I've always wondered as to the level of expertise each member of the Group had/has besides the main instruments they played? Obviously, Dave and Rog can probably play nearly any mainstream instrument to a certain extent and I would imagine Syd was pretty fluent when it came to many instruments as well.

What about Nick and Rick though?
Does anyone have any feedback on this subject?
Interview/bootleg evidence maybe?

Any feedback is appreciated.

Rick played a multitude of instruments. Along with keyboards/organs/synthesizers, he also played the trombone (he played it on Biding My Time), the violin, and the trumpet (although I don't believe he played any of the latter instruments on any Pink Floyd albums). Nick only played instruments other than the drums on his solo composition The Grand Vizier's Garden Party, as found on Ummagumma, in which he played the guitar, keyboards, and bass.

Who plays the kazoo?

David played the kazoo on Corporal Clegg, if that's what you're asking.

David also plays the saxophone, but LF already knew that.

In the January 1985 edition of Modern Drummer magazine (with Alan White of Yes on the cover), the interviewer said to Nick that he had heard that Nick was a very accomplised timpanist. Nick's reply was his usual, typical modesty, "that is completely untrue."

Also it was written somewhere that when Piper At The Gates Of Dawn was recorded, supposedly Nick did not know how to play a press roll (as played on Interstellar Overdrive) and producer Norman "Hurricane" Smith had to play it. Yet, a tremendous press roll is played on The Grand Vizier's Garden Party, so who knows what is true.

Roger did play the trumpet during his recent live performances of Outside The Wall, and it didn't look like he was playbacking it. It wasn't a mindblowing performance to put it mildly, but I suppose he's somewhat of a multi instrumentalist too.

(12-23-2011 08:07 AM)Arno Sluismans Wrote:  Roger did play the trumpet during his recent live performances of Outside The Wall, and it didn't look like he was playbacking it. It wasn't a mindblowing performance to put it mildly, but I suppose he's somewhat of a multi instrumentalist too.

He cannot really play the trumpet, he just learned that specific part because he wanted the part played badly. It's in one of the videos on his site.

Dave can play a vast amount of instruments, famously debuting his saxophone skills on "Red Sky at Night" (which was a bore-fest live, as was "Then I Close My Eyes"). Dave can also play keys pretty well (on his 1984 live video he plays piano on "Out of the Blue"), but struggles with flourishes, which is why he didn't handle too many keyboard parts on On An Island.

Roger can play guitar and piano, not sure about anything else and Rick can also play guitar.

I have no idea if Syd could play anything other than guitar, I'm assuming bass too if he wanted to.

I disagree; I think both Red Sky at Night and Then I Close My Eyes are great live. Especially the latter - there's some really beautiful chord progressions in it. I guess I've just heard more performances of it.