---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first instrument was actually the…"
description: "\"My first instrument was actually the trombone, but that didn't last long. Soon I was playing guitar in bands from the time I was 11 or 12.\" — Dave Grohl"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/dave-grohl-1713_band_my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-tro_974949.png"
---

#  My first instrument was actually the trombone, but that…

![“My first instrument was actually the trombone, but that didn't last long. Soon I was playing guitar in bands from the time I was 11 or 12.” quote by Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/dave-grohl-1713_band_my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-tro_974949.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/dave-grohl-1713_band_my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-tro_974949.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/dave-grohl-1713_band_my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-tro_974949.png)

> “My first instrument was actually the trombone, but that didn't last long. Soon I was playing guitar in bands from the time I was 11 or 12.”

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

## About This Quote

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

He recounts switching from trombone to guitar early in life, showing adaptability and early musical passion.

**In simple terms:** He moved from trombone to guitar as a child.

Key Takeaway

Adapt and follow your evolving interests.

Themes

music growth adaptability

Mood

enthusiastic reflective

Type

personal narrative inspirational

When to use this quote

- music lessons
- band participation
- skill diversification

Key Concepts

instrument transition early talent development

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you handle skill transitions?
- What fuels your musical passion?

A Different Perspective

Changing instruments can be challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Actually Trombone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actually-trombone-1899068/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Instrument Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument-actually-1899067/) [Instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruments/) [Lasts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lasts/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Playing guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-guitar/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trombone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trombone/) [Trombone Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trombone-didn-1899066/)

## Related quotes

> [My parents pushed me toward trombone because they didn't need another trumpet player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trombone-shorty/my-parents-pushed-me-toward-trombone-because-they-didn-t-need-another/)

[Trombone Shorty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trombone-shorty/)

> [I am a trombone player, and that was my first instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-johannsson/i-am-a-trombone-player-and-that-was-my-first-instrument/)

[Johann Johannsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-johannsson/)

> [One interesting thing - I play bass and guitar and stuff like that. I know those instruments really well. But I don't know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jherek-bischoff/one-interesting-thing-i-play-bass-and-guitar-and-stuff-like-that-i/)

[Jherek Bischoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jherek-bischoff/)

> [After I learned the piano, I went on to learn percussion, the tuba, b-flat baritone, French horn, trombone, trumpet, most of the instruments in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/after-i-learned-the-piano-i-went-on-to-learn-percussion-the-tuba-b/)

[Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/)

> [I got my first instrument at Christmas when I was three or four. My dad and mom got me a mandolin. It was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-got-my-first-instrument-at-christmas-when-i-was-three-or-four-my/)

[Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/)

> [When I sit down and play guitar, I melt into the instrument. I can play for hours by myself. Playing guitar has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/when-i-sit-down-and-play-guitar-i-melt-into-the-instrument-i-can-play/)

[Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/)

> [You go with what you 'get,' and I get playing the guitar. It's a challenge because it's not an easy instrument to play. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/you-go-with-what-you-get-and-i-get-playing-the-guitar-it-s-a/)

[Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/)

> [The more I got into playing guitar, the more I enjoyed music, and the broader my listening became. The instrument itself became important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/the-more-i-got-into-playing-guitar-the-more-i-enjoyed-music-and-the/)

[Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/)

> [I got my first instrument for Christmas when I was three or four years old. My parents got me a mandolin because it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-got-my-first-instrument-for-christmas-when-i-was-three-or-four/)

[Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/)

> [Just the other day someone threw a bra duct-taped to a tennis ball. I just stood there, playing guitar, thinking how this was totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/just-the-other-day-someone-threw-a-bra-duct-taped-to-a-tennis-ball-i/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Singing into a microphone and learning to play an instrument - learning to do your craft - that's the most important thing! It's not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/singing-into-a-microphone-and-learning-to-play-an-instrument-learning/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Never look at the trombones, you'll just encourage them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-strauss/never-look-at-the-trombones-you-ll-just-encourage-them/)

[Richard Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-strauss/)

> [“Those people obviously don't know who I think I am.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-wesley-jr/those-people-obviously-don-t-know-who-i-think-i-am/)

[Fred Wesley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-wesley-jr/)

