--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My approach in 1999 was basically to play…" description: "\"My approach in 1999 was basically to play what I had, that was all I could do. At the time I was broke. I think I only had one guitar, a flametop green..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/jim-root-6647_green_my-approach-in-1999-was-basically-to-pla_2847926.jpg" --- # My approach in 1999 was basically to play what I had, that… ![“My approach in 1999 was basically to play what I had, that was all I could do. At the time I was broke. I think I only had one guitar, a flametop green Jackson and I had these DC-10 Mesa Boogie heads. I think I had a cheap Shure wireless.” quote by Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/jim-root-6647_green_my-approach-in-1999-was-basically-to-pla_2847926.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/jim-root-6647_green_my-approach-in-1999-was-basically-to-pla_2847926.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/jim-root-6647_green_my-approach-in-1999-was-basically-to-pla_2847926.jpg) > “My approach in 1999 was basically to play what I had, that was all I could do. At the time I was broke. I think I only had one guitar, a flametop green Jackson and I had these DC-10 Mesa Boogie heads. I think I had a cheap Shure wireless.” [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Faced with limited resources, he focused on using whatever gear he could afford, emphasizing adaptability. **In simple terms:** Used what I had when broke. Key Takeaway Make the most of limited tools. Themes resourcefulness adaptability creativity Mood determined hopeful Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - starting a band - home recording - gear acquisition - budgeting for musicians Key Concepts musical improvisation budget constraints Questions to Reflect On - How can constraints spark innovation? - What compromises are acceptable? A Different Perspective Quality may suffer without better equipment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [1999 Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/1999-basically-3772853/) [Basically Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basically-play-3772852/) [Cheap Shure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheap-shure-3772851/) [Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Think Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-guitar-1264021/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [There's no secret, but inspiration has to find you working. And that's one of the key things that I've always remembered. And if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/there-s-no-secret-but-inspiration-has-to-find-you-working-and-that-s/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [Normally, when I write the setlist for a Dream Theater show, I'll change it up every night, and we can basically play whatever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/normally-when-i-write-the-setlist-for-a-dream-theater-show-i-ll/) [Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/) > [Basically, I only play one character; I just play him at different volumes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-farley/basically-i-only-play-one-character-i-just-play-him-at-different/) [Chris Farley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-farley/) > [You basically have to play everything (in New Orleans), because you're getting calls to play gigs of all different styles, from classical to R&B…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/you-basically-have-to-play-everything-in-new-orleans-because-you-re/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [All I did was basically play myself in the role of Napoleon Solo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-vaughn/all-i-did-was-basically-play-myself-in-the-role-of-napoleon-solo/) [Robert Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-vaughn/) > [If Bill jumps into something that relies on a lot of cymbals, I'll jump into something that relies on a lot of skin sounds;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-mastelotto/if-bill-jumps-into-something-that-relies-on-a-lot-of-cymbals-i-ll/) [Pat Mastelotto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-mastelotto/) > [I think of guitar players in terms of doctors: you have the doctor for your heart, the cardiologist, then one that works on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-king/i-think-of-guitar-players-in-terms-of-doctors-you-have-the-doctor-for/) [B. B. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-king/) > [Generally, I think of myself as a guitar player, but when I do find the right song to sing lead on, I try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/generally-i-think-of-myself-as-a-guitar-player-but-when-i-do-find-the/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [I think guitar is the best thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-white/i-think-guitar-is-the-best-thing-in-the-world/) [Shaun White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-white/) > [I think a guitar solo is how my emotion is most freely released, because verbal articulation isn't my strongest communication strength. My wife thinks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/i-think-a-guitar-solo-is-how-my-emotion-is-most-freely-released/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [I think guitar-wise, Eric Clapton was a big influence on me. I got to spend time around him. He's kind of strange, mysterious, serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhani-harrison/i-think-guitar-wise-eric-clapton-was-a-big-influence-on-me-i-got-to/) [Dhani Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhani-harrison/) > [When you think about where guitar playing is going today...: it's going everywhere at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/when-you-think-about-where-guitar-playing-is-going-today-it-s-going/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I've started to look at guitar playing from more than just a standpoint of using certain modes and techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-ve-started-to-look-at-guitar-playing-from-more-than-just-a/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [A lot of the songs start with an image. I was sitting there playing the guitar and I pictured this old, dirty green car,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-brickell/a-lot-of-the-songs-start-with-an-image-i-was-sitting-there-playing/) [Edie Brickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-brickell/) > [Obviously I don't play the same way as Peter, but I could do a passable imitation of Peter Green; if you gave me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/obviously-i-don-t-play-the-same-way-as-peter-but-i-could-do-a/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) ## More by Jim Root > [I wanna buy vinyl and I want to listen to records on it. I want to put on 'Dark Side of the Moon' in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-wanna-buy-vinyl-and-i-want-to-listen-to-records-on-it-i-want-to-put/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [When you've got a mask on, you're kind of invincible. It's almost like nobody can see you, and you can do what you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/when-you-ve-got-a-mask-on-you-re-kind-of-invincible-it-s-almost-like/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [You know, unfortunately I'm only one person. I can't really be in two places at one time and the amount of focus that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/you-know-unfortunately-i-m-only-one-person-i-can-t-really-be-in-two/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [No, I would never in a million years compare anything we've done to anything we've previously done. I don't believe in it - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/no-i-would-never-in-a-million-years-compare-anything-we-ve-done-to/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [Well that's probably what'll end up happening: a load of really good musicians who can't afford to be in bands, who have to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/well-that-s-probably-what-ll-end-up-happening-a-load-of-really-good/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [The thing that scares me about the way the music industry has changed so much is that I'm afraid that the record, the album,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/the-thing-that-scares-me-about-the-way-the-music-industry-has-changed/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [It's probably a lot cooler than wearing jeans and a T-shirt. Once I put on the mask, I don't even realize that it's there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/it-s-probably-a-lot-cooler-than-wearing-jeans-and-a-t-shirt-once-i/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [I can't be on tour constantly if I really want to be creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-can-t-be-on-tour-constantly-if-i-really-want-to-be-creative/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [It's always been about the live show for us. We're having Halloween onstage every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/it-s-always-been-about-the-live-show-for-us-we-re-having-halloween/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [I think that the only goals that we try to set for ourselves is to evolve musically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-think-that-the-only-goals-that-we-try-to-set-for-ourselves-is-to/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [It's the best thing, me leaving Stone Sour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/it-s-the-best-thing-me-leaving-stone-sour/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [I've started to look at guitar playing from more than just a standpoint of using certain modes and techniques.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-ve-started-to-look-at-guitar-playing-from-more-than-just-a/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [I like to improvise so much live because I get bored playing the same thing over again. It's like the kid at school that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-like-to-improvise-so-much-live-because-i-get-bored-playing-the-same/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [You know, 'Mad Max' and 'The Road Warrior' was part of my childhood, and that's why I'm so close to it. I remember seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/you-know-mad-max-and-the-road-warrior-was-part-of-my-childhood-and/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) > [I'd rather be creative and be artistic and be able to play intricate music that moves and really takes you on a journey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-root/i-d-rather-be-creative-and-be-artistic-and-be-able-to-play-intricate/) [Jim Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) [Explore all 98 Jim Root quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-root/) ## More Green quotes > [The very purpose for being in this body, for every one of us, is to live and rejoice in that virgin area, that untouched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/the-very-purpose-for-being-in-this-body-for-every-one-of-us-is-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [If you're white and you're wrong, then you're wrong; if you're black and you're wrong, you're wrong. 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We shouldn't be leading the world in wars and incarceration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/america-should-be-leading-the-world-in-green-and-clean-solutions-and/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) [Browse all 3,556 Green quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/green/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My approach in 1999 was basically to play what I had, that was all I could do. At the time I was broke. I think I only had one guitar, a flametop green Jackson and I had these DC-10 Mesa Boogie heads. 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