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Why I Wrote The Book
Everyone can improve their ability to create and enjoy music.
I grew up thinking that when it came to musical ability, there were the "haves" and the "have nots." If you had great musical talent, it was something that you had been born with, and if you hadn't been endowed with innate musical ability at birth, then you were just out of luck. You were a "have not." Not perceiving myself as having great inborn talent, I labeled myself as a "have not," and even though I had a tremendous interest in music, I felt that I could never really enjoy the kind of musicianship that I saw the "haves" enjoying. What a waste! I am so thankful that I got over that kind of black-and-white thinking and discovered that musicianship is also a craft. It is something that you can learn, develop, practice and improve... just like anything else. And while we are all born with different levels of innate talent, we can all work to develop our ability to make and enjoy music. And what could be more fun than that?
Just as the skill of playing the guitar can be taught, learned, practiced
and improved upon, so can the skill of songwriting. Songwriting is a craft
as much as it is a talent. And to a large degree, all the disciplines of learning
any kind of craft can be applied to it. Do I believe in the "mystery
of the muse?" Yes I do, although I don't believe that it is as mystical
as it is sometimes made out to be. Do I believe in inspiration? You bet, and
it is most enjoyable when it comes. But possessing and honing the tools of
the songwriting craft is not only half the battle, it is also half the fun!
Possessing these tools creates opportunities for inspiration and gives you
the ability to do something with it when it comes.
I wrote The Songwriter's Chord Book for all guitarists because I want to encourage you in your efforts to improve your ability to create and enjoy music.
About The Guitars Pictured On This Site
All the guitars pictured on this site belong to the author of The Songwriter's Chord Book for all guitarists. If you'd like, you can look at and read about these guitars.