7 LEVELS of the PURPLE RAIN Intro!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

True Story: It took me four times to make this video. First three had technical issues and had to be tossed. It wasn't until the fourth time that I decided to wear my jacket. I use it in my Heart tribute but it has a bit of a Prince vibe. No issues this time. Pretty sure Prince was like, "I ain't letting it through until he puts on something classier than just a t-shirt. 🤣 He sure made me work for this one. ☂☔

[@geekwithsocialskills]

Prince smiling down on you right now. I knew a few of these methods to play Purple Rain, but now I have a few more ways in my pocket which will be great to teach my little nephew who is interested in guitar and just learning.

[@8bitdreams4u]

Nice! You are looking badass in that jacket man. Great video, will be hanging up my controller for the guitar for a bit. 🎸☔️

[@HannahCope88]

You sure did it justice and then some. It's gonna be fun trying out all these different ways to play it. Prince is pretty much the reason I want to get a Telecaster.

[@pwnEdge1]

Y’a i believe it , finger stretching chords😲🙃🎸

[@anthonyw5261]

Ohhhh that's freaking classic ❤❤😂😂

[@psychedpanda3333]

Those opening chords to purple rain are ethereal

[@brianrossiter2547]

Wendy ❤

[@Weshopwizard]

Yep. Very near the top of my favorite guitar intros of all time.

[@lucianoromero777]

Purple rain was also the first ever live recording one take

[@happypapi1903]

If you like this, try listening to Stealing Fire era Bruce Cockburn.

[@gaswirt]

The movie was not so good?

[@Liam_Omega]

I can barely play it while practicing at home. Massive props to Wendy at 19 y/o for having to play it live repeatedly for up to 10 minutes while Prince did a costume change. Legendary stuff.

[@jonydiesel7716]

My Mom is gonna kill me because I have at least 5 videos of "purple rain". That's gonna be the sixth.

[@victorjbarker]

Something gave her really dexterous and strong fingers😂

[@paso193]

Prince has said that the intro to Purple Rain was ALL her. Said she came into rehearsal with that iconic, ‘unicorn’ of a chordal progression worked out and ready to go! He saw & _knew_ that her musical vision matched what his lyrics were trying to convey. They were a ‘perfect storm’ together.

[@gegloff1]

In a recent interview, she said Prince had the chords to the song, but they were basic triads. She took those and "spread them out" on the guitar. Brilliant work.

[@adearthical]

Who?

[@codieterry8114]

@@adearthicalWendy Melovin she was the guitar player for the movie and toured with prince for a while

[@dazeja]

What's funny is that there used to be comments on that video where people saying that she's playing it incorrectly........ The Internet takes another "L"

[@leaharrington4472]

Having done this live many times, those articulations in Level Seven are vital for changing chords smoothly. Wendy is amazing.

[@michaelgreer4790]

Wendy is such an underappreciated musician, songwriter, singer and performer. Always loved her work. Cheers for this insight. Already crying at the thought of the Andy Summers like finger stretches!

[@Astartes52]

I love heavy/thrash/death/black and any other metal you can think of but on my very humble opinion Purple Rain is the greatest song ever written. It makes me FEEL things and the intro makes the hairs stand up on my neck every time. Glorious.

[@hpd_hero]

Same bro. I recommend listering to the version made by John Petrucci and a bunch of other famous guitarists. Its fantastic!

[@Glenn-tj3fk]

Massive respect to Wendy. She played those killer chords while live performing at 18ish age !

[@fukhue8226]

19. Just like the 19 year old Pilots that flew 4 engine bombers to England during WW2 Wendy did something in this intro that was truly beyond her years. What a Musical Talent!

[@yuugen-xj7yd]

​@@fukhue8226?? Ok?

