Oscar Peterson Quotes

I tend to play in a way that feels natural to me. To me that's authentic for myself. I play by where I'm led by some sense of where I feel I'm supposed to be.

What I always try to do is to respond to the song; I've always rebelled against theory.

I don't even think whether I play the blues or not, I just play whatever feels right at the moment.

I'm kind of lucky in the fact that I can take something that's in my head and write it down, or I can listen to a piece of music that somebody else has written and try to tap into what the music's saying and just kind of follow that, you know. I mean, nine times out of 10, I'm just kind of following where the music takes me.

Whenever I start to really think about what I'm playing, I may play it better musically, but the feeling isn't there.

For me, something will come in my head and I'll either end up calling my cell phone to record it, or I'll just pick my guitar up and see what comes out. Sometimes it sucks, sometimes it doesn't. So there's really no set method behind it.

Everything I record, I just try to sound like me and come up with songs that suit what I do, and then just go for it.

I just throw it out and see what happens. If it sounds and feels right, then I continue.

I didn't really know what I was doing when I started. I just started writing songs. After two songs I just continued to explore it.

So, to come In with a set routine it's something I've never believed in. It should depend on how you feel, because you play what you feel.

Any talk of 'craft' makes me laugh. My music looks outward; it does not gaze upon itself in admiration. Artisanal is for cheesemakers. I don't know anything about music theory. Every time I approach my guitar, it's like the first time. There's no craft in that.

I don't read music. I don't write it. So I wander around on the guitar until something starts to present itself.

I play purely from the heart, y'know, and so if it doesn't work the first couple of hours, forget it.

You know, I just do whatever feels right to me! And so that's what you're gonna get!

Music is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.

I mean, if you decided to go out today and get you an instrument and do whatever it is that you do, no one can tell you how you're going to do it but when you do it.

Music is multi-dimensional: it's all in the feeling. Sometimes I feel like looping; sometimes I don't. Sometimes I want to strip it back, play instruments I've never played before.

The way I did the first album... the way I wrote 'Church'... was just to trust my instincts with the music and let it kind of do what it does.

It's gotta feel natural. I'm always into that, and after awhile, if I am working on a song too long and trying to make something out of it that it's not... it's best just to stop and move on.

There's never anything planned. I just do what I feel is best for the song at that time.

In my music, I'm never going to force anything to try to recreate a moment or something.

When I play guitar, it's automatic. I don't try to do something; I just do it. And it's already so ingrained in what I do, I don't think about it. I don't try to do something - I just do it. And the more I do it that way, the more I surprise myself. And if I surprise myself, that's the best thing.

I do not concern myself with being unique, and I do not concern myself with success. I feel I just do and say what I am supposed to. I do not know where it comes from. I go where I am told, and I just allow whatever it is to come out.

I'mma just do me, when it feel right.

I don't think I'm singing. I feel like I'm playing a horn...What comes out is what I feel.