--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, you know, the first step I took was…" description: "\"Well, you know, the first step I took was to drop the alto and baritone and concentrate on tenor exclusively, a decision I've never really looked back ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/david-s-ware-74376_baritones_well-you-know-the-first-step-i-took-was_3131870.jpg" --- # Well, you know, the first step I took was to drop the alto… ![“Well, you know, the first step I took was to drop the alto and baritone and concentrate on tenor exclusively, a decision I've never really looked back on with any regret. Another thing was that I was 17 when I moved up there, and my listening had really focused on freer music in the previous…” quote by David S. Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/david-s-ware-74376_baritones_well-you-know-the-first-step-i-took-was_3131870.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/david-s-ware-74376_baritones_well-you-know-the-first-step-i-took-was_3131870.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d14/david-s-ware-74376_baritones_well-you-know-the-first-step-i-took-was_3131870.jpg) > “Well, you know, the first step I took was to drop the alto and baritone and concentrate on tenor exclusively, a decision I've never really looked back on with any regret. Another thing was that I was 17 when I moved up there, and my listening had really focused on freer music in the previous couple of years- Coltrane was playing with his expanded group, and everyone was listening closely to that, and we were into Shepp and Ayler as well.” [David S. Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-ware/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He changed his vocal range focus to tenor, a decision he never regrets, and was influenced by avant‑garde jazz at age 17 **In simple terms:** Switched to tenor, no regrets, inspired by experimental jazz in youth Key Takeaway Embrace bold artistic choices early. Themes artistic evolution musical influences personal growth Mood reflective confident Type personal musical When to use this quote - career planning - music education - creative experimentation - self‑reflection Key Concepts jazz improvisation identity formation risk taking Questions to Reflect On - How did that shift shape your sound? - What risks are you avoiding in your art? A Different Perspective May limit versatility in other ranges; requires confidence to shift focus ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alto Baritone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alto-baritone-5542909/) [Baritone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baritone-927094/) [Baritones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baritones/) [Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coltrane/) [Concentrate Tenor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentrate-tenor-5542908/) [Couple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couple/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [First step](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-step/) [First steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-steps/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/groups/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Moved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moved/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Tenor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenor/) [Tenors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenors/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-coltrane-5542910/) ## Related quotes > [Opera is when a tenor and soprano want to make love, but are prevented from doing so by a baritone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/opera-is-when-a-tenor-and-soprano-want-to-make-love-but-are-prevented/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The baritone can serve functions that the alto and tenor cannot, in orchestral voicing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/the-baritone-can-serve-functions-that-the-alto-and-tenor-cannot-in/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [There're lots of musicians in my family, too. My mother sings incredibly well. I've got to make a record with my mother's voice on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/there-re-lots-of-musicians-in-my-family-too-my-mother-sings/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [I wish I had a better range, but I really have a super-limited one. Barely a tenor, dips into baritone - that's about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-meloy/i-wish-i-had-a-better-range-but-i-really-have-a-super-limited-one/) [Colin Meloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-meloy/) > [On the Planet of Baritone women, they talk low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/on-the-planet-of-baritone-women-they-talk-low/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [I trained with a guy named Tito Gobbi, who was the Marlon Brando of the opera world. Tito Gobbi was the greatest singing baritone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-davi/i-trained-with-a-guy-named-tito-gobbi-who-was-the-marlon-brando-of/) [Robert Davi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-davi/) > [In a way, I started out to be a baritone player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/in-a-way-i-started-out-to-be-a-baritone-player/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I would think, of all the saxophones, the baritone would be the most logical instrument if anybody was adding a voice to the symphony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/i-would-think-of-all-the-saxophones-the-baritone-would-be-the-most/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [So I played alto for quite a while until I saved up the money for the baritone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/so-i-played-alto-for-quite-a-while-until-i-saved-up-the-money-for-the/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I'm a baritone. Baritones don't mature until late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/i-m-a-baritone-baritones-don-t-mature-until-late/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [The soprano has all those other instruments in it. It's got the soprano song voice, flute, violin, clarinet, and tenor elements and can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/the-soprano-has-all-those-other-instruments-in-it-it-s-got-the/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [No baritone player should be afraid of the noise it makes. Harry Carney isn't!