--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started writing when I was 17. I got an…" description: "\"I started writing when I was 17. I got an acoustic guitar for my birthday after I discovered Bob Dylan and James Taylor.\" — Jason Reeves" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/jason-reeves-28048_acoustic-guitar_i-started-writing-when-i-was-17-i-got-an_597494.jpg" --- # I started writing when I was 17. I got an acoustic guitar… ![“I started writing when I was 17. I got an acoustic guitar for my birthday after I discovered Bob Dylan and James Taylor.” quote by Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/jason-reeves-28048_acoustic-guitar_i-started-writing-when-i-was-17-i-got-an_597494.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/jason-reeves-28048_acoustic-guitar_i-started-writing-when-i-was-17-i-got-an_597494.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b42/jason-reeves-28048_acoustic-guitar_i-started-writing-when-i-was-17-i-got-an_597494.jpg) > “I started writing when I was 17. I got an acoustic guitar for my birthday after I discovered Bob Dylan and James Taylor.” [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He began his creative journey early, inspired by music legends, and started writing at 17. **In simple terms:** He started writing at 17 after getting a guitar and discovering Dylan and Taylor. Key Takeaway Embrace early passions and let music inspire creativity. Themes creativity music early inspiration Mood reflective hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - personal journaling - learning an instrument - seeking mentors Key Concepts self‑expression artistic development Questions to Reflect On - What early influence shaped your creative path? - How can you nurture that spark today? A Different Perspective Talent alone isn’t enough without practice and persistence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acoustic guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustic-guitar/) [Acoustics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustics/) [Bob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bob/) [Bob dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bob-dylan/) [Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dylan/) [Got Acoustic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-acoustic-4877982/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-birthday-2844954/) [My birthday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-birthday/) [Started Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When I was 17 I got a guitar for my birthday and started discovering Bob Dylan and James Taylor and the whole '60s thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/when-i-was-17-i-got-a-guitar-for-my-birthday-and-started-discovering/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [When I was six years old, Mom and Dad gave me a guitar for my birthday, and Daddy taught me the chords to 'You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-orbison/when-i-was-six-years-old-mom-and-dad-gave-me-a-guitar-for-my-birthday/) [Roy Orbison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-orbison/) > [I started playing the acoustic guitar for more singer-songwriter type stuff. I bet if I would have gotten more approval for my "rock playing",…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-sobule/i-started-playing-the-acoustic-guitar-for-more-singer-songwriter-type/) [Jill Sobule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-sobule/) > [Write great songs that sound amazing if sung and played on the piano or acoustic guitar. Always encourage sing-alongs! Be prolific! Say "Yes" to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/write-great-songs-that-sound-amazing-if-sung-and-played-on-the-piano/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [I'm just as comfortable performing solo with just my acoustic guitar and vocal as I am with a band. The main thing for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gira/i-m-just-as-comfortable-performing-solo-with-just-my-acoustic-guitar/) [Michael Gira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gira/) > [Most of our songs were written on acoustic guitar before they made it to the practice stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-grohl/most-of-our-songs-were-written-on-acoustic-guitar-before-they-made-it/) [Dave Grohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-grohl/) > [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/) > [There was this big skiffle craze happening for a while in England… Everybody was in a skiffle group..All you needed was an acoustic Guitar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/there-was-this-big-skiffle-craze-happening-for-a-while-in-england/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [I suppose my little Martin acoustic guitar is quickly becoming a prize possession. It's a lovely guitar. I bought it at the Cambridge Folk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-coxon/i-suppose-my-little-martin-acoustic-guitar-is-quickly-becoming-a/) [Graham Coxon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-coxon/) > [I love the subtlety and tonal range of the acoustic guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-fogelberg/i-love-the-subtlety-and-tonal-range-of-the-acoustic-guitar/) [Dan Fogelberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-fogelberg/) > [I did a smaller gig with an acoustic guitar and a drum machine. In one song, something wrong happened with the drum machine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violante-placido/i-did-a-smaller-gig-with-an-acoustic-guitar-and-a-drum-machine-in-one/) [Violante Placido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violante-placido/) > [This band - because this is myself on electric and acoustic guitars - we've done three tours together now and I really, really like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-armatrading/this-band-because-this-is-myself-on-electric-and-acoustic-guitars-we/) [Joan Armatrading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-armatrading/) > [In certain ways I still feel like I'm finding my way. I feel pretty comfortable playing acoustic guitar and singing, but then I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hay/in-certain-ways-i-still-feel-like-i-m-finding-my-way-i-feel-pretty/) [Colin Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hay/) > [I practice on the acoustic guitar a little bit, but I think I have reached the peak of my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-practice-on-the-acoustic-guitar-a-little-bit-but-i-think-i-have/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [One thing I really hate about people who play both acoustic and electric is if they try to play electric style on an acoustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/one-thing-i-really-hate-about-people-who-play-both-acoustic-and/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) ## More by Jason Reeves > [My favorite superheroes when I was younger were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and they still are. Simply because they rule and you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/my-favorite-superheroes-when-i-was-younger-were-the-teenage-mutant/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [There are no rules or certain methods. I usually start with the guitar or piano and sing melodies over the chords. The lyrics seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/there-are-no-rules-or-certain-methods-i-usually-start-with-the-guitar/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [I took piano and drum lessons when I was young, and took a lot of choir classes in high school. Beyond that