--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it has more than three chords, it's…" description: "\"If it has more than three chords, it's jazz.\" — Lou Reed" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/lou-reed-1654_chords_if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-ja_2104182.png" --- # If it has more than three chords, it's jazz. ![“If it has more than three chords, it's jazz.” quote by Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/lou-reed-1654_chords_if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-ja_2104182.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/lou-reed-1654_chords_if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-ja_2104182.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/lou-reed-1654_chords_if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-ja_2104182.png) > “If it has more than three chords, it's jazz.” [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Jazz is defined by its harmonic complexity, often using more than three chords. **In simple terms:** Jazz uses many chords. Key Takeaway Embrace musical complexity. Themes music genre creativity Mood reflective analytical Type musical educational When to use this quote - jazz composition - music education - listening practice Key Concepts harmonic theory improvisation Questions to Reflect On - Do you appreciate complex harmony? - How does chord variety affect mood? A Different Perspective Jazz can be overly intellectual for casual listeners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords/) [Chords Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords-jazz-2543093/) [Jazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jazz/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) ## Related quotes > [One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you're into jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/one-chord-is-fine-two-chords-are-pushing-it-three-chords-and-you-re/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [I'm not joking around when I've said occasionally, trying to learn how to play a D chord properly has been a very big thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-not-joking-around-when-i-ve-said-occasionally-trying-to-learn-how/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [You can't ask me to explain the lyrics because I won't do it...I always believed that I have something important to say and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-can-t-ask-me-to-explain-the-lyrics-because-i-won-t-do-it-i-always/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Will none of the powers that be realize what Brian Wilson did with the chords. Deftly taking from all sources, old rock, Four Freshman,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/will-none-of-the-powers-that-be-realize-what-brian-wilson-did-with/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [My favorite band of all time is The Clash. The thing I love about The Clash is they started out as guys who could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/my-favorite-band-of-all-time-is-the-clash-the-thing-i-love-about-the/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [The music has gotten thick. Guys give me tunes and they're full of chords. I can't play them...I think a movement in jazz is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/the-music-has-gotten-thick-guys-give-me-tunes-and-they-re-full-of/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [I've mainly been sampling jazz because the tone of the chords are expressive in itself, so it's quite nice to write over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/i-ve-mainly-been-sampling-jazz-because-the-tone-of-the-chords-are/) [King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/) > [By adding open strings to even the simplest chords, you can create voicings that sound sophisticated, but are really easy (and fun) to play.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-petrucci/by-adding-open-strings-to-even-the-simplest-chords-you-can-create/) [John Petrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-petrucci/) > [There's four chords in every song. That's the fun part - trying to make that your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-rodrigo/there-s-four-chords-in-every-song-that-s-the-fun-part-trying-to-make/) [Olivia Rodrigo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-rodrigo/) > [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [I grew up in a home filled with music and had an early appreciation of jazz since my dad was a jazz musician. Beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-ringwald/i-grew-up-in-a-home-filled-with-music-and-had-an-early-appreciation/) [Molly Ringwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-ringwald/) > [I began to realize that some of the things Ornette Coleman had said about things being played three or fours ways, independently of each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-began-to-realize-that-some-of-the-things-ornette-coleman-had-said/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. It is much more poetic than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/jazz-is-not-something-that-can-be-defined-through-blunt-instruments/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) ## More by Lou Reed > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night is minimalistic and that's what makes it so forceful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-is-minimalistic-and-that-s-what-makes-it-so-forceful/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I think life is far too short to concentrate on your past. I rather look into the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-think-life-is-far-too-short-to-concentrate-on-your-past-i-rather/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The only thing constantly changing is change, and change is always changing for the worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-only-thing-constantly-changing-is-change-and-change-is-always/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [The first generation of CDs sounded terrible. Any chance to remaster would make the music sound better than what was already out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/the-first-generation-of-cds-sounded-terrible-any-chance-to-remaster/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Perfect Night has that magic and it has the raw energy that grabs you by the throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/perfect-night-has-that-magic-and-it-has-the-raw-energy-that-grabs-you/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/eve-kissed-able-that-s-how-he-got-murdered-by-cain/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Music should come crashing out of your speakers and grab you, and the lyrics should challenge whatever preconceived notions that listener has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/music-should-come-crashing-out-of-your-speakers-and-grab-you-and-the/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Underachievers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose except your