--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never had a band with more than 3…" description: "\"I've never had a band with more than 3 people (meaning only two string players), so I love having the ability for 3-part polyphony.\" — Colin Marston" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/colin-marston-46415_ability_i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-p_1969931.jpg" --- # I've never had a band with more than 3 people (meaning… ![“I've never had a band with more than 3 people (meaning only two string players), so I love having the ability for 3-part polyphony.” quote by Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/colin-marston-46415_ability_i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-p_1969931.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/colin-marston-46415_ability_i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-p_1969931.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/colin-marston-46415_ability_i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-p_1969931.jpg) > “I've never had a band with more than 3 people (meaning only two string players), so I love having the ability for 3-part polyphony.” [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. I enjoy three‑part polyphony because it offers rich texture with minimal instrumentation. **In simple terms:** Three‑part polyphony creates rich sound with few players. Key Takeaway Explore layered arrangements with small ensembles. Themes music arrangement creativity Mood inspired curious Type musical technical When to use this quote - jazz trios - acoustic bands - studio recordings Key Concepts polyphony minimalism instrumentation Questions to Reflect On - How can you maximize texture with few musicians? - What techniques enhance polyphonic depth? A Different Perspective Limited instruments may restrict tonal range. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Polyphony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-polyphony-3301484/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Band People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band-people-414008/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Player](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/player/) [Polyphony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polyphony/) [String Players](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/string-players-2435561/) [Strings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strings/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [The great thing is that when you hire string players you always get really great players. I don't know why that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hamilton-leithauser/the-great-thing-is-that-when-you-hire-string-players-you-always-get/) [Hamilton Leithauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hamilton-leithauser/) > [I couldn't imagine being in a band with people I didn't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calum-hood/i-couldn-t-imagine-being-in-a-band-with-people-i-didn-t-like/) [Calum Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calum-hood/) > [We've always been a band of the people, and we will always remain a band of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/we-ve-always-been-a-band-of-the-people-and-we-will-always-remain-a/) [David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/) > [For me, anything can be music! I can get huge enjoyment and be moved totally by the purity and perfection of some Renaissance polyphony,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-price/for-me-anything-can-be-music-i-can-get-huge-enjoyment-and-be-moved/) [Steven Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-price/) > [I would like to hear Elliot Carter's Fourth String Quartet, if only to discover what a cranky prostate does to one's polyphony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-sellars/i-would-like-to-hear-elliot-carter-s-fourth-string-quartet-if-only-to/) [James Sellars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-sellars/) > [As for sacred polyphony, there is no reason to be afraid of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-morris/as-for-sacred-polyphony-there-is-no-reason-to-be-afraid-of-it/) [Richard Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-morris/) > [Monarchy can easily be "debunked," but watch the faces, mark well the debunkers. These are the men whose taproot in Eden has been cut:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/monarchy-can-easily-be-debunked-but-watch-the-faces-mark-well-the-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [In my piano concerto I developed this polyphony to much higher complexity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyorgy-ligeti/in-my-piano-concerto-i-developed-this-polyphony-to-much-higher/) [Gyorgy Ligeti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyorgy-ligeti/) > [An authentic updating of sacred music can take place only in the lineage of the great tradition of the past, of Gregorian chant and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/an-authentic-updating-of-sacred-music-can-take-place-only-in-the/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Where men are forbidden to honour a king, they honor millionaires, athletes, or film stars instead; even famous prostitutes or gangsters. For spiritual nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/where-men-are-forbidden-to-honour-a-king-they-honor-millionaires/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [All the senses awaken and fall into harmony in poetic reverie. Poetic reverie listens to this polyphony of the senses, and the poetic consciousness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/all-the-senses-awaken-and-fall-into-harmony-in-poetic-reverie-poetic/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [The idea is distributed in space. It isn't only in one part; one part can't express the idea any longer, only the union of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/the-idea-is-distributed-in-space-it-isn-t-only-in-one-part-one-part/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [Sometimes the problem is not the people in the band, but the people around the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-the-problem-is-not-the-people-in-the-band-but-the-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's a band that we grew up on and thought was really cool. It's definitely influenced Fall Out Boy, so it's definitely cool to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-wentz/it-s-a-band-that-we-grew-up-on-and-thought-was-really-cool-it-s/) [Pete Wentz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-wentz/) > [I feel self-conscious for even having met so many other band people and artists, I don't want to be that artist that is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jane-grace/i-feel-self-conscious-for-even-having-met-so-many-other-band-people/) [Laura Jane Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-jane-grace/) ## More by Colin Marston > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [I think Americans such as Leviathan have done a lot to expand the sonic palette of black metal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-think-americans-such-as-leviathan-have-done-a-lot-to-expand-the/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [As for complicating the black metal aesthetic, I don't care about that since it was never a goal of mine to lay out any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/as-for-complicating-the-black-metal-aesthetic-i-don-t-care-about-that/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [I always just been a fan of the music... and the aesthetic only in an abstract sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-always-just-been-a-fan-of-the-music-and-the-aesthetic-only-in-an/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [I seem to enjoy making my life miserable by taking on too many projects and always wishing I could put more time into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-seem-to-enjoy-making-my-life-miserable-by-taking-on-too-many/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [None of the bands I'm in demand constant touring, so I'm able to do a bunch of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/none-of-the-bands-i-m-in-demand-constant-touring-so-i-m-able-to-do-a/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [I think every band I'm a part of fulfills something the others don't, so I'm pretty convinced I need all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-think-every-band-i-m-a-part-of-fulfills-something-the-others-don-t/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) [Explore all 8 Colin Marston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've never had a band with more than 3 people (meaning only two string players), so I love having the ability for 3-part polyphony.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colin Marston" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-people-meaning-only-two-string/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-people-meaning-only-two-string/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/colin-marston-46415_ability_i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-p_1969931.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/colin-marston-46415_ability_i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-p_1969931.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a9/colin-marston-46415_ability_i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-p_1969931.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've never had a band with more than 3 people (meaning only two string players), so I love having the…” — Colin Marston", "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": "Colin Marston", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've never had a band with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-people-meaning-only-two-string/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/i-ve-never-had-a-band-with-more-than-3-people-meaning-only-two-string/#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 } } ] } ```