it is so spot on, but this is part isn’t quite right.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYfQqKOrf6qnaNU

[@WyattHead1]

I rarely comment on videos. And I've been waiting for more videos with Purple Rain since u did the different ways to play the intro. Please make a step by step tutorial for an intermediate player on all Prince songs starting with this one. I'd pay good money for that. Prince is tricky to learn both the showmanship and the correct notes. Everyone has there own variation but I want to know what he did so I can truly appreciate one of the greatest of all time. RIP

[@gentelmanjunkie542]

Didn't realize how awesome Prince was until I started playing a couple years ago. Yeah he's amazing.

[@tb6234]

You killed that ❤ i felt that one for sure. What a beautiful piece of music.

[@edgarfriendly7571]

Nice playing and cool you break it down like that. Would be awesome if you did the same with the solo from the 2004 "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" collab😀

[@juanvaldez5422]

This is an awesome video . My favorite from you . I’d love more break downs of iconic solos

[@marquetteisabel9896]

Bravo!Bravo!Bravo! This is a must have teaching lesson. The "STANK" is funk. 😆 Thank you.

[@jennytell6463]

What tone/pedals are you using? Sounds amaaazing!! Thanks for a great breakdown of the best song and solo ever made!

[@Jackie_Rosewood]

Amazing playing and tutorial!!💜💜💜💜🎸🎸🎸🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@dominiquez5643]

Love your technique Mike, you never stop amazing! Spectacular review!! Never a fan of Prince, but I got on my ass when I watched "my guitar gently weeps"!!! He stole the entire video, I never knew he was so freaking good with the guitar (and other instruments)....what a loss!

[@Lance37a]

I know there are some overdubs on the song. However, I believe the solo is a live guitar solo.

[@chrisjenkins1090]

Look forward to the tutorial. Not a lot of really good lessons out there for this one. One of my favorite solos & songs👍

[@Tony-os6ib]

Thank you Maestro!

[@chrissguitarshow206]

I saw David Gilmour playing the solo with Tom jones singing and it was so emotional expressive you should check it out.

[@richardcorn3934]

Great video and an amazing player

[@TheButchersApprentice]

There is a video on the vertex effects youtube channel with wendy melvoin that you may want to have a look at as she shows some tricks and well she ought to know. Kool channel man. I love how you brought out the prince style jacket. Making music is one of the best pleasures in life.

[@pchong312]

Nice! Nailed that solo!

[@Crossfirevin]

Awesome job Mike

[@sommy0476]

Awesome vid!❤️ I just watched your video on the intro.. and i checked cause you said you'll make a video on the solo, and here i am😅 Im a keyboard player who fell in love with prince's music in 2021... now's 2024 and i just picked up the guitar... my progress is good so far, and I really want to learn this solo💜

[@rayce8865]

this might seem like a big task but is it possible that you could make a video on the purple rain solo from the syracuse concert in 1985? That’s my favorite solo of all time and i have a few parts of it figured out like the beginning but a lot of it is hard to figure out. His tone in that concert is also very interesting and is a whole other discussion entirely.

[@paulmayon8821]

Great solo Awesome vid man

[@DevinRyanVitek]

0:55 my favorite part!

[@alexcueto2124]

I’ve never been this early haha 🤣

[@jerrywatts4602]

I haven't look through every comment but what is your rig setup . Sounds great

[@ericolson326]

When you say "the Purple Rain version" are you referring to the movie or the album? (Or are they the same? I recall some of the songs differ.)

[@Dan-jg8hl]

Can anyone tell me if this has been tabbed on the website yet ??

[@TheTrumanZoo]

nice video :)

[@DanielHuman1996]

Purple Rain has style for miles!

[@chrisjenkins1090]

Oh, maybe "Let's Go Crazy" tutorial at some point.

[@utubehound69]

where do you get those cool jackets?

[@DFlores2009]

When’s the Sanctus documentary coming out Mike?

[@JesterSyxe]

Why he played it the harder way? Because he literally had no limits, for him it was just the way he played.

[@gunkyzip]

The coat is a nice touch

[@Vyan00]

Prince is actually playing - in most of the movie - a Harley Benton, not a Tele.

