--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think dissonance in music makes you…" description: "\"I think dissonance in music makes you think. It isn't, 'Oh, that's a pretty melody I can whistle.' You have to sit down and listen to tell it apart fro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/eugene-chadbourne-41063_dissonance_i-think-dissonance-in-music-makes-you-th_2444059.jpg" --- # I think dissonance in music makes you think. It isn't… ![“I think dissonance in music makes you think. It isn't, 'Oh, that's a pretty melody I can whistle.' You have to sit down and listen to tell it apart from other things.” quote by Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/eugene-chadbourne-41063_dissonance_i-think-dissonance-in-music-makes-you-th_2444059.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/eugene-chadbourne-41063_dissonance_i-think-dissonance-in-music-makes-you-th_2444059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/257/eugene-chadbourne-41063_dissonance_i-think-dissonance-in-music-makes-you-th_2444059.jpg) > “I think dissonance in music makes you think. It isn't, 'Oh, that's a pretty melody I can whistle.' You have to sit down and listen to tell it apart from other things.” [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Musical dissonance forces active listening and deeper analysis beyond surface appeal. **In simple terms:** Dissonance makes you think deeply. Key Takeaway Listen actively to complex music. Themes music listening analysis Mood curious analytical Type educational musical When to use this quote - music education - personal listening practice Key Concepts audio perception cognitive engagement Questions to Reflect On - How does dissonance affect your emotions? - What does it reveal about musical structure? A Different Perspective Some listeners may find dissonance unpleasant. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dissonance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissonance/) [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes music comes across to me just when I am sitting around doing nothing, and then the music makes me think of a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/sometimes-music-comes-across-to-me-just-when-i-am-sitting-around/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [Writing music on your own makes you think a lot about your life. Who are you? Would you change anything about yourself? This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enya/writing-music-on-your-own-makes-you-think-a-lot-about-your-life-who/) [Enya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enya/) > [Writing down goals makes you think of what is achievable. It really makes you reflect on what you are today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-vodianova/writing-down-goals-makes-you-think-of-what-is-achievable-it-really/) [Natalia Vodianova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-vodianova/) > [And it makes you think. Even things that have been the same for years and years can change. Maybe I can change. I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-earl/and-it-makes-you-think-even-things-that-have-been-the-same-for-years/) [Rae Earl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-earl/) > [Architecture falls between art and airports. It's pragmatic-it helps you get from point A to point B. But it also works as art. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-van-berkel/architecture-falls-between-art-and-airports-it-s-pragmatic-it-helps/) [Ben van Berkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-van-berkel/) > [Everything you see that makes you think about the comics, I think you should read into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avi-arad/everything-you-see-that-makes-you-think-about-the-comics-i-think-you/) [Avi Arad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avi-arad/) > [When people are watching you, it makes you think twice about what you do, and the things you say, and the people you hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-manning/when-people-are-watching-you-it-makes-you-think-twice-about-what-you/) [Peyton Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-manning/) > [The best advertising and the best communication when it comes to business is that which makes you smile, that which makes you think, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-luntz/the-best-advertising-and-the-best-communication-when-it-comes-to/) [Frank Luntz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-luntz/) > [When you have been close to death it makes you think about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dixon/when-you-have-been-close-to-death-it-makes-you-think-about-life/) [Patrick Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dixon/) > [One of the things I've always liked about science fiction is the way it makes you think about things, and look at things from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-walton/one-of-the-things-i-ve-always-liked-about-science-fiction-is-the-way/) [Jo Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-walton/) > [A book is less important for what it says than for what it makes you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-l-amour/a-book-is-less-important-for-what-it-says-than-for-what-it-makes-you/) [Louis L'Amour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-l-amour/) > [The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mccosh/the-book-to-read-is-not-the-one-which-thinks-for-you-but-the-one-2/) [James McCosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mccosh/) > [I like when something makes you think after you stop watching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dice-clay/i-like-when-something-makes-you-think-after-you-stop-watching/) [Andrew Dice Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dice-clay/) > [“Think about a woman. Doesn't know you're thinking about her. Doesn't care you're thinking about her. Makes you think about her even more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybil-adelman/think-about-a-woman-doesn-t-know-you-re-thinking-about-her-doesn-t/) Sybil Adelman > [Travel is something that I like to do because it gives you lots of images, and it also really makes you think about your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-hamby/travel-is-something-that-i-like-to-do-because-it-gives-you-lots-of/) [Barbara Hamby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-hamby/) ## More by Eugene Chadbourne > [People love the electric rake. You just hit it or whatever you want to do. You can't play 'Swanee River' on it. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/people-love-the-electric-rake-you-just-hit-it-or-whatever-you-want-to/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [There are no bridges in folk songs because the peasants died building them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/there-are-no-bridges-in-folk-songs-because-the-peasants-died-building/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [I want to be taken seriously as the type of musician that plays stuff like an electric rake. I mean, how seriously do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/i-want-to-be-taken-seriously-as-the-type-of-musician-that-plays-stuff/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [There's no type of music I don't like. I think it's important to be able to make fun of all types.