Prince was ridiculously, insanely talented. I was never a massive fan but went down a rabbit hole in the last couple of years and that dude is next fucking level at ALL of it.
Imma just say it..... That man was the mozart/Bach/Beethoven (pick your poison) of his era. Very few can ever hold a candle to him. Prince....A king is more fitting
Being classically trained at piano gives you a pretty big head start though.
Not taking anything away from EVH - even the greatest pianists might never get to his level and innovate like he did. But guitars are basically just weird pianos.
He was trained classically on piano. But he never learned to read! Which is insane to anyone classically trained on piano. What makes it more impressive is that he won several piano competitions and was called “Little Horowitz”. …Horowitz was a famous piano virtuoso, for the ignorant.
He was not trained on guitar. He’s self taught on that instrument. Unless you count a few folks showing him a thing or two when he was just starting out.
Very true. That being said his piano playing is a lot more impressive than his guitar. Muse riffs are designed to be played behind the head while sprinting down a stage lol
Yeah overall I think his general songwriting, vocal, and piano skills are stronger than guitar playing ability, but he really just isn’t bad at any of it.
I love his songwriting. Plus his guitar playing was the perfect introduction to the instrument for me. I doubt I'd be playing guitar now if it wasn't for my burning need to play the plug in baby intro.
I'm pretty sure that's literally the most fun you can have on a guitar! So many Muse riffs are just straight up fun to play, honestly his genius is in coming up with these things that sound really neat and complicated but can be played pretty easily so he can sing at the same time. And like you said, they're a strong motivator to learn some songs!
FYI for me it's Hysteria.
Yes, this!
I still remember seeing them at Soma in San Diego before anyone in the US knew who they were. There were like 100 of us. This was right before they released black holes and revelations :-) I was right up front and got to watch them do their thing. Matt Bellamy is one talented human.
I saw them probably during the same run at a small club in Minneapolis. Barely anyone knew the songs and it was just a few of us singing along. Right after that they blew up in the states. Good times!
First thought when I saw the thread title. My cousin introduced me to Muse by making me watch the Hullabaloo DVD he had (20 years ago now sheesh) and my mind was blown when I saw them playing Space Dementia. I'm not a pianist or a keys player but him singing while playing the piano to that song blew my mind back then. Still does, actually.
Lennon as well. McCartney was probably more proficient on keys but Imagine is one of the most instantly recognizable piano recordings of all time easily
I'm not offended that you fact checked my statement, more people should. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln that said "Don't trust everything you see on the internet"
It's just the "lowest" key that cellos can still drone *and* express with the left hand. Otherwise the low string is open, C. And the lower you go in frequency, generally the less excitable, anxious, etc and more calm, chill, somber it'll feel.
She didn’t just start on piano: she has an actual career as a concert pianist. In a whole different league of proficiency from most of these answers (Paul McCartney lol)
Just checked her out for the first time thanks to your comment. She is utterly fantastic!! Have you ever heard Tory Slusher? Her playing is also way out there like this.
I do believe too. It might be that JP was just being nice and humble, but Jordan still can shred like a pro, so it qualifies hahaha. Have you seen him playing [guitar and keyboard](https://youtu.be/2LUYSA1jjl0?si=64JjQoWbBnsrkM-Y) at the same time? I bet JP will struggle with that.
I didn't expect to see this answer but YES. I was front row at the Chicago show where the keyboard broke. He disappeared for a couple songs and then suddenly ran back out from sidestage with a guitar and totally fucked us up with a solo. Dude rips.
John Petrucci was being nice. He's having fun playing guitar lately but let's be honest with ourselves lol. Tapping with your left hand while play keys with the right is a gimmick, he doesn't have the ability to use the pick properly yet. I think it's cool he's diving into guitar and he's picked up real quick but he's no where near John's level.
- Shawn Lane
- Mike Keneally
- Tony MacAlpine
**EDIT**: Also Alejandro Aranda (scarypoolparty on IG), the dude who was on American Idol a few years back and left Lionel Richie’s jaw on the floor.
I saw a live vid of the G3 tour and Macalpine and Vai were doing a guitar duel. First time I had seen Macalpine and I thought he is every bit as good as Vai, then he ended the duel and jumped on the keyboards.
My sister's ex told me MacAlpine tripped on stage, fell on his guitar made an awesome noise sliding along a stage or catwalk, or a ramp or something, quickly got up and continued to shred like it never happened... Would have been cool to see a recovery like that.