I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/i-took-piano-and-drum-lessons-when-i-was-young-and-took-a-lot-of/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [I love writing and photography and the natural world that inspires them both. I'm working on getting as lost as I can in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/i-love-writing-and-photography-and-the-natural-world-that-inspires/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [On tour I'm finding out that I am half gypsy, 40% vagabond, and 10 house cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/on-tour-i-m-finding-out-that-i-am-half-gypsy-40-vagabond-and-10-house/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [When I was 17 I got a guitar for my birthday and started discovering Bob Dylan and James Taylor and the whole '60s thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/when-i-was-17-i-got-a-guitar-for-my-birthday-and-started-discovering/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [The people of Iowa are a rare breed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/the-people-of-iowa-are-a-rare-breed/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [Even before I started writing songs, that was one of my goals to be a writer, and I still have that goal. I've just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/even-before-i-started-writing-songs-that-was-one-of-my-goals-to-be-a/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [ I love writing with Colbie \[Caillat\]. We have something very magical together that's difficult to describe. We're very comfortable with each other, and that's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/i-love-writing-with-colbie-caillat-we-have-something-very-magical/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [Inspiration comes from everywhere always. But it's strongest in love and in its absence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/inspiration-comes-from-everywhere-always-but-it-s-strongest-in-love/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [I do what works best for me, but it might not work for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/i-do-what-works-best-for-me-but-it-might-not-work-for-somebody-else/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [Because of our situation, God has given us an opportunity to almost transcend our gender, which gives us a vision and sensitivity that other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/because-of-our-situation-god-has-given-us-an-opportunity-to-almost/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [“im not sure what is a dream and what is real. or if real is a real word and if words even exist outside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/im-not-sure-what-is-a-dream-and-what-is-real-or-if-real-is-a-real/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [I think every tour stop on the west coast is equally rewarding for me. There is something healing about the air and the light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/i-think-every-tour-stop-on-the-west-coast-is-equally-rewarding-for-me/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [There's a weird period of learning how to play guitar where your fingers are constantly messed up a handful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/there-s-a-weird-period-of-learning-how-to-play-guitar-where-your/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) [Explore all 20 Jason Reeves quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) ## More Acoustic guitar quotes > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [One thing I really hate about people who play both acoustic and electric is if they try to play electric style on an acoustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-gallagher/one-thing-i-really-hate-about-people-who-play-both-acoustic-and/) [Rory Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-gallagher/) > [Much of the music I remember from camp was unofficial: the songs a counselor would play for us on acoustic guitar or that an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/much-of-the-music-i-remember-from-camp-was-unofficial-the-songs-a/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [My first synthesizer was the VCS3. I got it in Bristol in the late Sixties, long before Pink Floyd used them. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-jarre/my-first-synthesizer-was-the-vcs3-i-got-it-in-bristol-in-the-late/) [Jean-Michel Jarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-jarre/) > [“Other freshmen were already moving into their dormitory rooms when we arrived, with their parents helping haul. I saw boxes of paperbacks, stereo equipment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-erdrich/other-freshmen-were-already-moving-into-their-dormitory-rooms-when-we/) [Louise Erdrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-erdrich/) > [My first review in NOW Magazine - I played one machine, so I went to a soloist night, where everyone else played acoustic guitar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peaches/my-first-review-in-now-magazine-i-played-one-machine-so-i-went-to-a/) [Peaches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peaches/) > [I collect as many acoustic guitars as I need for a specific purpose. Acoustic guitars are really just tools for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-collect-as-many-acoustic-guitars-as-i-need-for-a-specific-purpose/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I practice on the acoustic guitar a little bit, but I think I have reached the peak of my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-practice-on-the-acoustic-guitar-a-little-bit-but-i-think-i-have/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [When we did the 'Skin and Bones' tour I didn't even own an acoustic guitar, I had to borrow one from my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/when-we-did-the-skin-and-bones-tour-i-didn-t-even-own-an-acoustic/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [It all started in a local park in El Paso called Madeleine Park. At a ditch, a very small ditch, that everybody used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-bixler-zavala/it-all-started-in-a-local-park-in-el-paso-called-madeleine-park-at-a/) [Cedric Bixler-Zavala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-bixler-zavala/) > ['Flying In A Blue Dream' was quite automatic. I was working on another song, and I took a break and picked up my acoustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/flying-in-a-blue-dream-was-quite-automatic-i-was-working-on-another/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [In certain ways I still feel like I'm finding my way. I feel pretty comfortable playing acoustic guitar and singing, but then I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-hay/in-certain-ways-i-still-feel-like-i-m-finding-my-way-i-feel-pretty/) [Colin Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-hay/) > [One of the signature things about Heart was the acoustic guitar in a rock format, which you didn't hear that often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/one-of-the-signature-things-about-heart-was-the-acoustic-guitar-in-a/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [My stuff was more of a folk coffeehouse thing, with more acoustic guitar, just me doing a single, and then adding on instruments and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-hicks/my-stuff-was-more-of-a-folk-coffeehouse-thing-with-more-acoustic/) [Dan Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-hicks/) [Browse all 174 Acoustic guitar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acoustic-guitar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started writing when I was 17. 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