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/there-s-no-type-of-music-i-don-t-like-i-think-it-s-important-to-be/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [Can you imagine a guy breaking into your car, and he steals your guitar case 'cause he thinks it's a guitar, and he gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/can-you-imagine-a-guy-breaking-into-your-car-and-he-steals-your/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [I play these sort of comical instruments I invented, like the electric rake and the electric plunger. I do a lot of almost stand-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/i-play-these-sort-of-comical-instruments-i-invented-like-the-electric/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [Sometimes you have trouble because someone 'likes' your music so much. They follow you around for hours singing little bits of the songs, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/sometimes-you-have-trouble-because-someone-likes-your-music-so-much/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [I started using contact microphones that you can place on common, ordinary objects, like a rake. I put a microphone on it and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/i-started-using-contact-microphones-that-you-can-place-on-common/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) > [I do the protest stuff. I do country and western. I play both acoustic and electric guitar in a lot of different styles, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-chadbourne/i-do-the-protest-stuff-i-do-country-and-western-i-play-both-acoustic/) [Eugene Chadbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) [Explore all 10 Eugene Chadbourne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-chadbourne/) ## More Dissonance quotes > [Ah, what is it we send up thither, where our thoughts are either a dissonance or a sweetness and a grace?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/ah-what-is-it-we-send-up-thither-where-our-thoughts-are-either-a/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [There is no one part of the brain which recognizes or responds emotionally to music. Instead, there are many different parts responding to different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-sacks/there-is-no-one-part-of-the-brain-which-recognizes-or-responds/) [Oliver Sacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-sacks/) > [Dissonance is the truth about harmony.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dissonance-is-the-truth-about-harmony/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I played to 20,000 people every day because people were walking on 5th Ave going to and from their jobs, and my sounds were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlemagne-palestine/i-played-to-20-000-people-every-day-because-people-were-walking-on/) [Charlemagne Palestine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlemagne-palestine/) > [After a while, if you're committed, you start to believe in the things in which you're praying. It's just cognitive dissonance. You can't live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/after-a-while-if-you-re-committed-you-start-to-believe-in-the-things/) [A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/) > [“Dissonance theory also exploded the self-flattering idea that we humans, being Homo sapiens, process information logically. On the contrary: If the new information is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris-elliot-aronson/dissonance-theory-also-exploded-the-self-flattering-idea-that-we/) [Carol Tavris, Elliot Aronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris-elliot-aronson/) > [If we understood the world, we would realize that there is a logic of harmony underlying its manifold apparent dissonances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-sibelius/if-we-understood-the-world-we-would-realize-that-there-is-a-logic-of/) [Jean Sibelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-sibelius/) > [Cherish what is dearest while you have it near you, and wait not till it is far away. Blind and deaf that we are;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/cherish-what-is-dearest-while-you-have-it-near-you-and-wait-not-till/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [One who knows how to appreciate color relationships, the influence of one color with another, their contrasts and dissonances, is promised an infinite variety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-delaunay/one-who-knows-how-to-appreciate-color-relationships-the-influence-of/) [Sonia Delaunay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-delaunay/) > [dissonance, n. Nights when I need to sleep and you can't. Days when I want to talk to you and you won't. Hours when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/dissonance-n-nights-when-i-need-to-sleep-and-you-can-t-days-when-i/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“cognitive dissonance is”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-sheldrake/cognitive-dissonance-is/) [Rupert Sheldrake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-sheldrake/) > [English audiences of working people are like an instrument that responds to the player. Thought ripples up and down them, and if in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-heaton-vorse/english-audiences-of-working-people-are-like-an-instrument-that/) [Mary Heaton Vorse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-heaton-vorse/) > [Improvisation was the blood and bone of jazz, and in the classic, New Orleans jazz it was collective improvisation in which each performer, seemingly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-lynes/improvisation-was-the-blood-and-bone-of-jazz-and-in-the-classic-new/) [Russell Lynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-lynes/) > [“Did I live? The human world is like a vast musical instrument on which we play our individual part while simultaneously listening to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/did-i-live-the-human-world-is-like-a-vast-musical-instrument-on-which/) [Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/) > [If a person plays dissonance long enough, it will sound like consonance. It's a language that was alien and then it's less and less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-jarrett/if-a-person-plays-dissonance-long-enough-it-will-sound-like/) [Keith Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-jarrett/) [Browse all 111 Dissonance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissonance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think dissonance in music makes you think. It isn't, 'Oh, that's a pretty melody I can whistle.' 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