--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's harder to play drums than guitar…" description: "\"It's harder to play drums than guitar, physically. I'm always kind of on the edge. I guess that's how I play everything: on the edge of my ability.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/j-mascis-27113_ability_it-s-harder-to-play-drums-than-guitar-ph_43401.jpg" --- # It's harder to play drums than guitar, physically. I'm… ![“It's harder to play drums than guitar, physically. I'm always kind of on the edge. I guess that's how I play everything: on the edge of my ability.” quote by J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/j-mascis-27113_ability_it-s-harder-to-play-drums-than-guitar-ph_43401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/j-mascis-27113_ability_it-s-harder-to-play-drums-than-guitar-ph_43401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/20f/j-mascis-27113_ability_it-s-harder-to-play-drums-than-guitar-ph_43401.jpg) > “It's harder to play drums than guitar, physically. I'm always kind of on the edge. I guess that's how I play everything: on the edge of my ability.” [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes the physical challenge of drumming compared to guitar, highlighting a tendency to push personal limits in all pursuits. **In simple terms:** Acknowledges physical difficulty and personal edge. Key Takeaway Pushing boundaries defines growth. Themes Physical challenge Self-improvement Artistic discipline Risk-taking Performance Mood Determined Intense Reflective Type Personal insight Motivational When to use this quote - Learning a new instrument - Live performance - Creative practice - Skill development Key Concepts Instrument mastery Physical endurance Personal limits Practical Applications - Music education - Performance coaching Questions to Reflect On - How does operating at the edge affect long-term skill development? - What strategies can balance risk and safety in creative work? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Drums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drums/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [ It seemed so wimpy at first when I started to play \[guitar\]. So I started playing loud with lots of effects just to try… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/it-seemed-so-wimpy-at-first-when-i-started-to-play-guitar-so-i/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I've played every instrument you could possibly think of for 10 minutes. So I'm mediocre at everything. I can play drums, guitar, piano, violin,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-dennings/i-ve-played-every-instrument-you-could-possibly-think-of-for-10/) [Kat Dennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-dennings/) > [I play drums and guitar. My best instrument is definitely drums, so I'm featured a lot on the album drumming. It's pretty futuristic as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/i-play-drums-and-guitar-my-best-instrument-is-definitely-drums-so-i-m/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [I wanted to hear the songs in the way that I had written them, which was very basic. All I wanted was drums and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/i-wanted-to-hear-the-songs-in-the-way-that-i-had-written-them-which-2/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [I wanted to hear the songs in the way that I had written them, which was, in a way, very basic. So all I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/i-wanted-to-hear-the-songs-in-the-way-that-i-had-written-them-which/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) > [I play bass. I play a bit of guitar. I've never been to a lesson, so my theory of music is non-existent in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sangster/i-play-bass-i-play-a-bit-of-guitar-i-ve-never-been-to-a-lesson-so-my/) [Thomas Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sangster/) > [I learned how to play the drums. When we were in pre-production, when we were still in LA, I had a couple of drum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kate-olsen/i-learned-how-to-play-the-drums-when-we-were-in-pre-production-when/) [Mary-Kate Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kate-olsen/) > [I have a drum set in my dressing room. I play drums to relax and have some fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-latifah/i-have-a-drum-set-in-my-dressing-room-i-play-drums-to-relax-and-have/) [Queen Latifah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-latifah/) > [What better to get all the anger and stuff out for what I do in Slipknot than to play the drums? You're punching everything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-jordison/what-better-to-get-all-the-anger-and-stuff-out-for-what-i-do-in/) [Joey Jordison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-jordison/) > [I took piano lessons when I was younger and I've been trying to learn how to play the guitar recently. I'd really like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-hudgens/i-took-piano-lessons-when-i-was-younger-and-i-ve-been-trying-to-learn/) [Vanessa Hudgens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-hudgens/) > [Music is a way of life, it's everything. I play drums and that's what I believe I was born to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvin-jones/music-is-a-way-of-life-it-s-everything-i-play-drums-and-that-s-what-i/) [Elvin Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvin-jones/) > [Look, I love to sit in with small groups and play the drums. What's wrong with that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-crane/look-i-love-to-sit-in-with-small-groups-and-play-the-drums-what-s/) [Bob Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-crane/) > [I didn't sing, but I did play the drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ferrer/i-didn-t-sing-but-i-did-play-the-drums/) [Miguel Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ferrer/) > [I can play a bunch of instruments but drums? My brothers a drummer and Ive always been jealous that hes such a good drummer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/i-can-play-a-bunch-of-instruments-but-drums-my-brothers-a-drummer-and/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [Uh, I try to play the drums each day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marky-ramone/uh-i-try-to-play-the-drums-each-day/) [Marky Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marky-ramone/) ## More by J Mascis > [All labels are offensive in some way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/all-labels-are-offensive-in-some-way/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [ It seemed so wimpy at first when I started to play \[guitar\]. So I started playing loud with lots of effects just to try… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/it-seemed-so-wimpy-at-first-when-i-started-to-play-guitar-so-i/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [You might as well play at the show everyone else is playing at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/you-might-as-well-play-at-the-show-everyone-else-is-playing-at/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I don't have any tattoos but I've thought about getting Ernie, from Bert and Ernie, on my earlobe. He made a big impression on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/i-don-t-have-any-tattoos-but-i-ve-thought-about-getting-ernie-from/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I was just reading about Paul Simon in 'Uncut', and it was fascinating. I never think about him much or think about his music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/i-was-just-reading-about-paul-simon-in-uncut-and-it-was-fascinating-i/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I prefer cynical people. Nice guys grow on trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/i-prefer-cynical-people-nice-guys-grow-on-trees/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [Yeah, you know, I'm always into cassette. At least they seem to be the longest-lasting medium we used to have. I don't play cassettes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/yeah-you-know-i-m-always-into-cassette-at-least-they-seem-to-be-the/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [Usually I like to have them, but going drum-less pushes everything in a new direction and makes it easier to keep things sounding different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/usually-i-like-to-have-them-but-going-drum-less-pushes-everything-in/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I have a couple of gold teeth. I had braces for a year but I didn't wear the retainer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/i-have-a-couple-of-gold-teeth-i-had-braces-for-a-year-but-i-didn-t/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [It's good to have certain restrictions sometimes, but it's definitely more fun to play really loud, with distortion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/it-s-good-to-have-certain-restrictions-sometimes-but-it-s-definitely/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I'd definitely be into doing some zombie slaying music. That'd be cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/i-d-definitely-be-into-doing-some-zombie-slaying-music-that-d-be-cool/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [Generally my songs are just some riffs slung together as an excuse for a guitar solo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/generally-my-songs-are-just-some-riffs-slung-together-as-an-excuse/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > ['No Bones' has some reverb that I kick around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/no-bones-has-some-reverb-that-i-kick-around/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I've always worn earplugs, but I'm sure my hearing's not great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/i-ve-always-worn-earplugs-but-i-m-sure-my-hearing-s-not-great/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) > [I have limited interests. I really like all sorts of gear. Guitar gear. Recording gear. Stuff like that. I like music, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-mascis/i-have-limited-interests-i-really-like-all-sorts-of-gear-guitar-gear/) [J Mascis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) [Explore all 21 J Mascis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-mascis/) ## 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": "It's harder to play drums than guitar, physically. 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