Talk:List of multi-instrumentalists

This article was nominated for deletion on 6 August 2018. The result of the discussion was no consensus.

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If it were up to me…

…I would simply have deleted this useless pile of fancruft at the source. If it is going to be deleted, then that sets a clear precedent for deleting lists even more gratuitous.

However, as similarly useless lists persist — see List of guitarists — I make the case that this is no worse, and certainly much briefer.

Are there problems? Certainly. Foremost, the article Multi-instrumentalist says quite clearly at its beginning that

A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays two or more musical instruments at a professional level of proficiency.

So, unless a referenced Wikipedia article contains a statement from a credible source that the subject is highly proficient on more than one instrument, then the entry DOES NOT belong on this list — period. As an example, the claim has never been made (much less substantiated) that Amy Winehouse was capable of supporting herself as a professional guitarist AND capable of supporting herself as a professional drummer (the only instruments claimed in the WP article); lacking high proficieny in both, Winehouse therefore doesn't belong on the list.

Either EVERY cited WP article must clearly state that the subject is a multi-instrumentalist AND credit that claim to a reliable source… OR the entry on this list MUST itself make a citation. Any entry that cannot meet one criterion or the other deserves immediate removal.

As to the survivors, those ought to be organized in some manner rather than as a mechanically alphabetized lump.

But if this list is deleted, then I will accept that as fully backing me in forever removing the list from reappearing in Multi-instrumentalist.
Weeb Dingle (talk) 15:48, 6 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

anyone feel like pruning?

The mass of nonsense continues to accrete. In order to belong on this List, it MUST be stated clearly in the WP article about the individual AND supported by some credible outside source that this person is demonstrably capable of not merely playing more than one instrument BUT that it has been done so at a professional level of proficiency.

If it were up to me, I'd remove everyone who took piano lessons as a kid (so remains able to pound out basic accompaniment) while becoming known as a guitarist, or suchlike. Steve Tyler plays a mean harmonica, but certainly couldn't make a living as a pianist, therefore fails the "proficiency test"; Madonna is many things but NOT a skilled instrumentalist. And a guitar player who's occasionally played bass is not thereby "proficient" on two UNRELATED instruments.

Now, John Entwistle is a great example, being an iconic bassist, and having played both piano (and other keys) and French horn (and other brasses) on multiple recordings over a span of years, AND this is explicitly mentioned in his WP article. Anything less is immediately questionable.
Weeb Dingle (talk) 19:26, 12 May 2019 (UTC)[reply]

I've begun cutting. So, briefly, some points reiterated:

a person without an article is not notable enough to be in a List — period
it is not sufficient to cite the article of an ensemble/band
any "multi-instrumentalist" claims in an article MUST be supported explicitly by a credible source (not some fan blog or whatever)
being able to create a few notes or chords DOES NOT make one proficient at an instrument — being able to strum a few chords does not make on "a guitar player" let alone "a guitarist"
- and seeing as so many frontmen play harmonica (Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne, In Anderson, Neil Young) without distinctive proficiency (compare Magic Dick or Little Walter), it does not count
instruments that can be picked up by just about anyone (claves, slide whistle, kazoo, handclaps) do not count at all
vocals are not an instrument
for the purposes of this List, it is established that 99%+ of the time similar instruments are the same — e.g., untuned percussion (trap set, congas, timbales), frets (guitar, bass, banjo, mandolin, lute), and keyboards (piano, synth, Hammond) form distinct groupings with little barrier to crossing over
- yes, exceptions exist — that's why they're exceptions — for instance, Marty Stuart has a long career as a pro on fiddle AND mandolin AND electric guitar; Thijs van Leer was classically trained in piano AND flute AND organ (and recorded frequently with all); and someone who's proficient on harpsichord AND portative organ (both quirky instruments) would also likely belong
if it's at all debate-able, then the answer is clearly "NO, THAT PERSON DOES NOT BELONG HERE"

I hope that is clear enough.
Weeb Dingle (talk) 14:56, 5 July 2019 (UTC)[reply]