fright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/underachievers-of-the-world-unite-you-have-nothing-to-lose-except/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [“There's a bit of magic in everything And then some loss to even things out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/there-s-a-bit-of-magic-in-everything-and-then-some-loss-to-even/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [You've gotta blow the roof off of your heart and let the universe in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/you-ve-gotta-blow-the-roof-off-of-your-heart-and-let-the-universe-in/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [Sometimes, you've got to be in a place. You're just another guy. You can just blend in. I live out in the wilds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/sometimes-you-ve-got-to-be-in-a-place-you-re-just-another-guy-you-can/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [How could you even dream or think something of someone who is as uncommercial as I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/how-could-you-even-dream-or-think-something-of-someone-who-is-as/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [All the people have gone to war leaving no interrogator to mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/all-the-people-have-gone-to-war-leaving-no-interrogator-to-mind/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [I always thought martial arts was the most modern choreography we could have right now, and I always wanted to put it to music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-always-thought-martial-arts-was-the-most-modern-choreography-we/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) [Explore all 219 Lou Reed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) ## More Chords quotes > [The term "black metal" has become a lot looser, or can include a larger range of sounds and extra-musical aesthetics, not just Satan and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-marston/the-term-black-metal-has-become-a-lot-looser-or-can-include-a-larger/) [Colin Marston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-marston/) > [Every time I finish a song... most of the time it's in my own head, like this sounds too much like a Townes Van…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/every-time-i-finish-a-song-most-of-the-time-it-s-in-my-own-head-like/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [So I concentrated on the rhythmic side of things, and therefore left a lot of holes. I didn't want to use big pad chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/midge-ure/so-i-concentrated-on-the-rhythmic-side-of-things-and-therefore-left-a/) [Midge Ure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/midge-ure/) > [Talk health. The dreary, never-changing tale Of mortal maladies is worn and stale. You cannot charm, or interest, or please By harping in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/talk-health-the-dreary-never-changing-tale-of-mortal-maladies-is-worn/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [There's four chords in every song. That's the fun part - trying to make that your own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-rodrigo/there-s-four-chords-in-every-song-that-s-the-fun-part-trying-to-make/) [Olivia Rodrigo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-rodrigo/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [“Wild Horses" started in a B-minor chord, and Stu didn't play minor chords, "fucking Chinese music.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/wild-horses-started-in-a-b-minor-chord-and-stu-didn-t-play-minor/) [Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/) > [I learned to play by ear before I learned music theory. For me, that makes sense. After all, children learn to speak before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/i-learned-to-play-by-ear-before-i-learned-music-theory-for-me-that/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [My course is about really working on a sheet of music. You work out the chords, which note complements the other, and how they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catriona-gray/my-course-is-about-really-working-on-a-sheet-of-music-you-work-out/) [Catriona Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catriona-gray/) > [I don't write poetry and then strum some chords and then fit the words on top of the chords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/i-don-t-write-poetry-and-then-strum-some-chords-and-then-fit-the/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [I always think of each night as a song. Or each moment as a song. But now I'm seeing we don't live in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-always-think-of-each-night-as-a-song-or-each-moment-as-a-song-but/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [It's a double-headed coin, because technology is a convenience but it's stifled our attention spans. At one time, albums had songs that were like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cee-lo-green/it-s-a-double-headed-coin-because-technology-is-a-convenience-but-it/) [Cee Lo Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cee-lo-green/) > [I don't want to discredit people's opinions of me, but you talk about the violin or the cello or lead guitar where you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/i-don-t-want-to-discredit-people-s-opinions-of-me-but-you-talk-about/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [There are no rules or certain methods. I usually start with the guitar or piano and sing melodies over the chords. The lyrics seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-reeves/there-are-no-rules-or-certain-methods-i-usually-start-with-the-guitar/) [Jason Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-reeves/) > [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/) [Browse all 544 Chords quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If it has more than three chords, it's jazz.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lou Reed" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-jazz/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chords" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-jazz/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/lou-reed-1654_chords_if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-ja_2104182.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/lou-reed-1654_chords_if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-ja_2104182.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9dd/lou-reed-1654_chords_if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-ja_2104182.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it has more than three chords, it's jazz.” — Lou Reed", "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": "Lou Reed", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If it has more than three...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-jazz/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/if-it-has-more-than-three-chords-it-s-jazz/#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 } } ] } ```