--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never mastered the guitar. Either I…" description: "\"I've never mastered the guitar. Either I was playing it, or it was playing me; it depends how you look at it. As a kid, the only things I had to do was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/jimmy-page-1492_guitar_i-ve-never-mastered-the-guitar-either-i_132455.jpg" --- # I've never mastered the guitar. Either I was playing it… ![“I've never mastered the guitar. Either I was playing it, or it was playing me; it depends how you look at it. As a kid, the only things I had to do was go to school, do my homework, and play guitar.” quote by Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/jimmy-page-1492_guitar_i-ve-never-mastered-the-guitar-either-i_132455.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/jimmy-page-1492_guitar_i-ve-never-mastered-the-guitar-either-i_132455.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/81f/jimmy-page-1492_guitar_i-ve-never-mastered-the-guitar-either-i_132455.jpg) > “I've never mastered the guitar. Either I was playing it, or it was playing me; it depends how you look at it. As a kid, the only things I had to do was go to school, do my homework, and play guitar.” [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mastery of an instrument can feel like a dialogue where the instrument influences the player. **In simple terms:** Playing can feel like being played. Key Takeaway Embrace the reciprocal nature of practice. Themes creativity mastery perspective music Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - learning guitar - performing live - teaching music - personal growth Key Concepts skill acquisition mind-body interaction Questions to Reflect On - How does your tool shape your actions? - When does mastery feel like surrender? A Different Perspective Skill mastery also requires disciplined practice beyond perspective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-playing/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I learned how to play guitar by playing along to Jane's Addiction records and Smashing Pumpkins records, things you can totally hear if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chino-moreno/i-learned-how-to-play-guitar-by-playing-along-to-jane-s-addiction/) [Chino Moreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chino-moreno/) > [Let me explain something about guitar playing. Everyone's got their own character, and that's the thing that's amazed me about guitar playing since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/let-me-explain-something-about-guitar-playing-everyone-s-got-their/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [My guitar playing touches so many different areas of the form, but the important thing is what it represents across the form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/my-guitar-playing-touches-so-many-different-areas-of-the-form-but-the/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [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'm a chameleon when it comes to guitar playing and like to stretch out into different territories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-wilson/i-m-a-chameleon-when-it-comes-to-guitar-playing-and-like-to-stretch/) [Nancy Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-wilson/) > [I guess because I had such a horrible life growing up, going from place to place not knowing what I was gonna do and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/i-guess-because-i-had-such-a-horrible-life-growing-up-going-from/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [For me, the guitar was just a tool to make songs. I started when I was 10 - I learned what I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-ternheim/for-me-the-guitar-was-just-a-tool-to-make-songs-i-started-when-i-was/) [Anna Ternheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-ternheim/) > [One of the things I really like about West African guitar playing is the way it makes harmony linear. 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It doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yngwie-malmsteen/spellbound-has-a-lot-of-guitar-playing-on-it-obviously-but-i-wanted/) [Yngwie Malmsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yngwie-malmsteen/) > [Directing is like guitar playing. That's a unique mind-set and talent, unto itself. I like the idea of putting everything together to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slash/directing-is-like-guitar-playing-that-s-a-unique-mind-set-and-talent/) [Slash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slash/) > [The Lounge Lizards were relating with a tradition and it was like I was playing within a musical context. The guitar playing stood out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arto-lindsay/the-lounge-lizards-were-relating-with-a-tradition-and-it-was-like-i/) [Arto Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arto-lindsay/) > [... another guitar player who had a tremendous influence on my life was Howard Roberts ... I'd listened to a lot of Tal Farlow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-baxter/another-guitar-player-who-had-a-tremendous-influence-on-my-life-was/) [Jeff Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-baxter/) > [I'm supportive of women, absolutely, and it's so gratifying to have girls come up and say, 'I'm really inspired by your guitar playing.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-m-supportive-of-women-absolutely-and-it-s-so-gratifying-to-have/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) ## More by Jimmy Page > [I wasn't into jazz so much - I preferred things raw.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-wasn-t-into-jazz-so-much-i-preferred-things-raw/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [The passing of John Bonham... Let's just put it... Before we say, 'the passing of John Bonham,' the introduction of John Bonham on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-passing-of-john-bonham-let-s-just-put-it-before-we-say-the/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Once I got a guitar that was relatively user-friendly, but not super-duper easy, I really came on as a guitarist, at that point. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/once-i-got-a-guitar-that-was-relatively-user-friendly-but-not-super/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [The one person who's disappeared out of the business is the A&R man. Because the listener at home becomes the A&R man. He's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-one-person-who-s-disappeared-out-of-the-business-is-the-a-r-man/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [I'm pretty loyal to my guitars, you know, but then they're pretty loyal to me, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-m-pretty-loyal-to-my-guitars-you-know-but-then-they-re-pretty-loyal/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Everything that came later... the roots are all there in the first album.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/everything-that-came-later-the-roots-are-all-there-in-the-first-album/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Right from the first time we went to America in 1968, Led Zeppelin was a word-of-mouth thing. You can't really compare it to how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/right-from-the-first-time-we-went-to-america-in-1968-led-zeppelin-was/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [I've never regretted anything I've ever done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-ve-never-regretted-anything-i-ve-ever-done/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [I played guitar all my life, all the way through the Yardbirds, but I knew that for me this was going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-played-guitar-all-my-life-all-the-way-through-the-yardbirds-but-i/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Because we spent so much time in the States in the beginning, we weren't able to do so much in England. It was slower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/because-we-spent-so-much-time-in-the-states-in-the-beginning-we-weren/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Spirit is a band I really love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/spirit-is-a-band-i-really-love/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [The fourth album encapsulated some remarkable music that was really groundbreaking. We were able to have something like 'When the Levee Breaks,' which, sonically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-fourth-album-encapsulated-some-remarkable-music-that-was-really/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [I played guitar all my life, all the way through the Yardbirds, but I knew that for me, this was going to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-played-guitar-all-my-life-all-the-way-through-the-yardbirds-but-i-2/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [A lot of people can't be on their own. They get frightened. Isolation doesn't bother me at all. It gives me a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/a-lot-of-people-can-t-be-on-their-own-they-get-frightened-isolation/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [Led Zeppelin was a band that would change things around substantially each time it played... We were becoming tighter and tighter, to the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/led-zeppelin-was-a-band-that-would-change-things-around-substantially/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) [Explore all 236 Jimmy Page quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) ## More Guitar quotes > [I'll tell you one thing: I will always play the sh\*\* out of my guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-i-will-always-play-the-sh-out-of-my-guitar/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I remember people would talk about Country Music like it was this sexist, lame thing. Well, no, because Dolly Parton is writing songs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-remember-people-would-talk-about-country-music-like-it-was-this/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [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/) > [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [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/) > [I took guitar lessons and recorded the song in New York. It was kind of a dream. I got to pretend I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-took-guitar-lessons-and-recorded-the-song-in-new-york-it-was-kind/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [There's a need for music that has urgency and emotional honesty. That's why people are reintroducing themselves to guitar music - that instrument has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/there-s-a-need-for-music-that-has-urgency-and-emotional-honesty-that/) [Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/) > [I like to be quiet and play guitar and just chill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/post-malone/i-like-to-be-quiet-and-play-guitar-and-just-chill/) [Post Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/post-malone/) > [My first proper 'Here's your guitar, Joseph' was a 1981 Chiquita, one of those Erlewine travel guitars. 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