--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had the question asked of me before…" description: "\"I had the question asked of me before, 'What do you like better: singing or playing guitar?' If I'm gonna be totally truthful, if that microphone's in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/phil-anselmo-11690_asked_i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-wh_2634221.jpg" --- # I had the question asked of me before, 'What do you like… ![“I had the question asked of me before, 'What do you like better: singing or playing guitar?' If I'm gonna be totally truthful, if that microphone's in my hand, I'm loving it. When the guitar's in my hand, I'm a little nervous, but I'm still loving it.” quote by Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/phil-anselmo-11690_asked_i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-wh_2634221.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/phil-anselmo-11690_asked_i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-wh_2634221.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/phil-anselmo-11690_asked_i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-wh_2634221.jpg) > “I had the question asked of me before, 'What do you like better: singing or playing guitar?' If I'm gonna be totally truthful, if that microphone's in my hand, I'm loving it. When the guitar's in my hand, I'm a little nervous, but I'm still loving it.” [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker feels more confident singing than playing guitar, though both are enjoyable. **In simple terms:** Singing feels easier than guitar, but both are loved. Key Takeaway Embrace both talents, noting personal comfort zones. Themes confidence performance music Mood anxious enthusiastic reflective Type personal musical When to use this quote - concerts - studio recording - personal practice Key Concepts self-awareness stage fright Questions to Reflect On - What makes singing feel more natural? - How can guitar confidence be built? A Different Perspective Nervousness can hinder guitar playing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) [Before](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/before/) [Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better/) [Better Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-singing-307172/) [Gonna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gonna/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Gonna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-gonna-2214783/) [Had](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/had/) [Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little/) [Loving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving/) [Loving Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-guitar-2159407/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Microphone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/microphone/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-guitar/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Still](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/still/) [Totally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totally/) [Truthful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truthful/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [I remember growing up always loving the guitar. I used to love to watch the people play on the Country Western shows on TV.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-wilson/i-remember-growing-up-always-loving-the-guitar-i-used-to-love-to/) [Carl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-wilson/) > [Gonna wind it up on my guitar. Gonna make that silver sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-petty/gonna-wind-it-up-on-my-guitar-gonna-make-that-silver-sing/) [Tom Petty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-petty/) > [For years, I was stuck behind a keyboard rig. When I started playing guitar onstage, it was a bit of a release - not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gore/for-years-i-was-stuck-behind-a-keyboard-rig-when-i-started-playing/) [Martin Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gore/) > [I'm trying to get better at singing. I just want to be great vocally on stage so I can give fans a real show,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-tiller/i-m-trying-to-get-better-at-singing-i-just-want-to-be-great-vocally/) [Bryson Tiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-tiller/) > [Not everybody's a great singer, but people can get better at singing. There's great singing teachers out there. It's a muscle, you just have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/not-everybody-s-a-great-singer-but-people-can-get-better-at-singing/) [Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/) > [I express myself better when I'm singing, so I always want to hold on to the music side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-hwang/i-express-myself-better-when-i-m-singing-so-i-always-want-to-hold-on/) [Tiffany Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-hwang/) > [When I make music, I often sound better singing as a woman, go figure, so I like to tweak the format and pitch and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-morton/when-i-make-music-i-often-sound-better-singing-as-a-woman-go-figure/) [Timothy Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-morton/) > [The only thing better than singing is more singing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-fitzgerald/the-only-thing-better-than-singing-is-more-singing/) [Ella Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-fitzgerald/) > [Since I've stopped drinking I'm way better at singing. I can project my voice better. I can actually walk on stage and make eye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyhawke/since-i-ve-stopped-drinking-i-m-way-better-at-singing-i-can-project/) [Ladyhawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyhawke/) > [I've always been singing. Since day one. I started doing musical theater and you have to sing in musical theater and so that's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zac-efron/i-ve-always-been-singing-since-day-one-i-started-doing-musical/) [Zac Efron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zac-efron/) > [I do better singing female songs because my voice is so high-pitched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-colfer/i-do-better-singing-female-songs-because-my-voice-is-so-high-pitched/) [Chris Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-colfer/) > [I've made solo records and that's all been a learning experience. I've just got better at singing and more comfortable with who I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roddy-woomble/i-ve-made-solo-records-and-that-s-all-been-a-learning-experience-i-ve/) [Roddy Woomble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roddy-woomble/) > [Everyone's gonna have their opinion, everyone's gonna have their favorite bands. The best way I can describe it is music is like food, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/everyone-s-gonna-have-their-opinion-everyone-s-gonna-have-their/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I was born with a silver microphone in my mouth, and that was an advantage. My father wrote books and was also a great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dimbleby/i-was-born-with-a-silver-microphone-in-my-mouth-and-that-was-an/) [Jonathan Dimbleby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dimbleby/) > [Oh, I'm a great believer in the power of the pause. Radio is a bit brasher now. My style was slower. I just used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/oh-i-m-a-great-believer-in-the-power-of-the-pause-radio-is-a-bit/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) ## More by Phil Anselmo > [I am the type that cannot stay put in living in the past and solely in the past. It's not healthy and it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-am-the-type-that-cannot-stay-put-in-living-in-the-past-and-solely/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [There's always something going on, but thank goodness these days it's with a clear head, which helps me massively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/there-s-always-something-going-on-but-thank-goodness-these-days-it-s/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Everyone's gonna have their opinion, everyone's gonna have their favorite bands. The best way I can describe it is music is like food, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/everyone-s-gonna-have-their-opinion-everyone-s-gonna-have-their/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Music is there for us to explore. To intentionally limit yourself to one, two, or three genres is limitation at its worst. Music is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/music-is-there-for-us-to-explore-to-intentionally-limit-yourself-to/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [It seems like if you are not painted up special way or have some tailor made outfit to put on to go out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/it-seems-like-if-you-are-not-painted-up-special-way-or-have-some/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I've heard too many times where people say that I'm this ultra-serious guy. In truth, I've got an extremely absurd sense of humor. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-ve-heard-too-many-times-where-people-say-that-i-m-this-ultra/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Honestly, I got the best of both worlds: groove of New Orleans meets the intensity of Texas. That's the best education I could have,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/honestly-i-got-the-best-of-both-worlds-groove-of-new-orleans-meets/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I think anyone who suffers from chronic pain can agree with this - you feel this great significance. What I wanted to capture was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-think-anyone-who-suffers-from-chronic-pain-can-agree-with-this-you/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I don't care at all about the mainstream; I don't care about popularity contests; I don't care about who's got the biggest-selling album; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-don-t-care-at-all-about-the-mainstream-i-don-t-care-about/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I tried to take heavy metal... and balled it up and chopped it in half and really tried to create a new form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-tried-to-take-heavy-metal-and-balled-it-up-and-chopped-it-in-half/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [The lead guitar work is a bit repetitious, but when a song is under two minutes long, I don't have much room anyway. Thank…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/the-lead-guitar-work-is-a-bit-repetitious-but-when-a-song-is-under/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [Knowing what you're up against is part of the strength of writing something that is even, I guess, considered halfway original, knowing what's out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/knowing-what-you-re-up-against-is-part-of-the-strength-of-writing/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [With this LP we were all very clear on the approach we wanted to take, which was to do something heavy, but also experiment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/with-this-lp-we-were-all-very-clear-on-the-approach-we-wanted-to-take/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [I love the Beatles, and when I was very young, I had young parents, so Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-love-the-beatles-and-when-i-was-very-young-i-had-young-parents-so/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) > [There has got to be a lot of unreleased video out there, live footage and whatnot. There's always going to be something extra for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/there-has-got-to-be-a-lot-of-unreleased-video-out-there-live-footage/) [Phil Anselmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) [Explore all 58 Phil Anselmo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/) ## More Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/) [Robert Cory Molloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cory-molloy/) > [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) [Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had the question asked of me before, 'What do you like better: singing or playing guitar?' If I'm gonna be totally truthful, if that microphone's in my hand, I'm loving it. When the guitar's in my hand, I'm a little nervous, but I'm still loving it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Phil Anselmo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-what-do-you-like-better-singing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Asked" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-what-do-you-like-better-singing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/phil-anselmo-11690_asked_i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-wh_2634221.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/phil-anselmo-11690_asked_i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-wh_2634221.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/34b/phil-anselmo-11690_asked_i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-wh_2634221.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had the question asked of me before, 'What do you like better: singing or playing guitar?' If I'm gonna be…” — Phil Anselmo", "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": "Phil Anselmo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-anselmo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had the question asked of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-what-do-you-like-better-singing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-anselmo/i-had-the-question-asked-of-me-before-what-do-you-like-better-singing/#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 } } ] } ```