--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing is duller than a progression of…" description: "\"“Nothing is duller than a progression of common chords. One wants some contrast, which breaks up the clear white light and makes it iridescent.”\" — Den..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/denis-diderot-1536_chords_nothing-is-duller-than-a-progression-of_2769539.png" --- # Nothing is duller than a progression of common chords. One… ![“Nothing is duller than a progression of common chords. One wants some contrast, which breaks up the clear white light and makes it iridescent.” quote by Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/denis-diderot-1536_chords_nothing-is-duller-than-a-progression-of_2769539.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/denis-diderot-1536_chords_nothing-is-duller-than-a-progression-of_2769539.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/346/denis-diderot-1536_chords_nothing-is-duller-than-a-progression-of_2769539.png) > ““Nothing is duller than a progression of common chords. One wants some contrast, which breaks up the clear white light and makes it iridescent.”” [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Monotony in music dulls perception; contrast and varied harmonies create vivid, colorful experiences. **In simple terms:** Contrast makes music vivid. Key Takeaway Introduce harmonic variety for richness. Themes art music perception Mood contemplative creative Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - music education - film scoring - live performance Key Concepts Aesthetic theory color metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How does contrast affect your mood? - When do you prefer simplicity over complexity? A Different Perspective Too much contrast may disrupt cohesion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords/) [Common Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-chords-3231514/) [Duller Progression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duller-progression-3231513/) [Iridescent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iridescent/) [White light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-light/) ## Related quotes > [“Every once in a while you find someone who is iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendelin-van-draanen/every-once-in-a-while-you-find-someone-who-is-iridescent-and-when-you/) [Wendelin Van Draanen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendelin-van-draanen/) > [“Everyone in a while, you find some one who is iridescent and when you do nothing will ever compare”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flipped/everyone-in-a-while-you-find-some-one-who-is-iridescent-and-when-you/) [Flipped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flipped/) > [Peeta rinses the pearl off in the water and hands it to me. “For you.” I hold it out on my palm and examine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/peeta-rinses-the-pearl-off-in-the-water-and-hands-it-to-me-for-you-i/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Under this fine rain I breathe in the innocence of the world. I feel coloured by the nuances of infinity. At this moment I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/under-this-fine-rain-i-breathe-in-the-innocence-of-the-world-i-feel/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [The landscape becomes human, becomes a thinking, living being within me. I become one with my picture...we merge in an iridescent chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-cezanne/the-landscape-becomes-human-becomes-a-thinking-living-being-within-me/) [Paul Cezanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-cezanne/) > [Africa - You can see a sunset and believe you have witnessed the Hand of God. You watch the slope lope of a lioness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/africa-you-can-see-a-sunset-and-believe-you-have-witnessed-the-hand/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The pile of guts was a black blob of flies that buzzed like a saw. After a while these flies found Simon. Gorged, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/the-pile-of-guts-was-a-black-blob-of-flies-that-buzzed-like-a-saw/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [Gods should be iridescent, like the rainbow in the storm. Man creates a God in his own image, and the gods grow old along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/gods-should-be-iridescent-like-the-rainbow-in-the-storm-man-creates-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I played with an idea, and grew willful; tossed it into the air; transformed it; let it escape and recaptured it; made it iridescent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/i-played-with-an-idea-and-grew-willful-tossed-it-into-the-air/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin, some in gloss…" He turned to me. 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One forgets that they are also the source of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/one-declaims-endlessly-against-the-passions-one-imputes-all-of-man-s/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Time, matter, space - all, it may be, are no more than a point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/time-matter-space-all-it-may-be-are-no-more-than-a-point/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [We are far more liable to catch the vices than the virtues of our associates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/we-are-far-more-liable-to-catch-the-vices-than-the-virtues-of-our/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [One composition is meagre, though it has many figures; another is rich, though it has few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/one-composition-is-meagre-though-it-has-many-figures-another-is-rich/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [I have only a small flickering light to guide me in the darkness of a thick forest. Up comes a theologian and blows it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/i-have-only-a-small-flickering-light-to-guide-me-in-the-darkness-of-a/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [The world is the house of the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/the-world-is-the-house-of-the-strong/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [“One swallows the lie that flatters, but sips the bitter truth drop by drop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/one-swallows-the-lie-that-flatters-but-sips-the-bitter-truth-drop-by/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [There is less harm to be suffered in being mad among madmen than in being sane all by oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/there-is-less-harm-to-be-suffered-in-being-mad-among-madmen-than-in/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Integrity is the evidence of all civil virtues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/integrity-is-the-evidence-of-all-civil-virtues/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Watch out for the fellow who talks about putting things in order! Putting things in order always means getting other people under your control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/watch-out-for-the-fellow-who-talks-about-putting-things-in-order/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [“Nie wiem, co to zasady, chyba że tak nazywamy prawidła, które przypisuje się innym, a nie sobie. Myślę tak, a nie umiałbym się powstrzymać…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/nie-wiem-co-to-zasady-chyba-e-tak-nazywamy-prawid-a-kt-re-przypisuje/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [There is no good father who would want to resemble our Heavenly Father.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/there-is-no-good-father-who-would-want-to-resemble-our-heavenly-father/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Isn't it better to have men being ungrateful than to miss a chance to do good?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/isn-t-it-better-to-have-men-being-ungrateful-than-to-miss-a-chance-to/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [A nation which thinks that it is belief in God and not good law which makes people honest does not seem to me very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/a-nation-which-thinks-that-it-is-belief-in-god-and-not-good-law-which/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) [Explore all 210 Denis Diderot quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) ## 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. 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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. 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