--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of it starts with playing…" description: "\"A lot of it starts with playing instruments and working with other people. Some of the new generation is doing it on computers and they don't have a cl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/ray-parker-jr-55788_chords_a-lot-of-it-starts-with-playing-instrume_2312296.jpg" --- # A lot of it starts with playing instruments and working… ![“A lot of it starts with playing instruments and working with other people. Some of the new generation is doing it on computers and they don't have a clue as to how to play anything. That's probably one of the problems. They don't know how to make the melody, go through the chord changes. They're…” quote by Ray Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/ray-parker-jr-55788_chords_a-lot-of-it-starts-with-playing-instrume_2312296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/ray-parker-jr-55788_chords_a-lot-of-it-starts-with-playing-instrume_2312296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/ray-parker-jr-55788_chords_a-lot-of-it-starts-with-playing-instrume_2312296.jpg) > “A lot of it starts with playing instruments and working with other people. Some of the new generation is doing it on computers and they don't have a clue as to how to play anything. That's probably one of the problems. They don't know how to make the melody, go through the chord changes. They're not starting from that same school of thought.” [Ray Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-parker-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the importance of foundational musical skills versus purely digital creation, suggesting that lacking basic theory can limit artistic depth. **In simple terms:** Learning basics matters more than just tech tools. Key Takeaway Practice fundamentals before relying on software. Themes music education creativity technology tradition skill development Mood reflective critical inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - songwriting workshops - school music programs - band rehearsals - DIY home studios - online music courses Key Concepts musical theory instrument proficiency collaboration digital vs analog artistic authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How does hands‑on practice shape musical identity? - Can digital tools replace traditional training? A Different Perspective Relying solely on tech may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computer/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Melody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melody/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-making/) [New generation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-generation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing instruments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-instruments/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Working with others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/working-with-others/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [Sometimes, I actually end up doing three or four different versions of one song, and sometimes, those versions can be done very differently. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trentem-ller/sometimes-i-actually-end-up-doing-three-or-four-different-versions-of/) [Trentemøller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trentem-ller/) > [I just remember really loving words and writing about anything I could, and the way I'd remember things, like my library card number, was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-michaels/i-just-remember-really-loving-words-and-writing-about-anything-i/) [Julia Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-michaels/) > [When you make a melody that doesn't come with words from the get-go, sometimes you're just thinking about random vowel sounds that go with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-longstreth/when-you-make-a-melody-that-doesn-t-come-with-words-from-the-get-go/) [David Longstreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-longstreth/) > [Because if you've got the wit, you can make anything into a melody, ultimately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/because-if-you-ve-got-the-wit-you-can-make-anything-into-a-melody/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [I don't really have a set-in-stone process or formula. Sometimes the melody is there and I have to chase down the lyrics. Sometimes, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasey-anderson/i-don-t-really-have-a-set-in-stone-process-or-formula-sometimes-the/) [Kasey Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasey-anderson/) > [It's all about sustainability, it's all about teaching the next generation as to what they should be doing and what they can do, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-blades/it-s-all-about-sustainability-it-s-all-about-teaching-the-next/) [Jay Blades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-blades/) > [My little brother and I, we're just in our generation. We're doing the best job we can do. There were champions like Mike Tyson…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/my-little-brother-and-i-we-re-just-in-our-generation-we-re-doing-the/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [ You \[young people\] all are just much more internationally-minded and traveled and knowledgeable in languages than any other previous generation. So many of you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/you-young-people-all-are-just-much-more-internationally-minded-and/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Whether you look at these recent PISA results, which we are mediocre at best, whether you look at a 25 percent dropout rate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/whether-you-look-at-these-recent-pisa-results-which-we-are-mediocre/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [And I know that the younger generation is doing things that are so ingenious. And for them it's not a matter of a political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hannah/and-i-know-that-the-younger-generation-is-doing-things-that-are-so/) [Daryl Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hannah/) > [When we do reggae, it's normally a one-chord or a two-chord, or whatever it is. With Sting, there'll be chord changes, key changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaggy/when-we-do-reggae-it-s-normally-a-one-chord-or-a-two-chord-or/) [Shaggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaggy/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Ray Parker, Jr > [I know the rules of the game, you hit it once, then break away clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-parker-jr/i-know-the-rules-of-the-game-you-hit-it-once-then-break-away-clean/) [Ray Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-parker-jr/) > [I'm just the average guy, I fooled around a little on the side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-parker-jr/i-m-just-the-average-guy-i-fooled-around-a-little-on-the-side/) [Ray Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-parker-jr/) > [If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? Ghost Busters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-parker-jr/if-there-s-something-strange-in-your-neighborhood-who-you-gonna-call/) [Ray Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-parker-jr/) > [Spank me, whip me, let me come back home. Break out the leather, baby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-parker-jr/spank-me-whip-me-let-me-come-back-home-break-out-the-leather-baby/) [Ray Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-parker-jr/) > [When I was 13, I was playing in the bars. I guess it's a changing world. Some things are better today, like the internet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-parker-jr/when-i-was-13-i-was-playing-in-the-bars-i-guess-it-s-a-changing-world/) [Ray Parker, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-parker-jr/) [Explore all 6 Ray Parker, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-parker-jr/) ## 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": "A lot of it starts with playing instruments and working with other people. Some of the new generation is doing it on computers and they don't have a clue as to how to play anything. That's probably one of the problems. They don't know how to make the melody, go through the chord changes. 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