--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been at war with the guitar…" description: "\"I've always been at war with the guitar. All vocalists are fighting a war with the electric rhythm guitar.\" — Nick Cave" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/nick-cave-1153_always_i-ve-always-been-at-war-with-the-guitar_468313.jpg" --- # I've always been at war with the guitar. All vocalists are… ![“I've always been at war with the guitar. All vocalists are fighting a war with the electric rhythm guitar.” quote by Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/nick-cave-1153_always_i-ve-always-been-at-war-with-the-guitar_468313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/nick-cave-1153_always_i-ve-always-been-at-war-with-the-guitar_468313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/nick-cave-1153_always_i-ve-always-been-at-war-with-the-guitar_468313.jpg) > “I've always been at war with the guitar. All vocalists are fighting a war with the electric rhythm guitar.” [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists often feel conflict with their instruments, shaping creative tension. **In simple terms:** Struggle with your instrument can fuel art. Key Takeaway Embrace creative tension. Themes conflict creativity music Mood intense reflective Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - live performance - studio recording - collaborations Key Concepts artistic struggle instrumental identity Questions to Reflect On - How does tension improve your work? - When should you seek harmony over conflict? A Different Perspective Constant conflict may hinder productivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Electric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Vocalists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-vocalists-4053727/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Rhythm Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm-guitar-334251/) [Vocalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocalist/) [Vocalists Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vocalists-fighting-4053725/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-guitar-4053724/) ## Related quotes > [I never wanted to sing. I just wanted to play rhythm guitar – hide in the back and just play. But during those high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-never-wanted-to-sing-i-just-wanted-to-play-rhythm-guitar-hide-in/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [What happens is people go, 'I want to play the guitar,' and the first thing they do is hit Google: 'How can I play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lukather/what-happens-is-people-go-i-want-to-play-the-guitar-and-the-first/) [Steve Lukather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lukather/) > [Pete Townshend is one of my greatest influences. More than any other guitarist, he taught me how to play rhythm guitar and demonstrated its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townshend-is-one-of-my-greatest-influences-more-than-any-other/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [What I used to play was rhythm guitar before I saw Jack Bruce. I said, That's what I want to do in life. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geezer-butler/what-i-used-to-play-was-rhythm-guitar-before-i-saw-jack-bruce-i-said/) [Geezer Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geezer-butler/) > [I took the rhythm place, which a lot of people didn't know how to do the way I could, and this was really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-derringer/i-took-the-rhythm-place-which-a-lot-of-people-didn-t-know-how-to-do/) [Rick Derringer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-derringer/) > [When I was about 12, I had my first paying gig - 8 dollars to play rhythm guitar in a polka band. Pretty soon,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/when-i-was-about-12-i-had-my-first-paying-gig-8-dollars-to-play/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [My guitar-playing always included bass lines, melody lines, and rhythm-guitar grooves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donovan/my-guitar-playing-always-included-bass-lines-melody-lines-and-rhythm/) [Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donovan/) > [Most people can do what I do - they can do guitar solos - but they can't do a good, hard rhythm guitar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/most-people-can-do-what-i-do-they-can-do-guitar-solos-but-they-can-t/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [I never wanted to sing. I just wanted to play rhythm guitar - hide in the back and just play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-never-wanted-to-sing-i-just-wanted-to-play-rhythm-guitar-hide-in-2/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [I can play rhythm guitar. I know how to hold a guitar and strum it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-can-play-rhythm-guitar-i-know-how-to-hold-a-guitar-and-strum-it/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [If you listen to my tapes, you'd hear 14 different ways to arrange the rhythm guitar behind the harmony vocal, and then 14 different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/if-you-listen-to-my-tapes-you-d-hear-14-different-ways-to-arrange-the/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [I noticed a lot of guitar players neglected the rhythm part of rhythm guitar and decided I would try to focus in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-noticed-a-lot-of-guitar-players-neglected-the-rhythm-part-of-rhythm/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) > [I feel my spot is somewhere between a bass player and a rhythm guitar player. I play with a pick. I play very aggressively.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/i-feel-my-spot-is-somewhere-between-a-bass-player-and-a-rhythm-guitar/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [I've been used for writing rhythm guitar chords for a long time because it's so easy to play and chords just sound good on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-ve-been-used-for-writing-rhythm-guitar-chords-for-a-long-time/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [I noticed a lot of guitar players neglected the rhythm part of rhythm guitar and decided I would try to focus in that. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-sparks/i-noticed-a-lot-of-guitar-players-neglected-the-rhythm-part-of-rhythm-2/) [Hal Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-sparks/) ## More by Nick Cave > [Texting is apocalyptic on some level. It's a reduction of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/texting-is-apocalyptic-on-some-level-it-s-a-reduction-of-things/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“And I know why our friendship must be kept a secret. Or they will kill You like they killed You in the Bible. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/and-i-know-why-our-friendship-must-be-kept-a-secret-or-they-will-kill/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I want to write songs that are so sad, the kind of sad where you take someone's little finger and break it in three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-want-to-write-songs-that-are-so-sad-the-kind-of-sad-where-you-take/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“Through these days Bunny made increasingly frequent and protracted visits to the bathroom, beating off with a single-minded savagery intense even by Bunny's standards.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/through-these-days-bunny-made-increasingly-frequent-and-protracted/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Personally I find the story of Christ incredibly moving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/personally-i-find-the-story-of-christ-incredibly-moving/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [ That's what we \[outsiders\] feel America is really about - the kind of crazed ravings of the Christian right - when it's probably something… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/that-s-what-we-outsiders-feel-america-is-really-about-the-kind-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [“My relationship with my muse is a delicate one at the best of times and I feel that it is my duty to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-relationship-with-my-muse-is-a-delicate-one-at-the-best-of-times/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I'm kind of old-school and love nothing more than sitting, opening a book, and reading it. But I also love listening to audio books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-m-kind-of-old-school-and-love-nothing-more-than-sitting-opening-a/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Early on I realized when you write a song about someone, it flatters them on some level, and gives you a lot of room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/early-on-i-realized-when-you-write-a-song-about-someone-it-flatters/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [My father was a teacher and my mother also worked in the school, so the family has a background in education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/my-father-was-a-teacher-and-my-mother-also-worked-in-the-school-so/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [I think it's an essential fact for any performer or artist to fail as poignantly as they can succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/i-think-it-s-an-essential-fact-for-any-performer-or-artist-to-fail-as/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [To my undying shame, I do read reviews. I don't read them all, but I like to get some kind of idea how things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/to-my-undying-shame-i-do-read-reviews-i-don-t-read-them-all-but-i/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Brother, be a brother, fill this tiny cup of mine. And please, sir, make it whiskey: I have no head for wine!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/brother-be-a-brother-fill-this-tiny-cup-of-mine-and-please-sir-make/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [When you've been initiated, you can stand in the world differently. And I think it is up to all of us, we can have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/when-you-ve-been-initiated-you-can-stand-in-the-world-differently-and/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) > [Polly Jean, I love you. I love the texture of your skin, the taste of your saliva, the softness of your ears. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-cave/polly-jean-i-love-you-i-love-the-texture-of-your-skin-the-taste-of/) [Nick Cave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) [Explore all 280 Nick Cave quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-cave/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always been at war with the guitar. 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