--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't beat 2 guitars, bass, and drums." description: "\"You can't beat 2 guitars, bass, and drums.\" — Lou Reed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/lou-reed-1654_bass_you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums_359716.png" --- # You can't beat 2 guitars, bass, and drums. ![“You can't beat 2 guitars, bass, and drums.” quote by Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/lou-reed-1654_bass_you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums_359716.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/lou-reed-1654_bass_you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums_359716.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/lou-reed-1654_bass_you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums_359716.png) > “You can't beat 2 guitars, bass, and drums.” [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote suggests that a musical ensemble with two guitars, bass, and drums is unbeatable in its power. **In simple terms:** A band with that lineup is unstoppable. Key Takeaway Embrace the full band sound. Themes music creativity performance teamwork energy Mood enthusiastic confident Type musical motivational When to use this quote - band rehearsals - live shows - recording sessions - songwriting Key Concepts instrumentation rock dynamics arrangement synergy Questions to Reflect On - What makes this lineup effective for you? - Can fewer instruments achieve similar impact? A Different Perspective May not apply to all musical styles or minimalist approaches. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) [Bass Drums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass-drums-1700975/) [Beat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beat/) [Beat Guitars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beat-guitars-3304281/) [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Drums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drums/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitars/) [Guitars Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitars-bass-3304280/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [You can't beat two guitars, bass, and drums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-can-t-beat-two-guitars-bass-and-drums/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [My son, Wolfgang, plays drums, guitars and bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-van-halen/my-son-wolfgang-plays-drums-guitars-and-bass/) [Eddie Van Halen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-van-halen/) > [More traditional guitar, bass, drums - it's not something completely natural to me. It's, in a way, exotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-patton/more-traditional-guitar-bass-drums-it-s-not-something-completely/) [Mike Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-patton/) > [It's really important for the bass and the drums to somehow blend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-gordon/it-s-really-important-for-the-bass-and-the-drums-to-somehow-blend/) [Mike Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-gordon/) > [When I make a record with My Morning Jacket, I love what those guys do, so I don't have a need to play bass…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-james/when-i-make-a-record-with-my-morning-jacket-i-love-what-those-guys-do/) [Jim James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-james/) > [I play bass. I play a bit of guitar. I've never been to a lesson, so my theory of music is non-existent in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sangster/i-play-bass-i-play-a-bit-of-guitar-i-ve-never-been-to-a-lesson-so-my/) [Thomas Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sangster/) > [I like guitar. It just turned out that it's the instrument I learned to play. I have a lot of respect for it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-like-guitar-it-just-turned-out-that-it-s-the-instrument-i-learned/) [Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/) > [From the first album I'm playing bass on a lot of the tunes, and piano on a lot of 'em, and drums, and guitars.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/from-the-first-album-i-m-playing-bass-on-a-lot-of-the-tunes-and-piano/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [Nothing beats 2 guitars, drum and bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/nothing-beats-2-guitars-drum-and-bass/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The bass and drums are the engine, and the key to good bass playing is it's not what you play, it's what you DON'T…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/the-bass-and-drums-are-the-engine-and-the-key-to-good-bass-playing-is/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [When I was much younger I tried to play guitar and bass first. Drums were just the easiest thing for me to play. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-schock/when-i-was-much-younger-i-tried-to-play-guitar-and-bass-first-drums/) [Gina Schock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-schock/) > [Well, I was very lucky. I was brought up west southwest coast of Scotland and my mother and father had a music shop, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-anderson/well-i-was-very-lucky-i-was-brought-up-west-southwest-coast-of/) [Clive Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-anderson/) > [I wrote a song with Kara DioGuardi called 'What If,' and it's a really beautiful song. It's kind of like a rock ballad. There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-tisdale/i-wrote-a-song-with-kara-dioguardi-called-what-if-and-it-s-a-really/) [Ashley Tisdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-tisdale/) > [I have two main bass guitars, and my main bass is a four-string 1964 Fender Jazz, and I've named it Justine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-jamal-warner/i-have-two-main-bass-guitars-and-my-main-bass-is-a-four-string-1964/) [Malcolm-Jamal Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-jamal-warner/) > [It would be obvious for me to do conceptual art, and I think I've done it already with smashing bass guitars and whatever -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simonon/it-would-be-obvious-for-me-to-do-conceptual-art-and-i-think-i-ve-done/) [Paul Simonon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simonon/) ## More by Lou Reed > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night is minimalistic and that's what makes it so forceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-is-minimalistic-and-that-s-what-makes-it-so-forceful/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. I rather look into the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concentrate-on-your-past-i-rather/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The only thing constantly changing is change, and change is always changing for the worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-only-thing-constantly-changing-is-change-and-change-is-always/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The first generation of CDs sounded terrible. Any chance to remaster would make the music sound better than what was already out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-first-generation-of-cds-sounded-terrible-any-chance-to-remaster/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night has that magic and it has the raw energy that grabs you by the throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-has-that-magic-and-it-has-the-raw-energy-that-grabs-you/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/eve-kissed-able-that-s-how-he-got-murdered-by-cain/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Music should come crashing out of your speakers and grab you, and the lyrics should challenge whatever preconceived notions that listener has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/music-should-come-crashing-out-of-your-speakers-and-grab-you-and-the/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Underachievers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose except your fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/underachievers-of-the-world-unite-you-have-nothing-to-lose-except/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“There's a bit of magic in everything And then some loss to even things out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/there-s-a-bit-of-magic-in-everything-and-then-some-loss-to-even/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [You've gotta blow the roof off of your heart and let the universe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-ve-gotta-blow-the-roof-off-of-your-heart-and-let-the-universe-in/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Sometimes, you've got to be in a place. You're just another guy. You can just blend in. I live out in the wilds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/sometimes-you-ve-got-to-be-in-a-place-you-re-just-another-guy-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [How could you even dream or think something of someone who is as uncommercial as I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/how-could-you-even-dream-or-think-something-of-someone-who-is-as/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [All the people have gone to war leaving no interrogator to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/all-the-people-have-gone-to-war-leaving-no-interrogator-to-mind/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I always thought martial arts was the most modern choreography we could have right now, and I always wanted to put it to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-always-thought-martial-arts-was-the-most-modern-choreography-we/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) [Explore all 219 Lou Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## More Bass quotes > [I remember that the bass was turned up slightly more on the mix from last week, and I thought that was good - or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/i-remember-that-the-bass-was-turned-up-slightly-more-on-the-mix-from/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [In life's orchestra, the bike is the double bass. Hard to forget it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-fournel/in-life-s-orchestra-the-bike-is-the-double-bass-hard-to-forget-it/) [Paul Fournel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-fournel/) > [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'm 12 years sober, so I don't have beer! When I used to drink I really liked Bass Ale!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-davis/i-m-12-years-sober-so-i-don-t-have-beer-when-i-used-to-drink-i-really/) [Kristin Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-davis/) > [The kind of fishing that I do is pretty much bass, trout or freshwater fishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-steyn/the-kind-of-fishing-that-i-do-is-pretty-much-bass-trout-or-freshwater/) [Dale Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-steyn/) > [Imagine if you were a drummer, and you accidentally picked up two magic wands instead of sticks. There you are, keeping the beat, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/imagine-if-you-were-a-drummer-and-you-accidentally-picked-up-two/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I was never much of a bass player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-adams/i-was-never-much-of-a-bass-player/) [Ryan Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-adams/) > [I've always been playing with other people, and that's how I learned. I got a kit of drums I couldn't play, but I also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ringo-starr/i-ve-always-been-playing-with-other-people-and-that-s-how-i-learned-i/) [Ringo Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ringo-starr/) > [I grew up on the pirate radio scene which started out as drum 'n' bass music. U.K. garage picked up and got bigger on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzee-rascal/i-grew-up-on-the-pirate-radio-scene-which-started-out-as-drum-n-bass/) [Dizzee Rascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzee-rascal/) > [Close to the Edge by Yes. Such a fun tune to play on bass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-acton/close-to-the-edge-by-yes-such-a-fun-tune-to-play-on-bass/) [Brian Acton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-acton/) > [I've been in a band, so I understand the politics. Sometimes the bass player doesn't like what the guitar player is doing, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-ocasek/i-ve-been-in-a-band-so-i-understand-the-politics-sometimes-the-bass/) [Ric Ocasek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-ocasek/) > [That's what Joe Don Rooney and I do. He plays guitar and I play bass - and there's no reason to call it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-demarcus/that-s-what-joe-don-rooney-and-i-do-he-plays-guitar-and-i-play-bass/) [Jay DeMarcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-demarcus/) > [I've always said the bass just happens to be the crayon I picked out of the box. I'd still be drawing the same pictures...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-claypool/i-ve-always-said-the-bass-just-happens-to-be-the-crayon-i-picked-out/) [Les Claypool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/les-claypool/) > [I was a guitar player in a band that had two keyboard players, sometimes two other guitarists, a bass player, and a drummer, four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-was-a-guitar-player-in-a-band-that-had-two-keyboard-players/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I live a different way today. I have a family, and they are a priority for me. These days, I no longer wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/i-live-a-different-way-today-i-have-a-family-and-they-are-a-priority/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) [Browse all 722 Bass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bass/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't beat 2 guitars, bass, and drums.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lou Reed" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bass" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/lou-reed-1654_bass_you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums_359716.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/lou-reed-1654_bass_you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums_359716.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf6/lou-reed-1654_bass_you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums_359716.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't beat 2 guitars, bass, and drums.” — Lou Reed", "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": "Lou Reed", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't beat 2 guitars, bass,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-can-t-beat-2-guitars-bass-and-drums/#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 } } ] } ```