--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Drummers - sometimes they play and they…" description: "\"Drummers - sometimes they play and they listen. And that little listen takes a speck away from the right tempo.\" — Miles Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/miles-davis-1842_drummer_drummers-sometimes-they-play-and-they-li_1942959.jpg" --- # Drummers - sometimes they play and they listen. And that… ![“Drummers - sometimes they play and they listen. And that little listen takes a speck away from the right tempo.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/miles-davis-1842_drummer_drummers-sometimes-they-play-and-they-li_1942959.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/miles-davis-1842_drummer_drummers-sometimes-they-play-and-they-li_1942959.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b5e/miles-davis-1842_drummer_drummers-sometimes-they-play-and-they-li_1942959.jpg) > “Drummers - sometimes they play and they listen. And that little listen takes a speck away from the right tempo.” [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listening while playing refines rhythm and deepens musical dialogue. **In simple terms:** Listening improves musical timing. Key Takeaway Practice active listening to enhance performance. Themes music collaboration mindfulness Mood contemplative focused Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - band rehearsals - solo practice - music education - live gigs Key Concepts jazz theory cognitive listening performance art Questions to Reflect On - How does listening change your playing? - When should you prioritize listening over playing? A Different Perspective Over‑listening can hinder personal expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Drummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drummer/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tempo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempo/) ## Related quotes > [You'd be surprised. Drummers ape each other. The way every rock n' roll record sounds like something else but not all together. Everything other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-d-be-surprised-drummers-ape-each-other-the-way-every-rock-n-roll/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [When I was a kid, I felt like I could do anything and play anything. I just felt super-confident. And then, once I started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-schemel/when-i-was-a-kid-i-felt-like-i-could-do-anything-and-play-anything-i/) [Patty Schemel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-schemel/) > [I love to go see live music. That used to be what I would do, almost every other night, and watch drummers play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-schemel/i-love-to-go-see-live-music-that-used-to-be-what-i-would-do-almost/) [Patty Schemel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-schemel/) > [We were always in the shadows of the stuff that was getting more attention. So people learned to listen to us slowly over time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berninger/we-were-always-in-the-shadows-of-the-stuff-that-was-getting-more/) [Matt Berninger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berninger/) > [The whole duty of a conductor is comprised in his ability to indicate the right tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-wagner/the-whole-duty-of-a-conductor-is-comprised-in-his-ability-to-indicate/) [Richard Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wagner/) > [Instead of thinking that's a nice tune, you start thinking is it the right pace, is it the right tempo? That is the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/instead-of-thinking-that-s-a-nice-tune-you-start-thinking-is-it-the/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [Suddenly I was in the right tempo - but it wasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-ormandy/suddenly-i-was-in-the-right-tempo-but-it-wasn-t/) [Eugene Ormandy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-ormandy/) > [Too fast? Too slow? What is the right tempo? Is there a real set speed for true love? So let's embrace the ride and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bright/too-fast-too-slow-what-is-the-right-tempo-is-there-a-real-set-speed/) Chris Bright > [Certain drummers drop time, and I like to play on top of the beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/certain-drummers-drop-time-and-i-like-to-play-on-top-of-the-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I've gotten hernias from drummers when they drop tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-ve-gotten-hernias-from-drummers-when-they-drop-tempo/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [In respect for drummers, see, I love drummers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/in-respect-for-drummers-see-i-love-drummers/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [ Some of \[drummers\] drop time because they want to hear what you're doin'. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/some-of-drummers-drop-time-because-they-want-to-hear-what-you-re-doin/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I really don't listen to anyone that I'm not proud of saying that I listen to. Even if it's something a little bit more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-knowles/i-really-don-t-listen-to-anyone-that-i-m-not-proud-of-saying-that-i/) [Solange Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-knowles/) > [If you'd listen, even for a little while I'd be pleased Remember, once more we were born into this world crying. Your dreams and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayumi-hamasaki/if-you-d-listen-even-for-a-little-while-i-d-be-pleased-remember-once/) [Ayumi Hamasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayumi-hamasaki/) > [“Listen to that little voice inside you. Sometimes it can whisper meaningful words of wisdom and make more sense than the deafening noise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roopleen/listen-to-that-little-voice-inside-you-sometimes-it-can-whisper/) Roopleen ## More by Miles Davis > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Look, man, all I am is a trumpet player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/look-man-all-i-am-is-a-trumpet-player/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You have to practice for a long time before you can learn to sound like yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-have-to-practice-for-a-long-time-before-you-can-learn-to-sound/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [There are no wrong notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/there-are-no-wrong-notes/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Knowledge is freedom and ignorance is slavery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/knowledge-is-freedom-and-ignorance-is-slavery/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-began-to-realize-that-some-of-the-things-ornette-coleman-had-said/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [...people will go for anything they don't understand if it's got enough hype. They want to be hip, want always to be in on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/people-will-go-for-anything-they-don-t-understand-if-it-s-got-enough/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [If you're trying to be hip, be hip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/if-you-re-trying-to-be-hip-be-hip/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [My father's rich, my momma's good looking. Right? And I can play the Blues. I've never suffered and don't intend to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/my-father-s-rich-my-momma-s-good-looking-right-and-i-can-play-the/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I'm out there doing the best that I can, My lip is cut and I'm still playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-m-out-there-doing-the-best-that-i-can-my-lip-is-cut-and-i-m-still/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [When I'm playing, I'm never through. It's unfinished. I like to find a place to leave for someone else to finish it. That's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/when-i-m-playing-i-m-never-through-it-s-unfinished-i-like-to-find-a/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [ \[Prince\] could very well be the Duke Ellington of Rock 'n' Roll. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/prince-could-very-well-be-the-duke-ellington-of-rock-n-roll/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I can tell whether a person can play just by the way he stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-can-tell-whether-a-person-can-play-just-by-the-way-he-stands/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Do not fear mistakes. There are none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/do-not-fear-mistakes-there-are-none/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You can't compete with Sweets' sound and time feel. It's impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/you-can-t-compete-with-sweets-sound-and-time-feel-it-s-impossible/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) [Explore all 204 Miles Davis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## More Drummer quotes > [I usually write from the rhythm section...If a drummer got a funky beat on some things - like a half-shuffle or a shuffle or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-usually-write-from-the-rhythm-section-if-a-drummer-got-a-funky-beat/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [My motivation for being a good drummer was born out of fear, which, in a way, seems so antithetical to what art should be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/my-motivation-for-being-a-good-drummer-was-born-out-of-fear-which-in/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [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/) > [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 used to be a drummer in a band, and I really loved playing the drums, so I look forward to the right opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zedd/i-used-to-be-a-drummer-in-a-band-and-i-really-loved-playing-the-drums/) [Zedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zedd/) > [Hendrix rehearsed different drummers, before we met Mitch Mitchell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-redding/hendrix-rehearsed-different-drummers-before-we-met-mitch-mitchell/) [Noel Redding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-redding/) > [The drums have hogged a lot of the credit. We're as much -- or more -- \*cymbal\* players, as we are drummers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-erskine/the-drums-have-hogged-a-lot-of-the-credit-we-re-as-much-or-more/) [Peter Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-erskine/) > [Hip Nip just sounds groovy. A drummer laid it on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-morita/hip-nip-just-sounds-groovy-a-drummer-laid-it-on-me/) [Pat Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-morita/) > [He's (Ringo Starr) not even the best drummer in the Beatles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mccartney/he-s-ringo-starr-not-even-the-best-drummer-in-the-beatles/) [Paul McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mccartney/) > [That's the thing that we said about the horn before: it's a focus issue. It's like a singer versus a drummer. If a drummer's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-hunter/that-s-the-thing-that-we-said-about-the-horn-before-it-s-a-focus/) [Charlie Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-hunter/) > [There is no roles. No one is keeping any roles. The drummer is also answering everybody and everything. So it is a constant conversation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miroslav-vitous/there-is-no-roles-no-one-is-keeping-any-roles-the-drummer-is-also/) [Miroslav Vitous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miroslav-vitous/) > [I'm a pretty good drummer. I'm pretty good at guitar, bass and piano. I can play accordion; I'm not virtuoso. I've played cello before.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendon-urie/i-m-a-pretty-good-drummer-i-m-pretty-good-at-guitar-bass-and-piano-i/) [Brendon Urie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendon-urie/) > [When I listened to Elvin Jones, man, for the first time I heard a drummer that had all the technique plus emotion, passion, feel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/when-i-listened-to-elvin-jones-man-for-the-first-time-i-heard-a/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) > [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'd just play 'til my hands fell off. My parents would yell at me to stop because they couldn't stand the noise any more!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-castillo/i-d-just-play-til-my-hands-fell-off-my-parents-would-yell-at-me-to/) [Randy Castillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-castillo/) [Browse all 532 Drummer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drummer/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Drummers - sometimes they play and they listen. 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