--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was about 15, I picked up the…" description: "\"When I was about 15, I picked up the guitar and learned how to play by going through Beatles chords books. I got this Christmas gift with the entire Be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/m-ward-11792_book_when-i-was-about-15-i-picked-up-the-guit_1947986.jpg" --- # When I was about 15, I picked up the guitar and learned… ![“When I was about 15, I picked up the guitar and learned how to play by going through Beatles chords books. I got this Christmas gift with the entire Beatles catalog.” quote by M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/m-ward-11792_book_when-i-was-about-15-i-picked-up-the-guit_1947986.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/m-ward-11792_book_when-i-was-about-15-i-picked-up-the-guit_1947986.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/m-ward-11792_book_when-i-was-about-15-i-picked-up-the-guit_1947986.jpg) > “When I was about 15, I picked up the guitar and learned how to play by going through Beatles chords books. I got this Christmas gift with the entire Beatles catalog.” [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He learned guitar by self‑studying Beatles chords, illustrating self‑directed learning. **In simple terms:** Self‑teaching through favorite music. Key Takeaway Use beloved songs to learn instruments. Themes learning music self‑direction Mood enthusiastic nostalgic Type personal educational When to use this quote - home practice - music lessons - songwriting Key Concepts skill acquisition creative practice Questions to Reflect On - What resources complement self‑study? - How to stay motivated alone? A Different Perspective Self‑learning may lack structured feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beatles Catalog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles-catalog-386495/) [Beatles Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beatles-chords-3144198/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords/) [Christmas gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas-gift/) [Entire Beatles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entire-beatles-386493/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-learned-1884533/) [Picked Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked-guitar-545752/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I got this Christmas gift with the entire Beatles catalog. I had fun trying to duplicate what I was hearing on these records, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-got-this-christmas-gift-with-the-entire-beatles-catalog-i-had-fun/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [I wanted a guitar when I was 4 or 5, and I learned how to play guitar by the time I was 6. Just self-taught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blackbear/i-wanted-a-guitar-when-i-was-4-or-5-and-i-learned-how-to-play-guitar/) [Blackbear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blackbear/) > [Im a huge fan of Joe Walsh and a big James Gang fan. A lot of what I know about playing the guitar I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/im-a-huge-fan-of-joe-walsh-and-a-big-james-gang-fan-a-lot-of-what-i/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [The guitar l learned on was probably worth $4 or something, but it was priceless to me. It meant so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-guitar-l-learned-on-was-probably-worth-4-or-something-but-it-was/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Well I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/well-i-got-this-guitar-and-i-learned-how-to-make-it-talk/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I grew up playing classical guitar, so everything I learned was rooted in technique, form, presentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-ternheim/i-grew-up-playing-classical-guitar-so-everything-i-learned-was-rooted/) [Anna Ternheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-ternheim/) > [My father started me off on the guitar, and we learned classical guitar together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/my-father-started-me-off-on-the-guitar-and-we-learned-classical/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [I picked up a guitar, and I knew what I wanted to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-gossard/i-picked-up-a-guitar-and-i-knew-what-i-wanted-to-do/) [Stone Gossard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-gossard/) > [There's people that say “It's not fair You have all that stuff.” I wasn't born with it. It was a horrible process to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/there-s-people-that-say-it-s-not-fair-you-have-all-that-stuff-i-wasn/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [When I picked up my guitar, I spent the first day learning the chord E, the second day A, then B7, and all of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gillan/when-i-picked-up-my-guitar-i-spent-the-first-day-learning-the-chord-e/) [Ian Gillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gillan/) > [I picked up the guitar at 11, but even before then, I was writing songs on the organ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/i-picked-up-the-guitar-at-11-but-even-before-then-i-was-writing-songs/) [Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/) > [I was trained at classical piano as a youngster back in PA. To rebel, I bought a drum set and played in some rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cardoni/i-was-trained-at-classical-piano-as-a-youngster-back-in-pa-to-rebel-i/) [Jeff Cardoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cardoni/) > [I don't think I picked up the guitar in the first place as a way of getting women. There are probably better ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-blunt/i-don-t-think-i-picked-up-the-guitar-in-the-first-place-as-a-way-of/) [James Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-blunt/) > [I picked up the guitar at 12 yrs old - basically, my mother and father bought it for me for Christmas. I played one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lake/i-picked-up-the-guitar-at-12-yrs-old-basically-my-mother-and-father/) [Greg Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lake/) ## More by M. Ward > [When I first started making music, it was learning other people's songs and putting them onto four-track. Like Beatles songs and stuff. When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/when-i-first-started-making-music-it-was-learning-other-people-s/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I don't really watch TV series because I don't want to get hooked on them and have them suck up all my time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-don-t-really-watch-tv-series-because-i-don-t-want-to-get-hooked-on/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I'm somebody who doesn't feel the need to be in the driver's seat all the time. I appreciate the perspective of being in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-m-somebody-who-doesn-t-feel-the-need-to-be-in-the-driver-s-seat-all/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I get most of my inspiration from older records and older production styles, and that ends up rearing its head in the records that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-get-most-of-my-inspiration-from-older-records-and-older-production/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [The best live recordings capture elements of surprise onstage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/the-best-live-recordings-capture-elements-of-surprise-onstage/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [It's no fun for me to cover a song and produce it the exact same way as it already exists. When I hear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/it-s-no-fun-for-me-to-cover-a-song-and-produce-it-the-exact-same-way/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [Try to take your vision and ego as far away from the song as possible. Give as much respect as you can to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/try-to-take-your-vision-and-ego-as-far-away-from-the-song-as-possible/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I love the sound of Elmore James, the sound early guitarists like him got just by using minimal means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-love-the-sound-of-elmore-james-the-sound-early-guitarists-like-him/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [Certain things you have to stumble on to. They can't be preprogrammed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/certain-things-you-have-to-stumble-on-to-they-can-t-be-preprogrammed/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [The way that I'm working now is basically the way I've been working since I was a kid: Find the greatest artist in whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/the-way-that-i-m-working-now-is-basically-the-way-i-ve-been-working/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I don't like the way recording to digital sounds. Most of the time, when I'm recording to two-inch tape, I still have a romantic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-don-t-like-the-way-recording-to-digital-sounds-most-of-the-time/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I got this Christmas gift with the entire Beatles catalog. I had fun trying to duplicate what I was hearing on these records, only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-got-this-christmas-gift-with-the-entire-beatles-catalog-i-had-fun/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [Every record turns into whatever the listener gets out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/every-record-turns-into-whatever-the-listener-gets-out-of-it/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [It's a luxury to not have to just be performing with other people to have my music heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/it-s-a-luxury-to-not-have-to-just-be-performing-with-other-people-to/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) > [I'm somebody who gets a lot of inspiration from dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-m-somebody-who-gets-a-lot-of-inspiration-from-dreams/) [M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) [Explore all 58 M. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was about 15, I picked up the guitar and learned how to play by going through Beatles chords books. 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