--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I practice all the scales. Everyone…" description: "\"I practice all the scales. Everyone should know lots of scales. Actually, I feel there are only scales. What is a chord, if not the notes of a scale ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/john-mclaughlin-10405_chord_i-practice-all-the-scales-everyone-shoul_469958.jpg" --- # I practice all the scales. Everyone should know lots of… ![“I practice all the scales. Everyone should know lots of scales. Actually, I feel there are only scales. What is a chord, if not the notes of a scale hooked together?” quote by John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/john-mclaughlin-10405_chord_i-practice-all-the-scales-everyone-shoul_469958.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/john-mclaughlin-10405_chord_i-practice-all-the-scales-everyone-shoul_469958.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/990/john-mclaughlin-10405_chord_i-practice-all-the-scales-everyone-shoul_469958.jpg) > “I practice all the scales. Everyone should know lots of scales. Actually, I feel there are only scales. What is a chord, if not the notes of a scale hooked together?” [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding scales as foundational building blocks for chords and musical structure. **In simple terms:** Scales are the basis of chords. Key Takeaway Study scales to improve improvisation. Themes music theory practice improvisation Mood focused inquisitive Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - jazz soloing - composition - ear training Key Concepts scales chords tonality Questions to Reflect On - How do scales influence your melodic choices? - What exercises connect scales to chord voicings? A Different Perspective Scales alone don’t guarantee musicality without rhythm and expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chord/) [Chord Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chord-notes-4064528/) [Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Hooked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hooked/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Notes Scale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes-scale-984726/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Scales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scales/) [Scales Chord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scales-chord-2123419/) [Scales Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scales-know-4064529/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) ## Related quotes > [Everything repeats itself. There ain't but so many notes on the scale, there ain't but so many chord changes, for real, and there ain't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/everything-repeats-itself-there-ain-t-but-so-many-notes-on-the-scale/) [Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/) > [“Presently, I sense within me the slightest touch. The harmony of one chord lingers in my mind. It fuses, divides, searches--but for what? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/presently-i-sense-within-me-the-slightest-touch-the-harmony-of-one/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [My father would say, 'Play a scale,' and I'd play one and he'd say, 'What about the rest? There must be one above,' so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pass/my-father-would-say-play-a-scale-and-i-d-play-one-and-he-d-say-what/) [Joe Pass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pass/) > [Historically, the notes of scale systems anywhere have been based on these pure harmonics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-st-john/historically-the-notes-of-scale-systems-anywhere-have-been-based-on/) [Lara St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-st-john/) > [A lot of people don't know this, but I started out as a blues-based player, and then, when I realized after playing 18 hours…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yngwie-malmsteen/a-lot-of-people-don-t-know-this-but-i-started-out-as-a-blues-based/) [Yngwie Malmsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yngwie-malmsteen/) > [The frequencies of the notes in a scale—do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do—sound to us like they’re rising in equal steps. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-strogatz/the-frequencies-of-the-notes-in-a-scale-do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti-do/) [Steven Strogatz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-strogatz/) > [It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-the-instrument-when-there-s/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [With Audioslave, it's all about melody and chord progressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-commerford/with-audioslave-it-s-all-about-melody-and-chord-progressions/) [Tim Commerford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-commerford/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I studied chord theory and started playing the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/i-studied-chord-theory-and-started-playing-the-piano/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-chord-knowledge-but-what-i-have/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-action-in-our-lives-touches-on-some-chord-that-will-vibrate-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I like Kelela. I like Twigs. I love the more old school; I hate to say old school, but I love Peaches; I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-like-kelela-i-like-twigs-i-love-the-more-old-school-i-hate-to-say/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [We wanted to guide the musicians, so we could create our own sound. We would never let the band just go in and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamont-dozier/we-wanted-to-guide-the-musicians-so-we-could-create-our-own-sound-we/) [Lamont Dozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamont-dozier/) ## More by John McLaughlin > [Every day, I discover something utterly unbelievable when I play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/every-day-i-discover-something-utterly-unbelievable-when-i-play/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Interplay and interaction are the integral parts of music - they're as important as the notes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/interplay-and-interaction-are-the-integral-parts-of-music-they-re-as/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Music is closer to poetry than anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/music-is-closer-to-poetry-than-anything/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Miles Davis himself, I discovered him when I was 15, and he rocked my