Victor L. Wooten > Quotes

“A politician is not allowed to get too emotional in public, so what he does is drop subtle hints that, over time, cause the public to get emotional. Once the same emotions are generated by enough people, the politician can use it to steer the public in his desired direction. Fear is an emotion that is often used this way. A smart politician knows that if he can create fear in enough people, those people will give up what they truly want in order to give the politician what he says they need.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“Never lose the groove in order to find a note.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“And by the way, if I always tell you the truth, you might start to believe me.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“Musicians do not have to be believed in. We do not have to be trusted. Our Music speaks for itself without the listener having to know anything about us. Music touches people's emotions in a way that nothing else can. When people find a musician they like, they are usually fans for Life. If they like the musician and his Music, they will open up their hearts to whatever that musician has to say. It matters not what country the musician or the fan comes from. Music is a language that all understand. It goes beyond and breaks down barriers. This makes the musician very powerful, and with power comes responsibility.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“You can't speak Music with notes alone, but you can speak Music without notes at all!”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“You see, most people play louder to get someone's attention, but getting quieter can stop a bull from charging.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“It was made clear to me that Music is related to everything, especially nature and language, but in order to speak it naturally, I had to first make myself a part of it.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“A child playing air-guitar plays no wrong notes.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“There is only one reason that you ever fail at anything...and that is because you eventually change your mind. That's it!...anything and everything you have ever decided to do, you have succeeded, or will succeed, at doing.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“You can only teach yourself. Until we live in a day where I can physically implant knowledge into your head, I can teach you nothing. I can only show you things.”
― Victor L. Wooten

“When people put you on the pedestal, don't come off it acting like you're humble. Because if they put you up there, that shows how high they can see. Stay there and pull them up, and they'll grow faster.”
― Victor L. Wooten

“It's time for you to take control of your Life and for you to accept that it is you who's in control.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“Look,'' he continued, pointing at the keyboard. ''In the key of C major, the 'rule book' states that you're allowed t play the white keys only. But what would happen if you accidentally landed on a black key? Nothing, because if you look on either side of this 'wrong' note, what do you see?''
''A 'right note,''' I answered proudly.
''Absolutely! You are never more than a half'step away from a 'right' note. Never! So what are you afraid of?”
― Victor Wooten

“Listen! Before you can fully understand the notes, dear boy, you must first understand the space you will place them in. Space can be seen as the birthplace of all things. That is why all things are eventually attracted back to it... Your understanding of this will allow you to pack your Music with an immeasurable amount of power, the power to change the world and the power for the world to change you. But remember, you are responsible.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“It is understated and underappreciated, yet it plays the most important role. The bass is the link between harmony and rhythm. It is the foundation of a band. It is what all the other instruments stand upon, but it is rarely recognized as that.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“We think that Music stops at the ears. That is a mistake. Vibrations can be felt in all places and at all times, even with the eyes.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“Anyone who can get another person to express himself freely is powerful because he allows all involved to recognize their collective and individual power.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“Truth? What is the truth? Truth is up to you. You make your truth; no one else does. Tell yourself that it takes a long time to learn something, and it probably will. Convincingly put yourself at the end of the path and you will find yourself looking back at the begining. It is all up to you”
― Victor Wooten

“Real? What is real? And tell me, what importance does reality have anyway? Did you learn from the experience? Now, that is important!”
― Victor L Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“All the knowledge that ever existed, or ever will exist, is already out there in the air. All you need to do is tune in to what you want to know.”
― Victor Wooten

“The only reason it sounded like a good deal is because it was not your Music they were selling. Imagine recording an album. You pour your soul into each song as if they are your children. Then, because you do not know any better, you sign those songs away for someone else to own. The songs are still important to you. They will always be important to you. They are your offspring, worth more than any amount of money, but you no longer own them. You will never own them again. As a matter of fact, your kids will never own them. Instead, a record executive’s kids will eventually own your songs. And then”—he lowered his head and shook it side to side—“someone sells your kids…for a penny.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Spirit of Music: The Lesson Continues

“Once you find the groove, it doesn’t matter what note comes out; it will ‘feel’ right to the listener.”
― Victor L. Wooten, The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music

“Most musicians think that Music is made up of notes. They forget that notes are just a part of Music, and a small part at that. If you stopped playing them, Music would still exist. Think about that! The reason many musicians get frustrated when they start to play, especially when they start to solo, is that they rely mostly on notes to express themselves. There are only twelve notes. Imagine trying to speak a whole language using only twelve words.”
― Victor Wooten

“Your thoughts shout while your feelings whisper. Pay attention to both.”
― Victor L Wooten, The Spirit of Music: The Lesson Continues

“You do not have to create it; you just have to feel her and become one with her. Then, anything you touch can and will become your instrument.”
― Victor L Wooten, The Spirit of Music: The Lesson Continues

“Now,'' I continued, ''in order for me to play freely, I need good technique, but I don't wanna be thinking about my technique while I'm playing any more than I wanna be thinking about my mouth when I'm talking. So, when I practice, I use 'concentration' to learn what the technique is. Then I use 'not concentrating' to get completely comfortable using the technique. Combining the two concentration methods allows me to get a complete grasp of the technique.”
― Victor Wooten

“Many musicians,'' he said, ''are afraid of those twelve notes. If they hit the ''wrong'' one, they get scared and quickly leave that note in search for the ''right'' one. That's what you were doing when you were trying to find the key. If you make friends with whichever note you happened to land on it will give you directions to where you are trying to go.”
― Victor Wooten

“allow the silence to speak louder than your thoughts”
― Victor L. Wooten

“Are you saying that you can play any instrument?'' I asked.
''Of course I can, and so can you!It is this knowing that separates us. A true writer can write using a typewriter, a pen, a pencil, or anything else that he chooses. You wouldn't call him a pencil writer, would you? Your understanding that the writing utensil is just a tool allows you to see past it and into the truth of what he is-a writer. The story is in the writer, is it not? Or is it in the pencil? Your problem is this: You have been trying to tell your story with a bass guitar instead of through it.”
― Victor Wooten

“Play like a child with an air guitar,'' Michael advised. ''A child playing air guitar never plays a 'wrong' note.”
― Victor Wooten