--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have to know 400 notes that you can…" description: "\"You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick the right four.\" — Miles Davis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/miles-davis-1842_four_you-have-to-know-400-notes-that-you-can_3092465.jpg" --- # You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick… ![“You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick the right four.” quote by Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/miles-davis-1842_four_you-have-to-know-400-notes-that-you-can_3092465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/miles-davis-1842_four_you-have-to-know-400-notes-that-you-can_3092465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c5/miles-davis-1842_four_you-have-to-know-400-notes-that-you-can_3092465.jpg) > “You have to know 400 notes that you can play, then pick the right four.” [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. Mastery requires knowing many possibilities, then selecting the perfect few for expression. **In simple terms:** Know many options, choose the right ones. Key Takeaway Learn broadly, then focus. Themes creativity expertise decision‑making Mood inspired practical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - composition - performance - teaching - product design Key Concepts musical theory improvisation selection process Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide which options to keep? - What process helps you narrow choices? A Different Perspective Choosing can be paralyzing without clear criteria. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [It's not the notes you play, it's the notes you don't play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/it-s-not-the-notes-you-play-it-s-the-notes-you-don-t-play/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Of course, if you have D. Wade on your team, he's the best closer in the history of this sport, so the ball needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-dragic/of-course-if-you-have-d-wade-on-your-team-he-s-the-best-closer-in-the/) [Goran Dragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-dragic/) > [Fox is unselfish, I'm unselfish. I love to play in the pick-and-roll, he loves to play in the pick-and-roll. We want to show people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domantas-sabonis/fox-is-unselfish-i-m-unselfish-i-love-to-play-in-the-pick-and-roll-he/) [Domantas Sabonis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domantas-sabonis/) > [My ability to play off the pick-and-roll, open plays for other guys and use my athletic body to catch lobs, that's what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-collins/my-ability-to-play-off-the-pick-and-roll-open-plays-for-other-guys/) [John Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-collins/) > [I think I can play in pick-and-rolls, I can create a little bit more than people think... I'm much more than a shooter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-herro/i-think-i-can-play-in-pick-and-rolls-i-can-create-a-little-bit-more/) [Tyler Herro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-herro/) > [Our centers spread the floor, shoot the three and block shots. We can play pick and pop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/our-centers-spread-the-floor-shoot-the-three-and-block-shots-we-can/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [The first notes I still play when I start a sound check are classical. Those are my roots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/the-first-notes-i-still-play-when-i-start-a-sound-check-are-classical/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [The melody is the most important thing that must stay in the minds of the people who listen to you. No matter how many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-benson/the-melody-is-the-most-important-thing-that-must-stay-in-the-minds-of/) [George Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-benson/) > [I'll tell you a little secret about the Blues: it's not enough to know which notes to play, you have to know why they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-ll-tell-you-a-little-secret-about-the-blues-it-s-not-enough-to-know/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Don't play the notes. Play the meaning of the notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-casals/don-t-play-the-notes-play-the-meaning-of-the-notes/) [Pablo Casals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-casals/) > [Playing keys is more than just knowing what notes to play. You have to know about the buttons too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/playing-keys-is-more-than-just-knowing-what-notes-to-play-you-have-to/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [I always had a knack for improvisation. I can write down the notes I play, but never really had a proper academic musical background.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hopkins/i-always-had-a-knack-for-improvisation-i-can-write-down-the-notes-i/) [Anthony Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hopkins/) > [Lots of times it really doesn't matter what notes you play, but what notes come before and after a run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-bolin/lots-of-times-it-really-doesn-t-matter-what-notes-you-play-but-what/) [Tommy Bolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-bolin/) > [A personnel guy always wants to get his pick right. We live that every year. We want to make sure the pick is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dorsey/a-personnel-guy-always-wants-to-get-his-pick-right-we-live-that-every/) [John Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dorsey/) > [You know, when you do something that's different and out of your realm, you want to pick the right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-buffer/you-know-when-you-do-something-that-s-different-and-out-of-your-realm/) [Bruce Buffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-buffer/) ## 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 Four quotes > [With young kids (I have four including the newborn) times passes weirdly for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-s-kemp/with-young-kids-i-have-four-including-the-newborn-times-passes/) [Paul S. Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-s-kemp/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. 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Music isn't like that. You'll be sitting there not wishing to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-daltrey/i-don-t-think-you-should-ever-say-this-is-the-last-time-music-isn-t/) [Roger Daltrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-daltrey/) > [I'd love to have three or four kids. But my mom always says: "Speak to me after you have your first".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivanka-trump/i-d-love-to-have-three-or-four-kids-but-my-mom-always-says-speak-to/) [Ivanka Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivanka-trump/) > [I was born in Cuba. At the age of 14 years of age I was involved in a revolution. We were suffering from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-was-born-in-cuba-at-the-age-of-14-years-of-age-i-was-involved-in-a/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [When we read a story, we inhabit it. 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