Home / Authors / Chet Atkins

Chet Atkins

Chet Atkins Quotes

Guitarist

A legendary guitarist, Chet Atkins was renowned for his unique playing style and musical contributions. Born on June 20, 1924, he passed away on June 30, 2001. His musical career spanned over half a century and had a profound impact on guitar playing and music production.

Filter quotes by topic

All Music Ifs Funny Guitar Country Long Musician Care Done Littles

Famous Chet Atkins Quotes

“Elvis changed the country music scene quite a bit; he almost put country music out of business.”

Country Bits Changed Scene

Author:Chet Atkins

“Once you become predictable, no one's interested anymore.”

Music Thrive Predictable

Author:Chet Atkins

“The last song I recorded with [Hank Williams, Sr.] was "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." I remember thinking, "Hoss, you're not just jivin'," because he was so weak that all he could do was sing a few lines and then just fall in the chair.”

Thinking World Country Lasts Remember Song Fall Lines Alive This World Weak Chairs Last Song Hank Williams

Author:Chet Atkins

“Everything I've ever done was out of fear of being mediocre.”

Done Music Jazz Mediocre Being Me

Author:Chet Atkins

“You shape your own destiny.”

Author:Chet Atkins

“If you hear something you like, and you're halfway like the public, chances are they'll like it too.”

Ifs Chance Reincarnation Halfway Chances Are

Author:Chet Atkins

“A long apprenticeship is the most logical way to success. The only alternative is overnight stardom, but I can't give you a formula for that.”

Way Giving Long I Can Alternatives Logical Formulas Corny Stardom Apprenticeship Way To Success

Author:Chet Atkins

“You want a little talent on that?”

Want Littles Talent Performing

Author:Chet Atkins

“There is a long history in country music of songs celebrating drinking and lamenting drinking. Country songs for the most part have always been heavily rooted in reality. The first artists were the people next door. They would sing on their porch or in their living room or at a barn dance. They sang about what they knew, and a lot of that was drinking.”

People Firsts Long Country Reality Artist Song Next Rooms Doors Drinking Celebrate Rooted Living Room Porch Barns

Author:Chet Atkins

“Everyone has their own sound, and if you're heard enough, folks will come to recognize it. Style however, is a different thing. Try to express your own ideas. It's much more difficult to do, but the rewards are there if you're good enough to pull it off.”

Ifs Trying Ideas Different Enough Funny Difficult Sound Inspiring Music Heard Style Rewards Folks Different Things Good Enough Guitarist Guitar Music Guitar Sound

Author:Chet Atkins

“Lenny Breau is one of the true geniuses of the guitar. I suppose he is a musician's musician. His knowledge of the instrument and the music is so vast, and I think that's what knocks people out about him. But he's such a tasty player too. I think if Chopin had played guitar, he would have sounded like Lenny Breau.”

People Ifs Thinking Music Player Genius Musician Music Is Instruments Guitar Tasty True Genius

Author:Chet Atkins

“Approach your guitar intelligently, and if there are limits, don't deny them. Work within your restrictions. Somethings you can do better than others, some things you can't do as well. So accentuate the positive.”

Ifs Wells Funny Can Do Music Limits Approach Guitar Deny Restriction Accentuate

Author:Chet Atkins

“It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time.”

Ifs Should Long Play Found Music Havens Amount Long Time Devotion Shortcuts

Author:Chet Atkins

“It took me 20 years to learn I couldn't tune too well. And by that time I was too rich to care.”

Years Wells Care Rich Guitar Tunes

Author:Chet Atkins

“When I was a little boy, I told my dad, 'When I grow up, I want to be a musician.' My dad said: 'You can't do both, Son'.”

Want Children Littles Said Funny Grows Music Boys Growing Up Son Dad Musician My Dad Adulthood Little Boys Rock Music Funny Music

Author:Chet Atkins

“Copying one person is stealing. Copying ten is research.”

Persons Ten Research Stealing Copying

Author:Chet Atkins

“Years from now, after I'm gone, someone will listen to what I've done and know I was here. They may not know or care who I was, but they'll hear my guitars speaking for me.”

Knows Years May Done Care Funny Music Gone Listening Musician Guitar Hearing Heritage Life Well Lived

Author:Chet Atkins

“Ray Cummins is my good friend and one of the best finger pickers around.”

Fingers Rays Good Friend

Author:Chet Atkins

“I'll always be poor in my mind.”

Author:Chet Atkins

About the Author

Born: June 20, 1924
Died: June 30, 2001
Known for: Guitarist
Quotes: 19

Related Topics

Music Ifs Funny Guitar Country Long Musician Care Done Littles

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Similar Authors

Debbie DaviesBrowse related quotes
Mike BloomfieldBrowse related quotes
Barney KesselBrowse related quotes
Kenny GarrettBrowse related quotes
Richard BettsBrowse related quotes
George BensonBrowse related quotes
Jack TeagardenBrowse related quotes
Jimi HendrixBrowse related quotes
Rob SchwimmerBrowse related quotes
Julian BreamBrowse related quotes