The quote in the picture, attributed to Lou Reed, humorously simplifies the complexity of musical composition and genre classification.
The quote in the picture, attributed to Lou Reed, humorously simplifies the complexity of musical composition and genre classification. Reed suggests that a single chord can make a fine piece of music, likely referring to the minimalist approach often found in rock music. Two chords might make the music more complex, but it's when you add a third that, according to Reed, the music transitions into the realm of jazz. This reflects the idea that jazz is characterized by richer harmonic structures and a greater level of musical complexity.
Reed's quote also touches on the spirit of improvisation and sophistication that jazz is known for, as opposed to the more straightforward and raw nature of rock. It's an oversimplification, of course, but it humorously captures the essence of how different genres can be perceived in terms of their musical composition.