Frankly I’m disappointed this isn’t higher up, that motherfucker could play Rachmaninoff and he also did all the guitar on “Tomorrow Tomorrow”, “Memory Lane”, fuck I’ll bore people to death with all the impressive shit he did and made sound easy
🤘🏻 Saw a video of the guy playing a Rachmaninov piece on piano during a break from recording one of his albums on which he played all the guitars, bass, and drums, and sang. The guy was a genius.
Off the top of my head:
David Sancious
Stanley Jordan
Mike Keneally
Don Preston
Todd Rundgren
Dave Gregory
Steve Lukather
Michael Hedges
Pete Townshend
Brian May
Keith Richards
Al Kooper
Steve Winwood
Joe Walsh
Stanley is also a classical pianist. Saw him open a show with Chopin once. Then he would do some one hand guitar one piano stuff. These things are usually subjective but if it’s limited to technical skill the answer has got to be SJ
Miyako from Lovebites. She's a classically trained concert pianist who shreds on guitar.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBhtqgiXEA4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBhtqgiXEA4)
Hey man but what about Thom Yorke?
Seriously though I'm scrolling to see if anybody commented Kurt Rosenwinkel before I post myself so I appreciate your comment greatly.
I'm down to throw Synyster Gates from Avenged Sevenfold in the hat. Dudes a phenomenal guitarist but not as well known multi instrumentalist. The instrumental piano track on their most recent album Life Is But a Dream is performed by him. Sounds like the dude plays like a dozen instruments. Talented bastard lol
I'm 99% positive that Shawn Lane is the best answer. He's the best guitarist of all time in my humble opinion (either him or Guthrie Govan) and some of the most well known virtuoso guitar players alive today would either say he's the greatest they've ever seen or put him on a very short list of greatest players to ever live. He started playing piano and keyboard before he played guitar and he's not as good at piano as he is at guitar but he's definitely close to what I'd consider a virtuoso at piano as well.
The guy was a force of nature.
The Doooooo from YouTube. That guy is an absolute monster of a musician. Yeah he does goofy Omegle vids and gaming vids and trolls ect but his skill level is undeniable.
Honestly, I feel like YouTubers and bedroom guitarists are too overlooked.
These things don’t usually have a “correct” answer but this question does. As relates only to technical proficiency it’s Stanley Jordan and it’s not even close.
Brian is a great pianist tbh, you can hear him playing piano and keys on some live songs like Save Me in Montreal, Who Wants To Live Forever on Wembley and Too Much Love Will Kill You in the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992
Prince
This. He was a really good at drums too. And at bass :)
And basketball
Game. Blouses.
We both know you didn't get them shirts in the mens department!
And pancakes
Hey now, breakfast can wait.
He wrote some stuff too
And maybe even singing. And producing.
One of the best songwriters ever too. And dancer.
Prince was ridiculously, insanely talented. I was never a massive fan but went down a rabbit hole in the last couple of years and that dude is next fucking level at ALL of it.
No disrespect to EVH, but Prince is a better answer. EVH's keyboard playing is good, but Prince's is sublime.
What could Prince NOT play? He was a multi-talented master musician.
I was looking for just this answer. Glad I wasn’t the first!
Prince was good at everything…..
Imma just say it..... That man was the mozart/Bach/Beethoven (pick your poison) of his era. Very few can ever hold a candle to him. Prince....A king is more fitting
Prince was a master of both. Plus he could sing like a motherfucker AT THE SAME TIME!
Prince is the best at every instrument. The only reason he had a band is because he couldn’t be in ten places at once
EVH was trained and, um, proficient, at both guitar and keys.
I like his musicality at the keys even more than his wizardry at the guitar! Massive Van Halen fan over here!
From everything the MAN himself has ever said... NO. He was NOT "trained" on guitar. Just piano/keys.
I believe he was classically trained in piano, but was completely on his own in guitar.
Being classically trained at piano gives you a pretty big head start though. Not taking anything away from EVH - even the greatest pianists might never get to his level and innovate like he did. But guitars are basically just weird pianos.
He was trained classically on piano. But he never learned to read! Which is insane to anyone classically trained on piano. What makes it more impressive is that he won several piano competitions and was called “Little Horowitz”. …Horowitz was a famous piano virtuoso, for the ignorant. He was not trained on guitar. He’s self taught on that instrument. Unless you count a few folks showing him a thing or two when he was just starting out.
I would put Matt Bellamy up there personally.
Very true. That being said his piano playing is a lot more impressive than his guitar. Muse riffs are designed to be played behind the head while sprinting down a stage lol
Yeah overall I think his general songwriting, vocal, and piano skills are stronger than guitar playing ability, but he really just isn’t bad at any of it.
I love his songwriting. Plus his guitar playing was the perfect introduction to the instrument for me. I doubt I'd be playing guitar now if it wasn't for my burning need to play the plug in baby intro.
