I have been close friends with a couple of exceptional guitar players. I also have been good friends with one piano player and one drummer with exceptional skills.

I agree with Bob about the natural aptitude issue.

All of the people I have known with exceptional skills had certain things in common. I rarely saw them without a guitar or other instrument in their hand. They all had some form of formal training. All of them could read, write, and play music. They had little interest in anything outside of music. Every one of them except the piano player could hear something a play it right back.

I am not sure the piano player had what could be construed as exceptional talent. She could absolutely play anything written you put in front of her. Her training was long and difficult. She studied for more than fifteen years under the guidance of a professional. I am not sure she actuality enjoyed playing the way most of us do. She did get great satisfaction from being able to read and play with exceptional degree of competency.

I always found it strange that someone could play anything that was written but could not play the simplest of songs without the sheet music.

I also knew a guitar play who had graduated from a well known music school who could play anything you ask him on guitar. With all those skills he had no idea what to do at a jam session....strange

There also seems to be a typical amount of time required to master any given complex skill which is about seven thousand hours.

I think given enough time most anyone could learn how to more less duplicate a piece of music. I also think they probability would have a very difficult time to create the same type of thing. Having said that, learning how to emulate someone else will color your own playing. It is pretty easy to recognize the Berkeley School Of Music stamp on many of their students.

Too much typing...lol

Billy

“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”