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Chet Atkins

20 quotes in 137 categories

[Wikipedia] Chester Burton Atkins, nicknamed "Mister Guitar" and "the Country Gentleman", was a fingerpicking guitar player, arranger and producer who, along with Owen Bradley and Bob Ferguson, created the Nashville sound, the country music style which expanded its appeal to adult pop music fans. He was primari

Quotes by Chet Atkins

Years from now, after I'm gone, someone will listen to what I've done and know I was here. They may not know…

Care

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Once you become predictable, no one's interested anymore.

Predictable

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...Everyone has their own sound, and if you're heard enough, folks will come to recognize it. Style however, is a different thing.…

Different

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The last song I recorded with [Hank Williams, Sr.] was "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." I remember thinking, "Hoss,…

Alive

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Do it again on the next verse, and people think you meant it.

Again

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I'll always be poor in my mind.

Mind

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Elvis changed the country music scene quite a bit; he almost put country music out of business.

Bits

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Ray Cummins is my good friend and one of the best finger pickers around.

Fingers

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You want a little talent on that?

Littles

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Lenny Breau is one of the true geniuses of the guitar. I suppose he is a musician's musician. His knowledge of the…

Genius

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There is a long history in country music of songs celebrating drinking and lamenting drinking. Country songs for the most part have…

Artist

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Everything I've ever done was out of fear of being mediocre.

Done

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When I was a little boy, I told my dad, 'When I grow up, I want to be a musician.' My dad…

Adulthood

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It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it…

Amount

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It took me 20 years to learn I couldn't tune too well. And by that time I was too rich to care.

Care

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A long apprenticeship is the most logical way to success. The only alternative is overnight stardom, but I can't give you a…

Apprenticeship

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You shape your own destiny.

Destiny

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Approach your guitar intelligently, and if there are limits, don't deny them. Work within your restrictions. Somethings you can do better than…

Accentuate

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Copying one person is stealing. Copying ten is research.

Copying

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If you hear something you like, and you're halfway like the public, chances are they'll like it too.

Chance

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Chet Atkins by topic

Music (8)