world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/miles-davis-himself-i-discovered-him-when-i-was-15-and-he-rocked-my/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [One of the advantages of playing in a club is that even with bass and drums, the atmosphere remains intimate with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/one-of-the-advantages-of-playing-in-a-club-is-that-even-with-bass-and/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [In a certain sense, these were lessons I learned by playing with Indian musicians. The rhythmic forms that they use are very complex, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/in-a-certain-sense-these-were-lessons-i-learned-by-playing-with/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [The day I stop making music would be the day I keel over, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-day-i-stop-making-music-would-be-the-day-i-keel-over-really/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [The Beatles, they brought a whole new dimension to pop music. Of course, the psychedelic period is much more interesting to me, starting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-beatles-they-brought-a-whole-new-dimension-to-pop-music-of-course/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Absolutely, all guitars are different. You can go into a store and grab five guitars, all the same model, and even though they look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/absolutely-all-guitars-are-different-you-can-go-into-a-store-and-grab/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [To pay attention to flattery or criticism is a waste of time for artists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/to-pay-attention-to-flattery-or-criticism-is-a-waste-of-time-for/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [The mathematics of rhythm are universal. They don't belong to any particular culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/the-mathematics-of-rhythm-are-universal-they-don-t-belong-to-any/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Music speaks from spirit to spirit and in that sense you could call it a true spiritual language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/music-speaks-from-spirit-to-spirit-and-in-that-sense-you-could-call/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [Only in spontaneity can we be who we truly are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/only-in-spontaneity-can-we-be-who-we-truly-are/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [I was dealing with a lot of spiritual questions like "Who am I?" "What is God" "What is the meaning of life?" All of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/i-was-dealing-with-a-lot-of-spiritual-questions-like-who-am-i-what-is/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) > [There is really no spiritual message that I'm trying to convey with my music, it's just a personal thing. I really believe that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/there-is-really-no-spiritual-message-that-i-m-trying-to-convey-with/) [John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) [Explore all 66 John McLaughlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/) ## More Chord quotes > [We wanted to guide the musicians, so we could create our own sound. We would never let the band just go in and play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamont-dozier/we-wanted-to-guide-the-musicians-so-we-could-create-our-own-sound-we/) [Lamont Dozier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamont-dozier/) > [I like Kelela. I like Twigs. I love the more old school; I hate to say old school, but I love Peaches; I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neneh-cherry/i-like-kelela-i-like-twigs-i-love-the-more-old-school-i-hate-to-say/) [Neneh Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neneh-cherry/) > [Every action in our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-action-in-our-lives-touches-on-some-chord-that-will-vibrate-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-chord-knowledge-but-what-i-have/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I studied chord theory and started playing the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flea/i-studied-chord-theory-and-started-playing-the-piano/) [Flea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flea/) > [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/) > [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/) > [With Audioslave, it's all about melody and chord progressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-commerford/with-audioslave-it-s-all-about-melody-and-chord-progressions/) [Tim Commerford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-commerford/) > [It's tough to play the right chord on the instrument when there's someone out there who wants to kill you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-hammond/it-s-tough-to-play-the-right-chord-on-the-instrument-when-there-s/) [Darrell Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-hammond/) > [Using open strings is a great way to add texture and atmosphere to any chord progression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/using-open-strings-is-a-great-way-to-add-texture-and-atmosphere-to/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [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/) > [Light rails are too bus-like to impress most commuters, too squished and close to the ground. Monorails, by contrast, strike a chord with travelers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-i-koerner/light-rails-are-too-bus-like-to-impress-most-commuters-too-squished/) [Brendan I. Koerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-i-koerner/) > [I've been kind of listening to the composer Britten and his rendition of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' The opening track is a choral section…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dev-hynes/i-ve-been-kind-of-listening-to-the-composer-britten-and-his-rendition/) [Dev Hynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dev-hynes/) > [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/) > [Fair treatment of human beings and animals in many different realms strikes a chord with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nargis-fakhri/fair-treatment-of-human-beings-and-animals-in-many-different-realms/) [Nargis Fakhri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nargis-fakhri/) [Browse all 121 Chord quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chord/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I practice all the scales. Everyone should know lots of scales. Actually, I feel there are only scales. 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