> [Virtue is something you have to get good at, like playing the trombone or tolerating bores at parties. Being a virtuous human being takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/virtue-is-something-you-have-to-get-good-at-like-playing-the-trombone/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [Trombone virtuoso and innovative composer, Papo combines the best of jazz and Latin music to create a genre that is unique and wild. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brecker/trombone-virtuoso-and-innovative-composer-papo-combines-the-best-of/)

[Michael Brecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brecker/)

## More by Dave Grohl

> [There's nothing better than having a bottle of beer in your hand in the waves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/there-s-nothing-better-than-having-a-bottle-of-beer-in-your-hand-in/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I love Black Sabbath. They made an amazing contribution to music today. Almost every band that made it big in the Nineties owed a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-love-black-sabbath-they-made-an-amazing-contribution-to-music-today/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Rock stars are like sports stars: If you snap your ankle, you're done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/rock-stars-are-like-sports-stars-if-you-snap-your-ankle-you-re-done/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Nothing's going to keep me from making music. If I were in the want-ads in the back of the paper or playing to six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/nothing-s-going-to-keep-me-from-making-music-if-i-were-in-the-want/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I don't want to say that most rock bands live these formulaic biography existences - but they kinda do. There's always a divorce. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-don-t-want-to-say-that-most-rock-bands-live-these-formulaic/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I think musicians like me are drawn to those older desks, not just because they're legend and lore but also because they do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-think-musicians-like-me-are-drawn-to-those-older-desks-not-just/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [CBGB represents a lot to New York City and to underground rock and to new wave and post-punk and whatever. But, you know, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/cbgb-represents-a-lot-to-new-york-city-and-to-underground-rock-and-to/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Ramones or AC/DC are two bands that have managed to keep their signature sound and their signature formula for years and years and album…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/ramones-or-ac-dc-are-two-bands-that-have-managed-to-keep-their/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I think maybe what happened was the convenience of technology overshadowed the experience of holding an album in your hands, and sitting on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-think-maybe-what-happened-was-the-convenience-of-technology/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I think that if you're passionate about something and you're driven and you're focused, then you can pretty much do anything that you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-think-that-if-you-re-passionate-about-something-and-you-re-driven/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [Neil Young is my hero. You know what that guy has been doing for the past 40 years? Making music. That's what that guy does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/neil-young-is-my-hero-you-know-what-that-guy-has-been-doing-for-the/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I guess it was exciting that every time I pulled up to the gate of my house, I wondered if someone was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-guess-it-was-exciting-that-every-time-i-pulled-up-to-the-gate-of-my/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [If it weren't for the Beatles, I would not be a musician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/if-it-weren-t-for-the-beatles-i-would-not-be-a-musician/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [To me the most important thing is getting into a studio and making an album that is 12 or 14 amazing songs, getting up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/to-me-the-most-important-thing-is-getting-into-a-studio-and-making-an/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

> [I mean, I never liked being told what to do. It's one of the reasons I dropped out of school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/i-mean-i-never-liked-being-told-what-to-do-it-s-one-of-the-reasons-i/)

[Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

[Explore all 213 Dave Grohl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/)

## More Band quotes

> [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/)

[Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/)

[Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/)

> [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/)

[Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/)

> [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/)

[Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/)

> [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/)

[Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/)

> [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/)

[Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/)

> [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/)

[Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/)

> [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/)

[Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/)

> [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 just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/)

[Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/)

> [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/)

[Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/)

> [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/)

[Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/)

> [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/)

[Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/)

> [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/)

[Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/)

[Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My first instrument was actually the trombone, but that didn't last long. Soon I was playing guitar in bands from the time I was 11 or 12.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dave Grohl"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-trombone-but-that-didn-t-last/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Band"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-trombone-but-that-didn-t-last/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/dave-grohl-1713_band_my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-tro_974949.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/dave-grohl-1713_band_my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-tro_974949.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a8/dave-grohl-1713_band_my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-tro_974949.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My first instrument was actually the trombone, but that didn't last long. Soon I was playing guitar in bands…” — Dave Grohl",
                "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": "Dave Grohl",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My first instrument was actually the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-trombone-but-that-didn-t-last/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/my-first-instrument-was-actually-the-trombone-but-that-didn-t-last/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
