What´s the difference between Skill and Talent?

Question

Is it a talent to be able to play the guitar really well? Or is it just a well-developed skill? Is there even a difference at that point?

Answer 1

I turned this question over to my lead guitarist, Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, generally regarded as the #2 guitarist in the world, topped only by Hendrix:

"I've had the good fortune to spend a lot of time around R&B greats like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Booker T. Jones.Talent got my foot in the door, but it was skill that kept me working when a lot of my old friends were benched. When an artist needed a particular sound on a recording, I dug deep and delivered. I can't say it always came naturally, I just worked at it a little harder than the next guy."

Here's what Booker T. Jones, leader of Booker T. and the M.G's, had to say about The Colonel:

"We were writing sounds too, especially Steve. He's very sound-conscious, and he gets a lot of sounds out of a Telecaster without changing any settings — just by using his fingers, his picks, and his amps."

So, I guess the answer might be, talent is what God gives you, skill is what you do with it. You sound like somebody who has both. If you are ever in Calumet City, stop by and we'll do some jamming.

Answer 2

A talent is capacity you have while a skill is something you acquire. In some cases you have to acquire a skill before you or anyone will realize you have a talent at it... So the order that they appears makes people confused. For instance I have the skill to play the bass guitar but not really a talent for it.

Talent is very subjective. For instance you have the skill or you don't.... But talent is a function of how well you preform the skill. Most people don't "well-develop" skills that they have no talent for. If you are playing guitar and someone says you have no talent then they are saying that to them you are not playing well.

So does it make a difference? Actually only to people claiming the talent or skill and to people claiming someone doesn't have a talent or skill.

Answer 3

Talent is an innate natural ability you have from birth to do something exceptionally well. It is potential. Skill is learned through experience you pick up and develop from practicing and training whatever craft it is being applied to. It is gained through hard work and determination. You can have both talent and skill at something and when combined, you are probably better than most people that have one but not the other. There are a lot of would-be talented musical geniuses out there that probably never picked up a guitar, but a skilled musician that isn't necessarily talented and practices like a dog will be better than the person with talent but no desire or experience. If you have both exceptional talent and exceptional skill then that should make you pretty damn good at what you do and pick it up faster than average.

Answer 4

There is huge difference between the twowords. skill is tools you have to learn it to know how to play guitar ,but talent is when you learned the skill you are able to use it any time and your sense will be active to taste the one who play well and the bad one. Every one can has the skill by learning but not everyone has the talent as the football guys.

Answer 5

Skills are acquired through experience. You can be born with talent. A singer can have a really good voice without any formal training. Skills have to be learned. A child may get on a bicycle and ride away on the first try, but they didn't know how to ride a bike before they tried. The kid was a quick learner, that is talent.

Answer 6

Hmm...Skill Would Be More Of A Mental Thing...Talent More Of A Physical Thing?....Maybe, I Don't Know....It's Basically The Same Thing

Answer 7

Talent is the potential. If you have talent but do nothing with it, it means nothing. Talent needs to be acted on and skill is an aspect of this dynamic. Skill is how effectively you use your talent.

Answer 8

its natural talent to play guitar, i have very little talent, and cant develop skills no matter how hard i try.

Answer 9

I think it is a talent. I took guitar lessons for two years, twice a week. I wanted to play in a band with my father and my uncles. I was very serious and practiced but to no avail. I couldn't get the idea or wasn't fast enough to play along with them. I had learned the theory and taught guitar lessons and had some very talented students who could play along with anyone. I was completely frustrated with myself. I could sing and cord by myself but in that case I was the one to set the time.

Answer 10

A skill is a few thing you may learn and develop, on the same time as a skills is a few thing you're needless to say good at, a present given to you by skill of God. you may develop a skills, yet on condition which you have already have been given it in you..