[@evhwolfgang2003]

And doing choreography

[@purple-hr6th]

For anyone who doesn't know Prince yet, I'd just like to say that this isn't about who's better or worse. The point is that Prince cannot be compared to any other. before or now. Prince is something else. I don't know any other musician or artist who composes in his mind every sound and every instrument on his songs, with a voice of 5 and a half octaves.Prince composed on piano and guitar, but he mastered the drums, bass, keyboard to perfection.There is not a single Prince song that sounds the same in his 40 years of live performance. Prince is medicine for the soul, the sounds he produces are healing. It's more than just music. Prince is organic, spontaneous. For all of you who don't know him, take advantage of this platform to save and store his live performances, rehearsals, sondchecks... Healing force through the sounds it gives to us, is a real jewel to our health. Use it. Worth it .

[@le_th_]

I think Prince would definitely approve of that cool jacket. Saw him in concert 3 nights in a row as a teen, New Years Eve/Day 1984. I've seen hundreds of concerts and he was just beyond any I've seen to date. The Revolution are truly accomplished musicians, as well. Awesome video! Something for everyone~

[@scrotube]

As a die hard metal fan (also from Minneapolis) back when Purple Rain came out, I wanted to hate this song. But after a couple listens and some amazing guitar work on this and other songs from the album, I had to concede that this is one of the most talented songwriters I had ever encountered. Prince had a bit of everything, sex appeal, blistering solos, universal emotion, fun onstage, amazing chops, and hometown pride. Thank you for this breakdown (I was a bassist) and for guiding us forward in understanding and appreciation of a legendary song.

[@AimingWanderously]

This is the single best tutorial for this song I've ever seen! 7 tutorials in one. Well done!

[@ciaranocraobhach]

This is a chord progression that you can just not get sick of hearing or playing for that matter - so beautiful, melancholic and ethereal. Hats off mate, brilliant job - those finger stretches are killer!

[@SuperSedingAngeL-yr0]

"The next chord might give you nightmares for a while." So deadpan and matter of fact literally made me lol. 😂

[@saracunningham7923]

I haven't heard "Purple Rain" with so many dynamics. I've heard this song MANY times, and it always gives me chills. Hearing it broken down....brings another respect for how musicians can keep his music inspirational, educational, and his spirit alive. That's so awesome Mike! 🤘♀️

[@ReavoEnd]

Massive respect. There's so much room for expressive bits of style and flourish with guitar.

[@rjprivate]

This is like holy guitar ground and I'm a metalhead. Great guitar sound in the video, did the song justice

[@andrewpappas9311]

The opening chords and the solo are the two reasons why I love this song, such a fucking classic

[@execatty]

being 17 in 85 remember seeing this movie and being in awe of prince.. miss being 17 and the 80s

[@martinwilliams9098]

It’s crazy how Wendy came up with that purple chord progression at such a young age,it’s amazing,such talent

[@thebruckners]

Reportedly after this was written, Prince called up Jonathan Cain of Journey and played it for him, asking if it was too similar to Faithfully. He said although it shares the same chord progression, the rhythm and phrasing was different enough to distinguish it and gave him his blessing.

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Interesting!!

[@mohamadnorahmad]

I think that refers to the solo, not this intro

[@Dieselpower994]

Love this whole album, it’s a masterpiece

[@Wayne_Mather]

it has been and always will be to me the most beautiful chord progression I have ever heard...

[@Durwood71]

This is one of those songs that is so iconic, you can recognize it from the very first chord.

[@tjallingdejong9645]

Good lesson ! Same here , was at age of 14 when Purple Rain came out , still remember those moments dearly

[@Timxprmnt]

I love when great teachers like you show us the hidden gems that are overlooked by the fans of these hits

[@bjoern75]

Thank you, thank you thank you! ...finaly found someone who teach me that magnificent song!

[@jacksonmarshallkramer5087]

WENDY BREAKS DOWN HER MOST ICONIC GUITAR PARTS is the name of the vid. At about 9:30 she starts it. If you're old enough to have seen it when it came out and during his Little Red Corvette/Party 1999 and when he was a monster on Mtv, the instant she strums that first thumb over chord and the chorus is just dripping off, it takes you back about 35 years. Pretty amazing.

[@nairdazitro7460]

You're the hero I needed, because all the tutos make the chords progression but without the subtilities in between.

[@alanguitars]

Great lesson. The chorus, chord voicings and subtle little notes give it a surreal vibe to an otherwise standard 1 6 5 4 chord progression. I like how you taught it.

[@MultiMegaman9]

Briefly said hi at Steve Vai’s concert last year in the winter in Minneapolis. Love your videos and glad to have another fellow Minnesotan represent online 👍

[@crimfan]

Wendy Melvoin is such a great player. She's played on a lot of songs and done a ton of soundtrack work, too.

[@MattBones311]

You have no idea how long I have been waiting for a good breakdown of the purple rain solo! Can’t wait!

[@HannahCope88]

Yess! This is perfect. One of the best damn intros of all time. It's actually been on my mind lately so I must get and learn it. This song us pretty much the reason that when I get round to buying my first oedal, it's gonna be a chorus. I've loved this song and Prince since I was a kid. I used to take a Prince best of CD with me every day on my paper route after school. Congrats on 810k Subscribers!

[@HannahCope88]

*pedal. haha. damn typos 😂 Also Prince is the reason I want a Telecaster.

[@onesong2001]

@@HannahCope88 Prince could pull a guitar out of the trash and make it sound amazing. i always wanted a cloud guitar but I have a Jem by Ibanez which is a joy to play. I don't play well enough to deserve a cloud guitar but the guy in this video does.

[@OffensiveMark]

Perfect video. I've been obsessed with learning those true Purple Rain chords ever since I bought my guitar, but never understood those chord transitions until now. Especially that 3rd to 4th chord transition. I know I'm gonna have to give this a go!

[@alexanderjuarez1713]

That chorus pedal sounds amazing

[@onesong2001]

you should hear the album

[@Jeff_Phillips]

Best teaching of this song I’ve ever seen. I’ve tried to study that same video of Wendy playing it and my fingers just couldn’t do it. So I can’t get level 7, but these others make it sound close enough. Well done!!!

[@schifoso]

Level 4 is the highest for mere mortals. Prince was such a musical genius. So glad he shared his music with us.

[@terrybailey2015]

If you can do level 4, you can do level 5. Just takes a bit more work, but adds a lot to replicating it.

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

Dude. Perfectly timed. I listened to purple rain on my new cassette deck yesterday end to end and I don’t even know it was the anniversary! It’s a sign 🔥

[@scottcarpenter701]

with humour: new cassette deck? a company still make them? a 40yr old tape! sound quality!! (: I prefer Digital now-a-days. CD's are the future!

[@davelindstrom6005]

Perhaps a "Sign O' the Times"??? 😂See what I did there?🤣🤣

[@fuerszler]

MAD RESPECT. Thank you so much, Mike and Wendy! I can't yet pull off level 5 and 6 chords, but level 4 is still absolutely magical for me with the capo. SO appreciate your putting this together.

[@edzeljereza8234]

switched over after watching wendy melvoin explain her new pedal rig and demo-ing the intro to purple rain....such an iconic intro. not a guitar player, i play drums but with just that one strummed chord i know in a millisecond what the song is.

[@Coasterdude02149]

It is pure euphoria to play it and it's not too bad but man that final Eflat is a killer....was never able to switch to it fast enough. Thanks for showing a few different ways to play it

[@claudevieaul1465]

Absolutely spot-on. I saw Wendy Melvoin's explanation too, and just to think that she was only 19 at the time that this legendary song was taken a rough sketch to the (live!!!) version we all know and love, is just astounding... And she seemed a genuinely nice and easy-going person too! 😎👍💜

[@thomascurtis1789]

😅😅

[@Bluenblack17]

Huge Prince fan, his talent is just mesmerising.

[@mrdarklight]

I had no idea the guitar was this complicated. Signed, a drummer.

[@Mr4litre]

Been a drummer myself for over 20 years. Started learning guitar this year. It’s been an experience and an eye opener that’s for sure.

[@GratefulDadATX]

Holy CRAP that was sheer pleasure to watch. I'm a drummer, and don't play guitar for squat, but I might invest $$ just to practice your methods. Thank you for sharing. Absolutely beautiful. And yes- tears. ( I saw Purple Rain the week it came out- right after my Father died just days before).

