--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That's the thing about the blues: It's…" description: "\"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.\" — Joe Bonamassa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/joe-bonamassa-6126_blues_that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-on_7363.jpg" --- # That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a… ![“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.” quote by Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/joe-bonamassa-6126_blues_that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-on_7363.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/joe-bonamassa-6126_blues_that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-on_7363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/180/joe-bonamassa-6126_blues_that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-on_7363.jpg) > “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.” [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Distinguishes technical skill from emotional impact; the true art lies in imbuing sound with meaning. **In simple terms:** Skill vs. feeling Key Takeaway Impact matters Themes artistic expression authenticity musical communication emotional resonance creativity Mood introspective passionate thoughtful Type advice observation philosophical When to use this quote - performing live - recording a solo - teaching guitar - composing a piece - improvising on stage Key Concepts musical technique interpretation listener connection artistic intent Practical Applications - musicians seeking deeper expression - music educators emphasizing feeling Questions to Reflect On - How can you translate technical mastery into emotional depth? - What practices help bridge skill and feeling? A Different Perspective Technical proficiency can be sufficient for certain genres or contexts ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) [Blues Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues-thing-326842/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-make-326845/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Note Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/note-guitar-326843/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Thing Blues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-blues-326844/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [After I exhausted the blues thing, I got into jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-quine/after-i-exhausted-the-blues-thing-i-got-into-jazz/) [Robert Quine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-quine/) > [Another thing to do with the blues is how they were recorded. They were done on the quick, and some of that stuff was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/another-thing-to-do-with-the-blues-is-how-they-were-recorded-they/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [“Death is never more than a breath away from the act of playing music. Each note on a guitar represents a small curve: birth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-summers/death-is-never-more-than-a-breath-away-from-the-act-of-playing-music/) [Andy Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-summers/) > [Lots of kids when they get their first instrument hammer away at it but they don't realise there are so many levels of dynamics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-moore/lots-of-kids-when-they-get-their-first-instrument-hammer-away-at-it/) [Gary Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-moore/) > [I can embarrass myself very easily on guitar. It's funny because people say to me I can play anything; I'm God on the guitar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-can-embarrass-myself-very-easily-on-guitar-it-s-funny-because/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I think you can hear the Delta blues thing in something like the intro to 'Heaven in This Hell,' which has that down-home acoustic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-think-you-can-hear-the-delta-blues-thing-in-something-like-the/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [Whatever it is that you love to do, be it collect comic books or play the guitar, that you can make a living at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-brooks/whatever-it-is-that-you-love-to-do-be-it-collect-comic-books-or-play/) [Meredith Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-brooks/) > [I didn't look up and say, "Oh, man, if I learn how to play a guitar I could make not much money, but I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-guy/i-didn-t-look-up-and-say-oh-man-if-i-learn-how-to-play-a-guitar-i/) [Buddy Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-guy/) > [I did play every little note on the guitar on that record](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lita-ford/i-did-play-every-little-note-on-the-guitar-on-that-record/) [Lita Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lita-ford/) > [David Gilmour can do more with one note than most other guitar players can do with the whole fretboard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-mustaine/david-gilmour-can-do-more-with-one-note-than-most-other-guitar/) [Dave Mustaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-mustaine/) > [But my big thing was always the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-allison/but-my-big-thing-was-always-the-blues/) [Luther Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-allison/) > [The one thing the blues don't get is the backing and pushing of TV and radio like a lot of this garbage you hears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lee-hooker/the-one-thing-the-blues-don-t-get-is-the-backing-and-pushing-of-tv/) [John Lee Hooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lee-hooker/) > [One thing the blues ain't, is funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/one-thing-the-blues-ain-t-is-funny/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [The great thing about the blues is that it's not about male or female.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-tedeschi/the-great-thing-about-the-blues-is-that-it-s-not-about-male-or-female/) [Susan Tedeschi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-tedeschi/) ## More by Joe Bonamassa > [My first proper 'Here's your guitar, Joseph' was a 1981 Chiquita, one of those Erlewine travel guitars. And it was good for a four-year-old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-proper-here-s-your-guitar-joseph-was-a-1981-chiquita-one-of/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I collect as many acoustic guitars as I need for a specific purpose. Acoustic guitars are really just tools for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-collect-as-many-acoustic-guitars-as-i-need-for-a-specific-purpose/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [When you're 12 and, you know, slightly overweight and - for lack of a better word - white, and you're playing blues, you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/when-you-re-12-and-you-know-slightly-overweight-and-for-lack-of-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [The blues, the way it's interpreted, is always a product of your environment, and so it's almost like food. You know, it's like you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/the-blues-the-way-it-s-interpreted-is-always-a-product-of-your/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [At the end of the day, you really want to make sure that organic music, made by human beings, at least has a voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-really-want-to-make-sure-that-organic-music/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [If I'm soloing, I usually try to start with a theme, which will often stem from the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/if-i-m-soloing-i-usually-try-to-start-with-a-theme-which-will-often/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Greece was a muse. It inspired creativity in magical ways that I can't even begin to understand or explain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/greece-was-a-muse-it-inspired-creativity-in-magical-ways-that-i-can-t/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [There was a rumour that I was buying Gibson. It circulated around the Internet... And I just go, 'How well off do you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/there-was-a-rumour-that-i-was-buying-gibson-it-circulated-around-the/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [It's not enough to play a song: you have to inhabit it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/it-s-not-enough-to-play-a-song-you-have-to-inhabit-it/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I love to collect guitars made in the 1950s. I like preserving and playing them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-love-to-collect-guitars-made-in-the-1950s-i-like-preserving-and/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I've always been a big fan of taking old songs and completely turning them on their head. Having no adherence to the fine tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-ve-always-been-a-big-fan-of-taking-old-songs-and-completely-turning/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [My first memory of guitar was seeing my father play one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/my-first-memory-of-guitar-was-seeing-my-father-play-one/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Nothing I'm doing musically is revolutionary in any way, shape, or form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/nothing-i-m-doing-musically-is-revolutionary-in-any-way-shape-or-form/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I dislike all those cookie-cutter Nashville songs. You know the ones: about tight jeans and pick-up trucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-dislike-all-those-cookie-cutter-nashville-songs-you-know-the-ones/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [I learned that if I put my mind to something vocally, I can pull it off. You just have to get your head-space right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-learned-that-if-i-put-my-mind-to-something-vocally-i-can-pull-it/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) [Explore all 100 Joe Bonamassa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) ## 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/) > [“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/) > [I want to go back to the format that radio started with rock n' roll, with country artists and rhythm and blues with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfman-jack/i-want-to-go-back-to-the-format-that-radio-started-with-rock-n-roll/) [Wolfman Jack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfman-jack/) [Browse all 1,026 Blues quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blues/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "That's the thing about the blues: It's one thing to hit a note on a guitar. 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