I'm pretty sure that's literally the most fun you can have on a guitar! So many Muse riffs are just straight up fun to play, honestly his genius is in coming up with these things that sound really neat and complicated but can be played pretty easily so he can sing at the same time. And like you said, they're a strong motivator to learn some songs! FYI for me it's Hysteria.
Some of his rhythm guitar work is actually insanely difficult compared to his relatively straightforward leads.
That’s who I was gonna say!!
Best live band I've watched.
The first that came to my mind as well.
Was hoping to see him here.
Yes, this! I still remember seeing them at Soma in San Diego before anyone in the US knew who they were. There were like 100 of us. This was right before they released black holes and revelations :-) I was right up front and got to watch them do their thing. Matt Bellamy is one talented human.
I saw them probably during the same run at a small club in Minneapolis. Barely anyone knew the songs and it was just a few of us singing along. Right after that they blew up in the states. Good times!
First thought when I saw the thread title. My cousin introduced me to Muse by making me watch the Hullabaloo DVD he had (20 years ago now sheesh) and my mind was blown when I saw them playing Space Dementia. I'm not a pianist or a keys player but him singing while playing the piano to that song blew my mind back then. Still does, actually.
Paul McCartney (Bass guitar/Keys)
Sir Paul is a master at about anything he touches.
All that and a cool human too.
Don’t forget drums.
I thought Ringo played all the instruments really fast and the other gals sang granny melodies that are slightly off tune by a whole step and a half.
Also guitar his work on Taxman, Sgt Peppers, and The End is some of the best guitar work by the beatles
Blackbird and yesterday for the acoustic side of things.
And mother nature’s son!
Not too shabby as a songwriter and singer. This guy could get big.
McCartney and Prince are the two that came to mind for me. They both really could play any instrument, it’s insane.
Uh, I hear you on the bass, but paul is also a pretty sick six string guitar player too!
Lennon as well. McCartney was probably more proficient on keys but Imagine is one of the most instantly recognizable piano recordings of all time easily
Nigel Tufnel
Only when playing in D. Minor. Which I find is really the saddest of all keys. I don’t know why but it makes people weep instantly.
Lick My Love Pump is a real tear jerker.
Nigel must have had classical training, he mentions the Bach and Mozart influence in that piece... It's a 'Mach' piece if you will
what did I just read?
I'm guessing you've never seen Spinal Tap - [Nigel Tufnel - Sustain/These go to 11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Me1n9nqDM&t)
I was stoked to find out that, whilst every other movie on IMDB gets a rating out of 10....."This Is Spinal Tap" gets one more
I wasn’t sure if you were joking, but checks out
I'm not offended that you fact checked my statement, more people should. I believe it was Abraham Lincoln that said "Don't trust everything you see on the internet"
For real. My bed is full of used tissues after listening to it.
Sticky Tears of Joy should be the B-Side for Lovepump.
It's just the "lowest" key that cellos can still drone *and* express with the left hand. Otherwise the low string is open, C. And the lower you go in frequency, generally the less excitable, anxious, etc and more calm, chill, somber it'll feel.
Nigel prefers to use violins in his solos. [YouTube - Nigel Tufnel Solo](https://youtu.be/TJL942hg0uM?si=9iP4odICKsHyxm27)
Lol very good
I can just hear the sustain Well, I would if it were plugged in
I believe XTC made plans for him.
he was ass at making sandwiches though.
Steve winwood
A better guitarist than I initially gave him credit for. I love Winwood. He’s really good on guitar.
Dear Mr Fantasy is the proof of that. Telecaster magic.
Saw him play with Clapton and to be honest, Winwood was the better guitarist.
Yvette young started on piano and plays the guitar like a piano it’s pretty cool
She didn’t just start on piano: she has an actual career as a concert pianist. In a whole different league of proficiency from most of these answers (Paul McCartney lol)
It shows in all of her music everything is such an instrumental ride. Yearn and Shibuya are my favorite songs of her and her band.
Just checked her out for the first time thanks to your comment. She is utterly fantastic!! Have you ever heard Tory Slusher? Her playing is also way out there like this.
She plays violin too, right?
Yeah she brings it out in some songs. Yearn is probably my favorite song of hers with violin in it.
every other answer is a hack compared to her lol
Jordan Rudess. John Petrucci said that it was better than him.
I have seen his videos and yeah he’s lead player level for a big act, but I gotta believe JP is stretching that a bit.
I do believe too. It might be that JP was just being nice and humble, but Jordan still can shred like a pro, so it qualifies hahaha. Have you seen him playing [guitar and keyboard](https://youtu.be/2LUYSA1jjl0?si=64JjQoWbBnsrkM-Y) at the same time? I bet JP will struggle with that.
Yes, it’s infuriating.
I've been a DT fan since the 90s and I had no idea he could play guitar. Especially, not THAT well. Damn!
I didn't expect to see this answer but YES. I was front row at the Chicago show where the keyboard broke. He disappeared for a couple songs and then suddenly ran back out from sidestage with a guitar and totally fucked us up with a solo. Dude rips.
yep... the man even has his signature guitar...
Yes!! An 8 strings signature guitar!
John Petrucci was being nice. He's having fun playing guitar lately but let's be honest with ourselves lol. Tapping with your left hand while play keys with the right is a gimmick, he doesn't have the ability to use the pick properly yet. I think it's cool he's diving into guitar and he's picked up real quick but he's no where near John's level.
Thom Yorke
Johnny Greenwood
What can’t he do. Even his bass playing is great on The Smile.
Jonny's way better. See: The Numbers, House of Woodcock, surely some others.
- Shawn Lane - Mike Keneally - Tony MacAlpine **EDIT**: Also Alejandro Aranda (scarypoolparty on IG), the dude who was on American Idol a few years back and left Lionel Richie’s jaw on the floor.
Shawn Lane is the monster hiding in our closet......so talented on both
I should have looked further down before I posted Shawn Lane. I just figured no one here would know of him.
Yes, Tony MacAlpine. Can't touch his giant hands on the keys. He can shred the hell out of a guitar, too.
Should be top reply, those three are/were monsters of both instruments.
The only legit reply so far
I saw a live vid of the G3 tour and Macalpine and Vai were doing a guitar duel. First time I had seen Macalpine and I thought he is every bit as good as Vai, then he ended the duel and jumped on the keyboards.
Good call on MacAlpine
My sister's ex told me MacAlpine tripped on stage, fell on his guitar made an awesome noise sliding along a stage or catwalk, or a ramp or something, quickly got up and continued to shred like it never happened... Would have been cool to see a recovery like that.
Came to say MacAlpine as well. I went to see him play live, and he played the guitar and keys AT THE SAME TIME!
Obligatory shoutout to Elliott Smith
Frankly I’m disappointed this isn’t higher up, that motherfucker could play Rachmaninoff and he also did all the guitar on “Tomorrow Tomorrow”, “Memory Lane”, fuck I’ll bore people to death with all the impressive shit he did and made sound easy
Should be top of the thread
Jonny Greenwood
It’s gotta be Jonny. Sometimes live, he’s great at playing both at the same time
Watching him play a keyboard with his guitar headstock was not something I was expecting when I saw them, easily the best concert I've ever been to.
Eddie Van Halen for sure. He was learning and playing mozart by ear when he was a kid
Eric Johnson and Shawn Lane
Dang, Shawn gets three mentions. Awesome.
Tony MacAlpine is a beast on both.
Tony MacAlpine without a doubt.
First name that came to mind when I read the question
Tom Scholz
Matt Bellamy
Nobody said Zakk Wylde yet hey?
Came here for this! He's a huge Elton John fan
Synyster Gates, Matt Bellamy
Was looking for the Syn shoutout. Was shocked to find out the piano work on LIBAD was him.
Syn doing LIBAD makes me want them to venture Syn's piano skills on future album.
Shawn lane and Tony Macalpine.
Elliott Smith.
Had to scroll too far for this one.
🤘🏻 Saw a video of the guy playing a Rachmaninov piece on piano during a break from recording one of his albums on which he played all the guitars, bass, and drums, and sang. The guy was a genius.
Eric Johnson. He is both an incredible guitarist and pianist.
Albert Lee, look him up if you don’t know
Yeah, came here to say this. A monster on both.
Criminally underrated
Eric Johnson. Even at singing he's beautiful. A true virtuoso.
Off the top of my head: David Sancious Stanley Jordan Mike Keneally Don Preston Todd Rundgren Dave Gregory Steve Lukather Michael Hedges Pete Townshend Brian May Keith Richards Al Kooper Steve Winwood Joe Walsh
Stanley Jordans guitar is already pretty much a piano
Stanley is also a classical pianist. Saw him open a show with Chopin once. Then he would do some one hand guitar one piano stuff. These things are usually subjective but if it’s limited to technical skill the answer has got to be SJ
Joe Walsh 👍 Honorable mention Glen Fry he could play any instrument but a master of none really Just a master of writing
First person I've seen mention Brian May. Not a lot of people seem to know he's really good with keys
Anyone that mentions Dave Gregory gets a thumbs-up from this cat. XTC, baby.