[@MegaCurtisimo]

Greatest "pop" song of all time

[@harrisonrg777]

eric johnson called he wants his coat back ;)

[@criddlegakes2650]

Mike you're a great guitarist and you play this solo really well, but the reason it's legendary is because Prince played it, and I'm yet to hear a cover of it that had the same soul as the original. This isn't a criticism; just a statement of how f-ing awesome Prince was.

[@dr.awkward9075]

Perhaps now you should purify yourself in the waters of lake Minnetonka?

[@bradzillarocks]

In your face, Charlie Murphy.

[@LMacNeill]

What kind of guitar is that? It looks like a Telecaster, but it has 3 pickups... Thought Tele's only had two pickups?

[@jjfloyd618]

I think that’s called a “Nashville” Tele.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Yep, It's a Fender Deluxe Nashville Tele. Really loving it lately.

[@LMacNeill]

@@TheArtofGuitar @jjfloyd618 cool. Thanks. 🙂

[@jjfloyd618]

@@TheArtofGuitar nice. Not sure if you’re aware of firefly guitars but they make a nice tribute to Prince’s mad cat you mentioned wanting to have.

[@HannahCope88]

​@@TheArtofGuitar I thought that's what it was. It sounds fantastic!

[@Wyldwulf]

I wanted that White cloud guitar and Apollonia in equal measure. Well, not equal measure. I was a teenage horndog after all.

[@carlspackler8988]

Do movie editors pay this much attention to how he's playing in the video to the actual sound track? Doubtful but live your videos

[@arnovandenberghe9491]

Please bring out the tutorial😭

[@paulconnell5399]

❤

[@meatrocket1]

[@batman6540]

He played this solo different every time...

[@LuisEduardoBraschi]

trait Worcestershire {

[@zeuszoos8386]

No offense intended here. I do like your videos and I'm not saying your playing didn't sound good. Just being factual about the beginning of your video by saying that no, you don't "have it down", nor did you get it "just like the album". Ironically, you did seem to match it note for note afterward, while break it down note for note. 😅 With one exception at about 8 min: I think you're missing a note between the 2nd & 3rd note you play. I.e., it should be; "da.. da-da da... da-da da da da" instead of the "da.. da.. da da da" that you're playing.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYfQqKOrf6qnaNU

[@zeuszoos8386]

@@TheArtofGuitar Thanks for steering me there, but that's not what I was saying. I don't think there's a trill there. I said that it sounds like you're missing ONE NOTE, which I'm not even saying has to be a different note. I.e., whether it's a different note, or the same note plucked upward instead of downward (which can change its sound a bit), I have no idea. I didn't examine his video before watching yours. But basically what I'm saying is that it sounds like you're missing ONE PLUCK (with no trill action, just one pluck). So imagine that while playing you aren't lifting and pressing to get more notes without plucking. That's not it. Finger stays on the neck and one more pluck. That's what's missing. Same or another note dunno. But it's missing. 🙂

[@FurtiveSkeptical]

Ok cork sniffer.... show us your video of you playing this and showing us all how it's done.🙄🎸

[@HazeOfWhearyWater]

I have found Prince's guitar playing very over rated. I mean, it's good, don't get me wrong. But "legendary"? Not really. From what I've seen he plays almost exclusively in the pentatonic box. Kinda 'meh' as far as I'm concerned. It works great for the music, though. It fits just fine.

[@zokkb986]

Sometimes feeling is more important than technique 💪

[@PeterSTIHL]

"it's not enough to know which notes to play, you have to know why they need to be played."

[@israeldeleon7656]

I'm so curious about the next questions, it's for real, i don't try to argue with You. I just wanna know, in order to understand the context of your post. How old are You? What kind of music do You listen? What instrument it is your Main? How many Years youve been playing? What genre You play most? Do You have any formal academy music formation and degree? If You have to Say, whats your maximum achievement in music industry? Are You in a band? Rate your percentage of playing between Home/live/reharsal/studio/jamming Name 5 major influences in your music development Name your top ten guitarist Be Honest, do you considered yourself as an amateur or profesional músician?, in case of being one, if your not skip this last one* I would very thankful if u can have the times to answer this questions. Peace ✌️✌️✌️

[@meattray6932]

Mate, what do you mean from what you see? You listen to music, with your ears.

[@erifkind]

I think the passion he brings speaks for itself when you listen. In fact, it’s even more impressive to get what he did just from that pentatonic box.