--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Drummers get bored. You tell them to play…" description: "\"Drummers get bored. You tell them to play something simple, and it gets more complicated as they do it. If they're not a composer, if they don't have a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/phil-collins-3028_add_drummers-get-bored-you-tell-them-to-play_1583031.jpg" --- # Drummers get bored. You tell them to play something… ![“Drummers get bored. You tell them to play something simple, and it gets more complicated as they do it. If they're not a composer, if they don't have any kind of investment in the music, they'll just add a bit there and another bit there, and you think no! Don't do that. So you end up using a drum…” quote by Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/phil-collins-3028_add_drummers-get-bored-you-tell-them-to-play_1583031.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/phil-collins-3028_add_drummers-get-bored-you-tell-them-to-play_1583031.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c49/phil-collins-3028_add_drummers-get-bored-you-tell-them-to-play_1583031.jpg) > “Drummers get bored. You tell them to play something simple, and it gets more complicated as they do it. If they're not a composer, if they don't have any kind of investment in the music, they'll just add a bit there and another bit there, and you think no! Don't do that. So you end up using a drum machine.” [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When musicians lack personal investment, simple instructions become overcomplicated, leading to reliance on technology. **In simple terms:** Lack of ownership makes simple tasks messy, prompting use of machines. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal connection to avoid over‑complicating work. Themes music creation creativity technology ownership process Mood frustrated thoughtful hopeful Type creative process advice When to use this quote - band rehearsal - studio recording - songwriting - creative block - drum programming Key Concepts artistic intent automation musical simplicity Questions to Reflect On - What drives you to add complexity? - How can you stay engaged without tech shortcuts? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on tools can stifle authentic expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bored/) [Composer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/composer/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Drummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drummer/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investment/) [Machines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/machines/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Somebody gave me this drum machine and somebody else asked me to program something for a project. I really liked programming and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/somebody-gave-me-this-drum-machine-and-somebody-else-asked-me-to/) [Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/) > [When you're young you want to show people what you can do, no matter what the cost. Whereas when you're older, and you realise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/when-you-re-young-you-want-to-show-people-what-you-can-do-no-matter/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [I did a smaller gig with an acoustic guitar and a drum machine. In one song, something wrong happened with the drum machine. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violante-placido/i-did-a-smaller-gig-with-an-acoustic-guitar-and-a-drum-machine-in-one/) [Violante Placido](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violante-placido/) > [Come to think of it, the way I play is like a drum machine- very mechanical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ikue-mori/come-to-think-of-it-the-way-i-play-is-like-a-drum-machine-very/) [Ikue Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ikue-mori/) > [There's so much that you can do if you mimic your style to a drum machine. I think that's far more exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tong/there-s-so-much-that-you-can-do-if-you-mimic-your-style-to-a-drum/) [Matt Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tong/) > [I had no idea 'The Dream Weaver' would be so successful. Everything just fell into place with that album. I pioneered a number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-wright/i-had-no-idea-the-dream-weaver-would-be-so-successful-everything-just/) [Gary Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-wright/) > [When I went in there, we used drum machine on "Time After Time" and "Human Nature".We don't use the drum machine to play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/when-i-went-in-there-we-used-drum-machine-on-time-after-time-and/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [You can get the oldest drum machine out and whack out four sounds like a kick, snare, and two types of high-hat, and try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brown/you-can-get-the-oldest-drum-machine-out-and-whack-out-four-sounds/) [Rob Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brown/) > [Making music is a lifestyle; go to the studio and sit in front of your computer, drum machine or guitar for 10 hours a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ronson/making-music-is-a-lifestyle-go-to-the-studio-and-sit-in-front-of-your/) [Mark Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ronson/) > [Every time you hear an 808 drum machine beat on one of my songs, it comes from Freaknik.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-dream/every-time-you-hear-an-808-drum-machine-beat-on-one-of-my-songs-it/) [The-Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-dream/) > [ It's like swimmin' without warmin' up, yuo know what I mean? So \[cackles\] we use the drum machine, and we take it out. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/it-s-like-swimmin-without-warmin-up-yuo-know-what-i-mean-so-cackles/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I have a method of working on music: I'll get up in the morning and throw down some drums on my drum machine, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-hanneman/i-have-a-method-of-working-on-music-i-ll-get-up-in-the-morning-and/) [Jeff Hanneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-hanneman/) > [I have an Otari with a Korg T2 Midi synthesizer, a drum machine and a few effects units.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mancini/i-have-an-otari-with-a-korg-t2-midi-synthesizer-a-drum-machine-and-a/) [Henry Mancini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mancini/) > [When I was about 14, I got a tacky keyboard for 250 pounds and put on a drum machine and found I could write a song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-o-riordan/when-i-was-about-14-i-got-a-tacky-keyboard-for-250-pounds-and-put-on/) [Dolores O'Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-o-riordan/) > [ I've used \[drum machine\] because I have to have the perfect tempo. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-ve-used-drum-machine-because-i-have-to-have-the-perfect-tempo/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) ## More by Phil Collins > [When children see Michael Jackson they see a human being. When adults see him they see money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/when-children-see-michael-jackson-they-see-a-human-being-when-adults/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [I just don't think of myself as a star. This is what I do for a living; I'm fortunate that I make ends meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/i-just-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-star-this-is-what-i-do-for-a-living/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [Many people think of me as a perfectionist, someone who polishes and shines each song and performance. 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