--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't play an instrument. I pretend. I…" description: "\"I don't play an instrument. I pretend. I try to.\" — Matt Berninger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/matt-berninger-10530_instrument_i-don-t-play-an-instrument-i-pretend-i-t_1179953.png" --- # I don't play an instrument. I pretend. I try to. ![“I don't play an instrument. I pretend. I try to.” quote by Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/matt-berninger-10530_instrument_i-don-t-play-an-instrument-i-pretend-i-t_1179953.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/matt-berninger-10530_instrument_i-don-t-play-an-instrument-i-pretend-i-t_1179953.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/matt-berninger-10530_instrument_i-don-t-play-an-instrument-i-pretend-i-t_1179953.png) > “I don't play an instrument. I pretend. I try to.” [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pretending to play an instrument reflects the desire to engage creatively even without skill, highlighting imagination over mastery. **In simple terms:** Pretend to play to feel creative. Key Takeaway Embrace imagination over skill. Themes creativity imagination confidence Mood playful reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - learning music - creative brainstorming - role‑play - performance anxiety Key Concepts self‑expression playfulness Questions to Reflect On - How does pretending help you learn? - When is imagination enough? A Different Perspective Skill gaps can limit genuine expression if not acknowledged. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [I had decided that if I was going to be a singer, I had to earn it. I had to learn how to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-had-decided-that-if-i-was-going-to-be-a-singer-i-had-to-earn-it-i/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [We all know that there are many people that can play the instrument perfectly today, up and down with technical perfection, but does the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-finckel/we-all-know-that-there-are-many-people-that-can-play-the-instrument/) [David Finckel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-finckel/) > [I don't think that you can write music if you don't know how to play an instrument. You have to know the basics, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/i-don-t-think-that-you-can-write-music-if-you-don-t-know-how-to-play/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) > [I must play the instrument I've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/i-must-play-the-instrument-i-ve-got/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Weirdly enough, I don't like to pretend. I try to use things in me, and translate them into the situation and the characters, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noomi-rapace/weirdly-enough-i-don-t-like-to-pretend-i-try-to-use-things-in-me-and/) [Noomi Rapace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noomi-rapace/) > [If you can play the piano, you can play any instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-40/if-you-can-play-the-piano-you-can-play-any-instrument/) E-40 > [I like people who can write and sing, and play an instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sixto-rodriguez/i-like-people-who-can-write-and-sing-and-play-an-instrument/) [Sixto Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sixto-rodriguez/) > [I think there are always people who, when they get the bug to play an instrument, they want to get as good as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-think-there-are-always-people-who-when-they-get-the-bug-to-play-an/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [The only instrument I know how to really play, and the instrument that I absolutely love, is the piano. I have been playing piano…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marano/the-only-instrument-i-know-how-to-really-play-and-the-instrument-that/) [Laura Marano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marano/) > [I think to be a good songwriter, you have to be able to play an instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-cocker/i-think-to-be-a-good-songwriter-you-have-to-be-able-to-play-an/) [Joe Cocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-cocker/) > [Anyone can play an instrument if you show them how to move their limbs, lips or fingers the right way. It's irrelevant. What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kapranos/anyone-can-play-an-instrument-if-you-show-them-how-to-move-their/) [Alex Kapranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kapranos/) > [I always wanted to make music but I cannot play any instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/udo-kier/i-always-wanted-to-make-music-but-i-cannot-play-any-instrument/) [Udo Kier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/udo-kier/) > [No, I don't, like, play an instrument or anything.I'm just...well, you saw me at the beginning there. I was the guy that fell down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-wong/no-i-don-t-like-play-an-instrument-or-anything-i-m-just-well-you-saw/) [David Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-wong/) > [I can't play any instrument for the life of me, but I know what I want to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-can-t-play-any-instrument-for-the-life-of-me-but-i-know-what-i-want/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [“Love and cherish your ability to play an instrument; and give it your best. Not everyone is so lucky as you are. And welcome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-suzuki/love-and-cherish-your-ability-to-play-an-instrument-and-give-it-your/) Mr. Suzuki ## More by Matt Berninger > [When you realize that the baby's healthy and born, it's a release and you're so happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/when-you-realize-that-the-baby-s-healthy-and-born-it-s-a-release-and/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [The last thing you want to do is write songs about being in a band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/the-last-thing-you-want-to-do-is-write-songs-about-being-in-a-band/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave know best. Although I wear a lot of jeans, I've been told that Nick Cave doesn't own a pair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/leonard-cohen-and-nick-cave-know-best-although-i-wear-a-lot-of-jeans/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I have pit bulls barking at me on half of the love songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-have-pit-bulls-barking-at-me-on-half-of-the-love-songs/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [ Weirdly, I was still trying to be the older brother, and trying to get him \[Tom Berninger\] to try to be more like me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/weirdly-i-was-still-trying-to-be-the-older-brother-and-trying-to-get/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [It takes us a long time to write a song that we all