--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned a long time ago with guitars…" description: "\"I learned a long time ago with guitars and amps or anything else, whatever band I'm in, I'm just going to sound like me anyway, so I just stay true to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/pat-smear-24330_band_i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-a_1970125.jpg" --- # I learned a long time ago with guitars and amps or… ![“I learned a long time ago with guitars and amps or anything else, whatever band I'm in, I'm just going to sound like me anyway, so I just stay true to that.” quote by Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/pat-smear-24330_band_i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-a_1970125.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/pat-smear-24330_band_i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-a_1970125.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/pat-smear-24330_band_i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-a_1970125.jpg) > “I learned a long time ago with guitars and amps or anything else, whatever band I'm in, I'm just going to sound like me anyway, so I just stay true to that.” [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Staying true to one’s sound preserves artistic integrity despite trends. **In simple terms:** Be authentic in music. Key Takeaway Maintain your unique sound. Themes authenticity music self‑expression Mood thoughtful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - band formation - recording sessions - live performance - songwriting Key Concepts artistic integrity personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance authenticity and innovation? - What defines your sound? A Different Perspective Fans may expect change; staying static can limit growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amps Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amps-band-3303707/) [Band](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) [Band Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band-just-584482/) [Guitars Amps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitars-amps-3303706/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Long time ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time-ago/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Stay true](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stay-true/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true/) ## Related quotes > [One of these days, when I get tired of it all, I'll keep six guitars and the amps I'm using, and I'll have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/one-of-these-days-when-i-get-tired-of-it-all-i-ll-keep-six-guitars/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I just woke up the other day and realized that I have been collecting guitars and amps my whole life and I just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-campbell/i-just-woke-up-the-other-day-and-realized-that-i-have-been-collecting/) [Mike Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-campbell/) > [When you're in a band that's so big when you're young, you kind of lose your identity a little bit. You just become part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-re-in-a-band-that-s-so-big-when-you-re-young-you-kind-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a band, it's just me trying to please my own basement-hardcore sensibilities that I grew up with. It's not actually the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-rickly/as-a-band-it-s-just-me-trying-to-please-my-own-basement-hardcore/) [Geoff Rickly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-rickly/) > [We're a band and we just happen to be chicks, that's the way we've always thought of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-caffey/we-re-a-band-and-we-just-happen-to-be-chicks-that-s-the-way-we-ve/) [Charlotte Caffey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-caffey/) > [After moving to England I did some recording and eventually formed an English band, this was together for quite a few years with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/after-moving-to-england-i-did-some-recording-and-eventually-formed-an/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS BAND THEY ARE JUST PURE AWESOME <3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-fell-in-love-with-this-band-they-are-just-pure-awesome-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why are Franz Ferdinand the perfect live band? They just are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/why-are-franz-ferdinand-the-perfect-live-band-they-just-are/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [One day when I have a band I will have a band name, but since it's just me I feel it should just be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/one-day-when-i-have-a-band-i-will-have-a-band-name-but-since-it-s/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [Every tour is different. Sometimes I'll get a band together and sometimes it's just me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-elverum/every-tour-is-different-sometimes-i-ll-get-a-band-together-and/) [Phil Elverum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-elverum/) > [I love it when you hear a band, and you just go, 'Yes! I never knew it, but that's exactly what I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/i-love-it-when-you-hear-a-band-and-you-just-go-yes-i-never-knew-it/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Some people misconstrue our band just to be a commercial venture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-martin/some-people-misconstrue-our-band-just-to-be-a-commercial-venture/) [Chris Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-martin/) > [Ultimately, we as a band just write what we write. Some of it's very serious, and even in the serious songs, there's sometimes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-robertson/ultimately-we-as-a-band-just-write-what-we-write-some-of-it-s-very/) [Ed Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-robertson/) > [History will tell if we were really a good band or just a one day fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/history-will-tell-if-we-were-really-a-good-band-or-just-a-one-day-fly/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I have a really good band, and just returned from a short tour in California. It hasn't always gone that well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-taylor/i-have-a-really-good-band-and-just-returned-from-a-short-tour-in/) [Mick Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-taylor/) ## More by Pat Smear > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I probably own 100 guitars and all of them are electric.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-probably-own-100-guitars-and-all-of-them-are-electric/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [When we did the 'Skin and Bones' tour I didn't even own an acoustic guitar, I had to borrow one from my friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/when-we-did-the-skin-and-bones-tour-i-didn-t-even-own-an-acoustic/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [Interviewing is fun. You get to learn things about people other than yourself. When you're being interviewed, you're talking about things you've already lived.