---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do get labeled as a guitar band, but…"
description: "\"I do get labeled as a guitar band, but the only reason is that's the instrument I know how to play. The guitar is serving the song I'm writing. But I'm..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/mac-demarco-7654_band_i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-th_1190051.jpg"
---

#  I do get labeled as a guitar band, but the only reason is…

![“I do get labeled as a guitar band, but the only reason is that's the instrument I know how to play. The guitar is serving the song I'm writing. But I'm learning how to play keyboard better now so that'll start serving the song as well; it'll be another flavor. I'm not going to switch it up with…” quote by Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/mac-demarco-7654_band_i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-th_1190051.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/mac-demarco-7654_band_i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-th_1190051.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/mac-demarco-7654_band_i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-th_1190051.jpg)

> “I do get labeled as a guitar band, but the only reason is that's the instrument I know how to play. The guitar is serving the song I'm writing. But I'm learning how to play keyboard better now so that'll start serving the song as well; it'll be another flavor. I'm not going to switch it up with big, fat drum machine beats and real swoopy synths, but yeah...”

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

An artist uses the instrument they know best to serve their music, while expanding skills to add new textures.

**In simple terms:** He sticks with the guitar but learns keyboard for more variety.

Key Takeaway

Expand your toolkit without abandoning your core.

Themes

creativity growth adaptation

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

artistic inspirational

When to use this quote

- Songwriting
- live performance
- studio production

Key Concepts

Artistic authenticity skill development

Questions to Reflect On

- What new skill could enhance your work?
- How do you keep your signature style while evolving?

A Different Perspective

Changing core sound may alienate existing fans.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Song writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song-writing/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/)

## Related quotes

> [We weren't listening to guitar bands, we were thoroughly ashamed of being a guitar band. So we bought loads of keyboards and learned how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/we-weren-t-listening-to-guitar-bands-we-were-thoroughly-ashamed-of/)

[Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/)

> [As a band, when we started, that was all we were good at. It wasn't 'we've got to be a guitar band'; if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-hemmings/as-a-band-when-we-started-that-was-all-we-were-good-at-it-wasn-t-we/)

[Luke Hemmings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-hemmings/)

> [My style is so tightly tied in with our songs that I don't think you could even ask me to quit Radiohead and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonny-greenwood/my-style-is-so-tightly-tied-in-with-our-songs-that-i-don-t-think-you/)

[Jonny Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonny-greenwood/)

> [I played lead guitar in a band called The Federal Duck, which is the kind of name that was popular in the '60s as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-played-lead-guitar-in-a-band-called-the-federal-duck-which-is-the/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [One of my best friends in the world is Lars Frederiksen. He plays guitar for a band called Rancid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/one-of-my-best-friends-in-the-world-is-lars-frederiksen-he-plays/)

[CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/)

> [Look, as long as we can make records and sell enough so we can do some shows, that's all I want. You know what?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/look-as-long-as-we-can-make-records-and-sell-enough-so-we-can-do-some/)

[Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/)

> [I'm into a lot of music. I used to dabble in electric guitar, but not in a band or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chace-crawford/i-m-into-a-lot-of-music-i-used-to-dabble-in-electric-guitar-but-not/)

[Chace Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chace-crawford/)

> [I just want to play guitar and be in a band. Same as I always did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chrissie-hynde/i-just-want-to-play-guitar-and-be-in-a-band-same-as-i-always-did/)

[Chrissie Hynde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chrissie-hynde/)

> [I sing and play guitar in the band 'Marcy Playground'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wozniak/i-sing-and-play-guitar-in-the-band-marcy-playground/)

[John Wozniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wozniak/)

> [Pop music written in guitar band formation was really popular in the '70s, with Fleetwood Mac and Steely Dan. We wanted to make pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/pop-music-written-in-guitar-band-formation-was-really-popular-in-the/)

[Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/)

> [I was learning guitar as the band was beginning, at least in terms of being a lead guitar player. I could write songs, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-goldsmith/i-was-learning-guitar-as-the-band-was-beginning-at-least-in-terms-of/)

[Taylor Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-goldsmith/)

> [I played guitar in a band from when I was about 20 for three years. Then I sang a little. Then I started getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-played-guitar-in-a-band-from-when-i-was-about-20-for-three-years/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [I feel like a lot of people look at pop music with a very formulaic perspective in numbers and patterns, but an outsider would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halsey/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-people-look-at-pop-music-with-a-very-formulaic/)

[Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halsey/)

> [Getting a great idea with song writing is a lot like love. You don't know why this one is different, but it is. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/getting-a-great-idea-with-song-writing-is-a-lot-like-love-you-don-t/)

[Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/)

> [When it comes down to the song writing, I'm just very slow - very slow. Because the songs are about my life, so I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/india-arie/when-it-comes-down-to-the-song-writing-i-m-just-very-slow-very-slow/)

[India Arie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/india-arie/)

## More by Mac DeMarco

> [I think recording at home feels more organic, and injects some more personality into the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-think-recording-at-home-feels-more-organic-and-injects-some-more/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [A lot of people assume I have a great hat collection, but kids steal my hats at every show. I've had all these hats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/a-lot-of-people-assume-i-have-a-great-hat-collection-but-kids-steal/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [The time came around where the label was like, "Well, if you want something to come out in early 2017, it's going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/the-time-came-around-where-the-label-was-like-well-if-you-want/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [Everybody's a multifaceted, emotional, living being, I think. Sometimes it's fun to goof around, sometimes you've got to think about things, sometimes you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/everybody-s-a-multifaceted-emotional-living-being-i-think-sometimes/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [I never liked living in Montreal. And I don't really like the music scene there. It was never my cup of tea, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-never-liked-living-in-montreal-and-i-don-t-really-like-the-music/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [I'll probably have to open a recording studio at some point because I won't be able to pay the bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-ll-probably-have-to-open-a-recording-studio-at-some-point-because-i/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [Patience is important, and also, if you don't want to do it, don't do it. But if you do, do. That's a general rule…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/patience-is-important-and-also-if-you-don-t-want-to-do-it-don-t-do-it/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [I don't want a job, and I think I've been trying my hardest to make sure I don't have a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-don-t-want-a-job-and-i-think-i-ve-been-trying-my-hardest-to-make/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [I take making music seriously, but you have to have a sense of humor about yourself. I invite people into my life. That's how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-take-making-music-seriously-but-you-have-to-have-a-sense-of-humor/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [I don't necessarily like wearing lipstick; I just think it's funny to do. I think the darker the better, but it's whatever my girlfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-don-t-necessarily-like-wearing-lipstick-i-just-think-it-s-funny-to/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [When you're growing up, you just take what you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/when-you-re-growing-up-you-just-take-what-you-ve-got/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [I don't have that much experience in the studio, but I'm always really uncomfortable when I'm there. You're on the clock and it costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-don-t-have-that-much-experience-in-the-studio-but-i-m-always-really/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [Usually when festivals are really huge it's kind of weird. It's totally fun for me and my band to play in front of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/usually-when-festivals-are-really-huge-it-s-kind-of-weird-it-s/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> [I'd probably describe my sense of humor as 'twisted,' I guess. It's not hard to make me laugh, especially when I'm surrounded by my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-d-probably-describe-my-sense-of-humor-as-twisted-i-guess-it-s-not/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

> ['Salad Days' refers to a youthful or innocent period. And a lot of people having been asking me already so you jaded? And I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/salad-days-refers-to-a-youthful-or-innocent-period-and-a-lot-of/)

[Mac DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

[Explore all 89 Mac DeMarco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/)

## More Band quotes

> [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/)

[Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/)

> [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/)

> [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/)

[Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/)

> [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/)

[Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/)

> [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/)

[Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/)

> [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/)

[Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/)

> [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/)

[Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/)

> [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/)

[Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/)

> [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/)

[Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/)

> [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 just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/)

[Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/)

> [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/)

[Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/)

> [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/)

[Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/)

> [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/)

[Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/)

> [Metallica's the only band i've ever been in. I'm not sure that when it ends in five, ten years, I'm going to put an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lars-ulrich/metallica-s-the-only-band-i-ve-ever-been-in-i-m-not-sure-that-when-it/)

[Lars Ulrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lars-ulrich/)

Browse all 6,497 Band quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I do get labeled as a guitar band, but the only reason is that's the instrument I know how to play. The guitar is serving the song I'm writing. But I'm learning how to play keyboard better now so that'll start serving the song as well; it'll be another flavor. I'm not going to switch it up with big, fat drum machine beats and real swoopy synths, but yeah...",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mac DeMarco"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-the-only-reason-is-that-s-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Band"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-the-only-reason-is-that-s-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/mac-demarco-7654_band_i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-th_1190051.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/mac-demarco-7654_band_i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-th_1190051.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/788/mac-demarco-7654_band_i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-th_1190051.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I do get labeled as a guitar band, but the only reason is that's the instrument I know how to play. The…” — Mac DeMarco",
                "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": "Mac DeMarco",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-demarco/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I do get labeled as a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-the-only-reason-is-that-s-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-demarco/i-do-get-labeled-as-a-guitar-band-but-the-only-reason-is-that-s-the/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
