Les Paul

It’s not technique — it’s what you have to say.

This guitar is such a pal. It’s a psychiatrist. It’s a doggone bartender. It’s a housewife. This guy is everything. Whenever I find that I’ve got a problem, I’ll go pick my guitar up and play. It’s the greatest pal in the whole world.

Of the whole bunch of guys who play hollow body guitar, I think Herb Ellis has the most drive.

The guitar is just a wonderful instrument. It’s everything: a bartender, a psychiatrist, a housewife. It’s everything, but it’s elusive.

I got the mumps. They threw me in a crib so I wouldn’t roll out onto the floor. And there’s a big bay window in my house, and that window stayed perfectly still until that train started to chug. At a certain speed, I could reach up and feel the pane, and that glass pane would vibrate. I said, Doggone, there’s got to be a reason for this. So I go to the kindergarten teacher, and she takes me to the science teacher, and the science teacher takes me to the library and reads it off to me — “This is called resonance.” That was the beginning.

No, working is what will keep you alive.

Just to keep it interesting I’ll tune the guitar randomly, so I don’t know what’s going to come out.

I’m meant to be an artist who can stand on my own. That’s my place; that’s what I’m supposed to do.

The spirit of Jazz is the spirit of openness.

The way I think about the practicing, it is my undercover work.

A Jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges.

I know what I’ve done for music, but don’t call me a legend. Just call me Miles Davis.

Blues is to Jazz what yeast is to bread; without it, it’s flat.

I like chords that are very lush with all the lush parts taken out.

What I look for in concert is a connection with the audience.

I’m surprised Beyonce liked me. I met Beyonce!!

A series of vibrations. What does it matter, the source of the catalyst?

Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong.

Improvisation is the ability to talk to oneself.

Jazz has the ability to absorb and transform influences from diverse musical styles.

I’ve worked with jazz artists, country artists, classical artists, pop artists. I never wanted there to be categories, because when I was a kid there weren’t.