--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I can't play guitar well at all, so I had…" description: "\"I can't play guitar well at all, so I had to learn that.\" — Olly Alexander" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/olly-alexander-5923_guitar_i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had_62054.jpg" --- # I can't play guitar well at all, so I had to learn that. ![“I can't play guitar well at all, so I had to learn that.” quote by Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/olly-alexander-5923_guitar_i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had_62054.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/olly-alexander-5923_guitar_i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had_62054.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/olly-alexander-5923_guitar_i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had_62054.jpg) > “I can't play guitar well at all, so I had to learn that.” [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges personal limitation in guitar skill and the necessity of learning to overcome it. **In simple terms:** Self-improvement through practice. Key Takeaway Skill gaps demand effort. Themes self-awareness growth determination learning music Mood motivated reflective Type personal anecdote motivational When to use this quote - starting a new hobby - facing a performance challenge - overcoming a perceived weakness Key Concepts skill acquisition personal development Practical Applications - music lessons - self‑guided practice Questions to Reflect On - What skill have you avoided because of self‑doubt? - How can you turn a weakness into a learning goal? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [No matter how long you play the guitar, there's always something else to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/no-matter-how-long-you-play-the-guitar-there-s-always-something-else/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [I love Neil Young. His songs were the first songs I learned to play, and I recommend anyone who is starting guitar to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-harris/i-love-neil-young-his-songs-were-the-first-songs-i-learned-to-play/) [Jesse Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-harris/) > [That's all I wanted to do as a kid. Play a guitar properly and jump around. But too many people got in the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd-barrett/that-s-all-i-wanted-to-do-as-a-kid-play-a-guitar-properly-and-jump/) [Syd Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd-barrett/) > [I don't remember a time that I didn't know how to play the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaki-king/i-don-t-remember-a-time-that-i-didn-t-know-how-to-play-the-guitar/) [Kaki King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaki-king/) > [I've never mastered the guitar. Either I was playing it, or it was playing me; it depends how you look at it. As a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/i-ve-never-mastered-the-guitar-either-i-was-playing-it-or-it-was/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [I don't know what it would be like to actually play guitar. I've toured with a lot of comedians and it's never been like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-mirman/i-don-t-know-what-it-would-be-like-to-actually-play-guitar-i-ve/) [Eugene Mirman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-mirman/) > [I can't do anything but play guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-bolin/i-can-t-do-anything-but-play-guitar/) [Tommy Bolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-bolin/) > [I'm quite glad I never learned to play the guitar, because I think I'd write songs that were more classically structured. As it is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-welch/i-m-quite-glad-i-never-learned-to-play-the-guitar-because-i-think-i-d/) [Florence Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-welch/) > [I play enough guitar to get by. I don't like to play guitar live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-chase/i-play-enough-guitar-to-get-by-i-don-t-like-to-play-guitar-live/) [Will Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-chase/) > [Since I left Chicago, I'm a lone wolf. I put on the record player and sit and try to play on the guitar. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cotton/since-i-left-chicago-i-m-a-lone-wolf-i-put-on-the-record-player-and/) James Cotton > [I play the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mats-wilander/i-play-the-guitar/) [Mats Wilander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mats-wilander/) > [T's a good thing you learned to play the guitar so you have something to do while not getting laid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/t-s-a-good-thing-you-learned-to-play-the-guitar-so-you-have-something/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Learning to play the guitar is a combination of mental and motor skill acquisition. And to develop motor skill, repetition is essential... Whenever musicians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-roberts/learning-to-play-the-guitar-is-a-combination-of-mental-and-motor/) [Howard Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-roberts/) > [If I don't channel pain into a song, I play my guitar or play the piano or play my drums, or go swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cliff/if-i-don-t-channel-pain-into-a-song-i-play-my-guitar-or-play-the/) [Jimmy Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cliff/) > [I lie around and play guitar, that's something I do for sure. In fact that's all I do, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-dando/i-lie-around-and-play-guitar-that-s-something-i-do-for-sure-in-fact/) [Evan Dando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-dando/) ## More by Olly Alexander > [I've always loved sci-fi and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-ve-always-loved-sci-fi-and-fantasy/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I used to travel a lot as a kid and when I first moved to England I felt lonely and my parents were splitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-used-to-travel-a-lot-as-a-kid-and-when-i-first-moved-to-england-i/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I think everyone knows what it is like being in love. It's never a smooth thing. Whether you are happily together