--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My definition of Blues is that it's a…" description: "\"My definition of Blues is that it's a musical form which is very disciplined and structured coupled with a state of mind, and you can have either of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/eric-clapton-3136_blues_my-definition-of-blues-is-that-it-s-a-mu_2716697.jpg" --- # My definition of Blues is that it's a musical form which… ![“My definition of Blues is that it's a musical form which is very disciplined and structured coupled with a state of mind, and you can have either of those things but it's the two together that make it what it is. And you need to be a student for one, and a human being for the other, but those…” quote by Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/eric-clapton-3136_blues_my-definition-of-blues-is-that-it-s-a-mu_2716697.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/eric-clapton-3136_blues_my-definition-of-blues-is-that-it-s-a-mu_2716697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a5/eric-clapton-3136_blues_my-definition-of-blues-is-that-it-s-a-mu_2716697.jpg) > “My definition of Blues is that it's a musical form which is very disciplined and structured coupled with a state of mind, and you can have either of those things but it's the two together that make it what it is. And you need to be a student for one, and a human being for the other, but those things alone don't do it.” [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Blues requires both musical discipline and a particular mindset; the fusion creates its essence. **In simple terms:** Blues = structure + feeling. Key Takeaway Cultivate skill and emotional depth together. Themes music mindset discipline creativity Mood reflective introspective Type musical philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting - performance - music education - personal growth Key Concepts Blues theory emotional expression artistic identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance technical practice with emotional authenticity? - Can you separate the mind from the music? A Different Perspective Technical skill alone cannot convey blues feeling; emotional depth without structure lacks form. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Blues Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues-musical-2850265/) [Definition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition/) [Definition Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definition-blues-1172844/) [Definitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/definitions/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Form Disciplined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form-disciplined-2850266/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Musical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical/) [Musical Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-form-1314691/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [My definition of the blues is the naked cry of the human heart longing to be in union with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dion-dimucci/my-definition-of-the-blues-is-the-naked-cry-of-the-human-heart/) [Dion DiMucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dion-dimucci/) > [I do love the musical form, although it's often disappointing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-irwin/i-do-love-the-musical-form-although-it-s-often-disappointing/) [Bill Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-irwin/) > [It's interesting the kind of freedom the musical form gives you. The rules are out the window. You can get impressionistic without seeming pretentious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/it-s-interesting-the-kind-of-freedom-the-musical-form-gives-you-the/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [I certainly have a fascination with pop music as a musical form, not necessarily as a lifelong commitment. I guess you could say I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-certainly-have-a-fascination-with-pop-music-as-a-musical-form-not/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [Bluegrass has a very, very strict musical form. Once you start to dilute it, it disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmylou-harris/bluegrass-has-a-very-very-strict-musical-form-once-you-start-to/) [Emmylou Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmylou-harris/) > [Any musical form that has been around long enough to have cultural resonance beyond just being a cutting edge kind of communication - but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-menken/any-musical-form-that-has-been-around-long-enough-to-have-cultural/) [Alan Menken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-menken/) > [Jazz is a very democratic musical form. It comes out of a communal experience. We take our respective instruments and collectively create a thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-roach/jazz-is-a-very-democratic-musical-form-it-comes-out-of-a-communal/) [Max Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-roach/) > [Like an apparently strict musical form it breaks the five minute whole into its structural parts - a descriptive preamble, the action of taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-bryars/like-an-apparently-strict-musical-form-it-breaks-the-five-minute/) [Gavin Bryars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-bryars/) > [I really believe musical form will go on. There's got to be a way of making musical form in cinema live again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baz-luhrmann/i-really-believe-musical-form-will-go-on-there-s-got-to-be-a-way-of/) [Baz Luhrmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baz-luhrmann/) > [The harmony of the universe knows only one musical form - the legato; while the symphony of number knows only its opposite - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-dantzig/the-harmony-of-the-universe-knows-only-one-musical-form-the-legato/) [Tobias Dantzig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-dantzig/) > [Jazz is a democratic musical form. We take our respective instruments & collectively create a thing of beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-roach/jazz-is-a-democratic-musical-form-we-take-our-respective-instruments/) [Max Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-roach/) > [I love the musical form of books. It's a different way of doing things, it's very beautiful. You're able to sing things instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-love-the-musical-form-of-books-it-s-a-different-way-of-doing-things/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I think everybody has their own way of looking at their lives as some kind of pilgrimage. Some people will see their role as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-think-everybody-has-their-own-way-of-looking-at-their-lives-as-some/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [The blues are what I've turned to, what has given me inspiration and relief in all the trials of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/the-blues-are-what-i-ve-turned-to-what-has-given-me-inspiration-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) ## More by Eric Clapton > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I did play a lot of fingerstyle when I first started playing. I could never really find the right combination of flatpick or fingerpick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-did-play-a-lot-of-fingerstyle-when-i-first-started-playing-i-could/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Yeah, I wanted to know where they got it