--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm in a band. I have the basic idea, but…" description: "\"I'm in a band. I have the basic idea, but when you surround yourself with really good players, why would I tell anyone what to play, because they're th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/rick-nielsen-3997_band_i-m-in-a-band-i-have-the-basic-idea-but_1796311.jpg" --- # I'm in a band. I have the basic idea, but when you… ![“I'm in a band. I have the basic idea, but when you surround yourself with really good players, why would I tell anyone what to play, because they're that good. They don't tell me what to play. They might encourage me, so that's what I do. I encourage them.” quote by Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/rick-nielsen-3997_band_i-m-in-a-band-i-have-the-basic-idea-but_1796311.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/rick-nielsen-3997_band_i-m-in-a-band-i-have-the-basic-idea-but_1796311.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3b/rick-nielsen-3997_band_i-m-in-a-band-i-have-the-basic-idea-but_1796311.jpg) > “I'm in a band. I have the basic idea, but when you surround yourself with really good players, why would I tell anyone what to play, because they're that good. They don't tell me what to play. They might encourage me, so that's what I do. I encourage them.” [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When surrounded by talented collaborators, you trust their expertise and let them lead creatively. **In simple terms:** Great teammates need no direction. Key Takeaway Trust skilled collaborators and let them shine. Themes collaboration trust creativity leadership Mood inspired confident Type musical reflective When to use this quote - band rehearsals - studio recording - live performance - creative projects Key Concepts team dynamics musical improvisation creative autonomy Questions to Reflect On - When should you assert your own ideas? - How do you balance guidance and freedom? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on others may limit personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) ## Related quotes > [Throughout my whole life, as a performer, I've never played with a band. I've always played alone, so I was never required to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/throughout-my-whole-life-as-a-performer-i-ve-never-played-with-a-band/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [ The game \[football\] has moved on a lot but still, ask most players and they will tell you that pre-season isn't their favourite time… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-kazim-richards/the-game-football-has-moved-on-a-lot-but-still-ask-most-players-and/) [Colin Kazim-Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-kazim-richards/) > [I didn't do it (pitch like he did) for show. I did it to get batters out. Players would tell me, 'We can't tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-tiant/i-didn-t-do-it-pitch-like-he-did-for-show-i-did-it-to-get-batters-out/) [Luis Tiant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-tiant/) > [I feel it's my duty to get to the young players, tell them what's out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-schurrle/i-feel-it-s-my-duty-to-get-to-the-young-players-tell-them-what-s-out/) [Andre Schurrle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-schurrle/) > [I have my grumpy days. The players will tell you that. But you have to be positive because you have to lift them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-pulis/i-have-my-grumpy-days-the-players-will-tell-you-that-but-you-have-to/) [Tony Pulis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-pulis/) > [Players will tell you that they want to keep the relationship to remain a secret because they don't want people in their business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/players-will-tell-you-that-they-want-to-keep-the-relationship-to/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Some players tell me that since retiring they've had the urge to go somewhere every three days. To satisfy that urge, they may even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-brock/some-players-tell-me-that-since-retiring-they-ve-had-the-urge-to-go/) [Lou Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-brock/) > [I truly believe that players who tell you they don't feel the pressure of international cricket, of being away from home for months at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ab-de-villiers/i-truly-believe-that-players-who-tell-you-they-don-t-feel-the/) [AB de Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ab-de-villiers/) > [If players tell the doctor and the medical department they are injured and cannot play I have to accept it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralf-rangnick/if-players-tell-the-doctor-and-the-medical-department-they-are/) [Ralf Rangnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralf-rangnick/) > [Arteta is so detailed and clear and a lot of the players will tell you we are learning from him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bukayo-saka/arteta-is-so-detailed-and-clear-and-a-lot-of-the-players-will-tell/) [Bukayo Saka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bukayo-saka/) > [All I will tell you is that I play a small role in someone's happily ever after.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-duke/all-i-will-tell-you-is-that-i-play-a-small-role-in-someone-s-happily/) [Patty Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-duke/) > [Good actors can tell you more about your play than 1,000 hours alone at your desk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-karam/good-actors-can-tell-you-more-about-your-play-than-1-000-hours-alone/) [Stephen Karam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-karam/) > [It is up to the coaches to tell me how to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-ljungberg/it-is-up-to-the-coaches-to-tell-me-how-to-play/) [Freddie Ljungberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-ljungberg/) > [I'm going to keep playing the way I do. I don't think anybody can tell me how to play; I always play hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-bellinger/i-m-going-to-keep-playing-the-way-i-do-i-don-t-think-anybody-can-tell/) [Cody Bellinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-bellinger/) > [I really like playing women and I'm really good at it. My worst-case scenario is that suddenly people tell me what I can and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-d-arcy/i-really-like-playing-women-and-i-m-really-good-at-it-my-worst-case/) [Emma D'Arcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-d-arcy/) ## More by Rick Nielsen > [I have too many options when it comes to guitars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-have-too-many-options-when-it-comes-to-guitars/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I took one guitar lesson, and they wanted me to play 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' or 'Michael Row the Boat Ashore,' and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-took-one-guitar-lesson-and-they-wanted-me-to-play-mary-had-a-little/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I got to meet Keith Moon!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-got-to-meet-keith-moon/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [If you start having to tell people you're cool, you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/if-you-start-having-to-tell-people-you-re-cool-you-re-not/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I knew the guys in the Allman Brothers way back in the day, before they were famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-knew-the-guys-in-the-allman-brothers-way-back-in-the-day-before/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [Look at Bob Dylan: his voice is not a great sound, but it gets the idea across... and that is what's really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/look-at-bob-dylan-his-voice-is-not-a-great-sound-but-it-gets-the-idea/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I think every one of our songs could be a Top 10 record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-think-every-one-of-our-songs-could-be-a-top-10-record/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I'm kind of a goony guy, a dweeb or a geek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-m-kind-of-a-goony-guy-a-dweeb-or-a-geek/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I always thought of myself as more of a rhythm player than a big soloist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-always-thought-of-myself-as-more-of-a-rhythm-player-than-a-big/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I started out as a drummer, and when I was 9, my drum teacher had an album out. He was the rudiment king! He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-started-out-as-a-drummer-and-when-i-was-9-my-drum-teacher-had-an/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I've seen bands come out and begin their concerts with these long, slow, boring songs. Are they kidding, or what?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-ve-seen-bands-come-out-and-begin-their-concerts-with-these-long/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [Madison Square Garden sounds like crap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/madison-square-garden-sounds-like-crap/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [Some bands, they're too snooty, or they think they're too this or that and wouldn't talk to us. And some other bands are afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/some-bands-they-re-too-snooty-or-they-think-they-re-too-this-or-that/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [I love guitars, and guitars love me, but sometimes they need new homes where they can live to rock another day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/i-love-guitars-and-guitars-love-me-but-sometimes-they-need-new-homes/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) > [If you're going to be ridiculous, be over-the-top ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-nielsen/if-you-re-going-to-be-ridiculous-be-over-the-top-ridiculous/) [Rick Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) [Explore all 118 Rick Nielsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-nielsen/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm in a band. I have the basic idea, but when you surround yourself with really good players, why would I tell anyone what to play, because they're that good. They don't tell me what to play. They might encourage me, so that's what I do. 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