--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's really weird to be playing chords…" description: "\"It's really weird to be playing chords again. Haven't played chords for a long time. I realised I haven't played chord changes since OK Computer and st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/ed-o-brien-23410_chords_it-s-really-weird-to-be-playing-chords-a_2191667.png" --- # It's really weird to be playing chords again. Haven't… ![“It's really weird to be playing chords again. Haven't played chords for a long time. I realised I haven't played chord changes since OK Computer and stuff like that.” quote by Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/ed-o-brien-23410_chords_it-s-really-weird-to-be-playing-chords-a_2191667.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/ed-o-brien-23410_chords_it-s-really-weird-to-be-playing-chords-a_2191667.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/194/ed-o-brien-23410_chords_it-s-really-weird-to-be-playing-chords-a_2191667.png) > “It's really weird to be playing chords again. Haven't played chords for a long time. I realised I haven't played chord changes since OK Computer and stuff like that.” [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Returning to chord playing after a long break feels strange, highlighting how skills can fade without regular use. **In simple terms:** Skill fades without practice. Key Takeaway Practice chords regularly to retain fluency. Themes music skill practice creativity Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal musical When to use this quote - personal rehearsal - band practice - songwriting sessions - music lessons Key Concepts musical memory skill retention learning curves Questions to Reflect On - What routines help maintain musical skills? - How does time away affect creative confidence? A Different Perspective May cause frustration and self‑criticism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chord Changes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chord-changes-779240/) [Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords/) [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Played Chord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-chord-4718935/) [Played Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/played-chords-4775739/) [Playing Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-chords-2713016/) [Realised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realised/) [Really weird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-weird/) [Stuff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stuff/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The very funny thing about "Like A Rolling Stone" is it was a six minute song, there was no music to read from. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-kooper/the-very-funny-thing-about-like-a-rolling-stone-is-it-was-a-six/) [Al Kooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-kooper/) > [It's just rock and roll. A lot of times we get criticized for it. A lot of music papers come out with: 'When are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-young/it-s-just-rock-and-roll-a-lot-of-times-we-get-criticized-for-it-a-lot/) [Angus Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-young/) > [We are unique because we're the same three guys, and as Billy says, playing the same three chords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusty-hill/we-are-unique-because-we-re-the-same-three-guys-and-as-billy-says/) [Dusty Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusty-hill/) > [I bad a piano long before I bad a guitar, and the practice I got just playing those three chords in a basic 12-bar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-knopfler/i-bad-a-piano-long-before-i-bad-a-guitar-and-the-practice-i-got-just/) [Mark Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-knopfler/) > [I thrive on change. That's probably why my chord changes are weird, because chords depict emotions. They'll be going along on one key and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/i-thrive-on-change-that-s-probably-why-my-chord-changes-are-weird/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more melodies and chord changes, the less good it is for the clubs, but the better it is for radio, because it makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-guetta/the-more-melodies-and-chord-changes-the-less-good-it-is-for-the-clubs/) [David Guetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-guetta/) > [A lot of it starts with playing instruments and working with other people. Some of the new generation is doing it on computers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-parker-jr/a-lot-of-it-starts-with-playing-instruments-and-working-with-other/) [Ray Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-parker-jr/) > [Bird's mind and fingers work with incredible speed. He can imply four chord changes in a melodic pattern where another musician would have trouble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-feather/bird-s-mind-and-fingers-work-with-incredible-speed-he-can-imply-four/) [Leonard Feather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-feather/) > [I knew if I wanted to improvise over chord changes, I'd have to figure out all the scales that went with all those chords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-knew-if-i-wanted-to-improvise-over-chord-changes-i-d-have-to-figure/) [Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/) > [I try to find nice chord changes, that's how I love to start, and then I start trying to knock it into a song,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lynne/i-try-to-find-nice-chord-changes-that-s-how-i-love-to-start-and-then/) [Jeff Lynne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lynne/) > [I don't know how to read music. You pick your guitar, you start playing chords and make up a melody that comes out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haim-saban/i-don-t-know-how-to-read-music-you-pick-your-guitar-you-start-playing/) [Haim Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haim-saban/) > [I liken movies to playing a piano: Sometimes you're playing the chords and different notes with unresolved cadences and playing all major chords that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-gyllenhaal/i-liken-movies-to-playing-a-piano-sometimes-you-re-playing-the-chords/) [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-gyllenhaal/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Ed O'Brien > [There was this discussion to know how long the human ear was really receptive to the music. A 74 minute CD is too long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/there-was-this-discussion-to-know-how-long-the-human-ear-was-really/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [We're not aware of fame itself, we're not that kind of band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/we-re-not-aware-of-fame-itself-we-re-not-that-kind-of-band/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [The thing is, it really did take us too long to get these recordings done. We've had our rough times in the studio in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/the-thing-is-it-really-did-take-us-too-long-to-get-these-recordings/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [If you want something good to come out of something, you have to put in a lot of effort. 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So when one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/of-the-25-songs-we-ve-recorded-there-were-24-that-we-wanted-to-have/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [At the end of OK Computer we were playing big, big arenas and it wasn't right. You can do those things occasionally but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/at-the-end-of-ok-computer-we-were-playing-big-big-arenas-and-it-wasn/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [But for the first time, we haven't made a huge leap forward in sound from our last album. Fans who own Kid A should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/but-for-the-first-time-we-haven-t-made-a-huge-leap-forward-in-sound/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [There is always some universal proportion, but along with that there are some places where special things happen. Ireland, for example. I've always felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/there-is-always-some-universal-proportion-but-along-with-that-there/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [But we will play 6, 7 new songs each evening, approximately a third in the concert. I think it's a good balance. It will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/but-we-will-play-6-7-new-songs-each-evening-approximately-a-third-in/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [Music, at the end of the day, is communicating something - emotion, a feeling, a rite of passage, where you are in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/music-at-the-end-of-the-day-is-communicating-something-emotion-a/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [I think that's what helped us: confidence, respect, the desire to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/i-think-that-s-what-helped-us-confidence-respect-the-desire-to-work/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [So we are not doing the traditional album, tour, album, tour, album, tour anymore. We're going to tour when we want to, regardless of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/so-we-are-not-doing-the-traditional-album-tour-album-tour-album-tour/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) > [What had disappointed me at the time of the last tour, was to go on a worldwide tour, we were at some incredible places…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-o-brien/what-had-disappointed-me-at-the-time-of-the-last-tour-was-to-go-on-a/) [Ed O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) [Explore all 26 Ed O'Brien quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-o-brien/) ## 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. 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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 ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's really weird to be playing chords again. Haven't played chords for a long time. 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