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Probably like a lot of you I get emails from guitar tutors that I have signed up to online, and though a lot of the time I don't really look at what they are offering I do enjoy reading their promotional emails and get some advice that way.

Such as this,

..........................................................

if 22 years of teaching guitar has taught me one thing it's this...

Nothing can replace passion and practice.

Even talent can't touch passion.

I've taught naturally talented students in the past.

They pick up the skills faster and naturally feel more musical that others.

And us mere mortals can look upon this talent and think "if only that was me!!!" But here's the thing...

Even with all the talent in the world if your talents don't match your interests and passions then you won't want to play.

People say that if you "discover your hidden talents" then you'll naturally want to impress others and pursue that interest.

But life doesn't always work that way in my opinion.

I've known talented students who stop playing guitar all together just because they're not driven by a love for it.

So passion (loving it, whatever you want to call it) will always win over talent.

Because enjoying it means you'll keep playing and improve for the rest of your life.

I love music and guitar so as the years have passed naturally I have improved.

To the point that others would say I'm talented at playing guitar.

But it's just hard work and a love for what I do that got me this far.

It's nothing to do with talent.

Talent does exist. But without passion it's useless.


Keep on playing,


Musiclover

My music https://www.youtube.com/user/donegalprideofall

Windows 10 (64bit) M-Audio Fast Track Pro, Band in a Box 2025, Cubase 14, Cakewalk and far too many VST plugins that I probably don't need or will ever use smile
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Good lines, and I think we could apply them to much more.


BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
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That is so true.

I have had the identical situations with my students.


It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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It's nothing to do with talent.

Talent does exist. But without passion it's useless.

"Passion does exist, but without talent - it's a curse!"
Like an itch which can not be scratched. Don't kid yourselves, without talent you will never realize full satisfaction playing a musical instrument. Take it from one who knows. cry


BIAB – 2026, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud.

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Originally Posted by MusicStudent
Quote
It's nothing to do with talent.

Talent does exist. But without passion it's useless.

"Passion does exist, but without talent - it's a curse!"
Like an itch which can not be scratched. Don't kid yourselves, without talent you will never realize full satisfaction playing a musical instrument. Take it from one who knows. cry
Yep!

I have a sweet old fiddle I bought in Santa Cruz many, many years ago. I thought, "How hard can it be?" Answer: Very, very hard! I tried and tried, practiced A LOT. Then practiced some more. Then put it away for years. Then got it out again 13 years ago and went to lessons. And more lessons. And practiced A LOT more. But I never crossed that line to even sound roughly passable. So, back in the closet it went. Some day my kids will sell it at my estate sale or trash it. frown

However, I DO put fiddle in many of my songs. And that fiddle is played by BIAB! But I do wish my passion and practice for playing the fiddle had been accompanied by some talent!

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Somehow, google must have figured out that I play guitar so yep...I get lots of "come on" offers to learn how to play that 6 string thing. I go to face book and am inundated with pushed ads and posts showing some 8 year old kid shredding something from one of Ozzy's big hits or playing something from Vai's catalog.... Should I burn my guitars now or should I go and practice my tapping and sweep picking techniques more? Natural scales, Phrygian scales, pentatonic scales, Lydian augmented scales, or how about fancy jazz chords that require 6 fingers to play? Should I buy that latest course that promises to show me "how to be the guitar player you've always dreamed of being?

Well, none of the above, actually. I like how I play, I enjoy how I play, and that's what matters. Yes I strive to be better and play with greater ease and professionalism..... but hey, when it all shakes out.... I enjoy what I'm doing.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Talent and passion is what turns empty notes into music.

You can teach almost anyone to play the notes. The talented and passionate person makes music. The ones without can only hope to become good technicians.

A good goal in life is to find out what you are talented and passionate about, and then pursue a career in that field.

My father gave me the gift of music, school taught both music and electronics, I chose a career in music. At one time, I quit full-time music to investigate what it is to be normal, and took a job as a Cable TV field engineer. I could do the job, but my heart wasn't in it, so I went back to music. One of the best decisions I ever made.

Oh, I don't have the luxuries the CATV salary would have provided me with. But I am enjoying my live much, much more that I would with all that luxury and the 40+ hour work week in a job I wasn't passionate about.

I work more than 40 hours a week now if I include practice, learning new songs, improving my skills, learning additional instruments, moving gear and gigging. But it's not like work, it's what I do.


Insights and incites by Notes ♫


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

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Looking forward to seeing you do just that this Thursday, Notes!


My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
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Originally Posted by etcjoe
Looking forward to seeing you do just that this Thursday, Notes!

I'm looking forward to it as well. It should be a lot of fun.

The season is here we are gigging today (Wednesday), Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Monday and Tuesday off, then we start back on Wednesday. I love it.

Notes ♫


Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

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Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

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