James Corden is a British entertainer, best known for hosting The Late Late Show with James Corden and the show’s most popular recurring segment, “Carpool Karaoke.” Given Corden’s love of and close proximity to famous musician’s, people often wonder whether or not James Corden can play the guitar.
James Corden does not play the guitar. Though fans have seen his onscreen strumming in the film Begin Again, Corden does not actually know how to play the instrument. Despite this, Corden is an accomplished singer and musician.
Read more below about Corden’s attempt to learn to play the guitar, which instrument he can actually play, and how he came up with the idea for “Carpool Karaoke.”
Actor, Late Night Show Host, and Musician
James Corden is best known as the host of The Late Late Show in America and for Gavin and Stacey in the U.K., but he has also acted alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest stars in over a dozen movies. Since his first role as Carl Marsh in British sports drama Twenty Four Seven, Corden has consistently taken on parts both small and large.
In 2013, Corden acted alongside Oscar nominated actress Keira Knightley in Begin Again. The movie follows an out of work record exec, played by Mark Ruffalo and Knightley’s fledgling songwriter who cross paths and decide to record an album together.
Corden plays Steve, a character who knows how to play guitar, and helps Keira Knightley’s character with her album. The only problem was that Corden did not know how to play guitar, but the director wanted the actors to actually play the instruments.
Delusions of Guitar Grandeur
Corden himself harbored desires to learn how to play, saying, “I think all actors secretly harbor a dream to be a musician, and all musicians want to be an actor one day. It’s true of every actor I’ve met and every musician I’ve met. I think it’s because musicians see actors and say, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to be someone else for a day?’ And actors see musicians and think, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to just walk out as yourself and have that freedom to perform as yourself?’”
Despite his lofty aspirations, Corden had never even held a guitar, and ultimately he just had to pretend, calling his attempts to learn “doomed.” As with most things, Hollywood magic made it appear that Corden’s character was a successful busker, instead of someone with zero experience.
Piano Prodigy
Though becoming a rock guitarist might not be in Corden’s future, it doesn’t mean he cannot play any instruments. Corden is actually an excellent piano player, often showing off his skills tickling the ivories on The Late Late Show, with the British funnyman even playing the piano on his very first night as host.
When rock band Coldplay appeared on the show, Corden stepped in to play the piano alongside the band halfway through their performance of “A Head Full of Dreams.” Both the band and the audience were surprised and impressed at Corden’s skills, as keeping up with one of the biggest bands in history is no easy feat.
You can watch James Corden play piano alongside Coldplay in the YouTube video below.
Corden isn’t one to take himself too seriously though and is not afraid to make fun of his own talent. During a visit by Rocketman star Taron Egerton, Corden played Elton John tunes on a keyboard and had the star try to guess what they were to disastrous, but hilarious results.
Despite the goofy shenanigans on that segment of The Late Late Show, it’s clear that Corden is a very talented musician and singer. In fact, during an interview with NPR, Corden confirmed he’d been playing piano since he was a child, and even learned how to play the cornet and the trumpet, too.