[@turboturtle01]

As for the first chord: to get around the thumb-over-the-fretboard thing, it's possible to use the pinky for the G string on the third fret. The ring finger can then take over the thumb tasks. Great video as always!

[@fototripper]

Sounds so simple, but a ton of work goes into nailing that properly. Bravo!

[@charlesharper7292]

Beautiful Telecaster. It just rings!

[@prodigycrew1702]

Can’t Wait To See Who You Bring For The Solo!!

[@bransby]

this is a brilliant idea for a video and brilliantly done, the song is instantly recognisable from level 1 and just gets more accurate as we go up the levels, fantastic

[@Rockeiro70]

Wow, this is great. I love how it evolves from the very standard chords to the version that opens the heart and mind. It also proves once again, the small details do matter. Even when so many players "teach" songs on YT while ignoring the important details and think they are cool players 🙈 So, thanks for demonstrating what good guitar playing sounds like. 🥰

[@scottpierson4627]

True story. In 1990, I had started playing guitar. First song? Stairway To Heaven. In guitar world. Then a few months later, I picked up another issue. Had this and thunderstruck (think was late 90 or early 91). It had the level seven version in it. Since the song was written on piano, the guitar chords transition to what we know. The REAL trick is, Wendy only plays that F5add9 ONCE at the beginning, and pretty much does a straight F major for the rest. You watch the video/movie, you’ll see it. And you can do like Prince does and Hendrix that chord to do the fills throughout the song. A friend of mine who plays semi professional (he has a day job but gigs a LOT) is a Prince disciple and plays level five. When I showed him how I played it, he goes “no, I’m not going to play eight minutes of barre chords” and showed me the easier way, lol! He knew how to play it level seven, just chose not to. Mostly because of that last Eb shape, which is ridiculous despite that F chord, so even if you drop to F major throughout, and you want to be authentic that Eb will kill you. With it being a clean tone, you can’t hide behind distortion if you mess up, and it’s vital to hit all strings in it to get the lushness of it. So if you good, people will know. In and of itself it’s an easy song as you’ve shown. The complexity comes from the chord fingerings and how authentic you wish to be.

[@TruthAndMoreTruth]

A few weeks ago I found the Bluray of Purple Rain in a Bargain bin, so I got just because it included ALL of the music video, including from The Time, and a bunch of behind the scenes content. The 5.1 mix was really nice, really brought the sound track to life like it was the first time I was hearing it. The HD wide screen was also really nice, so much more immersive. I was surprised how much we enjoyed watching the film again.

[@paulsanders1]

That was so awesome and even though it was instructive, it's still brought sadness at the loss of a true legend😢. That song gets me every time. Many thanks!

[@EDP1]

the bike prince used in the movie is a honda 400 cm A . A stands for automatic gears .

[@TheRudeNoise]

When someone says there's levels to this... and actually means it. great lesson bro

[@guysmith5504]

Thank you! Woke up today needing to learn this song

[@Dork2099]

Between this and that amazing Jack White video from a year or two back you’ve really provided a framework for my entire approach to the guitar. Many thanks!

[@overlook237]

Amazing song and one of my favourite albums ever

[@216trixie]

You've got it going on. Just want to compliment you on your presentation your knowledge your attitude your vibe your skill your style. Great job. I'm in my sixties, been playing most of my life and I play professionally. I enjoy your channel more than most. Keep up the great work. You're nailing it.

[@Perspectemony]

So awesome to see the connection. Thank you.

[@ruebenthomas716]

Awesome ! Always wondered how she is exactly playing it . Great lesson ❤

[@jimmyjames4372]

Finger buster to level 7 the way to go, for the closest sound.. nice work

[@jamespowers7091]

I can't wait to get home and try this. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@carlthoresen3232]

The difference between playing it straight at the lower levels vs. levels 6-7 is that the latter add this amazing wistfulness to the progression. It’s hard to describe, but it has a certain sad and mournful quality to it. In Brazilian music, this often referred to as *saudade*. You don’t even have to be trained to hear the difference. It’s just so intuitive emotionally. Brilliant video!

