---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rock & roll is not about what you play…"
description: "\"Rock & roll is not about what you play, it's about how you play it.\" — Billy Corgan"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/billy-corgan-1014_about_rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it_784376.png"
---

#  Rock & roll is not about what you play, it's about how you…

![“Rock & roll is not about what you play, it's about how you play it.” quote by Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/billy-corgan-1014_about_rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it_784376.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/billy-corgan-1014_about_rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it_784376.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/billy-corgan-1014_about_rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it_784376.png)

> “Rock & roll is not about what you play, it's about how you play it.”

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Music performance matters more than the instrument itself; expression defines the genre.

**In simple terms:** How you play matters more than what you play.

Key Takeaway

Focus on expressive technique.

Themes

creativity performance identity

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- live concerts
- band rehearsals
- solo practice
- music education

Key Concepts

musical expression authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you convey emotion through your instrument?
- What does authenticity mean to you?

A Different Perspective

Technical skill alone doesn't guarantee impact.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-play/) [Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock/) [Rock Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-roll/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) [Roll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roll/) [Roll Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roll-play-3633382/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/)

## Related quotes

> [I have a saying, which is, 'Crazy is good for business.' I think rock and roll really is about being a bit crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-have-a-saying-which-is-crazy-is-good-for-business-i-think-rock-and/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [If you think you are too old to rock 'n roll, then you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy-kilmister/if-you-think-you-are-too-old-to-rock-n-roll-then-you-are/)

[Lemmy Kilmister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy-kilmister/)

> [Rock n roll is about drugs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/rock-n-roll-is-about-drugs/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

> [My feelings are, if you're gonna lead a rock n' roll lifestyle, don't let it affect your work. I know I can stay up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/my-feelings-are-if-you-re-gonna-lead-a-rock-n-roll-lifestyle-don-t/)

[Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/)

> [Where is this great love for rock and roll that existed for 50 or 60 years?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/where-is-this-great-love-for-rock-and-roll-that-existed-for-50-or-60/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [We have always a roll to play in any community, and we have to do it - it's being part of a society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-payette/we-have-always-a-roll-to-play-in-any-community-and-we-have-to-do-it/)

[Julie Payette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-payette/)

> [I'm a guy that can stretch the floor, make plays in pick-and-roll, and then play off the ball as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-hood/i-m-a-guy-that-can-stretch-the-floor-make-plays-in-pick-and-roll-and/)

[Rodney Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-hood/)

> [We didn't invent this - this rock n' roll thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-fallon/we-didn-t-invent-this-this-rock-n-roll-thing/)

[Brian Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-fallon/)

> [There's no doubt arena shows are exciting, but you don't get that up close and personal kind of vibe, and that's what rock n'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-perry/there-s-no-doubt-arena-shows-are-exciting-but-you-don-t-get-that-up/)

[Joe Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-perry/)

> [“Food is the new rock and roll.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/food-is-the-new-rock-and-roll/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [I had written a tune called 'Shake, Rattle and Roll,' but the white stations refused to play it - they thought it was low-class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-stone/i-had-written-a-tune-called-shake-rattle-and-roll-but-the-white/)

[Jesse Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-stone/)

> [I was a born rock n' roll sax player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-clemons/i-was-a-born-rock-n-roll-sax-player/)

[Clarence Clemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-clemons/)

> [When I talk about rock n' roll, to me, that goes back to the beginning of the 1950s. Blue suede shoes and sideburns, man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-keys/when-i-talk-about-rock-n-roll-to-me-that-goes-back-to-the-beginning/)

[Bobby Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-keys/)

> [I'm always into rock n' roll and indie rock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mischa-barton/i-m-always-into-rock-n-roll-and-indie-rock/)

[Mischa Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mischa-barton/)

> [No, I don't think rock 'n' roll will ever fade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-clark/no-i-don-t-think-rock-n-roll-will-ever-fade/)

[Dave Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-clark/)

## More by Billy Corgan

> [To re-embrace what I once loved about music has been a warming process for me, because it's a good, earned feeling now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/to-re-embrace-what-i-once-loved-about-music-has-been-a-warming/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [I never wanted to leave the Smashing Pumpkins. That was never the plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-never-wanted-to-leave-the-smashing-pumpkins-that-was-never-the-plan/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [Everything about life makes me lonely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everything-about-life-makes-me-lonely/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [I'm prepared to spend the rest of my life playing clubs, if that means I'm playing music that I believe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-m-prepared-to-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-playing-clubs-if-that-means/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [We were in Japan once where they had 30 kinds of green tea. I thought there was one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/we-were-in-japan-once-where-they-had-30-kinds-of-green-tea-i-thought/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [All humans are part male and part female. The other side must be explored to gain complete understanding ofourselves and the world we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/all-humans-are-part-male-and-part-female-the-other-side-must-be/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [“I used to be a little boy So old in my shoes And what i choose is my choice What's a boy supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-used-to-be-a-little-boy-so-old-in-my-shoes-and-what-i-choose-is-my/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [In my case I don't mind playing a character that irritates people or makes people question my sanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/in-my-case-i-don-t-mind-playing-a-character-that-irritates-people-or/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [There are people out there who are older who are cool. I want that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/there-are-people-out-there-who-are-older-who-are-cool-i-want-that/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [ Everybody can close their eyes, picture a dream house or a perfect place \[where\] they'd like to have a picnic. But actually creating it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/everybody-can-close-their-eyes-picture-a-dream-house-or-a-perfect/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [In the music business I am surrounded by people who don't view music as a sacred voice. They view music as something that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/in-the-music-business-i-am-surrounded-by-people-who-don-t-view-music/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [That was a terrible Super Bowl, I have to say. I mean you got the big Peyton Manning walk off into the sunset win,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/that-was-a-terrible-super-bowl-i-have-to-say-i-mean-you-got-the-big/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [We can look you in the eye and talk to you about life, heart, love rock'n'roll, whatever, but we do not have the moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/we-can-look-you-in-the-eye-and-talk-to-you-about-life-heart-love-rock/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [I've always been spiritual but I've never had a proper context, and it took me awhile to find the proper context. It's hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/i-ve-always-been-spiritual-but-i-ve-never-had-a-proper-context-and-it/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

> [ Being overly identified with \[a certain period of time\] becomes a noose around your neck, and people don't want you to grow up, they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/being-overly-identified-with-a-certain-period-of-time-becomes-a-noose/)

[Billy Corgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

[Explore all 308 Billy Corgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

[Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Rock & roll is not about what you play, it's about how you play it.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Billy Corgan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it-s-about-how-you-play-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it-s-about-how-you-play-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/billy-corgan-1014_about_rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it_784376.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/billy-corgan-1014_about_rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it_784376.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5dc/billy-corgan-1014_about_rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it_784376.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Rock & roll is not about what you play, it's about how you play it.” — Billy Corgan",
                "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": "Billy Corgan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-corgan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Rock & roll is not about...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it-s-about-how-you-play-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-corgan/rock-roll-is-not-about-what-you-play-it-s-about-how-you-play-it/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```