--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm not in an environment where I can…" description: "\"If I'm not in an environment where I can record, it's great to be able to write something down, to be able to know how to do that, to be able to write ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-petrucci-2141_able_if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can_940187.png" --- # If I'm not in an environment where I can record, it's… ![“If I'm not in an environment where I can record, it's great to be able to write something down, to be able to know how to do that, to be able to write notation. You grab a piece of paper and there it is. It's the cheapest recording equipment you can buy: a piece of manuscript paper and a pencil!” quote by John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-petrucci-2141_able_if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can_940187.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-petrucci-2141_able_if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can_940187.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-petrucci-2141_able_if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can_940187.png) > “If I'm not in an environment where I can record, it's great to be able to write something down, to be able to know how to do that, to be able to write notation. You grab a piece of paper and there it is. It's the cheapest recording equipment you can buy: a piece of manuscript paper and a pencil!” [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing ideas on paper is a simple, cheap way to capture music concepts when recording tools aren't available. **In simple terms:** Paper and pencil are the cheapest recording tools. Key Takeaway Always carry a notebook for spontaneous ideas. Themes creativity resourcefulness music composition Mood practical inspirational Type creative musical When to use this quote - songwriting - studio planning - education Key Concepts analog tools idea capture spontaneity Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate analog and digital methods? - What habits improve idea retention? A Different Perspective Digital tools can offer more flexibility and editing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Recording](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recording/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a collector, a tinkerer, and a tweaker, like a lot of people, and recording equipment is really easy to fetishize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-vanderslice/i-m-a-collector-a-tinkerer-and-a-tweaker-like-a-lot-of-people-and/) [John Vanderslice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-vanderslice/) > [As far as recording equipment, we use everything! We don't rely too much on Pro Tools like other bands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cavalera/as-far-as-recording-equipment-we-use-everything-we-don-t-rely-too/) [Max Cavalera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cavalera/) > [In fact, I'd just like to own something. Everyone thinks I'm glamorous, rich and famous but all I've got is some recording equipment and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dido-armstrong/in-fact-i-d-just-like-to-own-something-everyone-thinks-i-m-glamorous/) [Dido Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dido-armstrong/) > [We have so much access to video and audio recording equipment that it's kind of the new pen and paper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-hart/we-have-so-much-access-to-video-and-audio-recording-equipment-that-it/) [Hannah Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-hart/) > [Another editor. That thing behind his ear is his pencil. Whenever he finds a bright thing in your manuscript he strikes it out with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/another-editor-that-thing-behind-his-ear-is-his-pencil-whenever-he/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I do write my manuscripts by hand, in pencil on legal pads. Then they are typed on a word processor by my typist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-demille/i-do-write-my-manuscripts-by-hand-in-pencil-on-legal-pads-then-they/) [Nelson DeMille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-demille/) > [Whatever artistry may occur within the manuscript, the magic happens for me in the last draft. Whatever I have been resistant to say must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/whatever-artistry-may-occur-within-the-manuscript-the-magic-happens/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [“Sometimes just being able to write only a few hundred words as opposed to a few thousand is just fine. As long as they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-trandahl/sometimes-just-being-able-to-write-only-a-few-hundred-words-as/) [Nicholas Trandahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-trandahl/) > [You can't be afraid to deal with your demons. You've got to go there to be able to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-williams/you-can-t-be-afraid-to-deal-with-your-demons-you-ve-got-to-go-there/) [Lucinda Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-williams/) > [Now, as I've gotten older I've been able to write more quickly. Sometimes I get in the space of something and I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-hirsch/now-as-i-ve-gotten-older-i-ve-been-able-to-write-more-quickly/) [Edward Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-hirsch/) > [“The big break from the past may come when speech recognition software is perfected. At that point we'll be able to write simply by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-maguire/the-big-break-from-the-past-may-come-when-speech-recognition-software/) James Maguire > [No one who cannot limit himself has ever been able to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/no-one-who-cannot-limit-himself-has-ever-been-able-to-write/) [Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-boileau-despreaux/) > [You need to know that going in, and you also need to be able to write all the time. So when somebody looks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-ben-garant/you-need-to-know-that-going-in-and-you-also-need-to-be-able-to-write/) [Robert Ben Garant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-ben-garant/) > [“I don't know