Originally Posted by Mike Dunbar
Interesting, Dan, I began being instinctual. I was a mostly self taught guitarist. My style was derivative of the primitive. I learned fingerpicking by listening to records of people like Mississippi John Hurt, Bert Jansch and Chet Atkins. When I entered college, I was the only music major who didn't know how to read music. So I applied classical education to what I already knew. Scales and chords were shapes on the guitar neck.

In reality, music literature is a history of people analyzing the primitive and then creating a derivative. The work of Beethoven started with someone in a cave carving a flute out of a bear's femur. No one is independently original. At the very least, we derive from our ancestors. Mostly we copy each other.



Ah I can relate, this thread is a good one as it covers lots of things relative to music songwriting and most importantly "dealing with yourself" that is my area of expertise lol And I find it relates too many many people who participate in doing these things.

I am all instinct and I couple it with a massive dose of enthusiasm and effort. Like I mentioned in comparison,like a fighter.
Now I have countless weaknesses but those attributes I mentioned above would carry me deep into the fight, just as important as talent and drive is, your DEPTH of talent drive really makes a difference. Were I would get knocked out cold in that musical boxing ring is probably in the tenth round LOL when somebody puts a chart or sheet music in front of me smile

I can't read or write music, it's something I never got out of the way in my life. I did a little for a while but it's something you need to keep doing on a somewhat regular basis for it be of any use or be worth a darn at.
I'm starting to remedy that now, first just taking a more Lesson like and more learning approach to music. Writing songs especially ones with commercial appeal can take you away from that aspect of music VERY quickly and easily. And I have been at that game since my teens.

So now with the internet and all this media available I'm starting to be able to learn. That is my weakness "Stuff I don't know" smile So the Drum Rudiments was HUGE for me in taking my drumming to another level. Getting something I didn't have and would have gotten from day one had I ever took a lesson.
After 40 years I'm finally starting to learn the guitar neck. Whoa! smile

And that thing about others musical distractions interfering is 100% true Mike. My equipment alone can keep me busy, tortured, broke and happy without even playing a note or writing a word.
You can also spend every day just working on pitching your stuff and networking. So really if you want to be a pro your in for it.
You have to do everything yourself or keep that team together.

Once I finish my CD I will retire from "trying to do anything with my music and such" Then I will go back and get what I missed out on, not out of life too late for that, but just out of music.
Now I'm gonna go get great. smile


Thanks!
Peace Mike
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