--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Good taste - that's all you really need…" description: "\"Good taste - that's all you really need when you're playing an instrument.\" — Kristin Hersh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/kristin-hersh-19918_good-taste_good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-wh_1162161.jpg" --- # Good taste - that's all you really need when you're… ![“Good taste - that's all you really need when you're playing an instrument.” quote by Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/kristin-hersh-19918_good-taste_good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-wh_1162161.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/kristin-hersh-19918_good-taste_good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-wh_1162161.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/kristin-hersh-19918_good-taste_good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-wh_1162161.jpg) > “Good taste - that's all you really need when you're playing an instrument.” [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Technical skill matters less than personal taste when creating music, emphasizing authenticity over perfection. **In simple terms:** Taste matters more than technical skill. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal taste in art. Themes music taste authenticity skill creativity Mood introspective encouraging Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - music lessons - creative workshops - performance critique Key Concepts indie songwriting instrumentation Questions to Reflect On - How does taste guide your playing? - Can skill compensate for lack of taste? A Different Perspective Technical skill still affects execution quality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good taste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-taste/) [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Good taste\] is a nineteenth-century concept. And good taste has never really been defined. The effort of projecting 'good taste' is so studied that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-berliawsky-nevelson/good-taste-is-a-nineteenth-century-concept-and-good-taste-has-never/) [Louise Berliawsky Nevelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-berliawsky-nevelson/) > [I don't have necessarily good taste. I have some really good taste and I have some really awful taste. I don't see the difference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-harding/i-don-t-have-necessarily-good-taste-i-have-some-really-good-taste-and/) [Aldous Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-harding/) > [Playing an instrument is such a wonderful pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-chatto/playing-an-instrument-is-such-a-wonderful-pleasure/) [Grace Chatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-chatto/) > [Why would you want to stand there waving a stick when you could be playing an instrument?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-kennedy/why-would-you-want-to-stand-there-waving-a-stick-when-you-could-be/) [Nigel Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-kennedy/) > [I play a whole lot of instruments pretty badly, instead of playing one instrument really well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikal-cronin/i-play-a-whole-lot-of-instruments-pretty-badly-instead-of-playing-one/) [Mikal Cronin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikal-cronin/) > [Being in a band is far more than playing an instrument. It's surviving. It's getting an album together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-silver/being-in-a-band-is-far-more-than-playing-an-instrument-it-s-surviving/) [Josh Silver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-silver/) > [When I got to high school, to be playing an instrument was really uncool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-blue/when-i-got-to-high-school-to-be-playing-an-instrument-was-really/) [Jonas Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-blue/) > [Whenever you face a man who's playing your instrument, there's a competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/whenever-you-face-a-man-who-s-playing-your-instrument-there-s-a/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [If you listen to the way I speak, I have a lot of rhythm, use a lot of accents. When I'm playing my instrument,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefon-harris/if-you-listen-to-the-way-i-speak-i-have-a-lot-of-rhythm-use-a-lot-of/) [Stefon Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefon-harris/) > [I've been playing my instrument since I was about three or four. That's when I started banging around on the piano, trying to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nat-wolff/i-ve-been-playing-my-instrument-since-i-was-about-three-or-four-that/) [Nat Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nat-wolff/) > [If something is done really well then the question of live vs. DJ vs. instruments vs. drum machines doesn't matter - it's all just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/if-something-is-done-really-well-then-the-question-of-live-vs-dj-vs/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [If you go to a restaurant and you go with people you like, your food will always taste really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/if-you-go-to-a-restaurant-and-you-go-with-people-you-like-your-food/) [John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/) > [“Think of playing an instrument. When first picking up a new piece of music, a musician hammers out the notes slowly and methodically to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ciccarelli/think-of-playing-an-instrument-when-first-picking-up-a-new-piece-of/) S. Ciccarelli > [Most of the time, I'll be conducting the orchestra, but there will be some pieces that I'll be playing an instrument as well, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramin-djawadi/most-of-the-time-i-ll-be-conducting-the-orchestra-but-there-will-be/) [Ramin Djawadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramin-djawadi/) > [I think it all comes back to the individual. My instrument's just a pile of metal and wood! If you listen to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefon-harris/i-think-it-all-comes-back-to-the-individual-my-instrument-s-just-a/) [Stefon Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefon-harris/) ## More by Kristin Hersh > [If you're the band leader you ask more of yourself than anyone else, so they tend to raise the bar for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/if-you-re-the-band-leader-you-ask-more-of-yourself-than-anyone-else/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [I'm beginning to think I have two years encountering sexism without really realising it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/i-m-beginning-to-think-i-have-two-years-encountering-sexism-without/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [I guess I'll just slip into the studio after the next time with the Muses, and then just keel over and die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/i-guess-i-ll-just-slip-into-the-studio-after-the-next-time-with-the/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [I don't have the inclinations that other people seem to have as far as the business is concerned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/i-don-t-have-the-inclinations-that-other-people-seem-to-have-as-far/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [I felt like it was a great secret when I found out that I could be in my 30s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/i-felt-like-it-was-a-great-secret-when-i-found-out-that-i-could-be-in/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [Nirvana was pop. You can have distorted guitars and people say it's alternative, but you can't break out of pop music's constructs and still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/nirvana-was-pop-you-can-have-distorted-guitars-and-people-say-it-s/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [MP3's are perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/mp3-s-are-perfect/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [We need a day of the dead. That's a perfect celebration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/we-need-a-day-of-the-dead-that-s-a-perfect-celebration/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [I have to play as much of the game as I allow myself to get the music heard. But it's not unlike the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/i-have-to-play-as-much-of-the-game-as-i-allow-myself-to-get-the-music/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [Most of the younger people I knew didn't seem to have a handle on things; they hadn't found their place, they didn't understand how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/most-of-the-younger-people-i-knew-didn-t-seem-to-have-a-handle-on/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [You have to follow every melodic line, every emotional idea, or you don't get your money's worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/you-have-to-follow-every-melodic-line-every-emotional-idea-or-you-don/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [If Americans thought music and art belonged together, they wouldn't have the Grammys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/if-americans-thought-music-and-art-belonged-together-they-wouldn-t/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [I've always chosen my band members based on their sense of humor. It might sound stupid, but it means not only are they fun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/i-ve-always-chosen-my-band-members-based-on-their-sense-of-humor-it/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [I would go to radio stations and they were supposed to be interviewing me and playing my record and they would say, We're playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/i-would-go-to-radio-stations-and-they-were-supposed-to-be/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) > [No drug is a cure, though. Drugs are just big pieces of tape they stick over warning lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/no-drug-is-a-cure-though-drugs-are-just-big-pieces-of-tape-they-stick/) [Kristin Hersh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) [Explore all 31 Kristin Hersh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/) ## More Good taste quotes > [Good taste ruins certain true spiritual values: such as taste itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-chanel/good-taste-ruins-certain-true-spiritual-values-such-as-taste-itself/) [Coco Chanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-chanel/) > [Good taste is better than bad taste, but bad taste is better than no taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/good-taste-is-better-than-bad-taste-but-bad-taste-is-better-than-no/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [Fashion is here to help make people look very important. If they have good taste and choose what suits them, I give them options…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/fashion-is-here-to-help-make-people-look-very-important-if-they-have/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Good taste cannot supply the place of genius in literature, for the best proof of taste, when there is no genius, would be, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-stael/good-taste-cannot-supply-the-place-of-genius-in-literature-for-the/) [Madame de Stael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-stael/) > [I'm big on what's in good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-ocean/i-m-big-on-what-s-in-good-taste/) [Frank Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-ocean/) > [The male gay community seems to be very into female singers. I think it could be the songs we sing. They're more open with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-minnelli/the-male-gay-community-seems-to-be-very-into-female-singers-i-think/) [Liza Minnelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-minnelli/) > [Good taste comes more from the judgment than from the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/good-taste-comes-more-from-the-judgment-than-from-the-mind/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The kind of people who always go on about whether a thing is in good taste invariably have very bad taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-orton/the-kind-of-people-who-always-go-on-about-whether-a-thing-is-in-good/) [Joe Orton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-orton/) > [Good taste is synonymous with success in all fields of life. It's not a question of money, but of a trained eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-baldrige/good-taste-is-synonymous-with-success-in-all-fields-of-life-it-s-not/) [Letitia Baldrige](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-baldrige/) > [Simplicity, good taste and grooming are the three fundamentals of good dressing and these do not cost money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/simplicity-good-taste-and-grooming-are-the-three-fundamentals-of-good/) [Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/) > [My grandmother used to babysit us when I was younger, and would always play old-school music. It gets to me. Grandma had some good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-green/my-grandmother-used-to-babysit-us-when-i-was-younger-and-would-always/) [Virgil Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-green/) > [My family brainwashed me, like I'm brainwashing my children. They brainwashed me with good taste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madlib/my-family-brainwashed-me-like-i-m-brainwashing-my-children-they/) [Madlib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madlib/) > [Those Dutchmen had hardly any imagination or fantasy, but their good taste and their scientific knowledge of composition were enormous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/those-dutchmen-had-hardly-any-imagination-or-fantasy-but-their-good/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [I believe that bad taste is vulgar. It's like cursing. I think the world can be saved through design, because what is the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-believe-that-bad-taste-is-vulgar-it-s-like-cursing-i-think-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Tact is good taste in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-de-poitiers/tact-is-good-taste-in-action/) [Diane de Poitiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-de-poitiers/) [Browse all 228 Good taste quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-taste/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Good taste - that's all you really need when you're playing an instrument.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kristin Hersh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-when-you-re-playing-an/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Good taste" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-when-you-re-playing-an/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/kristin-hersh-19918_good-taste_good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-wh_1162161.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/kristin-hersh-19918_good-taste_good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-wh_1162161.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f9/kristin-hersh-19918_good-taste_good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-wh_1162161.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Good taste - that's all you really need when you're playing an instrument.” — Kristin Hersh", "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": "Kristin Hersh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hersh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Good taste - that's all you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-when-you-re-playing-an/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hersh/good-taste-that-s-all-you-really-need-when-you-re-playing-an/#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 } } ] } ```