--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm an intuitive musician. I have no real…" description: "\"I'm an intuitive musician. I have no real technical skills. I can only play six chords on the guitar.\" — Patti Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3d/patti-smith-394_chords_i-m-an-intuitive-musician-i-have-no-real_2596677.jpg" --- # I'm an intuitive musician. I have no real technical… ![“I'm an intuitive musician. I have no real technical skills. I can only play six chords on the guitar.” quote by Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3d/patti-smith-394_chords_i-m-an-intuitive-musician-i-have-no-real_2596677.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3d/patti-smith-394_chords_i-m-an-intuitive-musician-i-have-no-real_2596677.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3d/patti-smith-394_chords_i-m-an-intuitive-musician-i-have-no-real_2596677.jpg) > “I'm an intuitive musician. I have no real technical skills. I can only play six chords on the guitar.” [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intuition drives creativity despite limited technical skill. **In simple terms:** Intuition fuels creativity. Key Takeaway Trust your instinct in art. Themes creativity intuition skill Mood inspirational encouraging Type personal motivational When to use this quote - songwriting - improvisation - performance Key Concepts Artistic expression self‑belief Questions to Reflect On - How can intuition and technique coexist? - What barriers limit your expression? A Different Perspective May neglect skill development. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Intuitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intuitive/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Musician](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musician/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Technical skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technical-skills/) ## Related quotes > [About ten years ago, I knew three chords on the guitar. Now, in 1982, I know three chords on the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/about-ten-years-ago-i-knew-three-chords-on-the-guitar-now-in-1982-i/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [My favorite way to get into the songwriting process is to get into the studio, and then usually, they play a loop of four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tate-mcrae/my-favorite-way-to-get-into-the-songwriting-process-is-to-get-into/) [Tate McRae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tate-mcrae/) > [If you play more than two chords, you're showing off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-guthrie/if-you-play-more-than-two-chords-you-re-showing-off/) [Woody Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-guthrie/) > [My dad had an acoustic guitar, and I remember I was like 12 when I started learning to play chords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-rowsell/my-dad-had-an-acoustic-guitar-and-i-remember-i-was-like-12-when-i/) [Ellie Rowsell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-rowsell/) > [See, we started out with a foundation of blues. But then we added people like Miles Davis and John Coltrane to the mix and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/see-we-started-out-with-a-foundation-of-blues-but-then-we-added/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) > [I've been used for writing rhythm guitar chords for a long time because it's so easy to play and chords just sound good on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradford-cox/i-ve-been-used-for-writing-rhythm-guitar-chords-for-a-long-time/) [Bradford Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradford-cox/) > [My guitar only has five strings 'cause the top one broke and I decided not to put it back on: when I play chords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/my-guitar-only-has-five-strings-cause-the-top-one-broke-and-i-decided/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I didn't go to guitar school and I don't know how to play chords, but I can do it in my own way and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/i-didn-t-go-to-guitar-school-and-i-don-t-know-how-to-play-chords-but/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [I know a few chords on the guitar, but I wouldn't be able do a show or even be part of a jam session…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-shimabukuro/i-know-a-few-chords-on-the-guitar-but-i-wouldn-t-be-able-do-a-show-or/) [Jake Shimabukuro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-shimabukuro/) > [I find it quite easy to play chords, and, you know, that was all I ever did. I never wanted to be a lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy/i-find-it-quite-easy-to-play-chords-and-you-know-that-was-all-i-ever/) [Lemmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy/) > [Maybe that's what makes my stuff different, 'cause I write it all on the bass. I can't play but a few chords on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harris/maybe-that-s-what-makes-my-stuff-different-cause-i-write-it-all-on/) [Steve Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harris/) > [A lot of people at my school could play the "Stairway to Heaven" guitar solo, but they couldn't play three chords of a Ramones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-shields/a-lot-of-people-at-my-school-could-play-the-stairway-to-heaven-guitar/) [Kevin Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-shields/) > [I came into music because I thought the presentation of poetry wasn't vibrant enough. So I merged improvised poetry with basic rock chords.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-came-into-music-because-i-thought-the-presentation-of-poetry-wasn-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [They are both all over physical sports that require being focused, accurate and having good strength. They are both fast with big consequences if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-halliday/they-are-both-all-over-physical-sports-that-require-being-focused/) [Liz Halliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-halliday/) > [The 'human situation,' in all its guises, is what good films are all about, and technical skill counts for nothing if it is used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-dmytryk/the-human-situation-in-all-its-guises-is-what-good-films-are-all/) [Edward Dmytryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-dmytryk/) ## More by Patti Smith > [I had a really happy childhood - my siblings were great, my mother was very fanciful, and I loved to read. But there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-had-a-really-happy-childhood-my-siblings-were-great-my-mother-was/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“Inside it he inscribed a few lines of poetry, portraying us as the gypsy and the fool, one creating silence; one listening closely to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/inside-it-he-inscribed-a-few-lines-of-poetry-portraying-us-as-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Who can know the heart of youth but youth itself?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/who-can-know-the-heart-of-youth-but-youth-itself/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [“I clawed through a thick web of the culture’s consciousness that I hadn’t known existed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-clawed-through-a-thick-web-of-the-culture-s-consciousness-that-i/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Ultimately, we are not seeking others to bow to, but to reinforce our individual natures, to help us suffer our own choices, to guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/ultimately-we-are-not-seeking-others-to-bow-to-but-to-reinforce-our/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [If I'm taking a picture of Brancusi's grave, I know that there's something of him, of his mortal remains, beneath my feet, and there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/if-i-m-taking-a-picture-of-brancusi-s-grave-i-know-that-there-s/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm certain, as we filled down the great staircase, that I appeared the same as ever, a moping twelve years-old, all arms and legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-certain-as-we-filled-down-the-great-staircase-that-i-appeared-the/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [In art and dream may you proceed with abandon. In life may you proceed with balance and stealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/in-art-and-dream-may-you-proceed-with-abandon-in-life-may-you-proceed/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [New York is the thing that seduced me. New York is the thing that formed me. New York is the thing that deformed me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/new-york-is-the-thing-that-seduced-me-new-york-is-the-thing-that/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I don't wanna be equal with anybody. I wanna be above equal. I don't think most people are equal to me. I'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-don-t-wanna-be-equal-with-anybody-i-wanna-be-above-equal-i-don-t/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I think I'm constantly in a state of adjustment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-think-i-m-constantly-in-a-state-of-adjustment/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [Somehow I started introducing writing into my drawings, and after a time, the language took over and I started getting very involved with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/somehow-i-started-introducing-writing-into-my-drawings-and-after-a/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [I'm okay with roaming around the world in my bunk for days on end. Maybe every third day I'll get a shower or stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/i-m-okay-with-roaming-around-the-world-in-my-bunk-for-days-on-end/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) [Explore all 595 Patti Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) ## 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 ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm an intuitive musician. I have no real technical skills. 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