I suppose it depends on how you define the word “talent”. I’ve known musicians who, I thought, possessed talent but then later discovered that, compared to others, they were hacks.

When did you begin seriously studying guitar and for how long? Did you have experience playing any other instruments or was guitar your first? Did you have a teacher or were you going it alone?

Nick

The rub: Passion does not equal talent.
I can honestly say that what Johnn as described has been my natural approach to many things in life and it has proven very fulfilling. However, there must be something else to when it comes to talent, I think. Maybe how we are genetically predispositioned for something vs. another. Maybe how our brain was hardwired at a young age due to some aspects of our environment and/or nurturing.

I say this based on having thought about it a lot from my own experiences. There are many things which I seem to pick up and learn at an excellerated rate – in fact almost as if there was no learning at all. Effortless. Like I was born for it – regardless of whether or not I’m passionate about it (I have seen where this has frustrated some of my friends to no end). While at the same time, there I things I’ve been so very intrigued and passionate about that just don’t seem to click at all to me. Try as I might, no talent. Frustrating. Touche at me.

I’ll give you two examples. I’m very passionate about both.

The first, photography. Never really felt it was something learned. When I look at images, anything from advertising images to masterpieces like those of Ansel Adams, I seem to pick up on a mass of information about those images that don’t seem to register with other people (messaging, emotion, shapes, light direction, shadowing, object relation and composition, etc, etc). It’s like I’m tuned to it or a filter is turned off somewhere in my head. When I first picked up a camera, it made complete sense to me. I use it to express and create effortlessly. Just sort of happens.

Second example: The guitar – or any musical instrument for that matter *sigh*. I have zero talent for musical instruments although I’ve wished so much that I had. I’ve tried. I’d love to be able to create and communicate via the guitar as naturally and effortlessly as I do with the camera, but try as I might… it makes no sense to me. I went out and bought a slightly expensive guitar – such a beautiful instrument. Got books on it. DVDs. Tried playing until my fingers bled. Nothing. Nada. It just won’t click. It doesn’t make sense to me. What I would give to create music like I can create other art. C’est la vie, I guess.

Know anyone interested in buying a gorgeous Ibanez exotic wood, electric acoustic guitar? Mint condition.