---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm making a chord progression on…"
description: "\"If I'm making a chord progression on guitar, and I like it, but the next day when I play, and it doesn't make me feel anything, I just scratch it, or I..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/alex-g-5973_chord_if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-gui_2496274.jpg"
---

#  If I'm making a chord progression on guitar, and I like…

![“If I'm making a chord progression on guitar, and I like it, but the next day when I play, and it doesn't make me feel anything, I just scratch it, or I'll rework it till I have this thing that's consistently putting me in a spot, you know? It's not a method that I'm even conscious of.” quote by Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/alex-g-5973_chord_if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-gui_2496274.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/alex-g-5973_chord_if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-gui_2496274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/alex-g-5973_chord_if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-gui_2496274.jpg)

> “If I'm making a chord progression on guitar, and I like it, but the next day when I play, and it doesn't make me feel anything, I just scratch it, or I'll rework it till I have this thing that's consistently putting me in a spot, you know? It's not a method that I'm even conscious of.”

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Creative intuition drives music composition, often without conscious method.

**In simple terms:** Intuition guides music creation beyond deliberate technique.

Key Takeaway

Trust your gut when crafting music.

Themes

creativity music intuition

Mood

inspired introspective

Type

artistic motivational

When to use this quote

- songwriting
- performance
- studio sessions

Key Concepts

artistic flow spontaneity self‑editing emotional resonance

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you apply structured practice?
- How to balance instinct and skill?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on intuition may ignore technical improvement.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/)

## Related quotes

> [Using open strings is a great way to add texture and atmosphere to any chord progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/using-open-strings-is-a-great-way-to-add-texture-and-atmosphere-to/)

[John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/)

> [I think there's something that feels so good about a 1-4-5 chord progression. It's a very standard chord progression, and it just feels good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-gibbard/i-think-there-s-something-that-feels-so-good-about-a-1-4-5-chord/)

[Ben Gibbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-gibbard/)

> [I kept on buying records and listening to them. Finally, I was able to hear the relationship between the jazz improvisers' solos and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-pekar/i-kept-on-buying-records-and-listening-to-them-finally-i-was-able-to/)

[Harvey Pekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-pekar/)

> [There's so many ways you can play one chord progression that the repetition isn't ever exactly the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vile/there-s-so-many-ways-you-can-play-one-chord-progression-that-the/)

[Kurt Vile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vile/)

> [The first thing that inspires any song is a chord progression. When I have one I really like, I get into the lyrics even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-first-thing-that-inspires-any-song-is-a-chord-progression-when-i/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Chord progression is progression of emotions; storytelling - taking one person from one mood to the next. We are doing the same thing within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richie-hawtin/chord-progression-is-progression-of-emotions-storytelling-taking-one/)

[Richie Hawtin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richie-hawtin/)

> [If you are having trouble making a chord, get a book, that is how I learned. There are guitar tuning apps so you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-jett/if-you-are-having-trouble-making-a-chord-get-a-book-that-is-how-i/)

[Joan Jett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-jett/)

> [If I don't already know a song's chord progression, I'll stop writing and try to figure it out. I can occasionally listen to unstructured,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-paul-wilson/if-i-don-t-already-know-a-song-s-chord-progression-i-ll-stop-writing/)

[F. Paul Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-paul-wilson/)

> [When I write a song, that process is sort of entwined with a lyric or a chord progression that suits the vibe, and that'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/when-i-write-a-song-that-process-is-sort-of-entwined-with-a-lyric-or/)

[Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/)

> [The melodies are always the most important part to me. I am pulled more to the groove than the chord progression. After you find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/the-melodies-are-always-the-most-important-part-to-me-i-am-pulled/)

[Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/)

> [I'd have these weird experiences where I'd just be walking down the street with this chord progression in my head, this happened more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duncan-sheik/i-d-have-these-weird-experiences-where-i-d-just-be-walking-down-the/)

[Duncan Sheik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duncan-sheik/)

> [I've never used the word jamming. It's a matter of finding a great song and learning the chords, then slightly altering the vocal melody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-ward/i-ve-never-used-the-word-jamming-it-s-a-matter-of-finding-a-great/)

[M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-ward/)

> [It turns out kids today still learn that four-chord progression when they're just picking up the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-scofield/it-turns-out-kids-today-still-learn-that-four-chord-progression-when/)

[John Scofield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-scofield/)

> [Playing inside the changes means playing enough of the important notes of the chord progression at important times. A good solo might be very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-israels/playing-inside-the-changes-means-playing-enough-of-the-important/)

Chuck Israels

> [To be honest, I don't have a particular recipe, but I normally start with the chord progression and then I build it from there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-misch/to-be-honest-i-don-t-have-a-particular-recipe-but-i-normally-start/)

[Tom Misch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-misch/)

