--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, there were piano bands and great…" description: "\"Yes, there were piano bands and great rock pianists, from Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard to Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and Elton John. But someth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/daniel-levitin-2988_electric-guitar_yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-roc_1137220.jpg" --- # Yes, there were piano bands and great rock pianists, from… ![“Yes, there were piano bands and great rock pianists, from Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard to Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and Elton John. But something about the electric guitar speaks of more than music - it epitomizes and gives voice to the rebellion, power, and sexuality of rock.” quote by Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/daniel-levitin-2988_electric-guitar_yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-roc_1137220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/daniel-levitin-2988_electric-guitar_yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-roc_1137220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/daniel-levitin-2988_electric-guitar_yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-roc_1137220.jpg) > “Yes, there were piano bands and great rock pianists, from Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard to Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and Elton John. But something about the electric guitar speaks of more than music - it epitomizes and gives voice to the rebellion, power, and sexuality of rock.” [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The electric guitar symbolizes rock’s rebellious, powerful, and sexual energy, surpassing mere musical notes. **In simple terms:** Guitar embodies rock’s rebellion and power. Key Takeaway Embrace music that reflects your inner drive. Themes rebellion power sexuality rock music instrument symbolism Mood energetic defiant Type cultural musical When to use this quote - concerts - band formation - personal empowerment - musical education Key Concepts cultural identity sound symbolism emotional expression Questions to Reflect On - How does instrument choice shape a genre’s identity? - Can other instruments convey similar rebellion? A Different Perspective Some may argue the guitar’s symbolism is nostalgic rather than current. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Electric guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric-guitar/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music Epitomizes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-epitomizes-3153227/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Rock Pianists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rock-pianists-3153225/) [Sexuality Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality-rock-3153226/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brady/) > [There are tons of people in the West who love fiddles, banjos and mandolins. If you got to any cowboy poetry and music gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-murphey/there-are-tons-of-people-in-the-west-who-love-fiddles-banjos-and/) [Michael Martin Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-murphey/) > [The electric guitar and its players hold a place of privilege in the annals of rock music. It is the engine, the weapon, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-electric-guitar-and-its-players-hold-a-place-of-privilege-in-the/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [When do you suppose the electric guitar was invented? If you thought the 1950s, you'd be wrong. If you can muster a recollection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/when-do-you-suppose-the-electric-guitar-was-invented-if-you-thought/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [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/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [All I want for Christmas is a rock n roll electric guitar...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-rock-n-roll-electric-guitar/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [I've just been recording mostly acoustic stuff, drums, and sax, and electric guitar. I'm just still writing songs and what not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-ve-just-been-recording-mostly-acoustic-stuff-drums-and-sax-and/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [... Charlie Christians' contributions to the electric guitar are as big as Thomas Edisons' contributions to the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-kessel/charlie-christians-contributions-to-the-electric-guitar-are-as-big-as/) [Barney Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-kessel/) > [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [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/) > [There's a need for music that has urgency and emotional honesty. That's why people are reintroducing themselves to guitar music - that instrument has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/there-s-a-need-for-music-that-has-urgency-and-emotional-honesty-that/) [Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/) > [My first job was in a Bohemian polka band, the Rejcek family polka band in Abbott. The old man in the band had another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/my-first-job-was-in-a-bohemian-polka-band-the-rejcek-family-polka/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Daniel Levitin > [What music is better able to do than language is to represent the complexity of human emotional states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/what-music-is-better-able-to-do-than-language-is-to-represent-the/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Procrastination comes in two types. Some of us procrastinate in order to pursue restful activities - spending time in bed, watching TV - while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/procrastination-comes-in-two-types-some-of-us-procrastinate-in-order/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [In a country that was still racially segregated and prejudiced, music was among the first domains in which African-Americans thrived alongside whites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/in-a-country-that-was-still-racially-segregated-and-prejudiced-music/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Because our ancestors lived in social groups that changed slowly, because they encountered the same people throughout their lives, they could keep almost every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/because-our-ancestors-lived-in-social-groups-that-changed-slowly/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Because you've been exposed to Western tonal music, you know after a certain chord sequence what the next possibilities are. Your brain has compiled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/because-you-ve-been-exposed-to-western-tonal-music-you-know-after-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [People who organize their time in a way that allows them to focus are not only going to get more done, but they'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/people-who-organize-their-time-in-a-way-that-allows-them-to-focus-are/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [I have never seen a proton or electron spinning around it. I have never actually seen a chromosome. I trust that they exist because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/i-have-never-seen-a-proton-or-electron-spinning-around-it-i-have/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [If you're studying from a book and trying to listen in on a conversation at the same time, those are two separate projects, each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/if-you-re-studying-from-a-book-and-trying-to-listen-in-on-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [President Trump, when challenged on facts, says that many people feel the way he does. But feelings should not take the place of reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/president-trump-when-challenged-on-facts-says-that-many-people-feel/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Our species uses music and dance to express various feelings: love, joy, comfort, ceremony, knowledge, and friendship. And each one is distinct and widely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/our-species-uses-music-and-dance-to-express-various-feelings-love-joy/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The first forms of writing emerged not for art, literature, or love, not for spiritual or liturgical purposes, but for business--all literature could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-first-forms-of-writing-emerged-not-for-art-literature-or-love-not/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [When you're at work, be fully at work. And let your leisure time be what it's meant to be - restorative and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/when-you-re-at-work-be-fully-at-work-and-let-your-leisure-time-be/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The obvious rule of efficiency is you don't want to spend more time organizing than it's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-obvious-rule-of-efficiency-is-you-don-t-want-to-spend-more-time/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [When it comes to snowing people, one effective technique is to get a whole bunch of verifiable facts right and then add one or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/when-it-comes-to-snowing-people-one-effective-technique-is-to-get-a/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [The human brain long ago evolved a mechanism for rewarding us when we encountered new information: a little shot of dopamine in the brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/the-human-brain-long-ago-evolved-a-mechanism-for-rewarding-us-when-we/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) [Explore all 143 Daniel Levitin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) ## More Electric guitar quotes > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“lack, or loutish and crass kollective is a program dedicated to the proposition that vulgarity and bad taste are an inalienable right. the lackies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/lack-or-loutish-and-crass-kollective-is-a-program-dedicated-to-the/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) > [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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-brady/) > [There are tons of people in the West who love fiddles, banjos and mandolins. If you got to any cowboy poetry and music gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-murphey/there-are-tons-of-people-in-the-west-who-love-fiddles-banjos-and/) [Michael Martin Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-murphey/) > [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/) > [... Charlie Christians' contributions to the electric guitar are as big as Thomas Edisons' contributions to the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-kessel/charlie-christians-contributions-to-the-electric-guitar-are-as-big-as/) [Barney Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-kessel/) > [I've just been recording mostly acoustic stuff, drums, and sax, and electric guitar. I'm just still writing songs and what not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-ve-just-been-recording-mostly-acoustic-stuff-drums-and-sax-and/) [Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/) > [All I want for Christmas is a rock n roll electric guitar...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-rock-n-roll-electric-guitar/) [Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/) > [If the person who can effectively sanction ill-conceived wars can play the electric guitar, which is a symbol of rebellion, then that whole worldview…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/if-the-person-who-can-effectively-sanction-ill-conceived-wars-can/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [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/) > [When I first started playing, I definitely had a younger scum-punk crowd, but as my music developed more and after I started playing electric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-loveless/when-i-first-started-playing-i-definitely-had-a-younger-scum-punk/) [Lydia Loveless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-loveless/) > [When I was a kid. I started writing when I was 13. I got my first electric guitar when I was 13, but I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/when-i-was-a-kid-i-started-writing-when-i-was-13-i-got-my-first/) [Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/) > [The electric guitar was vital in helping what I've achieved where would I be without it? Playing awfully quietly, for a start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/the-electric-guitar-was-vital-in-helping-what-i-ve-achieved-where/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [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/) > [My dreams are always quite attainable, I wouldn't like to spend a lot of money on a car. I've got a mental block about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kane/my-dreams-are-always-quite-attainable-i-wouldn-t-like-to-spend-a-lot/) [Russell Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-kane/) [Browse all 144 Electric guitar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric-guitar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yes, there were piano bands and great rock pianists, from Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard to Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, and Elton John. But something about the electric guitar speaks of more than music - it epitomizes and gives voice to the rebellion, power, and sexuality of rock.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Levitin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-rock-pianists-from-jerry-lee/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Electric guitar" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-rock-pianists-from-jerry-lee/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/daniel-levitin-2988_electric-guitar_yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-roc_1137220.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/daniel-levitin-2988_electric-guitar_yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-roc_1137220.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bc/daniel-levitin-2988_electric-guitar_yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-roc_1137220.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yes, there were piano bands and great rock pianists, from Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard to Keith…” — Daniel Levitin", "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": "Daniel Levitin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Yes, there were piano bands and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-rock-pianists-from-jerry-lee/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/yes-there-were-piano-bands-and-great-rock-pianists-from-jerry-lee/#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 } } ] } ```