--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was so used to doing old blues licks…" description: "\"I was so used to doing old blues licks with the first three fingers. When I started using my pinky and finding more spread things, that's when I starte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/eddie-van-halen-6965_findings_i-was-so-used-to-doing-old-blues-licks-w_1991565.jpg" --- # I was so used to doing old blues licks with the first… ![“I was so used to doing old blues licks with the first three fingers. When I started using my pinky and finding more spread things, that's when I started getting my own style.” quote by Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/eddie-van-halen-6965_findings_i-was-so-used-to-doing-old-blues-licks-w_1991565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/eddie-van-halen-6965_findings_i-was-so-used-to-doing-old-blues-licks-w_1991565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e74/eddie-van-halen-6965_findings_i-was-so-used-to-doing-old-blues-licks-w_1991565.jpg) > “I was so used to doing old blues licks with the first three fingers. When I started using my pinky and finding more spread things, that's when I started getting my own style.” [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expanding technique beyond familiar patterns unlocks personal artistic voice. **In simple terms:** New techniques create a unique style. Key Takeaway Explore beyond comfort zones. Themes creativity skill development personal expression Mood inspired determined Type musical motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - soloing - practice routines - performance preparation Key Concepts guitar technique musical identity Questions to Reflect On - Which old habit limits your growth? - How can you incorporate a new tool into your routine? A Different Perspective New skills require time and disciplined practice to integrate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues Licks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues-licks-3456255/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [Fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers/) [Fingers Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fingers-started-3456254/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Licks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/licks-842598/) [Licks Fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/licks-fingers-3456257/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [My own style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own-style/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Spread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spread/) [Style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/style/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Using Pinky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/using-pinky-3456256/) ## Related quotes > [A bad cook licks his fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russyb/a-bad-cook-licks-his-fingers/) [Russyb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russyb/) > [I like all the kinds of music I've been into. I'm certainly not a purist in that I will only play country licks in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/i-like-all-the-kinds-of-music-i-ve-been-into-i-m-certainly-not-a/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [I liked being able to work with all the different producers and take what they brought to the table and bring my own style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-aiken/i-liked-being-able-to-work-with-all-the-different-producers-and-take/) [Clay Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-aiken/) > [I have my own style, but it's different for each kind of music. There are certain little characteristic things every player has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-bolin/i-have-my-own-style-but-it-s-different-for-each-kind-of-music-there/) [Tommy Bolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-bolin/) > [I was so lucky that I didn't have anyone to copy, be impressed by. 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I don't like to wear anything that anyone else is wearing because it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-winehouse/i-ve-always-had-my-own-style-i-ve-always-been-different-i-don-t-like/) [Amy Winehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-winehouse/) > [I see my own style as being a symbiosis of the styles of Alekhine, Tal and Fischer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-see-my-own-style-as-being-a-symbiosis-of-the-styles-of-alekhine-tal/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [I have tried to be more flexible, but I always end up feeling more uncomfortable. Retaining a sense of control is really important. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tammet/i-have-tried-to-be-more-flexible-but-i-always-end-up-feeling-more/) [Daniel Tammet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tammet/) > [I really had to create my own style, because it's kind of hard being a 6-1 defensive end. I'm really like 6-4 - really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-really-had-to-create-my-own-style-because-it-s-kind-of-hard-being-a/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [I describe me sound as international: reggae, pop, rap, R&B all in one. I think I have my own style. I can't really even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-kingston/i-describe-me-sound-as-international-reggae-pop-rap-r-b-all-in-one-i/) [Sean Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-kingston/) > [A man is entitled to draw things in his own style. I didn't hurt Superman. I made him powerful. I admire Superman, but I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kirby/a-man-is-entitled-to-draw-things-in-his-own-style-i-didn-t-hurt/) [Jack Kirby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kirby/) > [Don't be into trends. Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gianni-versace/don-t-be-into-trends-don-t-make-fashion-own-you-but-you-decide-what/) [Gianni Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gianni-versace/) > [My own style influences have to do with where I grew up, in the Bronx, and I still like to wear bangles and big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/my-own-style-influences-have-to-do-with-where-i-grew-up-in-the-bronx/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) ## More by Eddie Van Halen > [Everything comes to me while I'm sitting on the pot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/everything-comes-to-me-while-i-m-sitting-on-the-pot/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [If you have a great-sounding guitar that's a quality instrument and a good amp, and you know how to make the guitar talk, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/if-you-have-a-great-sounding-guitar-that-s-a-quality-instrument-and-a/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [I don't really know what inspires me to write the music I do, but usually, the music will set the tone for the lyrics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/i-don-t-really-know-what-inspires-me-to-write-the-music-i-do-but/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [We're musicians. We make music for a living. It's that simple. Nothing else matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/we-re-musicians-we-make-music-for-a-living-it-s-that-simple-nothing/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [I never dreamt of being a musician for my livelihood. I certainly never would have wanted to be in the business that I'm in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/i-never-dreamt-of-being-a-musician-for-my-livelihood-i-certainly/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [I applied to Uncyclopedia Bassists, and was accepted!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/i-applied-to-uncyclopedia-bassists-and-was-accepted/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [I never took guitar lessons. I took classical piano lessons from the age of six when we lived in Holland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/i-never-took-guitar-lessons-i-took-classical-piano-lessons-from-the/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [It's all about sound. It's that simple. Wireless is wireless, and it's digital. Hopefully somewhere along the line somebody will add more ones to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/it-s-all-about-sound-it-s-that-simple-wireless-is-wireless-and-it-s/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [I took classical piano lessons from the age of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/i-took-classical-piano-lessons-from-the-age-of-five/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [Actually, if I could deliberately sit down and write a pop hit, all my songs would be pop hits! 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