Which instruments can Ringo play?
Ringo's first instrument was a toy drum - given to him by a visiting nurse while he was in hospital during a childhood illness.
With Rory
Ringo is left-handed but he learned to play on a right-handed drum set up. His distinctive playing was widely admired and he joined Rory and the Hurricanes, the biggest group in Liverpool in the late 1950s.
As a Hurricane his popularity lead to a ten minute solo slot in each set - known as Starr-time. This involved him drumming, singing and occasionally playing (three) guitar chords: see below.
The Beatles
Ringo formally joined The Beatles in August 1962. Like Pete Best before him, he initially struggled with the technical requirements of studio drumming. For the single version of Love Me Do, he was replaced by a session musician, Andy White.
Characteristically, he recovered quickly from this setback and earned a the trust of George Martin. He would go on to record many different percussion parts on Beatles recordings.
Tambourines, timpani, congas, bongos, maracas and cowbells all featured, as well as hand claps and even tap dancing.
Piano Man?
The restored Let it Be (1970) film shows an impromptu piano duet between Ringo and Paul. Ringo's playing is, by his own admission, rudimentary ('I only play in C' meaning) but does appear in snatches on Beatles recordings.
He has a Hammond organ credit on Rubber Soul and occasional piano credits elsewhere (on Don't Pass Me By and Back in the USSR for example). He is also one of those playing the final piano chord on A Day in the Life.
Solo
In his post-Beatles release, Early in 1970, Ringo further claims:
I play guitar: A, D, E./ I don't play bass cause that's too hard for me./ I play the piano if it's in C.
