The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hey, I have been reading this board for a while and I am curious about something so I figured I would ask. In the recent facebook q and a Brian was asked what instruments he could play. He said he only really plays piano and some drums, and he cant even play guitar! This surprised me, I know he obviously played bass in the band, but can he really not play the regular guitar. I remember in one of the documentaries I think it was the beautiful dreamer smile one, someone said that whenever one of the session musicians was having trouble with a part no matter what the instrument he would walk in play it perfectly and show them exactly what he wanted. This seems to contradict that. Also did Brian ever write songs on anything other than piano/keyboard.

Thanks

I doubt he can play other instruments all perfectly, and i'm sure he can play a little guitar.  Brian has a habit of lying.  Love him to death, but when they're asking him a bunch of questions he doesn't feel like answering he just says whatever the hell he wants to, whether it's truthfull or not.  Brian likes to get through these interviews with as little effort as possible; it doesn't take much effort to talk, but it would take a slight little bit more effort to actually think of the right answer, and THEN talk.  Brian doesn't always like thinking of the right answer, God Bless Him.

Plus when it comes down to it, he has guitarists that are around him a lot, those guys of course can play much better than him, so in a sense, compared to them, he probably feels as if he can't play guitar. 

Welcome! Nice to have you here.



There is one record from the 60s, I think it's "After the Game," where there is some mild strumming that he's credited with. But in terms of actually knowing more than a couple of chords, he does not play guitar. He's certainly never put down a blistering lead.


I don't think this is true. He might be able to play it on the piano or sing it to them. But he doesn't really play guitar. He can't play wind instruments. And he's not a virtuoso bassist or drummer, either. (Al plays most of the bass on BB records when it's not a session player.)


Not that I'm aware of.

If you want to know what Brian is capable of, as a solo performer, listen to Love You. Several songs on that album feature him on all the instruments. Multiple keyboards (including a bass keyboard line), and some basic drumming. Carl occasionally tosses in some guitar licks.

There's a photo of Brian playing an acoustic during the finale of some 1980s benefit (Joan Baez is also in the pic), plus of course he plays guitar on "After The Game".

Brian's bass playing looks pretty hot at the TAMI show

This sort of discussion always just highlights what constitutes being able to play an instrument, which isn't quite as easy as a yes or no question. Considering he was a fully capable rock n roll bassist, I'm sure Brian has a basic understanding of guitar and can make sounds that could pass as playing. He can find a root and fifth on the fretboard: play them simultaneously and slide up and down the neck to appropriate frets and you can "play" about 95% of the rock 'n' roll music you'll ever come across. It wouldn't do Carl Wilson or Dave Marks proud (much less Wes Montgomery), but it's playing the instrument. And I wouldn't be surprised if, just by virtue of having been a great musician in such close proximity to so many guitarists over the years, he picked up open chord shapes. But any rumors about him outplaying professionals at their own instruments should be firmly planted in the urban legend file, as far as I'm concerned. He's not even that level of keyboardist, and that's his main instrument. Brian was a brilliant musician in terms of composition, arrangement, and even voice; he was a more-than-capable keyboardist for the pop idiom; he was a passable bassist for the rock 'n' roll style they had going when he played it. After that? My vote is don't believe the hype.

There is also the picture of Brian playing guitar while Van Dyke watches on. Its in the Carlin book.

In January 1998, David Beard and I were invited to Nashville by Joe Thomas to observe an "Imagination" album recording session at MasterPhonics Studio.  The lobby of the studio has an assortment of musical instruments up on the wall.  During a break Brian was walking around, and walked up to one of the acoustic guitars, pulled it off the wall, tuned couple of strings, and strummed a couple of chords.  There was a buzzing fret.  Brian frowned, sighted down the neck, and promptly put the guitar back on the wall.  I said, "Brian, I didn't know you played the guitar!"  He very nonchalontly said, "Oh yeah," turned around, and walked back into the studio.

Lee

Haven't got the book at hand but I am positive it's the other way round.

Having said that though, if anyone can play half decent bass than they can at least transpose their knowledge of scale runs over to guitar as they are at their most basic played and tuned the same. Even without LeeDempsey's above post I would have no doubt believing Brian is capable of this at least.

sh*t, I think you're right.

You are correct. VDP is fretting what looks to be a G# and Brian is strumming it.

The photo stood out in my mind because it's a really sweet Rickenbacker Van's playing.

it's not that Brian outright lied.
hitting a string on the guitar, or playing a couple of chords doesn't mean your competent enough to claim that you can play the instrument.
I can pick up a harmonica and make some noise, but I sure as hell can't play the damn thing.

I think Desper said that Brian played rhythm guitar on the basic track for "Breakaway".

I'd be curious to see the test after which a person can claim to play an instrument, not to mention understand what regulatory body got to make the decision.  ;D  I think being able to play a small handful of chords on a guitar means you can play guitar ... a little bit. (Hell, two or three chords is enough to play plenty of songs. Four or five chords and you're golden. Everything after that is just increased competence.)