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/interviewing-is-fun-you-get-to-learn-things-about-people-other-than/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I just feel like bands with the same people, no matter how different the band themselves thinks it is, the listeners go, 'Oh, yeah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-just-feel-like-bands-with-the-same-people-no-matter-how-different/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I've always liked to dress up. I'd choose a halter top over a Led Zeppelin T-shirt when I was in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-ve-always-liked-to-dress-up-i-d-choose-a-halter-top-over-a-led/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [With the Germs, every night's a little mini-riot, bottles flying at my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/with-the-germs-every-night-s-a-little-mini-riot-bottles-flying-at-my/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I had heard all the rumors and controversy swirling about the 'In Utero' recordings - there was a lot of, 'Oh, the record label…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-had-heard-all-the-rumors-and-controversy-swirling-about-the-in/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I really liked falling in love with cities that I had actively disliked before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-really-liked-falling-in-love-with-cities-that-i-had-actively/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I remember when I was a kid and I used to go and see Queen play live. It was like there was Queen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-remember-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-used-to-go-and-see-queen-play-live/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I know Nirvana's a strange thing. It means a lot of things to a lot of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-know-nirvana-s-a-strange-thing-it-means-a-lot-of-things-to-a-lot-of/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I've always been in a band where it's been somebody else's band - or pretty much always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-ve-always-been-in-a-band-where-it-s-been-somebody-else-s-band-or/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I didn't own a guitar when I was in the Germs. I would just borrow one from the opening band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-didn-t-own-a-guitar-when-i-was-in-the-germs-i-would-just-borrow-one/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [We'll always play different venues. We'll play small clubs or stadiums or things in between.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/we-ll-always-play-different-venues-we-ll-play-small-clubs-or-stadiums/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [Drummers are like sharks. They have to move all the time or they die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/drummers-are-like-sharks-they-have-to-move-all-the-time-or-they-die/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) [Explore all 24 Pat Smear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) ## More Band quotes > [The reason I was drawn to the Band Perry was because they have a knack for doing rollicking country music that can sound a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-robinson/the-reason-i-was-drawn-to-the-band-perry-was-because-they-have-a/) [Phoebe Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-robinson/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [There is something to be said though when you have 4 or 5 guys playing with no net, there is a sense of urgency,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-mendoza/there-is-something-to-be-said-though-when-you-have-4-or-5-guys/) [Marco Mendoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-mendoza/) > [My Nirvana experience was much different than the other three guys. For me, it was really new and exciting. I was just a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/my-nirvana-experience-was-much-different-than-the-other-three-guys/) [Pat Smear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/) > [I think my music has always been a mixture, depending on whom I'm working with - what band, what musicians, what producer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-my-music-has-always-been-a-mixture-depending-on-whom-i-m/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-beecham/as-you-ll-never-hear-the-thing-again-my-boy-why-not-throw-in-a-couple/) [Thomas Beecham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-beecham/) > [I've always made sure that I tour with bands that people aren't expecting me to tour with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-ve-always-made-sure-that-i-tour-with-bands-that-people-aren-t/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [There is more to me than just having been in the Runaways. And even though I'm really, really proud of what the band accomplished,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-fuchs/there-is-more-to-me-than-just-having-been-in-the-runaways-and-even/) [Jackie Fuchs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-fuchs/) > [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/) > [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 just became accustomed to being all the members of the band. That was something that was really exciting to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-just-became-accustomed-to-being-all-the-members-of-the-band-that/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I guess because we're essentially a two-man band, we're attracting Wham's crowd. But Wham! are more of a businessman's band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curt-smith/i-guess-because-we-re-essentially-a-two-man-band-we-re-attracting/) [Curt Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curt-smith/) > [I'm about as privileged as you can get. I'm a white, male, heterosexual front man of a rock band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-reynolds/i-m-about-as-privileged-as-you-can-get-i-m-a-white-male-heterosexual/) [Dan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-reynolds/) > [I'd been playing in bands for something like seven years at this point. And we were always trying to get ahead, trying to rehearse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aerosmith/i-d-been-playing-in-bands-for-something-like-seven-years-at-this/) [Aerosmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aerosmith/) > [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/) [Browse all 6,497 Band quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/band/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned a long time ago with guitars and amps or anything else, whatever band I'm in, I'm just going to sound like me anyway, so I just stay true to that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pat Smear" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-and-amps-or-anything-else/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Band" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-and-amps-or-anything-else/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/pat-smear-24330_band_i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-a_1970125.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/pat-smear-24330_band_i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-a_1970125.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3f/pat-smear-24330_band_i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-a_1970125.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned a long time ago with guitars and amps or anything else, whatever band I'm in, I'm just going to…” — Pat Smear", "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": "Pat Smear", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-smear/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned a long time ago...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-and-amps-or-anything-else/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-smear/i-learned-a-long-time-ago-with-guitars-and-amps-or-anything-else/#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 } } ] } ```