or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-think-everyone-knows-what-it-is-like-being-in-love-it-s-never-a/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I'm fascinated by technology and how it is changing the way we live and view our humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-m-fascinated-by-technology-and-how-it-is-changing-the-way-we-live/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I'd love to work with SBTRKT if he'd have me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-d-love-to-work-with-sbtrkt-if-he-d-have-me/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [The likelihood is that you or someone you know closely will suffer from a mental health condition in your lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/the-likelihood-is-that-you-or-someone-you-know-closely-will-suffer/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I identify as a gay man all the time, but I also like to identify as queer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-identify-as-a-gay-man-all-the-time-but-i-also-like-to-identify-as/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [There's entrenched homophobia behind the scenes at all levels of the music industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/there-s-entrenched-homophobia-behind-the-scenes-at-all-levels-of-the/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I want to do a song with Rihanna - we need to make that work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-want-to-do-a-song-with-rihanna-we-need-to-make-that-work/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I don't know if there's ever a point where you go, 'Oh, I'm successful now. Look at all this great stuff I've done,' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-don-t-know-if-there-s-ever-a-point-where-you-go-oh-i-m-successful/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [Everyone has a different definition of what they find sexy, so why do we so often get given one version of what sexy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/everyone-has-a-different-definition-of-what-they-find-sexy-so-why-do/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I think all of the best songs are about heartbreak and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-think-all-of-the-best-songs-are-about-heartbreak-and-love/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [We could perform in space or be the first band to play moon, but we want to be the first 'Star Wars' band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/we-could-perform-in-space-or-be-the-first-band-to-play-moon-but-we/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [I don't want to be normal, I don't want to grow up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-don-t-want-to-be-normal-i-don-t-want-to-grow-up/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [Justin Tranter is an incredible queer voice in pop music and he's writing for Justin Bieber: it's genius.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/justin-tranter-is-an-incredible-queer-voice-in-pop-music-and-he-s/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) [Explore all 100 Olly Alexander quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) ## More Guitar quotes > [I'll tell you one thing: I will always play the sh\*\* out of my guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-i-will-always-play-the-sh-out-of-my-guitar/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I remember people would talk about Country Music like it was this sexist, lame thing. Well, no, because Dolly Parton is writing songs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-remember-people-would-talk-about-country-music-like-it-was-this/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [I took guitar lessons and recorded the song in New York. It was kind of a dream. I got to pretend I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-took-guitar-lessons-and-recorded-the-song-in-new-york-it-was-kind/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [There's a need for music that has urgency and emotional honesty. That's why people are reintroducing themselves to guitar music - that instrument has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/there-s-a-need-for-music-that-has-urgency-and-emotional-honesty-that/) [Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/) > [I like to be quiet and play guitar and just chill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/post-malone/i-like-to-be-quiet-and-play-guitar-and-just-chill/) [Post Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/post-malone/) > [My first proper 'Here's your guitar, Joseph' was a 1981 Chiquita, one of those Erlewine travel guitars. And it was good for a four-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-proper-here-s-your-guitar-joseph-was-a-1981-chiquita-one-of/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Kenny Burrell is the grand master of jazz guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/kenny-burrell-is-the-grand-master-of-jazz-guitar/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&B divas, but I'd hate to be just some pensive girl with a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-comfortable-with-these-r-b/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) [Browse all 3,915 Guitar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I can't play guitar well at all, so I had to learn that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Olly Alexander" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had-to-learn-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Guitar" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had-to-learn-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/olly-alexander-5923_guitar_i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had_62054.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/olly-alexander-5923_guitar_i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had_62054.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e6/olly-alexander-5923_guitar_i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had_62054.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I can't play guitar well at all, so I had to learn that.” — Olly Alexander", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Olly Alexander", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I can't play guitar well at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had-to-learn-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-can-t-play-guitar-well-at-all-so-i-had-to-learn-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```