We all take inspiration from someone or something, whether it be someone's methodology, melody, harmony, texture, instrumentation, effects and sound or the creative process used to make music or practice. I like to source quotes from accomplished people and the great musicians of our times. These quotes give me a little lift or a push in the right direction or open up a new avenue of thought process in my own journey in music. Some, just give me validation that I’m doing the right thing. Music is an art, but to express this art we need to tackle technical and creative process that enable us to make our music, but then as Frank Zappa would say “shut up ‘n play yer guitar “ Why not also check out our extensive premium quality t-shirt range which feature some of the legendary names below? Live your life by their words whilst proudly showcasing your teachers, idols and rock gods on one of Strings Direct's official tees. I would like now to share some quotes from great musicians, if you don’t recognise the names that’s a good thing, it means that there’s a whole world of musical talent and a host of enthralling personalities for you to discover. Hubert Sumlin – “Take a note from me and add it to your own notes and make it you, absorb and incorporate the feel of another player into your style” Steve Howe – “ Try to avoid obvious licks. If I’m watching somebody for the chords, I think about the relative minor and the relative minor 7 and I’ll do away with the root note. I find it interesting changing from minor to major and always avoid the obvious Tom Morello – “Never forget that dynamics are a big part of the heavy factor in music. The quiet parts that build are what triggers a big release that makes 100,000 kids jump up and down” Eric Johnson - “My best songs come from making a lot of mistakes and playing a lot of garbage.” Al Di Meola - “Forget about every other lesson in the book. You have to be able to tap your foot or else none of what you doing you are not gonna have any control of your symptom.” Brian May – “ I enjoy solo lines that reflect the songs melody, but changes it in a way that opens up another little window in the song. These lines should have some freedom and spontaneity, they shouldn’t be totally planned out. Eric Clapton - “ Don’t play every lick you know before the end of the set because then you’re screwed. You’ll just end up repeating yourself. But it’s a very youthful thing to jam, it’s like sowing your wild oats, but as you grow older you become more interested in something more lasting. You have to settle down and make everything count. Make sure what you play is worthy of being heard again. I feel I’ve become a little more devoted to the song, and I feel like jamming, unless it has a goal, is pretty much a waste of time” John Petrucci - “I do a lot of the stuff that I started out doing that I think any guitar player that’s concerned about the craft needs to do. It’s basic practicing of the basic elements. I try to practice like a well rounded regiment of things where I can kind of do whatever I wanna do and I also have to practice the actual songs to keep that under my fingers as well.” Keith Richards – “you’re always learning about this thing every time you pick it up” Nuno Bettencourt - “If you play music for no other reason than actually just because you love it, the skills just kinda creep up on you.” Jimmy Page - “I believe every guitar player inherently has something unique about their playing. They just have to identify what makes them different and develop it.” Henry Kaiser – “ Play sloppy, make mistakes and let those mistakes lead you into different territories and ideas. I’s important to take advantage of both the rational control and the irrational uncontrolled” Keith Richards – “Guitar is easy, all it takes is 5 fingers, 6 strings and 1 a**hole” We’d love to hear from you, so if you have a quote that has motivated you or helped you through stormy waters, please share them with us on this page or on social media via the share buttons below.