--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's tough to play the right chord on the…" description: "\"It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.\" — Darrell Hammond" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/darrell-hammond-20490_chord_it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-th_194342.png" --- # It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when… ![“It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.” quote by Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/darrell-hammond-20490_chord_it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-th_194342.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/darrell-hammond-20490_chord_it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-th_194342.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/darrell-hammond-20490_chord_it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-th_194342.png) > “It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.” [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing creative expression with personal danger can feel impossible, yet it highlights the tension between art and survival. **In simple terms:** Creating art feels risky when threatened. Key Takeaway Stay aware, protect yourself while creating. Themes creativity danger resilience Mood anxious determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - performing live - writing songs - public speaking - political activism Key Concepts risk management artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect yourself while pursuing passion? - What risks are worth taking for art? A Different Perspective Even with fear, art can still be pursued with caution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [... there are chords in every human heart. If we only knew how to strike the right chord, we would bring out the music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/there-are-chords-in-every-human-heart-if-we-only-knew-how-to-strike/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Every world has its distinct lingo, you gotta catch the right chord. Same language evokes different feelings, based on time and age of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/every-world-has-its-distinct-lingo-you-gotta-catch-the-right-chord/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“She said, 'People don't know what they like until they hear it. And that is the magic of music. Every song is a possibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-hauser/she-said-people-don-t-know-what-they-like-until-they-hear-it-and-that/) Leslie Hauser > [Chord substitution isn't some mysterious religious sect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-roberts/chord-substitution-isn-t-some-mysterious-religious-sect/) [Howard Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-roberts/) > [Because music, like color, or a cloud, is neither intelligent nor unintelligent - it just is. The chord, the simplest building block for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/because-music-like-color-or-a-cloud-is-neither-intelligent-nor/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [The program I use is called MED Soundstudio. It's basically a column of numbers that relate to pitch, duration, the type of sound. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tundra/the-program-i-use-is-called-med-soundstudio-it-s-basically-a-column/) [Max Tundra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tundra/) > [I probably would've kept slogging on that same chord change, because there's a tendency to have that happen. You get into the cadence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-mann/i-probably-would-ve-kept-slogging-on-that-same-chord-change-because/) [Aimee Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-mann/) > [I was the third one in my family born, and there are three notes in a chord, so that's how they came up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-was-the-third-one-in-my-family-born-and-there-are-three-notes-in-a/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [Why play a chord when you can play one note?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kapranos/why-play-a-chord-when-you-can-play-one-note/) [Alex Kapranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kapranos/) > [To some degree. I think that I've always been very much of a chordal person. The chords are the foundation of everything. Some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-downes/to-some-degree-i-think-that-i-ve-always-been-very-much-of-a-chordal/) [Geoff Downes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-downes/) > [I practice all the scales. Everyone should know lots of scales. Actually, I feel there are only scales. What is a chord, if not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/i-practice-all-the-scales-everyone-should-know-lots-of-scales/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [I don't look at a knife the way I used to. I'm more aware of what it is. I think twice. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-young/i-don-t-look-at-a-knife-the-way-i-used-to-i-m-more-aware-of-what-it/) [Neil Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-young/) > [A chord is just the name of a sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bowie/a-chord-is-just-the-name-of-a-sound/) [Lester Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bowie/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Darrell Hammond > [Not everyone can invest their heart into learning something and making it fully realized, and the chances are 9 out of 10 that it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/not-everyone-can-invest-their-heart-into-learning-something-and/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I've learned sometimes you just have to take the bad from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-ve-learned-sometimes-you-just-have-to-take-the-bad-from-people/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I ran into an extraordinary doctor. He got up inside my head and figured out how my brain processed things, what my core values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-ran-into-an-extraordinary-doctor-he-got-up-inside-my-head-and/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I have to give the SNL crew props - it cannot have been easy to work with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-have-to-give-the-snl-crew-props-it-cannot-have-been-easy-to-work/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [Some of the funniest people I know are not screwed up in the head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/some-of-the-funniest-people-i-know-are-not-screwed-up-in-the-head/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I called my mother up and I said, 'You know, I've been to the best doctors in the world and I've spent almost half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-called-my-mother-up-and-i-said-you-know-i-ve-been-to-the-best/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I had a dad you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-had-a-dad-you-know/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I've become fascinated by the idea that it's really achievable to make two or three small improvements in a week and by the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-ve-become-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-it-s-really-achievable-to/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [“I dreamed that I woke up and there was a little girl, not more than three or four years old, standing outside my window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-dreamed-that-i-woke-up-and-there-was-a-little-girl-not-more-than/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [The danger with running for president is sooner or later some sound bite is going hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/the-danger-with-running-for-president-is-sooner-or-later-some-sound/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I was never in a mental institution for a long time. I was in psych wards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-was-never-in-a-mental-institution-for-a-long-time-i-was-in-psych/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I was diagnosed with everything from schizophrenia to multiple personality disorder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-was-diagnosed-with-everything-from-schizophrenia-to-multiple/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [College kids, don't be taking examples from me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/college-kids-don-t-be-taking-examples-from-me/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [When I left my parents' home when I was 19, I went to the University of Florida, and within 24 hours was in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/when-i-left-my-parents-home-when-i-was-19-i-went-to-the-university-of/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [I'll get to make a lot of money and do some bad sitcoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/i-ll-get-to-make-a-lot-of-money-and-do-some-bad-sitcoms/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) [Explore all 30 Darrell Hammond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [We'd hold a chord for three hours if we could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/we-d-hold-a-chord-for-three-hours-if-we-could/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) Browse all 121 Chord quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Darrell Hammond" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-the-instrument-when-there-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chord" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-the-instrument-when-there-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/darrell-hammond-20490_chord_it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-th_194342.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/darrell-hammond-20490_chord_it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-th_194342.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/adf/darrell-hammond-20490_chord_it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-th_194342.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.” — Darrell Hammond", "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": "Darrell Hammond", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's tough to play the right...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-the-instrument-when-there-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-the-instrument-when-there-s/#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 } } ] } ```