--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not a musician, I just play bass." description: "\"I'm not a musician, I just play bass.\" — Bill Wyman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bill-wyman-17577_bass_i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass-2030_203070.jpg" --- # I'm not a musician, I just play bass. ![“I'm not a musician, I just play bass.” quote by Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bill-wyman-17577_bass_i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass-2030_203070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bill-wyman-17577_bass_i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass-2030_203070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bill-wyman-17577_bass_i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass-2030_203070.jpg) > “I'm not a musician, I just play bass.” [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He acknowledges his role as a bassist without claiming the title of musician. **In simple terms:** Plays bass, not a full musician. Key Takeaway Embrace your specific contribution. Themes humility identity music Mood reflective grounded Type personal professional When to use this quote - band rehearsals - studio recording - live performance - teaching bass - career self‑assessment Key Concepts instrumentalism role definition Questions to Reflect On - Do you define yourself by your primary skill? - How does modesty affect collaboration? A Different Perspective May undervalue broader musical skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) [Just Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-play/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Musician Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician-just-540491/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-bass/) ## Related quotes > [But Dennis was a really solid musician, and we really needed somebody who could play bass like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/but-dennis-was-a-really-solid-musician-and-we-really-needed-somebody/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I play bass, and I wanted to be a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riley-stearns/i-play-bass-and-i-wanted-to-be-a-musician/) [Riley Stearns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riley-stearns/) > [Close to the Edge by Yes. Such a fun tune to play on bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/close-to-the-edge-by-yes-such-a-fun-tune-to-play-on-bass/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [“You could maybe go to a music school and actually meet girls who know how to play the bass. Typically the ones you pick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/you-could-maybe-go-to-a-music-school-and-actually-meet-girls-who-know/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [The hardest instruments for women to play are bass and drums. Drums because of the physicality needed and bass just because its heavy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-hardest-instruments-for-women-to-play-are-bass-and-drums-drums/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [My brother Carl taught me how to play bass. I'm a self-taught keyboard player, though - I figured out our harmonies at the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wilson/my-brother-carl-taught-me-how-to-play-bass-i-m-a-self-taught-keyboard/) [Brian Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wilson/) > [My dad taught me to play bass. He's a bass player; he still plays in a band in Michigan to this day. He taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/my-dad-taught-me-to-play-bass-he-s-a-bass-player-he-still-plays-in-a/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There are a lot of people who can do it on the guitar and sing at the same time, but I think what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-coxon/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-can-do-it-on-the-guitar-and-sing-at-the/) [Graham Coxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-coxon/) > [In high school no guys wanted to be in a band with me unless I was going to play bass or play grindcore or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weyes-blood/in-high-school-no-guys-wanted-to-be-in-a-band-with-me-unless-i-was/) [Weyes Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weyes-blood/) > [I can't remember the first song I learned to play on bass, but the first song I learned to play on guitar was 'For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geddy-lee/i-can-t-remember-the-first-song-i-learned-to-play-on-bass-but-the/) [Geddy Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geddy-lee/) > [I played upright bass. I wanted to write great tunes, play the bass, be a band leader, and smoke a big funny pipe like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-bruce/i-played-upright-bass-i-wanted-to-write-great-tunes-play-the-bass-be/) [Jack Bruce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-bruce/) > [My mom always told me I should have a Plan B. I said that if I'm not going to play guitar I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-clark-jr/my-mom-always-told-me-i-should-have-a-plan-b-i-said-that-if-i-m-not/) [Gary Clark, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-clark-jr/) > [I play bass. I play a bit of guitar. I've never been to a lesson, so my theory of music is non-existent in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sangster/i-play-bass-i-play-a-bit-of-guitar-i-ve-never-been-to-a-lesson-so-my/) [Thomas Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sangster/) > [I don't play the bass. I'm not in a band. I tried to think of ways I could touch base with the troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-sweeney/i-don-t-play-the-bass-i-m-not-in-a-band-i-tried-to-think-of-ways-i/) [D. B. Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-sweeney/) > [When I heard BB Kings Sweet Sixteen, I knew I wanted to play bass because that was the thing that made that record: the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-dunn/when-i-heard-bb-kings-sweet-sixteen-i-knew-i-wanted-to-play-bass/) [Donald Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-dunn/) ## More by Bill Wyman > [I have no restrictions, no limits, no musical history to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-have-no-restrictions-no-limits-no-musical-history-to-live-with/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [If you are any competent musician, if you have creative ideas, ideas of songs, of arrangements, in a band like the Stones, where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/if-you-are-any-competent-musician-if-you-have-creative-ideas-ideas-of/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [I had a wonderful time with the Stones but after 31 years, I thought it was time to move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-had-a-wonderful-time-with-the-stones-but-after-31-years-i-thought/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [Onstage