'Don't play what's there, play what's not there.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Davis advises musicians to focus on the spaces between notes rather than just the notes themselves.
- In plain terms
- Play the silence and gaps as much as the actual sounds.
- What can you take from it?
- Silence and timing are as important as the notes you play.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does silence affect mood?
- What happens when you stop playing?
Another view
This approach requires high skill to execute well.
More from Miles Davis
'It's that goddamned motherfucking 'Machine Gun.''
Permalink to quote #19 'Try taking the fucking horn out of your mouth.'
Permalink to quote #18 'When you are creating your own shit, man, even the sky ain't the limit.'
Permalink to quote #17
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