Paul McCartney became one of the most successful musicians of all time without the ability to read or write music. He's not alone in this — many popular artists can't read or write music, including his Beatles bandmates. Unlike some of them, though, McCartney took music lessons growing up.
The Beatles
“None of us could read music… None of us can write it.” John Lennon admitted this about the band in a 1980 Playboy interview, “but as pure musicians, as inspired humans to make the noise, they [Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr] are as good as anybody.”
6. Paul McCartney. The former Beatle and prolific songwriter, Paul McCartney is yet another legendary musician that does not read sheet music.
When Paul was 14, he received a trumpet for his birthday and took some lessons. He'll undoubtedly have been taught some basic music theory then. His father also encouraged him to learn to play piano, for which he also received a handful of lessons until he decided that wasn't how he wanted to learn.
None of The Beatles could either read or write conventional musical notation — what Paul McCartney sometimes refers to as 'dots on a page'. This was largely through choice and was not unusual in guitar based pop music. They were what Hollywood composers called 'hummers' — as in 'you hum the tune and I'll play it.
Jackson couldn't read or write music at all. Contrary to received wisdom, he could play instruments a bit – he's credited as playing keyboard, synthesizer, guitar, drums and percussion on 'HIStory' – but none proficiently.
In answer to Olly's question regarding Freddie writing his music, Freddie could read music, as he shad piano lessons when he was young, but generally when he was composing his songs he created the music around chord progressions, and as everything he played was recorded, he had no need to write the notes down.
He has lived music, one can say with utter confidence. The man behind many hits. Paul McCartney's musical genius is beyond dispute. However, the true extent of his exceptional talent as a musician and songwriter may not fully reveal itself.
I owe a lot of what I do to Little Richard and his style, and he knew it. He would say, 'I taught Paul everything he knows'”.
She Plays By Ear!
One of the most successful composers and performers of all time, McCartney is known for his melodic approach to bass-playing, versatile and wide tenor vocal range, and musical eclecticism, exploring genres ranging from pre–rock and roll pop to classical, ballads, and electronica.
His father, a volunteer fireman during World War II, was an accomplished jazz musician. Young Paul taught himself the trumpet and, soon later, the guitar. "The minute he got the guitar,'' his brother recalled, "that was the end.
Most number one singles by a songwriter (US/UK)
McCartney is credited as the writer on 32 number one hits in the US to Lennons 26 (with 23 co-written), whereas Lennon authored 29 UK number ones to McCartney's 28 (25 co-written).
Most of us agree that the Beatles made great music. But some people don't believe the Beatles to have been especially good musicians. Quincy Jones famously called them “the worst musicians in the world.” He's exaggerating, but he has a point. By modern standards, the playing on Beatles records is sloppy.
Paul McCartney had the privilege of a better musical education, having studied classical piano and guitar in his childhood. He progressed as a lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, as well as a singer-songwriter.
Even though the legendary crooner never formally learned to read music, Sinatra's career spanning half a century earned him nicknames such as, “The Voice” and “The Sultan of Swoon,” as he left an indelible mark on American music.
This May, we're celebrating musical legend John Lennon.
In 1960 they would go on to form The Beatles. A chronical of the Beetle's would be a book in its own right, although it is worth saying that John was de-facto leader alongside Paul and was sometimes called “the Smart Beatle”.
John Lennon Said He Would 'Never Forgive' George Harrison and Paul McCartney for Their Treatment of Yoko Ono by Emma McKee| More Articles: Celebrity Published on September 29, 2022...
During a chat with DJ Alan Freeman on his 1970s show Rock Around The World, George said he felt inferior in some ways to lead singer Paul, now 80. He said: “I had no confidence in myself as a guitar player having spent so many years with Paul McCartney, he ruined me as a guitar player.”
In 1953, aged 11.2, Sir Paul had a rating of 137, while in 1954, aged 11.6, Harrison had one of 117. Based on the test norms, It puts him above the 99 percentile, with a performance IQ of 137(sd15). He is widely considered the 2nd greatest lyricist on music from 20 century till now.
In many respects Paul McCartney was the group's most rounded musician, and possibly even its best guitarist. It was he that devised many of the riffs and even played some of the most memorable solos, such as on Taxman (Revolver), Ticket To Ride and his killer Epiphone Casino riff on Paperback Writer.
In conclusion, yes, musicians are technically more likely to have a higher IQ than non-musicians. Do musical geniuses have high IQ? People with musical talent have a higher IQ, research finds. Being good at recognising a tune and having rhythm is linked to higher nonverbal intelligence, psychologists have discovered.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY by Queen
But let's face it, Bohemian Rhapsody is just impossible to sing by yourself because of those multiple voices that are essential to the song. So, we recommend you take some friends with you, grab the mic, and just bring it on.
Freddie Mercury, like many other musicians, held a deep admiration for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. The Beatles permanently altered the music industry in the 1960s and influenced many of the artists who came after them, Mercury included.
Yes. The Bohemian Rhapsody true story reveals that he was born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946 in Stone Town, Sultanate of Zanzibar (now Tanzania) in eastern Africa. He started going by "Freddie" while attending St. Peter's School, a British-style boarding school near Bombay (now Mumbai).