Guitar playing, like any worthwhile pursuit, comes with its share of ups and downs. One day you feel like you’re making incredible progress, and the next, you might feel stuck in a rut. These plateaus are a normal part of the journey, and finding inspiration to push through them is key to continued growth and enjoyment. Sometimes, that inspiration comes from unexpected places, like the wisdom shared by guitar heroes themselves.
Throughout history, legendary guitarists have offered profound insights into music, practice, creativity, and the guitar itself. These Guitar Quotes, distilled from years of experience and passion, can provide guidance, motivation, and a fresh perspective when you need it most. Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or a seasoned player looking for a spark, these words of wisdom from guitar masters can ignite your passion and help you overcome any musical hurdle.
Here’s a curated collection of insightful guitar quotes, categorized to resonate with different aspects of your musical journey:
On Learning and Practice
The foundation of any great guitarist lies in dedicated learning and practice. These quotes emphasize the importance of consistent effort, mindful practice, and embracing mistakes as part of the learning process.
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“Sight-reading is like playing. It’s a question of doing.” – Johnny Smith
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“… don’t be afraid to screw up !… one of the key issues to learning is making mistakes … if you’re not making mistakes, you’re probably not having a very good time” – Robben Ford
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“If you assume you haven’t learned anything yet, there’s no reason your playing can’t stay dynamic all your life.” – Jerry Garcia
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“Most beginners want to learn lead because they think it’s cool .. consequently, they never really develop good rhythm skills .. since most of a rock guitarists time is spent playing rhythm, it’s important to learn to do it well .. learning lead should come after you can play solid backup and have the sound of the chords in your head.” – Eddie Van Halen
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“The greatest teacher is just going out and playing.” – George Benson
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“That’s the cool thing about the guitar–there’s always more to learn.” – Jim Heath
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“Learn the lick, but learn FROM the lick.” – Scott Henderson
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“Playing scales is like a boxer skipping rope or punching a bag. It’s not the thing in itself; it’s preparatory to the activity.” – Barney Kessel
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“Guitarists should be able to pick up the guitar and play music on it for an hour, without a rhythm section or anything.” – Joe Pass
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“Practice with a metronome and a tape recorder, making adjustments to your playing as you go to make it sound more musical. In fact, try to make it sound like the best music you’ve ever heard, even if it’s just a major scale. Why not?” – Wayne Krantz
On Creativity and Finding Your Voice
While technique is essential, true artistry on the guitar comes from expressing your unique musical voice. These guitar quotes encourage individuality, developing your own style, and letting your personality shine through your playing.
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“I’m not saying a guy shouldn’t take lessons … but if you want to play like the artists, you have to go and get what they’re putting on records and take it from there … “ – Grant Green
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“To be creative and spontaneous, you have to live with imperfection.” – John Abercrombie
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“Charlie Christian showed me a lot and was a great help, but even then, I realized that if I was going to make it, it was no use copying Charlie.” – Barney Kessel
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“…Everyone has their own sound, and if you’re heard enough, folks will come to recognize it. Style, however, is a different thing. Try to express your own ideas. It’s much more difficult to do, but the rewards are there if you’re good enough to pull it off …” – Chet Atkins
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“Hear something, then play it, rather than just doing whatever comes under the fingers.” – Jim Hall
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“Style, for me, is picking and choosing certain things that you like and putting them together to form your own sound.” – John McLaughlin
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“Don’t become so enraptured by certain heroes that your playing is exactly like theirs.” – Jimmy Wyble
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“Aping what you’ve already done is just so dangerous and unrewarding.” – Andy Summers
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“I’m sure every pattern has been covered, but it’s nice to think you might dwell on some that other people don’t.” – Richard Thompson
On Passion, Emotion, and the Essence of Music
Music is more than just notes and chords; it’s about feeling and conveying emotion. These guitar quotes delve into the heart of music, reminding us to play with passion and connect with the emotional core of our music.