I think it's also safe to assume that Brian frequently lies in interviews, lol. 

What? I've never heard that!  ;)

WOW, never heard of this pic. Any chance you can post it, or say where one can see this photo??

Exactly. The phrase "I can play [instrument]" implies a degree of competence with said instrument.

And like you said, Brian could have added "a little bit" or even "badly" at the end and it could be true, but to just say he can play guitar would be one of those lies I hear he's prone to.

I can sit at the piano and press on the keys and play it. but having no idea what I'm really doing and having no skill, I couldn't say I play the piano with a clear conscience. That fib would keep me up at night. Rather, i played the piano... badly.

You, sir or ma'am, have a very sensitive conscience. I could tell you I'm the president of Croatia and not bat an eyelash. And I don't even know whether Croatia has a president. (Maybe just a prime minister? I don't know. I mostly just know I like their basketball players.)

(http://www.film4.com/images/beautiful-dreamer-brian-wilson-and-the-story-of-smile-2004-01.jpg)

Gig was January 13th, 1980 at the Oakland Coliseum... and I saw it once, round about then in a mag.

Could you draw a picture of it to the best of your recollection, scan it, and post it?

Never mind, I think I found it. (http://s3.excoboard.com/forums/5835/user/42171/127575.jpg)   

Stan Shapiro once told me that all the Wilson brothers, but Brian and Carl in particular, had the ability to pick up any instrument and pretty much play it on the spot.

This is not as savant-like as it sounds.  There's three things required to play a musical instrument:  knowledge of the musical fundamentals, basic muscle memory, and a good sense of time.  Brian and Carl certainly understood the former, and as musicians, they were always about effect and blend, even on their main instruments.  All the Wilsons were believers in the less-is-more school of playing (which I admire), so technically ability was never as important as getting the sound you wanted, and if you focus on the fundamentals, your time is generally going to be good, so anything you play is going to sound "right."  All that's really required to play something is to figure out how that particular instrument generates notes and get the rudamentary muscle memory to do it.  If you're a Wilson, that probably doesn't take all that long.

Vis a vis Brian's ability to play guitar, it's pretty well established that Brian could play guitar any time he wanted to if he felt like it.  That's important.  They say that Brian hadn't played the bass in years and when it was time for him to tour with the Beach Boys, he just put on a Ronettes album, played along with it for half an hour, and that was that.  I find that really easy to believe.  For someone with Brian's musical ability, it's just not that big of a challenge.  So yes, he can play guitar in the sense that he probably knows a little of this and that and could pick up more in about ten seconds if he so desired, but no he can't in the sense that he can't pick it up and jam, and doesn't really care to, either.

Brian's right-handed.  ;D

A few possibilities: 1) he's such a genius that on that particular night, he played left-handed to prove he could; b) the photographer at the magazine flipped the negative; and iii) your ocular wiring is just messed up, no longer properly seeing things as they actually appear. Those are the three most plausible explanations that come to mind.

Just to add to this, Adam, it's also key to note that we're talking about what are basically percussive and string instruments. It's about ear, dexterity, and rhythm, plus an understanding of where you put your hands. Wind and brass instruments would add a whole other level that would take them much longer: embouchure is tough to master. But anyone can press down on this key, or pluck this string. So it's an easier learning curve.

That's true, Andrew, but the Beach Boys were holding a MIRROR when that drawing was made. 

Marry me

Who, me? Or the circa 1980 photo of guitar-playing Brian I posted but did not draw because it is a photograph? If me, I'll think about it. If the photograph, I'll ask it and get back to you.

It's hard for me to believe that a song like, say, "Girl don't Tell Me" wasn't written on guitar.  I know Brian would sometimes play piano on a track only to drop it out of the final mix, but "Girl" sounds like a guitar song to me.  Little Pad maybe also?

I think the "Girl Don't Tell Me" effect is because it's basically a ripoff of "Ticket to Ride," which was almost certainly written on guitar.

Also, remember, anything can be written on anything. Brian's plunking piano is almost akin to a strumming guitar anyway. But I'm sure Brian would be more than able to write chords + melody on piano, then later choose an arrangement that featured other instruments. Once you get that vibe or absorb the arrangement, naturally it's easy to assume it was meant for that instrument...but it ain't necessarily so.

Dennis played harmonica and tuba on POB. As well as whatever else he could get his hands on. Pretty impressive.

:lol


Same thing with All I want to do.... ^_^

I agree with Adam's post concerning Brian and "playing guitar."  Could he pick up the guitar and jam out/solo like SRV for 20 minutes? Probably not.  Could he "play guitar" like Steve Vai (ugh who would want to). Probably not.  WOULD he want to? Most definitaly not.   McCartney "plays guitar."  Can he solo (or would he want to?) like Vai or perform, for example,  a real complicated piece of classical guitar?  No.  But still, McCartney, plays guitar.  Can my next door neighbour play guitar?  Well, yes, he can, in an amatuer strum strum way. 