from, what it was all about, you know, and it seemed to strike something in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/yeah-i-wanted-to-know-where-they-got-it-from-what-it-was-all-about/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Oh yeah, I mean, it wasn't a very good guitar, most good guitars have got thrust rods in the necks that you can adjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/oh-yeah-i-mean-it-wasn-t-a-very-good-guitar-most-good-guitars-have/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [The Yardbirds came in to the Crawdaddy Club a week after the Stones finished their Sunday night residency. They had done it for almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/the-yardbirds-came-in-to-the-crawdaddy-club-a-week-after-the-stones/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I mean, it didn't matter to me that there were people, it didn't matter that I was shy Just the sound was so captivating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-mean-it-didn-t-matter-to-me-that-there-were-people-it-didn-t-matter/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Let's make the best of the situation Before I finally go insane. Please don't say we'll never find a way And tell me all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/let-s-make-the-best-of-the-situation-before-i-finally-go-insane/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [All I am certain of right now is that I don't want to go anywhere, and that's not bad for someone who always used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/all-i-am-certain-of-right-now-is-that-i-don-t-want-to-go-anywhere-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [The first one was quite cheap, but that was expensive for us. For my folks to buy on the Never Never. It was quite,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/the-first-one-was-quite-cheap-but-that-was-expensive-for-us-for-my/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [It's taken me to be an older guy, an old man, to have an old man's voice. Because I only liked old men's voices.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/it-s-taken-me-to-be-an-older-guy-an-old-man-to-have-an-old-man-s/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I've always wanted the sound of Muddy Waters' early records - only louder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-ve-always-wanted-the-sound-of-muddy-waters-early-records-only-louder/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [You can't mastermind everything. You'll go crazy. Just show up and play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/you-can-t-mastermind-everything-you-ll-go-crazy-just-show-up-and-play/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [Risk is trying to control something you are powerless over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/risk-is-trying-to-control-something-you-are-powerless-over/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I thought, 'My God, this is like Buddy Guy on acid.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-thought-my-god-this-is-like-buddy-guy-on-acid/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) [Explore all 137 Eric Clapton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) ## More Blues quotes > [If they played more blues, people would just get it - they try to hold it back but just about can't hold it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hooker/if-they-played-more-blues-people-would-just-get-it-they-try-to-hold/) [John Lee Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hooker/) > [I love Las Vegas, but I never get a chance to play a club like the House of Blues. I guess we've graduated to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/i-love-las-vegas-but-i-never-get-a-chance-to-play-a-club-like-the/) [Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/) > [That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. To make it matter is something else altogether.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [“Grits Glossary blues \\’blüz\\ n: nothing but a good man singing about hardship, sorrow, and the things he’s done wrong--but sake’s alive, they make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/grits-glossary-blues-bl-z-n-nothing-but-a-good-man-singing-about/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [I guess what I like is mostly country & western or else stuff that has a real blues feel to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-shepard/i-guess-what-i-like-is-mostly-country-western-or-else-stuff-that-has/) [Sam Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-shepard/) > [I'm a rock/blues guitar player. I'm not wanting to be a pop star or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-m-a-rock-blues-guitar-player-i-m-not-wanting-to-be-a-pop-star-or/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [An element I love about the blues is jamming with other musicians.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hoey/an-element-i-love-about-the-blues-is-jamming-with-other-musicians/) [Gary Hoey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hoey/) > [Well, I don't know how they define that. But they have this Texas blues thing blown kinda out of proportion. I am a Long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hunter/well-i-don-t-know-how-they-define-that-but-they-have-this-texas-blues/) [John Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hunter/) > [Since I was a kid, I've had an absolute obsession with particular kinds of American music. Mississippi Delta blues of the Thirties, Chicago blues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/since-i-was-a-kid-i-ve-had-an-absolute-obsession-with-particular/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [James Cotton is a real blues guy, and he played with Muddy Waters, and it surprised me that they would want me to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-haden/james-cotton-is-a-real-blues-guy-and-he-played-with-muddy-waters-and/) [Charlie Haden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-haden/) > [When I discovered blues - I was 12-years-old - I didn't discover it in America where it was from; I discovered it from Fleetwood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-weller/when-i-discovered-blues-i-was-12-years-old-i-didn-t-discover-it-in/) [Paul Weller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-weller/) > [Elvis deserves a lot of credit for bringing the blues to middle America, not the Vegas stuff. The early stuff, The Sun records, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tork/elvis-deserves-a-lot-of-credit-for-bringing-the-blues-to-middle/) [Peter Tork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tork/) > [Old-school rock bands, and blues bands, too, are kind of a dying breed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/old-school-rock-bands-and-blues-bands-too-are-kind-of-a-dying-breed/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [My favorite moment of the whole thing was when John Belushi suggested that I get a hold of all the blues records I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-cropper/my-favorite-moment-of-the-whole-thing-was-when-john-belushi-suggested/) [Steve Cropper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-cropper/) > [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) [Browse all 1,026 Blues quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My definition of Blues is that it's a musical form which is very disciplined and structured coupled with a state of mind, and you can have either of those things but it's the two together that make it what it is. 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