## More by Alex G

> [I try and construct the music in a way that stuff that doesn't make sense on the first listen will make sense on like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-try-and-construct-the-music-in-a-way-that-stuff-that-doesn-t-make/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [You know who I love? Donna Tartt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/you-know-who-i-love-donna-tartt/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [I guess it's a romanticised, 'cool' thing to be mysterious, so I'm down for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-guess-it-s-a-romanticised-cool-thing-to-be-mysterious-so-i-m-down/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [For every album, I feel an obligation to myself to make something that I'm really proud of. But other than that, I make an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/for-every-album-i-feel-an-obligation-to-myself-to-make-something-that/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [I think I'm like most people in that there's a performance I do for everybody in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-think-i-m-like-most-people-in-that-there-s-a-performance-i-do-for/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [My sister's CD collection was my source of music for a long time. When she showed me 'Kid A,' I was really psyched about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/my-sister-s-cd-collection-was-my-source-of-music-for-a-long-time-when/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [All of my songs are trial-and-error until each part is successfully hitting me in the way that I can feel. But I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/all-of-my-songs-are-trial-and-error-until-each-part-is-successfully/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [Every single time, I just want to make good music that people can listen to 100 times... I want people to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/every-single-time-i-just-want-to-make-good-music-that-people-can/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [I know what a good sentence looks like. I read a lot, so I know what reads well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-know-what-a-good-sentence-looks-like-i-read-a-lot-so-i-know-what/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [I don't feel like I'm that mysterious, I just don't have a lot to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-don-t-feel-like-i-m-that-mysterious-i-just-don-t-have-a-lot-to-say/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [It's not that I don't know about things - but a lot of what I'm doing means one thing to me at one time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/it-s-not-that-i-don-t-know-about-things-but-a-lot-of-what-i-m-doing/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [I remember writing really simple songs on the piano when I was really young. Looking back, I'd play a lot of two-note minor chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-remember-writing-really-simple-songs-on-the-piano-when-i-was-really/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [My recording techniques have gotten a lot more systematic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/my-recording-techniques-have-gotten-a-lot-more-systematic/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [I don't like when songs are distinctly happy or sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-don-t-like-when-songs-are-distinctly-happy-or-sad/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

> [I just couldn't make myself care about school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/i-just-couldn-t-make-myself-care-about-school/)

[Alex G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

[Explore all 100 Alex G quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/)

## More Chord quotes

> [We wanted to guide the musicians, so we could create our own sound. We would never let the band just go in and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamont-dozier/we-wanted-to-guide-the-musicians-so-we-could-create-our-own-sound-we/)

Lamont Dozier

> [I like Kelela. I like Twigs. I love the more old school; I hate to say old school, but I love Peaches; I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-like-kelela-i-like-twigs-i-love-the-more-old-school-i-hate-to-say/)

[Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/)

> [Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-action-in-our-lives-touches-on-some-chord-that-will-vibrate-in/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-chord-knowledge-but-what-i-have/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I studied chord theory and started playing the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/i-studied-chord-theory-and-started-playing-the-piano/)

[Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/)

> [There are certain choices you make as a songwriter, based on vowel sounds and melody and chord changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-crowell/there-are-certain-choices-you-make-as-a-songwriter-based-on-vowel/)

[Rodney Crowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-crowell/)

> [I like really sparse electronics, lush arrangements, and interesting chord structures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-klinghoffer/i-like-really-sparse-electronics-lush-arrangements-and-interesting/)

[Josh Klinghoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-klinghoffer/)

> [With Audioslave, it's all about melody and chord progressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-commerford/with-audioslave-it-s-all-about-melody-and-chord-progressions/)

[Tim Commerford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-commerford/)

> [It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-the-instrument-when-there-s/)

[Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/)

> [Using open strings is a great way to add texture and atmosphere to any chord progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/using-open-strings-is-a-great-way-to-add-texture-and-atmosphere-to/)

[John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/)

> [John Prine in particular... just the chord changes combined with the words. He definitely can make you cry a little bit. Just a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vile/john-prine-in-particular-just-the-chord-changes-combined-with-the/)

[Kurt Vile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vile/)

> [Light rails are too bus-like to impress most commuters, too squished and close to the ground. Monorails, by contrast, strike a chord with travelers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-i-koerner/light-rails-are-too-bus-like-to-impress-most-commuters-too-squished/)

[Brendan I. Koerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-i-koerner/)

> [I've been kind of listening to the composer Britten and his rendition of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' The opening track is a choral section…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-hynes/i-ve-been-kind-of-listening-to-the-composer-britten-and-his-rendition/)

[Dev Hynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-hynes/)

> [The Beatles changed music forever. They took rock n' roll from a medium that was about cars and girls and gave it context, interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-spitz/the-beatles-changed-music-forever-they-took-rock-n-roll-from-a-medium/)

[Bob Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-spitz/)

> [Fair treatment of human beings and animals in many different realms strikes a chord with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nargis-fakhri/fair-treatment-of-human-beings-and-animals-in-many-different-realms/)

[Nargis Fakhri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nargis-fakhri/)

Browse all 121 Chord quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If I'm making a chord progression on guitar, and I like it, but the next day when I play, and it doesn't make me feel anything, I just scratch it, or I'll rework it till I have this thing that's consistently putting me in a spot, you know? It's not a method that I'm even conscious of.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alex G"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-guitar-and-i-like-it-but-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chord"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-guitar-and-i-like-it-but-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/alex-g-5973_chord_if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-gui_2496274.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/alex-g-5973_chord_if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-gui_2496274.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a4e/alex-g-5973_chord_if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-gui_2496274.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I'm making a chord progression on guitar, and I like it, but the next day when I play, and it doesn't…” — Alex G",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alex G",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-g/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I'm making a chord progression...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-guitar-and-i-like-it-but-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-g/if-i-m-making-a-chord-progression-on-guitar-and-i-like-it-but-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
