Steve Vai Quotes & Sayings (Page 3)

“All musicians practice ear training constantly, whether or not they are cognizant of it. If, when listening to a piece of music, a musician is envisioning how to play it or is trying to play along, that musician is using his or her 'ear' - the understanding and recognition of musical elements - for guidance.”

“I can tell you this: I'm an extremely passionate individual. I try to be careful how I display it because you never know how people are going to take it.”

“I loved the guitar, and I had all of this music in my head. My passion for the guitar and the ideas for what I could create musically were equal. So that's where I was.”

“I've never really heard anybody imitating anything of mine the way they do with Edward Van Halen's stuff.”

“I'm a big fan of cultural music, and that's how I try to expand my playing, by listening to music that is not conventionally American.”

“Criticism can be devastating. When push comes to shove, we are all very sensitive.”

“I don't believe in 'greatest'. I believe in favorites.”

“I knew that I was going to have a life as a musician, because I always felt the pull. I don't remember ever having to make a choice.”

“When I was a teenager in the '70s, I was really into those great bands like Led Zeppelin and Queen and Jethro Tull, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper.”

“I wanted to be a composer before anything else. And my sister was listening to Led Zeppelin in the other room! When I heard that, it was a game-changer.”