--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I picked up guitar, it wasn't like…" description: "\"When I picked up guitar, it wasn't like, 'OK, I'm going to be Kenny Chesney.' It was like, 'I want to play a chord,' and then it was like, 'I want to p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/luke-combs-16586_guitar_when-i-picked-up-guitar-it-wasn-t-like-o_2032283.jpg" --- # When I picked up guitar, it wasn't like, 'OK, I'm going to… ![“When I picked up guitar, it wasn't like, 'OK, I'm going to be Kenny Chesney.' It was like, 'I want to play a chord,' and then it was like, 'I want to play another one, then play a song, then sing while playing the song.'” quote by Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/luke-combs-16586_guitar_when-i-picked-up-guitar-it-wasn-t-like-o_2032283.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/luke-combs-16586_guitar_when-i-picked-up-guitar-it-wasn-t-like-o_2032283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/luke-combs-16586_guitar_when-i-picked-up-guitar-it-wasn-t-like-o_2032283.jpg) > “When I picked up guitar, it wasn't like, 'OK, I'm going to be Kenny Chesney.' It was like, 'I want to play a chord,' and then it was like, 'I want to play another one, then play a song, then sing while playing the song.'” [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Skill development starts with simple steps, building gradually toward complex mastery. **In simple terms:** Start small, then expand. Key Takeaway Practice basic chords before full songs. Themes music learning growth Mood motivational reflective Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - learning a new instrument - songwriting - live performance - personal practice Key Concepts skill acquisition incremental learning musical expression Questions to Reflect On - What small skill will you master first? - How does each step build confidence? A Different Perspective Skipping fundamentals leads to frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chord Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chord-like-3739027/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Guitar Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar-wasn-2836334/) [Kenny Chesney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kenny-chesney/) [Picked Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/picked-guitar-545752/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Chord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-chord-649552/) [Sing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sing/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [I loved that playing the guitar wasn't easy. It was pain, but it was my pain. And then it became joy. My joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-loved-that-playing-the-guitar-wasn-t-easy-it-was-pain-but-it-was-my/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I still only play by ear. I don't have any training. But the piano actually makes more sense to me than guitar, even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-rubarth/i-still-only-play-by-ear-i-don-t-have-any-training-but-the-piano/) [Amber Rubarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-rubarth/) > [I think I said something like 'it's the end of the electric guitar era'. Looking back, maybe it was a bad idea, 'cause that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-ross/i-think-i-said-something-like-it-s-the-end-of-the-electric-guitar-era/) [Ryan Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-ross/) > [There's so many ways you can play one chord progression that the repetition isn't ever exactly the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vile/there-s-so-many-ways-you-can-play-one-chord-progression-that-the/) [Kurt Vile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vile/) > [I got bored with the old way - it came too easy. I worked until I could play and chord changes at any tempo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-ellis/i-got-bored-with-the-old-way-it-came-too-easy-i-worked-until-i-could/) [Don Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-ellis/) > [The program I use is called MED Soundstudio. It's basically a column of numbers that relate to pitch, duration, the type of sound. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tundra/the-program-i-use-is-called-med-soundstudio-it-s-basically-a-column/) [Max Tundra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tundra/) > [Why play a chord when you can play one note?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-kapranos/why-play-a-chord-when-you-can-play-one-note/) [Alex Kapranos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-kapranos/) > [After 35 years of bone-crushing rock guitar playing, I'm finally starting to get my head out of the harmonic sand and learning how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/after-35-years-of-bone-crushing-rock-guitar-playing-i-m-finally/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [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/) > [I've seen some female players, and they get up there and play an A chord and leave... and it's not a good representation. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-ve-seen-some-female-players-and-they-get-up-there-and-play-an-a/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [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/) > [Robert Plant, Kenny Chesney, Mavis Staples, Taj Mahal, this incredible array of folks, all taught me a way to carry yourself with dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-potter/robert-plant-kenny-chesney-mavis-staples-taj-mahal-this-incredible/) [Grace Potter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-potter/) > [I have major respect for Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood and Sugarland. They are wonderful. They're superstars in the music business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/i-have-major-respect-for-kenny-chesney-and-carrie-underwood-and/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [There's a lot that goes into being Tim McGraw or Kenny Chesney. They have great songs, their show is great, they're very fit. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-owen/there-s-a-lot-that-goes-into-being-tim-mcgraw-or-kenny-chesney-they/) [Jake Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-owen/) > [The first song I learned on the guitar was a Kenny Chesney song called 'What I Need to Do'; it was just an easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hunt/the-first-song-i-learned-on-the-guitar-was-a-kenny-chesney-song/) [Sam Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hunt/) ## More by Luke Combs > [Sometimes, you sit down to write a song, you don't realize what it's going to mean to somebody other than yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/sometimes-you-sit-down-to-write-a-song-you-don-t-realize-what-it-s/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I didn't know how to play guitar until I was 21, but from the moment I was good enough on guitar to even put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-didn-t-know-how-to-play-guitar-until-i-was-21-but-from-the-moment-i/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [It's a good pair of jeans and a pair of boots that are comfortable and a T-shirt; that's as far as I go. Getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/it-s-a-good-pair-of-jeans-and-a-pair-of-boots-that-are-comfortable/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I'm an honest dude, not trying to be anything other than who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-m-an-honest-dude-not-trying-to-be-anything-other-than-who-i-am/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [There's an authenticity in just being who you are and not having an act about it or wear clothes you normally wouldn't wear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/there-s-an-authenticity-in-just-being-who-you-are-and-not-having-an/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [Write what you want to write, write what people want to hear, and write about what they're going through, because if you could connect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/write-what-you-want-to-write-write-what-people-want-to-hear-and-write/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I do gravitate towards the sad songs because I find them to be more of a challenge for me from a writing perspective. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-do-gravitate-towards-the-sad-songs-because-i-find-them-to-be-more/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I've played for a lot of tough crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-ve-played-for-a-lot-of-tough-crowds/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I don't want to put myself in any kind of a box as far as my sound goes, because being an artist is fluid.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-don-t-want-to-put-myself-in-any-kind-of-a-box-as-far-as-my-sound/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [Both of my grandfathers were in the service. It's one of those things that you can't be thankful enough for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/both-of-my-grandfathers-were-in-the-service-it-s-one-of-those-things/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [My tour manager, I met him at Boot Barn. He was selling me a pair of boots... and he said, 'I moved to Nashville…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/my-tour-manager-i-met-him-at-boot-barn-he-was-selling-me-a-pair-of/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I'm a horrendous golfer, though I do enjoy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-m-a-horrendous-golfer-though-i-do-enjoy-it/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I could play a gig on the moon and not be nervous about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-could-play-a-gig-on-the-moon-and-not-be-nervous-about-it/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I've been singing my entire life. The guitar came to me later on down the road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-ve-been-singing-my-entire-life-the-guitar-came-to-me-later-on-down/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) > [I think the crowds in Europe are songwriter crowds. Like, they are a fan of the words, and they're there to listen. An American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-combs/i-think-the-crowds-in-europe-are-songwriter-crowds-like-they-are-a/) [Luke Combs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) [Explore all 39 Luke Combs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-combs/) ## More Guitar quotes > [I'll tell you one thing: I will always play the sh\*\* out of my guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-satriani/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-i-will-always-play-the-sh-out-of-my-guitar/) [Joe Satriani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-satriani/) > [I remember people would talk about Country Music like it was this sexist, lame thing. Well, no, because Dolly Parton is writing songs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neko-case/i-remember-people-would-talk-about-country-music-like-it-was-this/) [Neko Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neko-case/) > [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/) [Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/) > [Growing up in Dallas, my first influences on the guitar were T-Bone Walker and Les Paul. T-Bone taught me how to play lead guitar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-miller/growing-up-in-dallas-my-first-influences-on-the-guitar-were-t-bone/) [Steve Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-miller/) > [I like the bad-boy types. Generally the guy I'm attracted to is the guy in the club with all the tattoos and nail polish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-like-the-bad-boy-types-generally-the-guy-i-m-attracted-to-is-the/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [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.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/that-s-the-thing-about-the-blues-it-s-one-thing-to-hit-a-note-on-a/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [Bass guitar is the engine of the band.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzi-quatro/bass-guitar-is-the-engine-of-the-band/) [Suzi Quatro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzi-quatro/) > [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/) [Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/) > [I learned tabla for three years when in school, then started picking up the basics of the acoustic guitar when in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anupam-roy/i-learned-tabla-for-three-years-when-in-school-then-started-picking/) [Anupam Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anupam-roy/) > [I took guitar lessons and recorded the song in New York. It was kind of a dream. I got to pretend I was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-wiig/i-took-guitar-lessons-and-recorded-the-song-in-new-york-it-was-kind/) [Kristen Wiig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-wiig/) > [There's a need for music that has urgency and emotional honesty. That's why people are reintroducing themselves to guitar music - that instrument has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mura-masa/there-s-a-need-for-music-that-has-urgency-and-emotional-honesty-that/) [Mura Masa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mura-masa/) > [I like to be quiet and play guitar and just chill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/post-malone/i-like-to-be-quiet-and-play-guitar-and-just-chill/) [Post Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/post-malone/) > [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/) > [Kenny Burrell is the grand master of jazz guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dizzy-gillespie/kenny-burrell-is-the-grand-master-of-jazz-guitar/) [Dizzy Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dizzy-gillespie/) > [Because of my background, I never felt comfortable with these R&B divas, but I'd hate to be just some pensive girl with a guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corinne-bailey-rae/because-of-my-background-i-never-felt-comfortable-with-these-r-b/) [Corinne Bailey Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corinne-bailey-rae/) [Browse all 3,915 Guitar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I picked up guitar, it wasn't like, 'OK, I'm going to be Kenny Chesney.' 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