I like to play with a an 18-inch speaker, which very few bass players do. I need that fat, underneath sound, which I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/onstage-i-like-to-play-with-a-an-18-inch-speaker-which-very-few-bass/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [I always say that I am very proud of the work that I did with the Rolling Stones and that I am also proud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-always-say-that-i-am-very-proud-of-the-work-that-i-did-with-the/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [When I record in a studio I don't use an amp. I go directly into the board, so I can get that very fat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/when-i-record-in-a-studio-i-don-t-use-an-amp-i-go-directly-into-the/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [There are things that I am very proud of and there are things that you are not so proud of. But I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/there-are-things-that-i-am-very-proud-of-and-there-are-things-that/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [The first records I heard were from Dizzy Gillespie and people like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/the-first-records-i-heard-were-from-dizzy-gillespie-and-people-like/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [I didn't want to stay in the Stones, and be stuck in a position having to play a music I didn't like anymore and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-didn-t-want-to-stay-in-the-stones-and-be-stuck-in-a-position-having/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [I am much more my own man than I was when I was with the Stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-am-much-more-my-own-man-than-i-was-when-i-was-with-the-stones/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [All of my books are about researching. I do all the research and I give it to a writer who can put it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/all-of-my-books-are-about-researching-i-do-all-the-research-and-i/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [It's all right leaping about the stage when you're 20 but when you get to 25 it gets a bit embarrassing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/it-s-all-right-leaping-about-the-stage-when-you-re-20-but-when-you/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [You're always frustrated, you don't have the chance to do a song on the album, like the Beatles did with Ringo and George, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/you-re-always-frustrated-you-don-t-have-the-chance-to-do-a-song-on/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [You could put Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley on one side of the stage, and James Brown on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/you-could-put-jerry-lee-lewis-little-richard-chuck-berry-and-bo/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) > [I have found two Roman sites in the area that I live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-have-found-two-roman-sites-in-the-area-that-i-live-in/) [Bill Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) [Explore all 36 Bill Wyman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/) ## More Bass quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [In life's orchestra, the bike is the double bass. Hard to forget it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fournel/in-life-s-orchestra-the-bike-is-the-double-bass-hard-to-forget-it/) [Paul Fournel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fournel/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [The kind of fishing that I do is pretty much bass, trout or freshwater fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/the-kind-of-fishing-that-i-do-is-pretty-much-bass-trout-or-freshwater/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [I've always been playing with other people, and that's how I learned. I got a kit of drums I couldn't play, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-ve-always-been-playing-with-other-people-and-that-s-how-i-learned-i/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I grew up on the pirate radio scene which started out as drum 'n' bass music. U.K. garage picked up and got bigger on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-grew-up-on-the-pirate-radio-scene-which-started-out-as-drum-n-bass/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [Close to the Edge by Yes. Such a fun tune to play on bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/close-to-the-edge-by-yes-such-a-fun-tune-to-play-on-bass/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [That's what Joe Don Rooney and I do. He plays guitar and I play bass - and there's no reason to call it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/that-s-what-joe-don-rooney-and-i-do-he-plays-guitar-and-i-play-bass/) [Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/) > [I've always said the bass just happens to be the crayon I picked out of the box. I'd still be drawing the same pictures...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-ve-always-said-the-bass-just-happens-to-be-the-crayon-i-picked-out/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [I was a guitar player in a band that had two keyboard players, sometimes two other guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer, four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-was-a-guitar-player-in-a-band-that-had-two-keyboard-players/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I live a different way today. I have a family, and they are a priority for me. These days, I no longer wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/i-live-a-different-way-today-i-have-a-family-and-they-are-a-priority/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) [Browse all 722 Bass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not a musician, I just play bass.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bill Wyman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bass" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bill-wyman-17577_bass_i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass-2030_203070.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bill-wyman-17577_bass_i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass-2030_203070.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/bill-wyman-17577_bass_i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass-2030_203070.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not a musician, I just play bass.” — Bill Wyman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bill Wyman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-wyman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not a musician, I just...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-wyman/i-m-not-a-musician-i-just-play-bass/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```