--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yeah, I can read music and I know the…" description: "\"Yeah, I can read music and I know the names of chords.\" — Dave Navarro" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/dave-navarro-23849_chords_yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-nam_1011066.jpg" --- # Yeah, I can read music and I know the names of chords. ![“Yeah, I can read music and I know the names of chords.” quote by Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/dave-navarro-23849_chords_yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-nam_1011066.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/dave-navarro-23849_chords_yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-nam_1011066.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/dave-navarro-23849_chords_yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-nam_1011066.jpg) > “Yeah, I can read music and I know the names of chords.” [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing music theory basics like chord names is a starting point, not mastery. **In simple terms:** Basic knowledge is just the start. Key Takeaway Practice beyond theory. Themes music learning skill development Mood motivational practical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - education Key Concepts theory instrumentation Questions to Reflect On - How will you apply what you know? - What next skill will you learn? A Different Perspective Theory alone doesn’t make you a great musician. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [I can't even read music. All I know is whether I think it sounds good and if I like what I'm doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-can-t-even-read-music-all-i-know-is-whether-i-think-it-sounds-good/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [I can read music, but I have no technique, and singing was never an option even though I sang a lot growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-morris/i-can-read-music-but-i-have-no-technique-and-singing-was-never-an/) [Mark Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-morris/) > [I've written arrangements for choirs and strings in the past, but I usually write music with my voice or a keyboard and then I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjork/i-ve-written-arrangements-for-choirs-and-strings-in-the-past-but-i/) [Bjork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjork/) > [I don't read music. I refuse to learn how to do that. I barely know half the chords I'm playing. I like being naive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perry/i-don-t-read-music-i-refuse-to-learn-how-to-do-that-i-barely-know/) [Linda Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perry/) > [“I know names aren’t important. It’s the person behind them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-lawson/i-know-names-aren-t-important-it-s-the-person-behind-them/) [Jessica Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-lawson/) > [“We don’t yet know the names of the architects who will build the next upgrade to the secret-killing machine. But we’ll know them by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-greenberg/we-don-t-yet-know-the-names-of-the-architects-who-will-build-the-next/) [Andy Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-greenberg/) > [I kind of feel bad that I don't know the names of the people in Girls Aloud!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duff-mckagan/i-kind-of-feel-bad-that-i-don-t-know-the-names-of-the-people-in-girls/) [Duff McKagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duff-mckagan/) > [“A king had best know the names of his enemies, don’t you think?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/a-king-had-best-know-the-names-of-his-enemies-don-t-you-think/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names; but once you know, everything changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/orphans-are-easier-to-ignore-before-you-know-their-names-but-once-you/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [Some of my troubles are so familiar, I know them by their first names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/some-of-my-troubles-are-so-familiar-i-know-them-by-their-first-names/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Can you imagine me calling myself "Ruiz"? "Pablo Ruiz"? "Diego-José Ruiz"? Or "Juan-Népomucène Ruiz"? I was given I don't know how many names.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/can-you-imagine-me-calling-myself-ruiz-pablo-ruiz-diego-jos-ruiz-or/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Know the names of past and current artists who are most famous for playing their instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-vos-savant/know-the-names-of-past-and-current-artists-who-are-most-famous-for/) [Marilyn vos Savant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-vos-savant/) > [“When you are communicating with new people you do not have to know their names — after all, you've just met.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cleveland-amory/when-you-are-communicating-with-new-people-you-do-not-have-to-know/) [Cleveland Amory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cleveland-amory/) > [In England, many don't even know the names of politicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marsh/in-england-many-don-t-even-know-the-names-of-politicians/) [Jean Marsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marsh/) > [“It's my first day teaching," I say to her, "Give me some advice." "Two things," she says, "One: know all their names by tomorrow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/it-s-my-first-day-teaching-i-say-to-her-give-me-some-advice-two/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) ## More by Dave Navarro > [I never have a realistic sense of self. I either think everything I do is terrible and I'm the worst guy on the planet,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/i-never-have-a-realistic-sense-of-self-i-either-think-everything-i-do/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [I grew up listening to albums by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, and they all worked on that multi-layered level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/i-grew-up-listening-to-albums-by-pink-floyd-led-zeppelin-and-jimi/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [Guitar playing is just something that came to me and is really second nature now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/guitar-playing-is-just-something-that-came-to-me-and-is-really-second/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [I have never been sexually aroused by a man. But I have yet to kiss Johnny Depp, so you never know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/i-have-never-been-sexually-aroused-by-a-man-but-i-have-yet-to-kiss/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [I've always recorded the same way. I put down as many ideas as I have, then strip them away at the mixdown. It's