[@martincrawley8197]

That wistful is why it is my favorite song. It touched me the very first time I heard it

[@johnbrantley1311]

Thanks so much for doing this one! Always been one of my favorites.

[@stewdickson]

Great video. Those chords just take me right back to the 80s.

[@browneyerosebud]

Best video I’ve seen so far. Thank you

[@JamesHamlin-fq7pf]

Perfect example of a true artist. It's those like minyre nuances that give a riff it's character..awesome lesson!!

[@sucote100]

Very good explanation...you are so calm teaching

[@juliusserrano5217]

Thank you!! Beautiful chords! A proper tribute for such a genius (Prince... and Wendy!) 🥲

[@costamesa22]

@TheArtofGuitar Great playing. The other part of purple rain that’s incredible is at the end with the progression down in keys. dana nana nana nan nan. Then the vocal Who Who Who Who. That’s the crescendo of the song 🎵

[@dmmjq2]

Well done..thanks..great breakdown

[@geekwithsocialskills]

Awesome! Sounds great! Thank you for making this video. Now I know a few different ways to play Purple Rain.

[@danmick8645]

Super cool. That progression absolutely killed me 39 years ago and has never ever failed to give me chills every single time since.

[@gallp13]

Excellent and extremely enjoyable vid. Thankyou

[@andrewhudson7108]

On KZbin Prince’s 1983 First Ave concert is available, where he introduced songs from Purple Rain for the first time (and the debut of The Revolution’s guitarist Wendy Melvoin). Highly recommend watching it if you haven’t already.

[@christophergrewe3651]

@TheArtofGuitar Thank you so much for this lesson.

[@corporalclegg914]

I was staying in a Double Tree in Minneapolis & wondered down to a bar, where a jazz trio/quartet was Going Off around ‘99. I still know nothing about Jazz’s history & heroes, but I knew I loved the performance & chatted with the guitar player on their break. I wanted to tell him that I loved his guitar tone & playing. it was an old old old Gibson arch-top something & he introduced me to the guy I was sidled up next to at the bar, who came to watch his gig. it was John Blackwell. I was 21 yrs old & those guys were extreme cool to me. they were introducing me as a musician from ATL & invited me for a late dinner after the gig. we talked gear & ridiculous gig scenarios and stories. it was a rad time

[@charlesmckinnis2718]

What's the POINT? Whats this have to do with this video and PRINCE??????

[@BrotherBoresIsBest]

⁠@@charlesmckinnis2718nothing. Just some lonely freak wanting to talk. He “wondered” to the bar. Also, OP, sidle is a verb.

[@AC2237]

You're the best teacher, thanks

[@_Frank_23]

wow I've always been playing the 7th level since day one and I didn't even know it was so "right" to play that way, i saw it once in a video many years ago and never changed the chords since

[@LMacNeill]

Wow! Level 7 is *JUST* like the recording! Amazing!!!

[@RichardCurry-z1e]

The magic here is not only his nailing all 7 ways and chord voicings, but in coming up with a clever, niche appeal content topic for us guitar obsession freaks. I'd suggest if he wanted to replicate this type of header.....7 Levels of X.....he might consider the X levels of George Harrison and Paul McCartney riffing or solo in The Beatles' Let It Be. There were at least 4 or 5 versions of that record in terms of the bridge and guitar break.....some with George, one with Paul, one pre-Phil Spector, one post-Spector, one with George Martin input, one without, etc. etc. Many of us old enough to remember Prince and Purple Rain and 1999, also were alive and listened to Beatles music religiously in the mid to late 60's. This guy, is a kid, and he wouldn't remember much about Let It Be, so he would have to do his own research and back track to what went down, but it was one of the most contested songs in their book and short lived musical career. We guitar players knew about the multiple versions, since maybe 3 or 4 were marketed in various ways, on the 45 and on the albums. The levels got into using a Leslie speaker or not, in using a fuzz tone or not, in using a simple follow the melody lead or a more abstract solo, etc. It was a hoot, maybe more fun that Purple Rain or the opening chord to A Hard Day's Night or to the opening chord Robert Cray in the Right Next Door track on Strong Persuader. We older folks have a bit longer history and perspective on some of this how did they play it "stuff".