really like, so it makes sense that it would take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/it-takes-us-a-long-time-to-write-a-song-that-we-all-really-like-so-it/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [When it comes to lyrics, I just write down a lot of things, and only a very tiny fraction of it, I think, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/when-it-comes-to-lyrics-i-just-write-down-a-lot-of-things-and-only-a/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [A song is a song and, if I am emotionally connected to do it, whether it is sad or not sad, I am going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/a-song-is-a-song-and-if-i-am-emotionally-connected-to-do-it-whether/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I'm doing a little freelance work, and I think everybody's trying to take their minds off rock and roll for a little while and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-m-doing-a-little-freelance-work-and-i-think-everybody-s-trying-to/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I'm a stubborn guy that loses his temper, sometimes driving the station wagon in the wrong direction for hours and hours and never admitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-m-a-stubborn-guy-that-loses-his-temper-sometimes-driving-the/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I love to make songs out of some of those shadows - you know, some of the things you lie awake thinking about, social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-love-to-make-songs-out-of-some-of-those-shadows-you-know-some-of/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [A lot of my lyrics are approximate meaning without me knowing why they sound right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/a-lot-of-my-lyrics-are-approximate-meaning-without-me-knowing-why/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [Sometimes you have to wear what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/sometimes-you-have-to-wear-what-you-want/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [The same song can have drastically different feels and personalities just by changing some minor things. A different drumbeat or some vocal overdub could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/the-same-song-can-have-drastically-different-feels-and-personalities/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [I focus on the words and then I have fun putting together the music after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/i-focus-on-the-words-and-then-i-have-fun-putting-together-the-music/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) [Explore all 65 Matt Berninger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) ## More Instrument quotes > [Money is the kind of instrument which is very speedily produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoly-chubais/money-is-the-kind-of-instrument-which-is-very-speedily-produced/) [Anatoly Chubais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoly-chubais/) > [Kenny G, I have to be grateful to him for proving that the instrument can be played all different kinds of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/kenny-g-i-have-to-be-grateful-to-him-for-proving-that-the-instrument/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [But if you listen to great piano players, both classical and jazz, there's a huge range of dynamics and colors and emotional expression that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-burton/but-if-you-listen-to-great-piano-players-both-classical-and-jazz/) [Gary Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-burton/) > [We should picture the instrument that carries our mental functioning as resembling a compound microscope or photographic apparatus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/we-should-picture-the-instrument-that-carries-our-mental-functioning/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [I had decided that if I was going to be a singer, I had to earn it. I had to learn how to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-had-decided-that-if-i-was-going-to-be-a-singer-i-had-to-earn-it-i/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I particularly enjoy cello music because our daughter plays the cello. I have listened to her practice for so many hours that I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-cleary/i-particularly-enjoy-cello-music-because-our-daughter-plays-the-cello/) [Beverly Cleary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-cleary/) > [It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-the-photographer-not-the-camera-that-is-the-instrument/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A well trained body is a beautiful instrument on which to play the melody of the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-yee/a-well-trained-body-is-a-beautiful-instrument-on-which-to-play-the/) [Rodney Yee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-yee/) > [“Some people look like they sound better than they actually sound, because they look confident and have good posture," once musician, a veteran of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/some-people-look-like-they-sound-better-than-they-actually-sound/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The camera is simply not the supple and powerful instrument of description that the pen is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-malcolm/the-camera-is-simply-not-the-supple-and-powerful-instrument-of/) [Janet Malcolm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-malcolm/) > [For the greater beauty of the instrument, the balls representing the planets are to be of considerable bigness; but so contrived, that they may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rittenhouse/for-the-greater-beauty-of-the-instrument-the-balls-representing-the/) David Rittenhouse > [We all know that there are many people that can play the instrument perfectly today, up and down with technical perfection, but does the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-finckel/we-all-know-that-there-are-many-people-that-can-play-the-instrument/) [David Finckel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-finckel/) > [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/) > [Like my best friend, I asked for drums for Christmas, and got them. But when he moved on to guitar, I realized two things:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/like-my-best-friend-i-asked-for-drums-for-christmas-and-got-them-but/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [No one familiar with the common law of England can read the Constitution of the United States without observing the great desire of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-freeman-miller/no-one-familiar-with-the-common-law-of-england-can-read-the/) [Samuel Freeman Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-freeman-miller/) [Browse all 570 Instrument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't play an instrument. I pretend. 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