How Many Instruments Can Dave Grohl Play?

Dave Grohl plays at least 7 instruments including the drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, xylophone, shakers, and vibes.  He is mainly known for playing the drums, the guitar, and singing.

He showcased his impressive musicality by playing all seven instruments, all live on a 23-minute track in this mini-documentary entitled “Play.” 

This is not the first time Grohl has shown off his musical prowess. Entirely solo, he recorded Foo Fighters’ 1995 self-titled debut and single-handedly played all the instruments.

He also frequently collaborates with other artists and plays a variety of instruments on their tracks. For example, he played guitar on Paul McCartney’s “Band on the Run” and drums on Tenacious D’s “Rize of the Fenix.”

Guitar

Dave Grohl started playing the guitar when he was young. When he was 10 years old, he formed a band with his friend which was called the H. G. Hancock Band.

He then got into punk rock thanks to one of his cousins. Grohl began his career during his teenage years when he joined the Washington, D.C.-based hardcore punk-rock band named Scream. 

Drums

Dave Grohl is also an accomplished drummer. He joined the band Scream in 1986 and recorded three albums with them. After the band broke up, he became the drummer for Nirvana in 1990. He recorded three albums with Nirvana: Nevermind, In Utero, and MTV Unplugged in New York.

After the untimely death of Nirvana’s lead singer Kurt Cobain, Grohl started his own band called Foo Fighters. He has been the drummer and frontman of Foo Fighters since 1995. The band has released ten studio albums to date and has won numerous awards including Grammys.

What is Dave Grohl’s Musical Style?

Dave Grohl is a musical chameleon and has dabbled in many different genres throughout his career. He is mainly associated with alternative rock, hard rock, and punk rock but he has also ventured into other genres including pop, metal, and even country.

Some of Dave Grohl’s musical influences include Neil Peart of Rush and John Bonham, the powerhouse percussionist for Led Zeppelin.

About Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known for being the drummer and frontman of the alternative rock band Foo Fighters. He was previously the drummer of the grunge band Nirvana.

Grohl was born on January 14, 1969, in Warren, Ohio.  He formed his first band at age 10 and he has been active in the music industry since 1986.

Grohl is one of the most respected musicians of his generation and has won numerous awards including Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, and Brit Awards. In addition to his work with Foo Fighters, he has also played drums for Queens of the Stone Age, Tenacious D, and Paul McCartney.

Summary 

Dave Grohl is a musical prodigy. He can play at least 7 instruments including the drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, xylophone, shakers, and vibes. He is most known for his skills on the drums and guitar but has showcased his musicality by playing all of these instruments live. 

He frequently collaborates with other artists and plays a variety of instruments on their tracks. Grohl is a musical force to be reckoned with and his impressive skills on so many instruments is a testament to that. He has inspired other musicians to pick up new instruments and never give up on their musical dreams.

Dave Grohl Featured Image by: Lindsay from Pittsburgh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons