--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A horn has that voice quality, and an…" description: "\"A horn has that voice quality, and an electric guitar can emulate that. But playing an acoustic, the notes don't sustain like that.\" — Bill Orcutt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/bill-orcutt-32604_acoustics_a-horn-has-that-voice-quality-and-an-ele_2001249.jpg" --- # A horn has that voice quality, and an electric guitar can… ![“A horn has that voice quality, and an electric guitar can emulate that. But playing an acoustic, the notes don't sustain like that.” quote by Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/bill-orcutt-32604_acoustics_a-horn-has-that-voice-quality-and-an-ele_2001249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/bill-orcutt-32604_acoustics_a-horn-has-that-voice-quality-and-an-ele_2001249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aad/bill-orcutt-32604_acoustics_a-horn-has-that-voice-quality-and-an-ele_2001249.jpg) > “A horn has that voice quality, and an electric guitar can emulate that. But playing an acoustic, the notes don't sustain like that.” [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acoustic guitars lack sustain compared to electric, affecting tonal quality. **In simple terms:** Acoustic notes don’t hold as long as electric. Key Takeaway Choose instrument based on desired sustain. Themes music instrumentation tone Mood thoughtful musical Type technical reflective When to use this quote - live performance - recording - songwriting - instrument selection Key Concepts sound decay acoustic vs electric Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer acoustic warmth or electric sustain? - How does sustain shape musical expression? A Different Perspective Electric may dominate certain genres. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acoustic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustic/) [Acoustic Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustic-notes-3521870/) [Acoustics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustics/) [Electric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric/) [Electric guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric-guitar/) [Emulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emulate/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Emulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-emulate-3521869/) [Horns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horns/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Playing Acoustic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-acoustic-351030/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Playing acoustic guitar is like having sex with your clothes on. I mean you know how to do it, but it’s more difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/playing-acoustic-guitar-is-like-having-sex-with-your-clothes-on-i/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [I've found that since I've been playing the acoustic, listening to a horn player has left me thinking, well, what can I do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-ve-found-that-since-i-ve-been-playing-the-acoustic-listening-to-a/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [Technology was something I avoided when I started out - I didn't even have electric guitars. Only played acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/technology-was-something-i-avoided-when-i-started-out-i-didn-t-even/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [I don't touch electric guitars. It's just not my thing - I stick with acoustic guitars only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-don-t-touch-electric-guitars-it-s-just-not-my-thing-i-stick-with/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [I do some solo, acoustic stuff, but I also like plugging in my electric guitar and playing loud with a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bay/i-do-some-solo-acoustic-stuff-but-i-also-like-plugging-in-my-electric/) [James Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bay/) > [When I was a teenager, I really didn't like loud rock music. I listened to jazz and blues and folk music. I've always preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anderson/when-i-was-a-teenager-i-really-didn-t-like-loud-rock-music-i-listened/) [Ian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anderson/) > [I always think that, for me, being someone who comes out of electric guitar experimentation, the idea of playing acoustic guitar is, in itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ranaldo/i-always-think-that-for-me-being-someone-who-comes-out-of-electric/) [Lee Ranaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ranaldo/) > [It took me a while to get an electric guitar and a bass and amps and stuff. Playing the acoustic guitar was much easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/it-took-me-a-while-to-get-an-electric-guitar-and-a-bass-and-amps-and/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [I have been playing acoustic music for a very long time, and it's something that I am very comfortable doing, so if I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-have-been-playing-acoustic-music-for-a-very-long-time-and-it-s/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [If anything, I don't have any intention of recording music that's just me playing acoustic guitar singing a song anytime soon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-khan/if-anything-i-don-t-have-any-intention-of-recording-music-that-s-just/) [King Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-khan/) > [I started playing the acoustic guitar for more singer-songwriter type stuff. I bet if I would have gotten more approval for my "rock playing",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-sobule/i-started-playing-the-acoustic-guitar-for-more-singer-songwriter-type/) [Jill Sobule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-sobule/) > [Playing acoustic and line drawings are the two things I'm most competent at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robyn-hitchcock/playing-acoustic-and-line-drawings-are-the-two-things-i-m-most/) [Robyn Hitchcock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robyn-hitchcock/) > [Ive also just come off a year and a half playing acoustic shows which is fantastic for the hands, and changes your head a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/ive-also-just-come-off-a-year-and-a-half-playing-acoustic-shows-which/) [Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/) > [I approach playing acoustic guitar more of as a percussive instrument. It's fragile. I don't have a lot of finesse when it comes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-approach-playing-acoustic-guitar-more-of-as-a-percussive-instrument/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [My parents got me a $25 Kent steel-string acoustic guitar when I was around 12. The following Christmas, my parents bought me a Conora…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/my-parents-got-me-a-25-kent-steel-string-acoustic-guitar-when-i-was/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) ## More by Bill Orcutt > [I definitely have a different perspective on music in general. But once I actually have a guitar in my hands, I think I disappear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-definitely-have-a-different-perspective-on-music-in-general-but/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [With Fred McDowell, I just love the way he articulates the notes. I'm hardly unique in that, but there's just something about that that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/with-fred-mcdowell-i-just-love-the-way-he-articulates-the-notes-i-m/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [I had a guitar sitting around, and it just happened to have four strings on it, and I would sit around watching TV and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-had-a-guitar-sitting-around-and-it-just-happened-to-have-four/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [I've