Talent v. no talent... what's your opinoin?

Question:I started messing around on the guitar when I was 13. I didn't take it seriously until about 2 years ago. (I'm 20 now) I'm still not even average, so I switched to drums thinking that maybe guitar just wasn't for me. Now I suck at both. I also play bass and I'm ok, but I've heard better. Am I just a talentless piece of poo? Or should I put more into it and practice harder. Do you think people are born with talent are always going to be better? Or can those that practice be just as good as those that have natural music ability? Am I just kidding myself by putting so much time and effort into this when I never see anything good out of it?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I started messing around on the guitar when I was 13. I didn't take it seriously until about 2 years ago. (I'm 20 now) I'm still not even average, so I switched to drums thinking that maybe guitar just wasn't for me. Now I suck at both. I also play bass and I'm ok, but I've heard better. Am I just a talentless piece of poo? Or should I put more into it and practice harder. Do you think people are born with talent are always going to be better? Or can those that practice be just as good as those that have natural music ability? Am I just kidding myself by putting so much time and effort into this when I never see anything good out of it?

I believe there's no such thing as innate talent. We all have talent, it just needs to be developed properly.

That said, some can play an instrument better than others--but that's got to do with practice time, exposure to music at an early age, and some genetics (bigger hands play bigger intervals, for example).

If you want to make the maximum progress, get a teacher. Pick the instrument you want to get it done with, and go to the music department of a local college and ask for a referral (or post a note on the bulletin board and see if an advanced student will teach you--might be cheaper).

Also, get ideas about mixing up your practice time so that you can keep it lively and make faster progress at the same time. You can find those sorts of tips by reading books about your instrument and about general musicianship--ask a librarian to help you find some.

This all depends on your outlook on the situation. I personally do believe that someone without "natural talent" can play just as well as someone that has it. It may not be that they have more talent but it could be that they have a better trained ear or rhythm etc etc... If you keep up with your studies in whatever instrument then you should be able to play pretty well. Enroll in some private lessons. It will help you in a lot of different ways.

Just practice harder on the one you most like

:)

if you're heart iis not really in it, you will not get far

don't get down on yourself, that's the worst thing you can do in this situations. my advice is to stick with it, and practice hard. get a private lesson teacher, they will always help you with whatever you need. choose which instrument to major in, so you can practice it more. if you feel like you have more of a passion for guitar, then go for it. also- practicing what you ENJOY is very important. i mean, you'll still have to practice some stuff that you won't enjoy, but maybe get some music you like, then practice it. that always encourages practicing.

good luck, and stick with it!