Just the other day I was reading a Jennifer Batten interview in an old guitar magazine from the early 90s and as I reflected on it I came to realize 2 things: 1) Jennifer Batten is a humble person, and 2) Jennifer Batten is a willing person.

If you've read my Habits of a Developing Guitarist series then you already know how strongly I feel about this. In a nutshell, I believe that openness and willingness is essential to your success as a professional guitarist (or musician).

Now you might be thinking, "it had nothing to do with her openness or willingness, it had everything to do with her talent." You would be right in saying that Jennifer Batten is a talented guitarist, but I would disagree that talent was the only thing that enabled her to play for Michael Jackson and Jeff Beck. I think that she was humbled by her peers as much as the next guy. Being a GIT graduate, she was surrounded by people that were equally as talented as her. She didn't land the biggest gigs of her life by technical skill alone. She probably connected with people, got referrals and recommendations, and followed up on them.

Pride can be a funny thing that way. Oftentimes we think that pride is reserved for the pompous and brash. However, isn't refusing to connect with your peers - because of shyness or lack of self-confidence - equally prideful? People don't know your reasons for not connecting with them; they only know that you're not making the effort. A seemingly innocent thing can be disastrous in the long-run.

As a professional guitarist, no amount of technical prowess can account for:

1. Your willingness to learn and actively participate
2. Your attitude
3. Your unique personality
4. Your ability to communicate and connect with others
5. Your level of energy and enthusiasm

I've watched a variety of bands over the years and I've seen all kinds of guitarists. What strikes me about some of the more successful bands is that each member had a role to fill. Their record sales didn't reflect how well the guitarist played; it reflected how well each band member filled a specific need in the band. Have you ever watched a guitarist and thought you were better than him but didn't think the band couldn really benefit from a better guitarist? I think we each have a roll to fill, a niche to move into, a need to meet. I don't think it's a matter of competition, I think there's either a good fit or no fit at all.

Trust me when I say that playing blistering blues licks doesn't impress most people. Having worked at guitar stores for many years, I can honestly say there's nothing more annoying than when someone comes in thinking they're the best thing since sliced bread and they sit down and play the fastest licks they know for 20 minutes. Believe me when I say that the staff could care less how well or how horribly you play. You're either trying out a guitar to see if you want to buy it, or you're not. You're either playing music that people will gravitate towards, or you're playing constant 16th notes thinking somebody's going to notice you. I've played lots of gigs and I love playing guitar but at the end of the day my career doesn't depend on how fast I play. My career depends on whether people can relate to my music. My career depends on whether I'm filling a need or not. Talent is important, but it should be associated with people who have the whole package; not the kid who walks into the guitar store and immerses himself in 16th notes for half an hour. This article was written by David Andrew Wiebe, web designer, graphic designer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, songwriter, guitar instructor, and music expert. Interested in winning a free CD? Click here for more info! Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Recommendations? Email me.

Published on January 18, 2008