--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first started playing guitar, so…" description: "\"When I first started playing guitar, so many people told me I couldn't do this or couldn't do that. But I kept at it and ignored that.\" — Shawn Mendes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/shawn-mendes-2786_guitar_when-i-first-started-playing-guitar-so-m_3195704.jpg" --- # When I first started playing guitar, so many people told… ![“When I first started playing guitar, so many people told me I couldn't do this or couldn't do that. But I kept at it and ignored that.” quote by Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/shawn-mendes-2786_guitar_when-i-first-started-playing-guitar-so-m_3195704.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/shawn-mendes-2786_guitar_when-i-first-started-playing-guitar-so-m_3195704.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/shawn-mendes-2786_guitar_when-i-first-started-playing-guitar-so-m_3195704.jpg) > “When I first started playing guitar, so many people told me I couldn't do this or couldn't do that. But I kept at it and ignored that.” [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Persistence despite criticism leads to mastery and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Keep practicing despite doubters. Key Takeaway Ignore naysayers, keep practicing. Themes perseverance self‑belief growth Mood determined hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - learning an instrument - starting a new hobby - overcoming self‑doubt - pursuing a career - building confidence Key Concepts mindset resilience skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - What criticism have you turned into motivation? - How do you balance ignoring naysayers with learning from constructive feedback? A Different Perspective Criticism can also provide useful feedback if ignored completely. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Couldn Kept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/couldn-kept-4567706/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignored/) [Kept Ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kept-ignored-5912118/) [Many](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/many/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Playing guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-guitar/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-playing-257076/) [Told Couldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-couldn-541263/) ## Related quotes > [“But we'd had only so many nights together, and the notebook had only so many pages, and that world was never going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-r-hubbard/but-we-d-had-only-so-many-nights-together-and-the-notebook-had-only/) [Jennifer R. Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-r-hubbard/) > [I was probably 7 years old when I started playing the guitar and writing some serious songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-was-probably-7-years-old-when-i-started-playing-the-guitar-and/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [I started playing guitar by the time I was 9.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-pardi/i-started-playing-guitar-by-the-time-i-was-9/) [Jon Pardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-pardi/) > [I started playing guitar when I was nine and just fell in love with that - I've been playing nonstop ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-misch/i-started-playing-guitar-when-i-was-nine-and-just-fell-in-love-with/) [Tom Misch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-misch/) > [I started playing guitar when I was 14.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-started-playing-guitar-when-i-was-14/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [I started playing the guitar and singing at about 11 or 12.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake-bell/i-started-playing-the-guitar-and-singing-at-about-11-or-12/) [Drake Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake-bell/) > [I started making music... I guess I was 12, and I started playing 'Guitar Hero.' And you know, it got to a point where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/post-malone/i-started-making-music-i-guess-i-was-12-and-i-started-playing-guitar/) [Post Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/post-malone/) > [When I first started playing guitar, I would sit in my room for hours and learn scales.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/when-i-first-started-playing-guitar-i-would-sit-in-my-room-for-hours/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I started playing guitar at, like, 12 or 13 and just rock bands mostly. I had a punk rock band and hard core bands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-isaac/i-started-playing-guitar-at-like-12-or-13-and-just-rock-bands-mostly/) [Oscar Isaac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-isaac/) > [I just started playing guitar and started singing and started working on this act that I would call 'Don McLean' when I was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-just-started-playing-guitar-and-started-singing-and-started-working/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [I started playing guitar when I was 12 and probably from that age knew that I wanted to make music and make my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-vincent/i-started-playing-guitar-when-i-was-12-and-probably-from-that-age/) [St. Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-vincent/) > [I started playing guitar before I can really remember, and I started writing really early, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-houser/i-started-playing-guitar-before-i-can-really-remember-and-i-started/) [Randy Houser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-houser/) > [I got my first instrument for Christmas when I was three or four years old. My parents got me a mandolin because it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-got-my-first-instrument-for-christmas-when-i-was-three-or-four/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [When I was 11 years old, I started playing guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyclef-jean/when-i-was-11-years-old-i-started-playing-guitar/) [Wyclef Jean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyclef-jean/) > [I realized that I really didn't like the sound of the ukulele so much so I started playing the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-kirke/i-realized-that-i-really-didn-t-like-the-sound-of-the-ukulele-so-much/) [Lola Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-kirke/) ## More by Shawn Mendes > [I think it's not about what you say; it's about what you don't say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/i-think-it-s-not-about-what-you-say-it-s-about-what-you-don-t-say/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [I'm tortured because I care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/i-m-tortured-because-i-care/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [You don't have to be afraid because we're all the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/you-don-t-have-to-be-afraid-because-we-re-all-the-same/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [I wanted to be an actor, like, so, so bad. I took acting classes, I auditioned for Disney, and then I realized how nervous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-like-so-so-bad-i-took-acting-classes-i/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [I want to graduate high school, so it's very important to me, and I'll be focusing hard on that as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/i-want-to-graduate-high-school-so-it-s-very-important-to-me-and-i-ll/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [I'm tortured because I care. I'm always upset about not doing things as good as I think I could have because I care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/i-m-tortured-because-i-care-i-m-always-upset-about-not-doing-things/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [It's hard for me to just say, 'Wow, this is amazing - I'm famous. I'm living the dream.' I sit there and think, 'I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/it-s-hard-for-me-to-just-say-wow-this-is-amazing-i-m-famous-i-m/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [People made fun of my skinny legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/people-made-fun-of-my-skinny-legs/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [I believe vitamin C can fix everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/i-believe-vitamin-c-can-fix-everything/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [What I love about my fragrance Signature is that it's subtle and great to wear for any person at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/what-i-love-about-my-fragrance-signature-is-that-it-s-subtle-and/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [Chance The Rapper is just unreal: he's changing rap and really creating this whole amazing new style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/chance-the-rapper-is-just-unreal-he-s-changing-rap-and-really/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [You have to be careful not to make music something you don't want to do. Which happens. I've gotten off the road and been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/you-have-to-be-careful-not-to-make-music-something-you-don-t-want-to/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [Sometimes I get more excited for shows that I know are going to be quieter because it gets me more inspired to be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/sometimes-i-get-more-excited-for-shows-that-i-know-are-going-to-be/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [No matter what, I'm trying to have fun and, depending on the mood, fun can be on a roller coaster and playing onstage, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/no-matter-what-i-m-trying-to-have-fun-and-depending-on-the-mood-fun/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) > [Being a sex symbol isn't cool unless you're in love with a girl, and she calls you a sex symbol.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-mendes/being-a-sex-symbol-isn-t-cool-unless-you-re-in-love-with-a-girl-and/) [Shawn Mendes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) [Explore all 150 Shawn Mendes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-mendes/) ## 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": "When I first started playing guitar, so many people told me I couldn't do this or couldn't do that. 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