found that since I've been playing the acoustic, listening to a horn player has left me thinking, well, what can I do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-ve-found-that-since-i-ve-been-playing-the-acoustic-listening-to-a/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [I had opportunities to play with other people and give my self some sort of security, but for some reason I wanted to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-had-opportunities-to-play-with-other-people-and-give-my-self-some/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [In high school I was a jazz nerd, listened to a lot of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk and stuff like that. Maybe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/in-high-school-i-was-a-jazz-nerd-listened-to-a-lot-of-bud-powell-and/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [There's a difference between music that's original and music that's retro. A lot of bands now are kind of retro 70s whether it's Kraut-rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/there-s-a-difference-between-music-that-s-original-and-music-that-s/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [I was working at eBay, so I would just troll the vintage categories, find old amps and what have you. I was buying a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-was-working-at-ebay-so-i-would-just-troll-the-vintage-categories/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [The nice thing about solo is I don't have to coordinate with anyone else's schedule, since it's hard for me just to have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/the-nice-thing-about-solo-is-i-don-t-have-to-coordinate-with-anyone/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [I'm uptight in general, and it's hard for me to play in a situation where I'm not rehearsed or I feel like I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-m-uptight-in-general-and-it-s-hard-for-me-to-play-in-a-situation/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [With a four-string, the middle range is less of an option. That kind of 5th that you play on those A and D strings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/with-a-four-string-the-middle-range-is-less-of-an-option-that-kind-of/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [I did pull out my old Telecaster, and have been thinking I'd like to play that loud with a drummer. But I haven't actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-did-pull-out-my-old-telecaster-and-have-been-thinking-i-d-like-to/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [It's hard to go out in front of people with an acoustic guitar and improvise for 30 or 40 minutes, but I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/it-s-hard-to-go-out-in-front-of-people-with-an-acoustic-guitar-and/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) > [I don't think I had a specific moment when I thought, "I'm not going to play music anymore." I just played less and got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-orcutt/i-don-t-think-i-had-a-specific-moment-when-i-thought-i-m-not-going-to/) [Bill Orcutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) [Explore all 15 Bill Orcutt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-orcutt/) ## More Acoustic quotes > [I've never been one of those musicians to differentiate between acoustic and electronic sounds. I just see it all as sound sources to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/i-ve-never-been-one-of-those-musicians-to-differentiate-between/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [How do I explain Neil Young? Great question! I explain Neil Young as, I would kill to see his acoustic shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-mould/how-do-i-explain-neil-young-great-question-i-explain-neil-young-as-i/) [Bob Mould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-mould/) > [Oftentimes the most produced and synth-tastic songs are the ones that end up sounding the best acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/oftentimes-the-most-produced-and-synth-tastic-songs-are-the-ones-that/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [I practice on the acoustic guitar a little bit, but I think I have reached the peak of my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-practice-on-the-acoustic-guitar-a-little-bit-but-i-think-i-have/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [I write alternative, folkie pop. It's very acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-write-alternative-folkie-pop-it-s-very-acoustic/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I never thought I would do an all-acoustic tour or an all-acoustic album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-frampton/i-never-thought-i-would-do-an-all-acoustic-tour-or-an-all-acoustic/) [Peter Frampton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-frampton/) > [I gave a Collings dreadnought to a young guitar player in the Valley where I live because he didn't have a good acoustic, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-crosby/i-gave-a-collings-dreadnought-to-a-young-guitar-player-in-the-valley/) [David Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crosby/) > [One of the signature things about Heart was the acoustic guitar in a rock format, which you didn't hear that often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/one-of-the-signature-things-about-heart-was-the-acoustic-guitar-in-a/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [My stuff was more of a folk coffeehouse thing, with more acoustic guitar, just me doing a single, and then adding on instruments and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hicks/my-stuff-was-more-of-a-folk-coffeehouse-thing-with-more-acoustic/) [Dan Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hicks/) > [Technology was something I avoided when I started out - I didn't even have electric guitars. Only played acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/technology-was-something-i-avoided-when-i-started-out-i-didn-t-even/) [Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/) > [There were bars that began to have acoustic musicians play, it was 1970: Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, America, The Eagles, all that kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/there-were-bars-that-began-to-have-acoustic-musicians-play-it-was/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [When I started performing, I played acoustic music, partly because that way you don't have to worry about interacting too much with other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-griffin/when-i-started-performing-i-played-acoustic-music-partly-because-that/) [Patty Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-griffin/) > [I did a smaller gig with an acoustic guitar and a drum machine. In one song, something wrong happened with the drum machine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violante-placido/i-did-a-smaller-gig-with-an-acoustic-guitar-and-a-drum-machine-in-one/) [Violante Placido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violante-placido/) > [I love the subtlety and tonal range of the acoustic guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-love-the-subtlety-and-tonal-range-of-the-acoustic-guitar/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [I tried playing electric for awhile and it just didn't work out. My reflexes are centered on the six string acoustic. I just played…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-rush/i-tried-playing-electric-for-awhile-and-it-just-didn-t-work-out-my/) [Tom Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-rush/) [Browse all 151 Acoustic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A horn has that voice quality, and an electric guitar can emulate that. 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