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepper-adams/no-baritone-player-should-be-afraid-of-the-noise-it-makes-harry/) [Pepper Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepper-adams/) > [ You know, that was the first time \[with Any Winehouse\] that I probably ever used a baritone sax. And it's certainly the texture that,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/you-know-that-was-the-first-time-with-any-winehouse-that-i-probably/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [As a small girl I enjoyed singing with my mother's brother. He taught me all kinds of melodies and I sang the ones I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirella-freni/as-a-small-girl-i-enjoyed-singing-with-my-mother-s-brother-he-taught/) [Mirella Freni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirella-freni/) > [My voice gets recognized before anything else. It's always gotten attention. In choruses at church and school, I started as a tenor, moved to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-elliott/my-voice-gets-recognized-before-anything-else-it-s-always-gotten/) [Sam Elliott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-elliott/) ## More by David S. Ware > [You need to make the music strong, and the philosophy behind the music has to be solid. What the music exudes, what it emits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-ware/you-need-to-make-the-music-strong-and-the-philosophy-behind-the-music/) [David S. Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-ware/) > [Sentient compassion is a must; it has to be developed in order to alleviate cruelty and thoughtless acts. That won't happen if you develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-ware/sentient-compassion-is-a-must-it-has-to-be-developed-in-order-to/) [David S. Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-ware/) [Explore all 3 David S. Ware quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-ware/) ## More Baritones quotes > [There're lots of musicians in my family, too. My mother sings incredibly well. I've got to make a record with my mother's voice on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-jones/there-re-lots-of-musicians-in-my-family-too-my-mother-sings/) [Grace Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-jones/) > [All music is is what awakes from you when you are reminded by the instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/all-music-is-is-what-awakes-from-you-when-you-are-reminded-by-the/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I never felt like that in my life. I didn't know human beings played these instruments. I heard them in Chicago and Louisville and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-never-felt-like-that-in-my-life-i-didn-t-know-human-beings-played/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [No baritone player should be afraid of the noise it makes. Harry Carney isn't!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepper-adams/no-baritone-player-should-be-afraid-of-the-noise-it-makes-harry/) [Pepper Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepper-adams/) > [Opera is when a tenor and soprano want to make love, but are prevented from doing so by a baritone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/opera-is-when-a-tenor-and-soprano-want-to-make-love-but-are-prevented/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I am not in the habit of taking baritones to supper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-taylor/i-am-not-in-the-habit-of-taking-baritones-to-supper/) [Eric Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-taylor/) > [The first instrument I had was made in the late '70s. Back then they had basically one tuning. I shifted slightly away from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-howard/the-first-instrument-i-had-was-made-in-the-late-70s-back-then-they/) [Greg Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-howard/) > [The soprano has all those other instruments in it. It's got the soprano song voice, flute, violin, clarinet, and tenor elements and can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/the-soprano-has-all-those-other-instruments-in-it-it-s-got-the/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Consider the number of young people all over the world who are getting married, day in and day out, for no other reason than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/consider-the-number-of-young-people-all-over-the-world-who-are/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [When I was 9 years old, I wanted to be the baritone sax player in the Little Richard band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/when-i-was-9-years-old-i-wanted-to-be-the-baritone-sax-player-in-the/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [Please God, we're all right here. Please leave us alone. Don't send death in his fat red suit and his ho-ho baritone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sexton/please-god-we-re-all-right-here-please-leave-us-alone-don-t-send/) [Anne Sexton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sexton/) > [I play the baritone horn - which is like a mini tuba, and is the least sexy instrument you can choose, and I generally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-carell/i-play-the-baritone-horn-which-is-like-a-mini-tuba-and-is-the-least/) [Steve Carell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-carell/) > [I'm a baritone. Baritones don't mature until late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/i-m-a-baritone-baritones-don-t-mature-until-late/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [For years The National has been labeled as a gloomy kind of rock bandI think mostly because of Matt’s deep baritone voice, which even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryce-dessner/for-years-the-national-has-been-labeled-as-a-gloomy-kind-of-rock/) [Bryce Dessner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryce-dessner/) > [When I was 19 I went to art school. I had six months of teaching myself to play baritone ukulele under my belt so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/when-i-was-19-i-went-to-art-school-i-had-six-months-of-teaching/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) [Browse all 33 Baritones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baritones/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, you know, the first step I took was to drop the alto and baritone and concentrate on tenor exclusively, a decision I've never really looked back on with any regret. Another thing was that I was 17 when I moved up there, and my listening had really focused on freer music in the previous couple of years- Coltrane was playing with his expanded group, and everyone was listening closely to that, and we were into Shepp and Ayler as well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David S. 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