Chopin, Schubert, and Liszt had no idea of how to write for the piano.
I wouldn't argue that anyone living can play the trumpet better than Wynton Marsalis.
I don't have session players come in and guitars, I'm doing the drums, I'm doing the scratching, I'm doing every sound you hear and that's always been my way. And not only that, I'm very meticulous about it just sounding right.
I was definitely not one of those kids prodigy guitar players.
But Dennis was a really solid musician, and we really needed somebody who could play bass like him.
Whether it's string writing or whatever, I try to write for what each instrumentalist can do best.
I can play any instrument if you give me 20 minutes.
I've played every instrument you could possibly think of for 10 minutes. So I'm mediocre at everything. I can play drums, guitar, piano, violin, saxophone, clarinet, flute... Just not well.
For the record, Jeff Jarret cannot play guitar. Honky Tonk Man cannot play guitar. Elias? Guitar, piano, harmonica, drums, you name it. I can do anything.
It is impossible to feign mastery of an instrument, however skillful the impostor may be.
Conductors do not know how the oboe does its work, but they know what the oboe should contribute.
I was never really a virtuoso guitar player per se.