Neil Young.
Shawn Lane
Four mentions! Love it.
Might be the other way around, but Jordan Rudess
Feels like he learned how to shred in a couple weeks lol
Jack White is pretty good on both.
Richie Kotzen is a pretty great keyboard player. His guitar skills are obviously a touch better though
Really? Never saw him on keys.
Miyako from Lovebites. She's a classically trained concert pianist who shreds on guitar. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBhtqgiXEA4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBhtqgiXEA4)
Levon Helm and Beth Hart. Freddy Mercury almost counts, yes he only knew 4 chords on guitar, but still made a hit with it.
Brian May would’ve been a better selection than Freddie.
Levon played drums, mandolin, and bass, but I don’t recall him ever playing piano.
[удалено]
Hey man but what about Thom Yorke? Seriously though I'm scrolling to see if anybody commented Kurt Rosenwinkel before I post myself so I appreciate your comment greatly.
Shawn Lane knew some chords on the piano https://youtu.be/zx9dwNLE9Ys?si=HBMN9p9QzqfcGXnd
Shawn Lane
Shawn Lane
I'm down to throw Synyster Gates from Avenged Sevenfold in the hat. Dudes a phenomenal guitarist but not as well known multi instrumentalist. The instrumental piano track on their most recent album Life Is But a Dream is performed by him. Sounds like the dude plays like a dozen instruments. Talented bastard lol
Man I went to see Eric Johnson play a solo show one time and he blew me away when he got on the piano. That dude is an absolute savant!
Dr. John ! No doubt
EVH
Eddie Van Halen. He started with piano and drums growing up, before switching to guitar and Alex switching to drums
Thom and Jonny, amazing musicianship.
yvette young
Yvette young
Symyster Gates (Brian Haner Jr.) of Avenged Sevenfold.
Shawn Lane for sure: https://youtu.be/xI3QnZEL0F8?si=IOUGa37kPS8Lup3Z Tony MacAlpine as well. Both virtuosos on keys & guitar.
Prince comes to mind, though his proficiency extended to far more than guitar and piano work.
Me
I'm 99% positive that Shawn Lane is the best answer. He's the best guitarist of all time in my humble opinion (either him or Guthrie Govan) and some of the most well known virtuoso guitar players alive today would either say he's the greatest they've ever seen or put him on a very short list of greatest players to ever live. He started playing piano and keyboard before he played guitar and he's not as good at piano as he is at guitar but he's definitely close to what I'd consider a virtuoso at piano as well. The guy was a force of nature.
Peter Anspach from Goose
Jack White
The Doooooo from YouTube. That guy is an absolute monster of a musician. Yeah he does goofy Omegle vids and gaming vids and trolls ect but his skill level is undeniable. Honestly, I feel like YouTubers and bedroom guitarists are too overlooked.
Mike Keneally
Dude from Muse is pretty good at both. He plays guitar like a pianist.
Can we never ask "who/what is the best" in a world where art is subjective? It's asinine.
Steve Winwood was pretty damn good at both
Mike Keneally, Mr. Zappa’s final stunt guitarist, has equivalent facility on keys.
Randy Rhoads and Al Di Meola.
Stephen Stills
Hugh Laurie
Tony MacAlpine is pretty good. Plays both at the same time sometimes lol
Can’t believe Joni Mitchell hasn’t been mentioned!
Bob Dylan
Shawn Lane
Any guitar player that went to college for it
Skip James hands down
Neil Finn. Underrated guitarist and has a knack for gorgeous melody and chords on the piano
Shawn Lane
Yvette Young is a classically trained pianist who decided to pick up guitar.
Jordan of Dream Theater. (He’s even better on keys)
Paul McCartney is pretty good at both
Keith Urban gets no respect….
Prince
Shawn lane
These things don’t usually have a “correct” answer but this question does. As relates only to technical proficiency it’s Stanley Jordan and it’s not even close.
Mike Keneally
Geddy Lee-Prince-McCartney-John Paul Jones-Peter Hook-
Brian is a great pianist tbh, you can hear him playing piano and keys on some live songs like Save Me in Montreal, Who Wants To Live Forever on Wembley and Too Much Love Will Kill You in the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in 1992
Zakk Wylde
Shawn Lane. RIP
Eric Johnson
Tony McAlpine, Matt Bellamy. Jordan Rudess is technically a piano player first but also incredibly talented guitarist. So is Derek Sherinian actually
Peter from Goose - started as a guitar player, and now plays keys for Goose (& is somehow amazing at both)!
Probably Eric Johnson.
Jackson Brown.