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Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U - Guitar Lesson

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Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U - Guitar Lesson

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Prince - Nothing Compares 2 U guitar lesson video
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Prince Pop F major
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Nothing Compares 2 U

"Nothing Compares 2 U" is a song written by Prince, made widely known by Sinéad O'Connor on her 1990 album I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. The track is a slow, emotionally driven pop ballad built around restrained instrumentation, making it an excellent piece for electric guitarists to explore dynamics, tone control, and melodic phrasing rather than technical speed.

  • Prince wrote the song, so studying its chord structure reveals his signature blend of soul, pop, and R&B harmony.
  • The sparse arrangement leaves space for expressive guitar playing, ideal for practicing volume swells and clean tone dynamics.
  • Co-produced by Nellee Hooper, the 1990 recording favors subtle, supportive instrumentation that challenges guitarists to play with restraint.
Fender Stratocaster
Guitar

Fender Stratocaster

Prince used Stratocasters for versatile lead and rhythm work, leveraging their smooth contours and tonal flexibility across funk, rock, and soul contexts. The instrument's natural sustain complemented his expressive vibrato technique and dynamic playing style.

Fender Telecaster
Guitar

Fender Telecaster

The Telecaster's bright, snappy single-coil tone defined Prince's clean funk rhythm work, especially through his signature Hohner Madcat model. This cutting edge made his rhythm stabs punchy and present, grounding his funkiest grooves with crystalline definition.

Fender Twin Reverb
Amp

Fender Twin Reverb

Prince paired the Twin Reverb's headroom and natural sparkle with his Telecaster-style guitars for pristine clean funk tones that never muddied. The amp's legendary reverb provided subtle space without sacrificing the tight, immediate feel he demanded.

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Pedal

Dunlop Cry Baby Wah

Prince wielded the Cry Baby as both a dynamic filter sweep and a static tonal colorizer, using it to add vocal-like expression to his lead passages. His technique of parking the wah at specific frequencies became a signature textural tool throughout his catalog.

Boss DS-1 Distortion
Pedal

Boss DS-1 Distortion

The DS-1's thick, controlled distortion pushed Prince's Mesa/Boogie amps into heavier territory while maintaining note definition, crucial for the raw crunch on tracks like 'Let's Go Crazy'. This pedal delivered sustain-heavy aggression without sacrificing clarity.

Boss BF-2 Flanger
Pedal

Boss BF-2 Flanger

Prince's BF-2 Flanger created the swirling psychedelic textures that added dimension to his cleaner passages and rhythm work. This effect demonstrated his willingness to layer sonic complexity while keeping his core tone grounded and immediate.

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