The point is this.  Brian is a composer first.  The tool he uses primarily is the piano.  Here is one of the big big lessons I learned years ago concerning music and I think alot of young musicians MISS the point which is why there are thousand of bands, thousands of guitar players and tons of shitty forgettable songs.  The CHORDS are the foundation of a song.  EVERYTHING else is icing.  Read that again.  Let it sink in.  This seems obvious but you would be surprised how many musicians (especially beginners/amatuers) do not get that.  First thing a kid does when playing guitar:  RIFFS.  Whether it be Smoke On The Water, Iron Man etc...First thing a kid does when starting off: get a distortion box and starting riffing away on fifths.  There is no sense of the structure of the song, the bedrock, the chords.  I HAVE talked with young "musicians" and I have grilled them about what they listen to and how they approach guitar.  They are completely clueless concerning chord structures and how it relates to the bass and melody.  Typical conversation goes like this:  "oh you play guitar."  "Why yes."  "How long."  "Oh for about 3 years now."  "So you know your basic chords?"  (Insert confused look)  "So if I asked you to show me a Gm7 chord, would you know what I was talking about?"  Insert another confused look.   This conversation has happened numerous times.  I actually take great pleasure and delight in having it because it blows my mind.  Final point: Brian is a first rate composer and the guitar is one of many colours he uses to paint the picture of the song.  I am sure if he wanted to, he could pick up the guitar and pick out/play the part he wants.  Example: the opening arpeggio part to WIBN.  Composed on piano or sung in his head, he could have probably very slowly figured it out how to play that on the guitar just the same as if he could have done it on a mandolin.  But why do that?  Have the session guy do it! We got work to do!

I was looking for another pic of Brian with a guitar that I had in mind but couldn't find it. Stumbled upon these though:

(http://photos.upi.com/topics-BRIAN-WILSON-AT-NEW-HARD-ROCK-CAFE/78b0fa40d8d7a730eeac08a4e8197130/P_1.jpg)

(http://f.hatena.ne.jp/images/fotolife/n/nikkawhisky/20090125/20090125221906.jpg)

(http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postrock/brianwilson.JPG)

(http://c-yukky.blog.so-net.ne.jp/_images/blog/_96d/c-yukky/brian-wilson-thumb-450x337.jpg)

And although it's a bass and no guitar I thought this is fairly rare so what the heck...

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2989290832_50d6c5cd03.jpg)

i used to wonder about "i'd love just once to see you", but i think that's an example of song that could very easily be translated from piano to guitar, and probably was.

my friend also told me that jack white writes a lot of songs on the piano then moves it to guitar.

The great fanzine Add Some Music ran a brief report of this Cambodian Relief benefit show...it said the Boys joined Joan Baez for harmonies on "Amazing Grace", while Brian contributed some rhythm guitar.  So that explains it.

True... but not where I saw the pic, unless my brain is developing more holes.

Paul McCartney does a little more than just play guitar.  Check out his solos on Taxman, And Your Bird Can Sing, Ticket To Ride, Back In The USSR, or Maybe I'm Amazed, to name a few.

Oh man, how many thumbs up can I give to this comment.

Three chords on that one...I imagine half the SS board could play it!

Good one. In a 1996-ish issue of the extinct "Breakaway" fanzine there was a Q&A section in which he stated that "Girl don't tell me was written on the guitar".

Thanks Adam!  Appreciate it.  8)

Not true.

I have the issue of the newsletter in front of me. Brian writes:

"I wrote that song while on vacation in Hawaii, without a piano or guitar. And it's the only song I wrote that way. When it was done, I went to the piano and -- it was THERE."

Paul's a great guitarist.  I'm sure i'm preaching to the choir, but he played guitar in the Beatles before he played bass.  He kind of eats George and John alive on "The End", too, unless I have it mixed up who's playing what.  

I think it goes Paul, George and then John 3x.

Hmmm.  Then I got it wrong.  I thought Paul was second... George, Paul, John.  3 is definately John.  Guitarist behind door #2 is the man, whomever he was. 

'The man' on the End is George, I"m pretty sure. I always notice Paul's playing, it's somehow a 'thinner tone' than George's, who has more technique. His solos with the Beatles(Taxman, Good MOrning Good Morning) are really rockin'--perhaps more so than Harrison's --but I think George is the better player overall.

I always thought John's parts on The End were the best solely due to the distortion effect. George's solos always sound sorta crummy to me. Don't forget he got his role by default, Macca was a MUCH better guitarist in the 60's.

John loses the war simply because he cheated. 

I wonder if Brian would claim that he can play the drums? He did do some drumming on Love You and most notably Funky Pretty. Nothing complicated, but creative.

And Brian play drums in The Wanderer, from Concert album.

Way back in the first post, the quote attributed to Brian said he could play some drums.

Looks more like C#m or C#m7 to me than a G#...can't really see whether his pinky is pressing down a string or not...