--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I used to help Viv with the chords and…" description: "\"I used to help Viv with the chords and melodies sometimes.\" — Neil Innes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/neil-innes-19425_chords_i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-m_1270673.png" --- # I used to help Viv with the chords and melodies sometimes. ![“I used to help Viv with the chords and melodies sometimes.” quote by Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/neil-innes-19425_chords_i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-m_1270673.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/neil-innes-19425_chords_i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-m_1270673.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/neil-innes-19425_chords_i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-m_1270673.png) > “I used to help Viv with the chords and melodies sometimes.” [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collaborating on chord progressions and melodies strengthens creative partnership and skill sharing. **In simple terms:** Helping a friend with music creation. Key Takeaway Offer support and share expertise in collaborations. Themes collaboration music mentorship Mood supportive creative Type educational musical When to use this quote - band rehearsals - studio sessions - workshops Key Concepts songwriting musical partnership Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance input with another’s vision? - What methods improve collaborative composition? A Different Perspective Creative differences may arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords/) [Chords Melodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chords-melodies-2980261/) [Help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help/) [Help Viv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-viv-4072281/) [Melodies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melodies/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Viv Chords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/viv-chords-4072280/) ## Related quotes > [When you sample something, you're using the crutch of borrowing chords and melodies from a song that's already great, that's already stood the test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-eazy/when-you-sample-something-you-re-using-the-crutch-of-borrowing-chords/) [G-Eazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-eazy/) > [There, in the chords and melodies, is everything I want to say. The words just jolly it along. It's always been my way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/there-in-the-chords-and-melodies-is-everything-i-want-to-say-the/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [Music really does just boil down to basically, essentially songwriting chords and melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-really-does-just-boil-down-to-basically-essentially-songwriting/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [I would describe my songs as just a collection of my thoughts, with melodies that probably occurred to me in the grocery store or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/withered-hand/i-would-describe-my-songs-as-just-a-collection-of-my-thoughts-with/) [Withered Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/withered-hand/) > [When I listen to my favorite songwriters, they have such simple melodies and chords. I occasionally manage to stop at the right time, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/when-i-listen-to-my-favorite-songwriters-they-have-such-simple/) [Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/) > [I knew a lot of chords, but they weren't the chords that came with the melody that came with the idea I had for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/i-knew-a-lot-of-chords-but-they-weren-t-the-chords-that-came-with-the/) [Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combination of these five give rise to more melodies that can ever be heard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/there-are-not-more-than-five-musical-notes-yet-the-combination-of/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“There are melodies that speak as eloquently as words, that flow logically and inevitably from a single, pure emotion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/there-are-melodies-that-speak-as-eloquently-as-words-that-flow/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [It was a matter of not seeing the woods for the trees. Glorious songs have been in Ireland forever, but a lot of these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-coulter/it-was-a-matter-of-not-seeing-the-woods-for-the-trees-glorious-songs/) [Phil Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-coulter/) > [I have a very strange melodic gift: melodies come to me effortlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-legrand/i-have-a-very-strange-melodic-gift-melodies-come-to-me-effortlessly/) [Michel Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-legrand/) > [You don't have to know anything about music to understand what I write. Mine are simple melodies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-warren/you-don-t-have-to-know-anything-about-music-to-understand-what-i/) [Harry Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-warren/) > [“If we are exhorted to play simple melodies with beauty rather than difficult ones with error, the same should be applied to writing; simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-rumzi/if-we-are-exhorted-to-play-simple-melodies-with-beauty-rather-than/) [Sonia Rumzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-rumzi/) > [At times I have a beat first and then I write. Sometimes I have a melody in my head and I pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nneka/at-times-i-have-a-beat-first-and-then-i-write-sometimes-i-have-a/) [Nneka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nneka/) ## More by Neil Innes > [But Dennis was a really solid musician, and we really needed somebody who could play bass like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/but-dennis-was-a-really-solid-musician-and-we-really-needed-somebody/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [As I said, when we needed to move over to rock'n'roll, Sam and Vernon couldn't quite make the shift. So that's when Larry took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/as-i-said-when-we-needed-to-move-over-to-rock-n-roll-sam-and-vernon/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I think most musicians do like to have a laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-think-most-musicians-do-like-to-have-a-laugh/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [Eric Clapton always wanted to come out onstage with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/eric-clapton-always-wanted-to-come-out-onstage-with-a-stuffed-parrot/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [ I suppose Roger \[Ruskin Spear\] had the license to do anything that fitted the venue. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-suppose-roger-ruskin-spear-had-the-license-to-do-anything-that/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [Ladies and gentleman, I've suffered for my music, now it's your turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/ladies-and-gentleman-i-ve-suffered-for-my-music-now-it-s-your-turn/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [In fact, Moon came on tour with us for a bit just before a big festival in Brighton, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/in-fact-moon-came-on-tour-with-us-for-a-bit-just-before-a-big/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I suppose we all loved those kind of sci-fi movies where terrible things came out of swamps and came to Mars. And there's usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-suppose-we-all-loved-those-kind-of-sci-fi-movies-where-terrible/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [But we used to go to flea markets and things, and look for old 78 records that had silly song titles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/but-we-used-to-go-to-flea-markets-and-things-and-look-for-old-78/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [But I mean, again, Zappa's far more musical than the Bonzos ever were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/but-i-mean-again-zappa-s-far-more-musical-than-the-bonzos-ever-were/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [It was just us lampooning our own peer group, saying, well hey, where did this stuff come from? And where does British guys get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/it-was-just-us-lampooning-our-own-peer-group-saying-well-hey-where/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [But I remember we sold nearly 18,000 records in one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/but-i-remember-we-sold-nearly-18-000-records-in-one-day/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [Ladies and gentlemen, Ive suffered for my music ... now its your turn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/ladies-and-gentlemen-ive-suffered-for-my-music-now-its-your-turn/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I mean in recent years, I think you've only got to sell thirty or forty thousand to get a #1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-mean-in-recent-years-i-think-you-ve-only-got-to-sell-thirty-or/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) > [I mean Gorilla was really our first sort of goes at songwriting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-mean-gorilla-was-really-our-first-sort-of-goes-at-songwriting/) [Neil Innes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) [Explore all 32 Neil Innes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/) ## 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": "I used to help Viv with the chords and melodies sometimes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Innes" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-melodies-sometimes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chords" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-melodies-sometimes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/neil-innes-19425_chords_i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-m_1270673.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/neil-innes-19425_chords_i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-m_1270673.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b1f/neil-innes-19425_chords_i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-m_1270673.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I used to help Viv with the chords and melodies sometimes.” — Neil Innes", "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": "Neil Innes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-innes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I used to help Viv with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-melodies-sometimes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-innes/i-used-to-help-viv-with-the-chords-and-melodies-sometimes/#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 } } ] } ```