--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was younger, and Iron Maiden and…" description: "\"When I was younger, and Iron Maiden and Def Leppard and all that stuff was coming out, I was learning all those songs and trying to play guitar and dev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-petrucci-2141_big_when-i-was-younger-and-iron-maiden-and-d_979665.png" --- # When I was younger, and Iron Maiden and Def Leppard and… ![“When I was younger, and Iron Maiden and Def Leppard and all that stuff was coming out, I was learning all those songs and trying to play guitar and develop my chops. I was a big fan.” quote by John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-petrucci-2141_big_when-i-was-younger-and-iron-maiden-and-d_979665.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-petrucci-2141_big_when-i-was-younger-and-iron-maiden-and-d_979665.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a4/john-petrucci-2141_big_when-i-was-younger-and-iron-maiden-and-d_979665.png) > “When I was younger, and Iron Maiden and Def Leppard and all that stuff was coming out, I was learning all those songs and trying to play guitar and develop my chops. I was a big fan.” [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. He recalls learning classic metal songs to improve his guitar skills and develop technique. **In simple terms:** Learning classic songs built his skill. Key Takeaway Practice classic material to improve. Themes music skill development learning inspiration Mood nostalgic motivated Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - band rehearsals - personal practice sessions - music lessons Key Concepts guitar technique metal genre practice habits Questions to Reflect On - How did learning these songs shape your style? - What other genres could you explore? A Different Perspective Focus on classic songs may limit original creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big/) [Big fan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-fan/) [Def leppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/def-leppard/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Develop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-develop-1935476/) [Iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron/) [Iron maiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron-maiden/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Learning Songs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning-songs-1412474/) [Leppard Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leppard-stuff-1935477/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-guitar/) ## Related quotes > [Hard rock for me is AC/DC, Def Leppard, Tesla, Kiss. Metal tends to be louder, ruder, darker, like Judas Priest, Slayer, Iron Maiden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-trunk/hard-rock-for-me-is-ac-dc-def-leppard-tesla-kiss-metal-tends-to-be/) [Eddie Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-trunk/) > [We toured with Iron Maiden and we opened and they'd come in later and I didn't have a lot of time to get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/we-toured-with-iron-maiden-and-we-opened-and-they-d-come-in-later-and/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [ We used to rehearse and that's where the roots of Dream Theater formed. Y'know, we used to play cover songs and jam to \[Iron\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/we-used-to-rehearse-and-that-s-where-the-roots-of-dream-theater/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [As young musicians, we cut our teeth on doing gigs at clubs and functions and colleges. That was really the proving ground for young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/as-young-musicians-we-cut-our-teeth-on-doing-gigs-at-clubs-and/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [I don't have a good memory, so learning all the songs for my TV performances was a real challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-lynn/i-don-t-have-a-good-memory-so-learning-all-the-songs-for-my-tv/) [Vera Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-lynn/) > [Growing up in the neighborhoods I did in Oakland, you don't know the Beatles, but I started learning their songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantastic-negrito/growing-up-in-the-neighborhoods-i-did-in-oakland-you-don-t-know-the/) [Fantastic Negrito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantastic-negrito/) > [When I was first learning songs, I'd have a favorite song, and I'd take the chords and twist them around. I'd learn the chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-keys/when-i-was-first-learning-songs-i-d-have-a-favorite-song-and-i-d-take/) [Alicia Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-keys/) > [As a kid, I used to sit there and figure out how to play everybody's song, and through learning all those songs I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-storch/as-a-kid-i-used-to-sit-there-and-figure-out-how-to-play-everybody-s/) [Scott Storch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-storch/) > [I'm an obsessive hiker and I do it every day for two hours and it really helps me when it comes to learning songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-m-an-obsessive-hiker-and-i-do-it-every-day-for-two-hours-and-it/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [It's much better to play the guitar a half hour a day, every day, than not practice for a week and then jam for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/it-s-much-better-to-play-the-guitar-a-half-hour-a-day-every-day-than/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I went straight out of high school, and when I was 17, all I wanted to do was play guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-went-straight-out-of-high-school-and-when-i-was-17-all-i-wanted-to/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [I have seen Tommy Emanuel play; my wife and I went to see him and he just melted my face off. How do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/i-have-seen-tommy-emanuel-play-my-wife-and-i-went-to-see-him-and-he/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [Def Leppard is obviously a different band that we are, but the music work well tighter. And the audiences seem work well together too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/def-leppard-is-obviously-a-different-band-that-we-are-but-the-music/) [Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/) > [“Although, your stripping skills could use a bit of work. Yeah, well, excuse the fuck out of me. You just said take them off...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-darhower/although-your-stripping-skills-could-use-a-bit-of-work-yeah-well/) [J.M. Darhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-darhower/) > [“I can scare the pants off the holiest ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/def-leppard/i-can-scare-the-pants-off-the-holiest-ghost/) [Def Leppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/def-leppard/) ## 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 Big quotes > [I'm a true believer in prayer, a big believer in prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-jackson/i-m-a-true-believer-in-prayer-a-big-believer-in-prayer/) [Janet Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-jackson/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [My parents are divorced, and seeing that was really painful for me. Really painful for me. But that's also a big part of why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/my-parents-are-divorced-and-seeing-that-was-really-painful-for-me/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I always want to do a big finale.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-always-want-to-do-a-big-finale/) [Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/) > [I turn a lot of stuff down - big, big movies, the kind I wouldn't want to go to the cinema to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/i-turn-a-lot-of-stuff-down-big-big-movies-the-kind-i-wouldn-t-want-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. 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