I’m often asked about the concept of natural ability by new pupils and their parents. So, does such a thing exist? In short, no. Nobody can naturally play guitar, however, some people are fortunate enough to be able to pick up various nuances of playing and basic musicianship fairly quickly. I guess in this case, the temptation would be to term them a ‘natural’.
Being a ‘natural’ however is not a free pass to guitar mastery, far from it. I have taught many pupils who have shown promise in their first handful of lessons and have demonstrated an almost immediate understanding of the concepts being explained to them and an ability to physically perform the tasks set within the lessons. I have also seen these pupils turn up the following week having virtually no clue about the topics and techniques covered in the previous lesson. Basically, they have taken the guitar out of its case once or twice through the week for about 5 minutes…..
I have also taught pupils who have definitely not been what someone might call a natural. I have watched them doggedly chip away at that one section of a song they are struggling with. I have watched them celebrate and take genuine pride in every small progression that they have worked towards. And ultimately, I have watched them develop into very reasonable musicians purely through hard work and determination.
Whether guitar playing comes naturally to you or not, it is of little consequence if you are not prepared to be disciplined and consistent with your practice. It is also important to appreciate the journey and understand that every small step taken brings you that little bit closer to the top of the mountain. 😀