[@hunterprice3320]

So glad you're going to do a video on the solo. I want to know how to play it so bad

[@fullsizedwarf]

Wendy is an incredible musician.

[@TooleyPeter]

Great video. Will be watched many many times.

[@jakethepitador2558]

Few art forms can choke you up like music. Great instructional video, beautifully played, to one of the greatest of all time, artist and song.

[@leocmen]

Thanks for sharing, God bless you

[@HeyImTyyy]

Another awesome video. Best guitar teacher on KZbin.

[@jboling513]

I sub with cover bands in the midwest so every few weeks I'm learning a handful of new songs. A few years ago this intro clobbered me to get it right. I was close but not this close (maybe level 4 no capo). Really as a guitar player I was just jonesing for the guitar solo at the outro. Thank you for the great viideo/walkthrough!

[@russellchapman5991]

so awesome that i was just remembering this song oh 13 days ago myself and just missing mr. Prince (im so not what youd associate as a prince fan) Prince was so far ahead of his time and so "revolutionary" in his approach. .but i digress the movie was playing so i grabed my git-fiddle and ya was playing the power chorded way for most part just to play along..and now i find yer vid on all the ways..i can count on you for so many toots for so vast a field,,i really appreciate your broader scope man, sick of being pigeon holed to a certain genera..i think the world wide web invention has been such an un-chainer .. (i kid a bit but so true ) brother thank you for your vids always educational and fun. really miss him..many don't really get what he brought to and how he helped change the whole industry. cheers mate..yes the jacket .,,yes one must be classy to properly be Prince approved. (oh he had a sense of humor oh he did)

[@slingasixstring]

Even though I am 63, I emigrate big Prince fan and revolution I'm a left-handed electric guitar player I also play acoustic guitar some. But I decided to start learning the intro and now I want to learn the solo but thank you so much for showing us this intro in your love and affection you had for Prince's obvious and I have my prince jacket too. My wife was looking at your bracelet she makes bracelets that I think I said yeah I bet that's a prince! Lol. Anyway buddy I've been wanting to thank you for a long time now for your lessons and your support and your encouragement you don't know me from Adam I'm just Dennis from Tulsa but I'm here for you if you ever need me Brother. It may not be popular but I grew up with Jehovah's witness like distance Prince. I know those in Minnesota know the story well just as I do hear in Tulsa. Again thank you for this lesson it really touched my heart so that's why I say I'm here for you brother I like your style and you're a damn good little guitar player to Buddy!!! If you want me to I'll send you a tape once I master it. Enjoy the rest of your weekend Buddy. With love from the Dennis Pointer family in Tulsa.

[@PaoloC.]

just perfect analysis, spot on. congrats.

[@esco75]

This intro and the first two lines by Prince get me every time. 😢

[@sideoutrocker]

Great lesson! Such a simple sounding progression but so much more complex with the dynamics and nuances Wendy added. I appreciate her that much more. Well done. Subbed!

[@karenstanley964]

As a friend told me once, AWESOMEsauce🎉 Keep rocking my friend 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@hmk8996]

Bbsus2/D sounds so magical.

[@kangaroofoot]

Gorgeous melody

[@fontcaicoya5686]

Man - I watched your video last night, then watched Vertex's video with Wendy going through her pedalboard and playing the intro to Purple Rain. I just spent the last 10 minutes learning how to play it as she originally played it and my left hand wants to fall off. Meanwhile, both you and her play it like it's a walk in the park. I need to start practicing again. Been a few years. Great video, man. Cheers.

[@shermantank6564]

Wendy never gets enough credit for writing the guitar into to purple rain. It’s the most recognized guitar intro of all time. The first live performance Prince had her play the intro for 10 min.

[@sigmaman721]

In 10min she went easily through those 7 stages

[@markkindermannart4028]

Purple Haze far more iconic intro

[@Boomstick___]

​@@markkindermannart4028nope I think purple rain is defo more well known and iconic.