better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/i-ve-always-recorded-the-same-way-i-put-down-as-many-ideas-as-i-have/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [There have been times when I felt suicidal and I would stop my head from going in that direction of negativity because I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/there-have-been-times-when-i-felt-suicidal-and-i-would-stop-my-head/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [So as long as I can do the music or create, I'll feel fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/so-as-long-as-i-can-do-the-music-or-create-i-ll-feel-fine/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [Men are much more agressive with their advances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/men-are-much-more-agressive-with-their-advances/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [Jane's Addiction has only put out new music when our hearts were in and when we had something to say creatively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/jane-s-addiction-has-only-put-out-new-music-when-our-hearts-were-in/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [I've done a lot of talk shows where you can tell that the host is just thinking about what he wants to say next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/i-ve-done-a-lot-of-talk-shows-where-you-can-tell-that-the-host-is/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [Chad Michael Ward is a master of the storytelling craft. His imagery, both still and moving, reaches deep into the darkest corners of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/chad-michael-ward-is-a-master-of-the-storytelling-craft-his-imagery/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [I'm not the type of player to sit home and practice scales and work on runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/i-m-not-the-type-of-player-to-sit-home-and-practice-scales-and-work/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [And I've also come to the conclusion that, as far as guitar solos and things like that are concerned, it's more important to complement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/and-i-ve-also-come-to-the-conclusion-that-as-far-as-guitar-solos-and/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [My skin is my canvas. The artwork on it represents something that is very powerful and meaningful in my life. I look at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/my-skin-is-my-canvas-the-artwork-on-it-represents-something-that-is/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) > [I'm either shooting nine grams of coke a day or spending two hours at the gym. There's no middle ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/i-m-either-shooting-nine-grams-of-coke-a-day-or-spending-two-hours-at/) [Dave Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) [Explore all 25 Dave Navarro quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/) ## More Chords quotes > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [There's four chords in every song. That's the fun part - trying to make that your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-rodrigo/there-s-four-chords-in-every-song-that-s-the-fun-part-trying-to-make/) [Olivia Rodrigo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-rodrigo/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [“Wild Horses" started in a B-minor chord, and Stu didn't play minor chords, "fucking Chinese music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/wild-horses-started-in-a-b-minor-chord-and-stu-didn-t-play-minor/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I learned to play by ear before I learned music theory. For me, that makes sense. After all, children learn to speak before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/i-learned-to-play-by-ear-before-i-learned-music-theory-for-me-that/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [My course is about really working on a sheet of music. You work out the chords, which note complements the other, and how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catriona-gray/my-course-is-about-really-working-on-a-sheet-of-music-you-work-out/) [Catriona Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catriona-gray/) > [I don't write poetry and then strum some chords and then fit the words on top of the chords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/i-don-t-write-poetry-and-then-strum-some-chords-and-then-fit-the/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [I always think of each night as a song. Or each moment as a song. But now I'm seeing we don't live in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-always-think-of-each-night-as-a-song-or-each-moment-as-a-song-but/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It's a double-headed coin, because technology is a convenience but it's stifled our attention spans. At one time, albums had songs that were like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/it-s-a-double-headed-coin-because-technology-is-a-convenience-but-it/) [Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/) > [I don't want to discredit people's opinions of me, but you talk about the violin or the cello or lead guitar where you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/i-don-t-want-to-discredit-people-s-opinions-of-me-but-you-talk-about/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [There are no rules or certain methods. I usually start with the guitar or piano and sing melodies over the chords. The lyrics seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/there-are-no-rules-or-certain-methods-i-usually-start-with-the-guitar/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [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/) Browse all 544 Chords quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yeah, I can read music and I know the names of chords.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dave Navarro" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-names-of-chords/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chords" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-names-of-chords/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/dave-navarro-23849_chords_yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-nam_1011066.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/dave-navarro-23849_chords_yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-nam_1011066.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/dave-navarro-23849_chords_yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-nam_1011066.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yeah, I can read music and I know the names of chords.” — Dave Navarro", "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": "Dave Navarro", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-navarro/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Yeah, I can read music and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-names-of-chords/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-navarro/yeah-i-can-read-music-and-i-know-the-names-of-chords/#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 } } ] } ```