what I'd do if for some reason I was no longer able to write. Commit murder, perhaps. At the very least,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-e-quinones-miller/i-don-t-know-what-i-d-do-if-for-some-reason-i-was-no-longer-able-to/) [Karen E. Quinones Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-e-quinones-miller/) > [I want to be able to write, that's my first love and I don't want to deviate from it even though I probably could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-want-to-be-able-to-write-that-s-my-first-love-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## More by John Petrucci > [If you practice in a focused, concentrated manner and make efficient use of your time, you will progress a lot faster than if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/if-you-practice-in-a-focused-concentrated-manner-and-make-efficient/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [In my touring rig, there's a pedal drawer, where I'm able to switch pedals in and out, going into the front of the amp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/in-my-touring-rig-there-s-a-pedal-drawer-where-i-m-able-to-switch/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Before Dream Theater took off I used to teach a lot, and one of the things my students often asked me was how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/before-dream-theater-took-off-i-used-to-teach-a-lot-and-one-of-the/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I listen to somebody like Shawn Lane, and unfortunately he is no longer with us, but I hear him playing and I am like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-listen-to-somebody-like-shawn-lane-and-unfortunately-he-is-no/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I'm a hopeless tone chaser!I love it and get into the whole thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-m-a-hopeless-tone-chaser-i-love-it-and-get-into-the-whole-thing/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Definitely an important aspect of my playing is keeping my hands in sync.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/definitely-an-important-aspect-of-my-playing-is-keeping-my-hands-in/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [By adding open strings to even the simplest chords, you can create voicings that sound sophisticated, but are really easy (and fun) to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/by-adding-open-strings-to-even-the-simplest-chords-you-can-create/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Sometimes just allowing yourself to noodle without any structure will enable you to stumble upon great new ideas, culminating in creating your own distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/sometimes-just-allowing-yourself-to-noodle-without-any-structure-will/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Songs come alive every night and can be a new experience for someone. You might have someone in the audience who has never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/songs-come-alive-every-night-and-can-be-a-new-experience-for-someone/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I'm from the school of putting a lot of hours of practice into playing. But at the same time you have to write original…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-m-from-the-school-of-putting-a-lot-of-hours-of-practice-into/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I have to say that our fans have been absolutely wonderful all across the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-have-to-say-that-our-fans-have-been-absolutely-wonderful-all-across/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I really rely a lot more on memory. I'm definitely not as good of a sight reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-really-rely-a-lot-more-on-memory-i-m-definitely-not-as-good-of-a/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [A violin neck is much smaller than the guitar's, so it's much easier to play wide intervals on one violin string. On the guitar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/a-violin-neck-is-much-smaller-than-the-guitar-s-so-it-s-much-easier/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Using open strings is a great way to add texture and atmosphere to any chord progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/using-open-strings-is-a-great-way-to-add-texture-and-atmosphere-to/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [We are very, very fortunate to have built a career based on playing the kind of music we play. In a lot of ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/we-are-very-very-fortunate-to-have-built-a-career-based-on-playing/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) [Explore all 183 John Petrucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I'm not in an environment where I can record, it's great to be able to write something down, to be able to know how to do that, to be able to write notation. You grab a piece of paper and there it is. It's the cheapest recording equipment you can buy: a piece of manuscript paper and a pencil!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Petrucci" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can-record-it-s-great-to-be-able/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can-record-it-s-great-to-be-able/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-petrucci-2141_able_if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can_940187.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-petrucci-2141_able_if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can_940187.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-petrucci-2141_able_if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can_940187.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I'm not in an environment where I can record, it's great to be able to write something down, to be able…” — John Petrucci", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Petrucci", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If I'm not in an environment...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can-record-it-s-great-to-be-able/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/if-i-m-not-in-an-environment-where-i-can-record-it-s-great-to-be-able/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```