There is probably a huge list of types of physical talents that could
be discussed. I will try to keep this chapter to the obvious gifts and
learned abilities as they relate to playing a musical instrument and
especially the guitar. Some people seem to have a musical touch.
Everything they do is with a finesse and loving touch that is hard to
verbalize. I noticed this at a young age when a childhood friend used
to play his guitar when I was over. Invariable I was slobbering and
anesthetized to the point of sleep or even meditation. His touch and
the sound of the pick dragging across the strings would put my mind in
a state of absolute ecstasy. He wasn’t that good of a player but what
he did was absolutely music at the point of touching the
instrument. Since then I will have students with this ability and
I find myself making them do certain exercises longer than usual
because of the tranquilizing effect of their touch on the guitar.
Surely it is a combination of the grip on the pick, the instrument
itself and the way the pick can skim over the top of the sting instead
of nervously and anxiously digging in to pluck. There is some
connection to this and the sound of baseball cards in bicycle
spokes. This is one of many picking techniques that can not be
taught easily if at all that make one player superior to another
without regard to playing content just touch. Some people can make one
note music and others will not make music in their lives.
Muting and making sure that certain notes do not bleed into others is
an ability that I can harp on forever with some to no avail. Some say
they can’t tell that they are doing it and others do it naturally and
don’t even know that they are. When I point it out to some, they will
become so aware of it that it wrecks some other thing they did well so
I often keep my mouth shut.
One thing I must mention is THE ZONE. It is difficult to tell whether
it is a physical or mental ability. Surely both simultaneously. THE
ZONE is a place where the mind and body are so attuned to their
environment that they seem to become one with it. It seems that it is
impossible to tell where one ends and they other begins.
I have experienced this myself but it is rare and can not be turned on
or off.
Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Larry Bird are three that I have heard
mention this “place” that they get and how they seem to have some
control over the physical realm beyond their own bodies. The
basketball leaves Michael Jordans’ hand and he seems to be able to make
it change it’s direction ever so slightly after letting go.
It is very interesting to me how a game such as basketball can be going
so well for one side and for no apparent reason switch to the opposite
side. One night the Detroit Pistons will trounce the Indiana Pacers by
30 points and another it will be reversed. Some guys make a living
keeping stats to determine what causes this link of the collective
consciousness and some have been made. It is obvious by teams home
court records that the 6th man (home fans)is helping too. It seems that
possibly the collective desires of a crowd that is somewhat in “THE
ZONE” are actually playing too. This absolutely happens in music
and I could go on, but the point is made.
Some students have more ability to use their “MINDS’ EYE” than others.
Good players do not look at the guitar at all. They are seeing their
actions on the video screens of the mind and sometime this seems to be
faster and maybe more accurate that physical vision. Often times I will
be staring by habit at my instrument and I realize that I am looking at
the future through my “MINDS’ EYE” to determine what to do next. This
is a huge element of improvisation. You must plan ahead or by the time
reality gets there it is too late. The brain activity of an improvising
master has been likened to that of a fighter pilot in combat.
Fortunately the guitarists life is not at stake, but try to tell him
that.