Is Musical Talent Born or Made? FAQ Friday

0:00 Start
0:20 Guitar of the Week
4:49 Is musical talent born or made?
13:48 Ruth "Trumpets" Nichols
14:39 Are expensive PreAmps and Converters a waste of money?

Is musical talent born or made?

I didn’t start playing music until I was 15, when my father and I completed a guitar we had built together (I wanted to be Brian May!).

Even though I was a massive musical fan, when I started learning, I didn’t pick it up instantly. I had the same struggles as everyone else.

There were kids I knew that it seemed easy – they had an amazing ear, and even though they may not have been that much better than me technically, they would be able to listen to a song and work it out by ear.

I didn’t have a great natural ear. However, I developed that!

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if it comes “naturally” to you or not, it all comes down to the number of hours you put into perfecting your instrument.

Fitting in 6 to 8 hours a day to learning the guitar between school, my part time jobs, etc. was the differentiator for me.

Don’t ever feel ‘less than’ because you don’t feel like you were born with the gift of music; when you are improvising and writing music, this doesn’t come into play.

Don’t worry about being born with this natural talent or not, just apply yourself, work hard, and you can be successful!

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What other questions do you want me to answer? Comment them below to have them featured in our next FAQ Friday!

[JaxonHaze]

I think the ability to practice a lot is a talent in itself

[LiftedNoise]

I believe it was Bob Ross who said "a talent is an interest pursued" I think that we may be born with an inclination to an interest and if there's enough interest that will determine how much time we dedicate to practice.

[cozmovox]

in my young age people used to tell me I was "gifted". I never believed that. I knew I was "obsessed"and I never believed in "angels". Talent comes with the dedication you put in your music or instrument. It comes and goes as life goes on.

[TurboA]

"Was that him having natural talent and me not having natural talent? I don't know, and I don't know that I care!" I absolutely love that. There are definitely gifted people out there, but I don't think that natural talent or in this case, lack thereof, should be stopping anyone from pursuing their dreams. Innate talent isn't something that can't be overcome with a little ambition, motivation and a whole lot of patience. Thanks ever so much, and have a marvelous day!

[IainThacker]

"You're so lucky being able to play like that"

"Yeah, the more I practise the luckier I get"

[LightsandMotion]

I resonate with this so much! I didn't get my first guitar (acoustic) until my 16th birthday, but I made up for lost time by playing and practicing for hours, day in and day out. 
I remember thinking that I probably didn't have any real musical talent, but that I would make up for it by studying it that much harder. That same guitar has now been featured on many songs that have been used by big filmtrailers and in other stuff that I am so grateful to have been a part of, all around the world. I still use it as my main acoustic guitar whenever I record in the studio, 16 years later. For me it acts as a humble and beautiful reminder to keep on trying my best, working hard and staying passionate. Its not even an expensive guitar, but that is kind of the point too I think. They're just tools to unlock our creativity :)

Thanks Warren for covering such a wide array of topics on this channel, I find it all so very interesting. Have a great Friday! 
// Chris

[em.pxthetic]

Whenever I receive praise for my musical talent as a "gift" or "something I was born with", I cannot help but feel either insulted or patronized. I do not think I was born with anything, and in fact, it very much invalidates all of my hard work and dedication to music in most, if not all, of my childhood and young adulthood.

[rjbeatz]

I hope it's made. I'm working on it... wish me luck!

[HitTheRoadMusicStudio]

Love it, just finished the Book "Outliers" where this question is answered: When we put 10, 000+ hours practice into whatever we wanna do, we learn all we need to become a "Natural Born Talent " :D

[PalkoChris]

Anyone can recite a blueprint. Talent is harnessing a ability through focus & commitment. .

[officialWWM]

As someone who teaches singing for a living, I am convinced I can teach anyone. For some, it comes easier but its usually environmental. If they have been exposed to music their whole life, they may be a few lessons ahead but if you can speak and hear, you have the required tools :)

[marc_leblanc]

I finally joined the Academy today. The next step in becoming a better mixer. :-)

[joejurneke]

Some of the best creative folks I have ever known learned their trade via the school of hard knocks, blood sweat and tears. They too are down to earth just like Warren. If it comes hard, it is well earned and mastered…..

[NoCoverCharge]

Musical talent is definitely born into people … I could practice 18 hrs a day for 40 years and never be able to play as good as my friend Troy can in his sleep… I also am form Athens Ga …was there from late 80”s to 2005 …so much great music…and a huge Drve by fan ! And Johnny Marr is to me one of the greats …

[Xlornick]

Charlie Parker practiced for 12 hours a day in his youth, and despite all the claims that his talent was innate or the result of heroin, he would always talk about how much time he spent in the woodshed. John Coltrane was a practice room addict all the way to the end.

[MrTimdriver]

Good session Warren. As the man said, 99% perspiration 1% inspiration.

[TheFeelButton]

I didn't put the time in until my 40s but when I did I got good! Cheers Warren!!

[madmaxit]

THIS! THIS is the reason why I love your channel and content! Honest, relatable, educational and inspirational. I’ve always told people that it’s not the years, but THE HOURS. The years certainly bring seasoning, patience and wisdom to certain approaches, but the hours are what catapults you to climbing the levels. That could be for anything in life...it’s all relative. It’s not an easy road for most, and it certainly is the road less traveled, but that has made all the difference!

[acommon]

Wow!! What an inspirational message! Thank you Warren and friends for bringing it to us