--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To me, I don't see any difference between…" description: "\"To me, I don't see any difference between a synthesizer and an acoustic instrument. It's what's done on it that counts.\" — Allan Holdsworth" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/allan-holdsworth-11931_between_to-me-i-don-t-see-any-difference-between_1385539.png" --- # To me, I don't see any difference between a synthesizer… ![“To me, I don't see any difference between a synthesizer and an acoustic instrument. It's what's done on it that counts.” quote by Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/allan-holdsworth-11931_between_to-me-i-don-t-see-any-difference-between_1385539.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/allan-holdsworth-11931_between_to-me-i-don-t-see-any-difference-between_1385539.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e41/allan-holdsworth-11931_between_to-me-i-don-t-see-any-difference-between_1385539.png) > “To me, I don't see any difference between a synthesizer and an acoustic instrument. It's what's done on it that counts.” [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The instrument type is irrelevant; the artistic expression determines value. **In simple terms:** Instrument doesn’t matter, music does. Key Takeaway Focus on creative expression over instrument choice. Themes music creativity instrumentation artistic value Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical musical When to use this quote - performance - composition - education - collaboration Key Concepts aesthetic philosophy musical technique Questions to Reflect On - How does tool choice affect your creative process? - Can any instrument convey the same emotion? A Different Perspective Some argue acoustic authenticity holds unique value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difference/) [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Synthesizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/synthesizer/) ## Related quotes > [I have a Chamberlain I bought from some surfers in Westwood many years ago. It's an early analog synthesizer; it operates on tape loops.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/i-have-a-chamberlain-i-bought-from-some-surfers-in-westwood-many/) [Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/) > [People shouldn't knock the synthesizer. It's an aid, and it depends on how you use it, just like any other instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-hill/people-shouldn-t-knock-the-synthesizer-it-s-an-aid-and-it-depends-on/) [Dusty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-hill/) > [For me, the tabletop is an easy way to eliminate the possibilities of chords, modes, melodies, and harmonies. It kind of confines you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drumm/for-me-the-tabletop-is-an-easy-way-to-eliminate-the-possibilities-of/) [Kevin Drumm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drumm/) > [It is at least 10 times more difficult to get a good synthesiser sound than on an acoustic instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-moroder/it-is-at-least-10-times-more-difficult-to-get-a-good-synthesiser/) [Giorgio Moroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-moroder/) > [If you were a performer that only had an acoustic instrument, back in the day you couldn't hide behind your guitar pedals or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sheff/if-you-were-a-performer-that-only-had-an-acoustic-instrument-back-in/) [Will Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sheff/) > [No other acoustic instrument can match the piano's expressive range, and no electric instrument can match its mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-other-acoustic-instrument-can-match-the-piano-s-expressive-range/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We don't make a distinction between an acoustic instrument as a source of sound and any sound in the air outside or on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florian-schneider/we-don-t-make-a-distinction-between-an-acoustic-instrument-as-a/) [Florian Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florian-schneider/) > [Photography can be a powerful instrument for change, and photojournalists can tell stories that make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-skerry/photography-can-be-a-powerful-instrument-for-change-and/) [Brian Skerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-skerry/) > [The electric guitar's a pretty cheesy thing when you think about it, still working on those bits of wire and magnets for its sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/the-electric-guitar-s-a-pretty-cheesy-thing-when-you-think-about-it/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [The most obvious thing you can't do with a guitar synthesizer is to really sound like a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/the-most-obvious-thing-you-can-t-do-with-a-guitar-synthesizer-is-to/) [Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/) > [A guitar being played by an actual person is never going to be as precise and perfect as a programmed synthesizer. But we maintain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-bellamy/a-guitar-being-played-by-an-actual-person-is-never-going-to-be-as/) [Matt Bellamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-bellamy/) > [It means basically I'm using the synthesizer more to change the sounds of other things rather than to use it as the source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-frusciante/it-means-basically-i-m-using-the-synthesizer-more-to-change-the/) [John Frusciante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-frusciante/) > [The use of electronics is a natural extension of the instrument - it is an electric guitar. So we guitarists have been plugging into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brady/the-use-of-electronics-is-a-natural-extension-of-the-instrument-it-is/) Tim Brady > [When you can inspire other people to do something they couldn't do before, that's a very satisfying feeling. Sometimes I meet people and they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-wiegand/when-you-can-inspire-other-people-to-do-something-they-couldn-t-do/) [Erik Wiegand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-wiegand/) > [My first synthesizer was the VCS3. I got it in Bristol in the late Sixties, long before Pink Floyd used them. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-jarre/my-first-synthesizer-was-the-vcs3-i-got-it-in-bristol-in-the-late/) [Jean-Michel Jarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-jarre/) ## More by Allan Holdsworth > [I never use pull-offs because I don't like the sort of 'meow' sound they make with the string being deflected sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-never-use-pull-offs-because-i-don-t-like-the-sort-of-meow-sound/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [When I practise scales I will play four notes on one string. If I'm playing a C major scale, starting on F, I'll play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/when-i-practise-scales-i-will-play-four-notes-on-one-string-if-i-m/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [You wait all your life to be signed by a major label, and then when they sign you, they don't want you to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/you-wait-all-your-life-to-be-signed-by-a-major-label-and-then-when/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [As soon as I figured out I didn't know anything about music, I was OK. It's when I thought I could learn something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/as-soon-as-i-figured-out-i-didn-t-know-anything-about-music-i-was-ok/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [I don't get a big recording budget or much promotion, but I have creative freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-don-t-get-a-big-recording-budget-or-much-promotion-but-i-have/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [If the whole idea, in the original bebop days, was to get to soloing, then that's all it should be about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/if-the-whole-idea-in-the-original-bebop-days-was-to-get-to-soloing/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [It's obviously flattering when somebody likes something one is doing. But at the same time, I get embarrassed about it. It's the 'I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/it-s-obviously-flattering-when-somebody-likes-something-one-is-doing/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-don-t-think-about-what-other-people-expect-or-anything-i-mean-i-sit/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [Most people/musicians hear things differently and what might please one might not please another. One man's meat is another man's poison. Don't be afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/most-people-musicians-hear-things-differently-and-what-might-please/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [Music moves forward so quickly; music is an accumulation of knowledge, and musicians keep getting better and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/music-moves-forward-so-quickly-music-is-an-accumulation-of-knowledge/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [When I first started playing, I plunked away just like everyone else. During the Sixties I played in a blues band for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/when-i-first-started-playing-i-plunked-away-just-like-everyone-else/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [The electric guitar's a pretty cheesy thing when you think about it, still working on those bits of wire and magnets for its sound.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/the-electric-guitar-s-a-pretty-cheesy-thing-when-you-think-about-it/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [I don't like playing to guitar players, actually. I'd rather just play to ordinary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-don-t-like-playing-to-guitar-players-actually-i-d-rather-just-play/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [Most of the musicians I play with - aside from the form and structure of the music - the interpretation is up to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/most-of-the-musicians-i-play-with-aside-from-the-form-and-structure/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [If you fall in love with a woman, there's this unknown thing that gives you a force and energy, and music is like that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/if-you-fall-in-love-with-a-woman-there-s-this-unknown-thing-that/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) [Explore all 57 Allan Holdsworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) ## More Between quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. 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Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [Hebron is a bone of contention between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians in part because Abraham is buried there, in the Tomb of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-korda/hebron-is-a-bone-of-contention-between-israeli-settlers-and-the/) [Michael Korda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-korda/) > [There's overwhelming evidence... circumstantial and otherwise, to suggest a connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/there-s-overwhelming-evidence-circumstantial-and-otherwise-to-suggest/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I really think there's no difference between an art piece made by a man and one made by a woman. Is it a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/i-really-think-there-s-no-difference-between-an-art-piece-made-by-a/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [Close contact between science and the practice of collective farms and State farms creates inexhaustible opportunities for the development of theoretical knowledge, enabling us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trofim-lysenko/close-contact-between-science-and-the-practice-of-collective-farms/) [Trofim Lysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trofim-lysenko/) > [There's a difference between watching a film and watching a bit of cinema and enjoying a film as a piece of cinema.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-frost/there-s-a-difference-between-watching-a-film-and-watching-a-bit-of/) [Nick Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-frost/) > [I don't differentiate between acting on TV and in films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prachi-desai/i-don-t-differentiate-between-acting-on-tv-and-in-films/) [Prachi Desai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prachi-desai/) > [I was in Vietnam, and I was exposed to Agent Orange. 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