--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't have musical theory or great…" description: "\"I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.\" — Lights" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/lights-2588_chord_i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-cho_73794.png" --- # I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but… ![“I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.” quote by Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/lights-2588_chord_i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-cho_73794.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/lights-2588_chord_i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-cho_73794.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/lights-2588_chord_i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-cho_73794.png) > “I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.” [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Practical experience and intuition can compensate for formal knowledge, leading to personal growth and achievement. **In simple terms:** Experience outweighs theory. Key Takeaway Intuition drives progress. Themes self-reliance learning by doing creativity confidence growth Mood motivated confident Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - learning a new instrument - self-taught music production - improvisation in a jam session Key Concepts practical skill personal development Practical Applications - musical composition - creative problem solving Questions to Reflect On - How can intuition guide skill acquisition? - When is formal training essential? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chord/) [Chord Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chord-knowledge-960036/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Great Chord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-chord-960038/) [I am](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Knowledge Got](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge-got-960039/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musical Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-theory-960037/) [Theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theory/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) ## Related quotes > [People have made a living deconstructing Lennon and The Beatles songs because of their compositional sophistication. But what's so exciting about John is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-bachman/people-have-made-a-living-deconstructing-lennon-and-the-beatles-songs/) [Randy Bachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-bachman/) > [Knowledge can only be got in one way, the way of experience; there is no other way to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/knowledge-can-only-be-got-in-one-way-the-way-of-experience-there-is/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Knowledge is organized data. For it to be shelved as human knowledge it's got to be predictable, repeatable, all the basics of scientific validation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-graffin/knowledge-is-organized-data-for-it-to-be-shelved-as-human-knowledge/) [Greg Graffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-graffin/) > [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'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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 Lights > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I got signed with the songwriting deal when I was sixteen and they were really great - my publishers, who to this day are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-got-signed-with-the-songwriting-deal-when-i-was-sixteen-and-they/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [It's important to exercise your artistic muscles for your mental health and for your fulfillment 'cause as an artist, you're a creator. Your fulfillment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/it-s-important-to-exercise-your-artistic-muscles-for-your-mental/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [We need to re-evaluate what we market to our kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/we-need-to-re-evaluate-what-we-market-to-our-kids/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I have my DS with me all the time on the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-have-my-ds-with-me-all-the-time-on-the-road/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I've actually steered away from just calling them 'comics.' I just call them books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-ve-actually-steered-away-from-just-calling-them-comics-i-just-call/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Love is so much more than gender: You fall in love with a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/love-is-so-much-more-than-gender-you-fall-in-love-with-a-person/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I wish, to be honest, that there were more myths about me. I wish I was more of a mythical person, and that then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-wish-to-be-honest-that-there-were-more-myths-about-me-i-wish-i-was/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I remember when I would write a song as a kid, I would also write out on paper what the drums would do, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-remember-when-i-would-write-a-song-as-a-kid-i-would-also-write-out/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I really like my microwave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-really-like-my-microwave/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Around when I was 11, I remember hearing U2's 'Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For.' I remember hearing it and thinking that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/around-when-i-was-11-i-remember-hearing-u2-s-still-haven-t-found-what/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [That's the beauty of music, art, and video games: forget about your worries for a few minutes; it shouldn't add to them or make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/that-s-the-beauty-of-music-art-and-video-games-forget-about-your/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [If you want to explore, go do it. If you want to try different types of art, do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/if-you-want-to-explore-go-do-it-if-you-want-to-try-different-types-of/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Sexiness isn't being young, hot and wearing a bikini. It's being powerful and feeling like you belong in your skin and it feels good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/sexiness-isn-t-being-young-hot-and-wearing-a-bikini-it-s-being/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) [Explore all 159 Lights quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) ## 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 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/) > [We'd hold a chord for three hours if we could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cale/we-d-hold-a-chord-for-three-hours-if-we-could/) [John Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cale/) [Browse all 121 Chord quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chord/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lights" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-chord-knowledge-but-what-i-have/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chord" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-chord-knowledge-but-what-i-have/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/lights-2588_chord_i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-cho_73794.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/lights-2588_chord_i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-cho_73794.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc8/lights-2588_chord_i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-cho_73794.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't have musical theory or great chord knowledge, but what I have got me where I am.” — Lights", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Lights", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't have musical theory or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-chord-knowledge-but-what-i-have/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-don-t-have-musical-theory-or-great-chord-knowledge-but-what-i-have/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```