--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was 12 years old I discovered Bill…" description: "\"When I was 12 years old I discovered Bill Monroe and my dad got me a mandolin.\" — Marty Stuart" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/marty-stuart-4580_dad_when-i-was-12-years-old-i-discovered-bil_1137285.png" --- # When I was 12 years old I discovered Bill Monroe and my… ![“When I was 12 years old I discovered Bill Monroe and my dad got me a mandolin.” quote by Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/marty-stuart-4580_dad_when-i-was-12-years-old-i-discovered-bil_1137285.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/marty-stuart-4580_dad_when-i-was-12-years-old-i-discovered-bil_1137285.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b1/marty-stuart-4580_dad_when-i-was-12-years-old-i-discovered-bil_1137285.png) > “When I was 12 years old I discovered Bill Monroe and my dad got me a mandolin.” [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A childhood encounter with a folk legend sparked a lifelong passion for music. **In simple terms:** Discovering music early shaped my path. Key Takeaway Cherish early influences that guide you. Themes inspiration heritage music Mood nostalgic reflective Type personal historical When to use this quote - learning an instrument - family traditions - career in music - personal storytelling Key Concepts cultural transmission identity formation Questions to Reflect On - How did that early gift shape your choices? - Do you still play the mandolin? A Different Perspective Early exposure may not guarantee sustained interest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ## Related quotes > [I got my first instrument at Christmas when I was three or four. My dad and mom got me a mandolin. It was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-got-my-first-instrument-at-christmas-when-i-was-three-or-four-my/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I got my first instrument for Christmas when I was three or four years old. My parents got me a mandolin because it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-got-my-first-instrument-for-christmas-when-i-was-three-or-four/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I figure I'm a mandolin player first and foremost, and everything else I've accomplished is just a scam.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-figure-i-m-a-mandolin-player-first-and-foremost-and-everything-else/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [There's something cool about playing 'Tempted' and then picking up the mandolin and playing 'Dark as a Dungeon' and standing on the classics. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/there-s-something-cool-about-playing-tempted-and-then-picking-up-the/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I don't know how it got around that I play a lot of instruments. I really don't. I play the guitar and the mandolin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-don-t-know-how-it-got-around-that-i-play-a-lot-of-instruments-i/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I learned how to play mandolin for 'A Mighty Wind!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-posey/i-learned-how-to-play-mandolin-for-a-mighty-wind/) [Parker Posey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-posey/) > [I use both instruments with their strengths in mind. Mandolin - no sustain and attack of the right hand, for rhythm. Fiddle - use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-bush/i-use-both-instruments-with-their-strengths-in-mind-mandolin-no/) [Sam Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-bush/) > [I was two years old when I saw the mandolin for the first time, and I just loved it. I just loved the sound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/i-was-two-years-old-when-i-saw-the-mandolin-for-the-first-time-and-i/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [My dad also plays a little banjo and guitar, my mom plays the mandolin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/page-mcconnell/my-dad-also-plays-a-little-banjo-and-guitar-my-mom-plays-the-mandolin/) [Page McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/page-mcconnell/) > [It's very hard to make grand, romantic gestures on a mandolin, and there are times, particularly when playing Bach, that you long for just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-thile/it-s-very-hard-to-make-grand-romantic-gestures-on-a-mandolin-and/) [Chris Thile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-thile/) > [Shrinivas anna was my guru. I don't know how many of them know this, but I started off learning the mandolin from him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devi-sri-prasad/shrinivas-anna-was-my-guru-i-don-t-know-how-many-of-them-know-this/) [Devi Sri Prasad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devi-sri-prasad/) > [I'm a farmer with a mandolin and a high tenor voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-monroe/i-m-a-farmer-with-a-mandolin-and-a-high-tenor-voice/) [Bill Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-monroe/) > [The Mandolin is the bottom four strings of the guitar, backwards...so a person with dyslexia has no problem learning to play the Mandolin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodman/the-mandolin-is-the-bottom-four-strings-of-the-guitar-backwards-so-a/) [Steve Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodman/) > [“mandolin that made Conner jump. “She predicts his future,  And curses his enemies,  With devilish concoctions, She heals his injuries.”  “Great,” Conner”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/mandolin-that-made-conner-jump-she-predicts-his-future-and-curses-his/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [At the age of nine, playing the violin at school, and then onto the mandolin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/at-the-age-of-nine-playing-the-violin-at-school-and-then-onto-the/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) ## More by Marty Stuart > [Today the most outlaw thing you can possibly do in Nashville, Tennessee, is play country music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/today-the-most-outlaw-thing-you-can-possibly-do-in-nashville/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [To me, all music that is made under the umbrella of the United States of America is Americana music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/to-me-all-music-that-is-made-under-the-umbrella-of-the-united-states/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I'm always on the prowl for the kinds of recordings that can inspire and potentially make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-m-always-on-the-prowl-for-the-kinds-of-recordings-that-can-inspire/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I saw footage of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley just hanging out together in Memphis when they were young guys getting started at Sun,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-saw-footage-of-johnny-cash-and-elvis-presley-just-hanging-out/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [There's every other guitar player and then there's Chet. He transcended musical boundaries for more than fifty years. God only lays Chet Atkins on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/there-s-every-other-guitar-player-and-then-there-s-chet-he/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I wish I could have been in the control room at Capitol Studio A listening to the playback of 'Wichita Lineman' the first time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-wish-i-could-have-been-in-the-control-room-at-capitol-studio-a/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [Well, I've always said that country music has always shared a very unique relationship with gospel music - the hooting and hollering, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/well-i-ve-always-said-that-country-music-has-always-shared-a-very/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [Where better than the church for people like me, George Jones and Johnny Cash to go to get ourselves in shape enough to sing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/where-better-than-the-church-for-people-like-me-george-jones-and/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [There are two kinds of people, there's those who like Johnny Cash, and those that will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/there-are-two-kinds-of-people-there-s-those-who-like-johnny-cash-and/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I don't have many regrets in my life. But I have one. I would have stayed sober all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-don-t-have-many-regrets-in-my-life-but-i-have-one-i-would-have/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [Nobody in my school knew who Bill Monroe was, or Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, and barely Johnny Cash. Nobody spoke that language. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/nobody-in-my-school-knew-who-bill-monroe-was-or-lester-flatt-and-earl/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I can't remember when I didn't have an instrument around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-can-t-remember-when-i-didn-t-have-an-instrument-around/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I've been promoting the idea of a Jimmie Rodgers documentary for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-ve-been-promoting-the-idea-of-a-jimmie-rodgers-documentary-for-years/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [Well, I was dedicated to God before I was born by Momma and Daddy, and I was raised in a very traditional Southern Baptist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/well-i-was-dedicated-to-god-before-i-was-born-by-momma-and-daddy-and/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) > [I loved the Rolling Stones. I heard a little bit of country music creeping around the edges of some of their songs. Being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marty-stuart/i-loved-the-rolling-stones-i-heard-a-little-bit-of-country-music/) [Marty Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) [Explore all 109 Marty Stuart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marty-stuart/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. 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They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. 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