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“When I hear a great musician, I can feel his life inside the music.” – John McLaughlin
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“If you’re into what you’re playing, that’s the most important thing.” – James Hetfield
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“The most powerful music is music with purpose.” – Tom Morello
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“I just plug in and let go.” – Billy Joe Armstrong
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“As long as you’re excited about what you’re playing, and as long as it comes from your heart, it’s going to be great.” – John Frusciante
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“All the great guitarists have a spirit–a way they play and don’t play.” – Eddie Martinez
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“The song tells me what to play.” – Joe Walsh
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“Listening is the key to everything good in music.” – Pat Metheny
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“The guitar is your first wings. It’s assigned and designed to unfold your vision and imagination.” – Carlos Santana
On Perseverance and the Musician’s Life
The path of a musician isn’t always easy. These guitar quotes offer words of encouragement and resilience, highlighting the dedication and perseverance needed to succeed in music.
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“Being a musician is a given for me–I didn’t have much choice in the matter.” – Tom Morello
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“Being able to haul ass all over the fretboard doesn’t mean anything if the music’s no good.” – Jim Heath
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“If you really love guitar, you’re going to spend every waking hour stroking the thing.” – Frank Zappa
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“You have to be willing to eat–or not eat– for it. Then you’re a musician.” – Johnny Copeland
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“Sometimes you want to give up the guitar, you’ll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it, you’re gonna be rewarded.” – Jimi Hendrix
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“I came from the last couple of years in a generation where we didn’t have a computer around so we didn’t waste as much time on the internet as we do now so I had large chunks of time which to devote to doing something.” – John Mayer
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“I would advise you to keep your overhead down; avoid a major drug habit; play every day and take it in front of other people. They need to hear it and you need them to hear it.” -James Taylor
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“It’s been very important throughout my career that I’ve met all the guys I’ve copied, because at each stage they‚ said: ‘Don’t play like me, play like you.’” – Eric Clapton
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“Recording is God’s way of telling you that you suck.” – Bob Brozman
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“There are no mistakes, save one: the failure to learn from a mistake.” – Robert Fripp
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“If you don’t know the blues… there’s no point in picking up the guitar and playing rock and roll or any other form of popular music.” – Keith Richards
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“I don’t think you can ever do your best. Doing your best is a process of TRYING to do your best.” – Townes Van Zandt
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“Nobody loses at guitar if they put in the time. Something good always shows up. It’s all consistent with life’s big lessons. Patience. Determination. Love. Goals. Finishing a job. Etc.” – Ted Greene
On Technique and Musicality
Technical skill on the guitar is important, but it should always serve the music. These guitar quotes remind us that technique is a tool to express musicality, not an end in itself.
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“Chord substitution isn’t some mysterious religious sect.” – Howard Roberts
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“I decided I would rather have a day job and love music than to play music that made me hate it.” – David Torn
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“Learn from the masters, learn from your contemporaries. Always try to update yourself.” – Jimmy Stewart
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“A good player can make any guitar sound good.” – Michael Bloomfield
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“Fast is only cool if it’s melodic and has substance.” – Yngwie J. Malmsteen
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“I started learning to sing what I liked, to experience it in a visceral way. Then it’s inside. Get rid of the neurosis and then you can improvise.” – Joe Satriani
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“I write the songs first and in most cases teach myself the technique second.” – Joe Satriani
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“I don’t think about what other people expect or anything. I mean, I sit and worrying so much about what I’M thinking, I’d go NUTS if I sat around worrying about other people.” – Allan Holdsworth
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“You can end up a legend in your parents’ basement.” – Joe Walsh
Conclusion
These guitar quotes offer a glimpse into the minds of some of the greatest guitarists of all time. They remind us that the journey of learning guitar is filled with challenges and triumphs, requiring dedication, passion, and a constant pursuit of improvement. By internalizing these words of wisdom, you can find renewed motivation, overcome plateaus, and continue to grow as a guitarist and musician.
Let these inspirational guitar quotes serve as a reminder on your own guitar journey. Consider revisiting them whenever you need a boost, a new perspective, or simply a connection to the shared experience of guitar players across generations. Keep playing, keep learning, and most importantly, keep enjoying the incredible world of guitar music!
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