Songwriting Skills vs. Virtuosity?

Question

Let's create two imaginary guitarists.

One is very skilled at writing songs, but isn't too skilled as a guitarist. He can write great melodies and sometimes some very advanced pieces, but he can't necessarily play everything he writes.

The other is skilled as hell, able to play anything that's given to him, but he's unable to write anything good. He can improvise but not necessarily with a good melody.

Say you have a band and you're in need of a guitarist. Which guitarist would you choose? The songwriter or the virtuoso?

Oh, and both are able to fit whatever genre you're playing.

This is kinda like comparing George Harrison to Joe Satriani. But I don't want anyone comparing actual guitarists...

Yeah, the other people would have to write for the virtuoso, but they aren't the best writers in the world.

Answer 1

William's answer is spot on!

Songwriting is a special gift that is difficult to improve if you have no talent in the area. Usually poor songwriters don't ever become anything more than barely adequate. The actual technical skills of playing a guitar can be improved over time far more easily.

Something comes to mind that George Harrison said many years ago. I can't remember his exact words but it was something along these lines:

It doesn't matter how many notes you play, what matters is playing the right ones.

That statement is so true. I am much more impressed by a well composed piece than some random guitar thrashing.

Answer 2

The only problem I have with most virtuosos is not their inability to compose anything decent, but their insistence on being the focal point of the group. People, especially teenagers and those in their twenties, have a strong attraction to guitar players, so there's an incentive for virtuosos to show off or try to hog the spotlight. Name a virtuoso who never attempted a solo career; it's a relatively short list. Anyway, the guitar is not an intensely complex instrument. Almost anyone with the dedication and time can become fairly skilled. Songwriting, on the other hand, is a skill that very few people can learn. It can be refined, sure, but if you don't already have at least a little of it to start with, it's hard to ever develop any, doubly so if you have legions of wannabe guitar heroes worshiping the mediocrity you already put out.

Answer 3

I would have to go with the songwriter, although, if possible, i'd just assume have both. Why the songwriter??? Well, I guess if I were to have a band, I'd be more concerned with the idea of creating something perfect and rare rather than playing it that way flawlessly. It would be more interesting that way. And then again if I were only concerned with being rich and famous and I wasn't at all concerned with how fantastic my songs really were or any of that, I'd choose the virtuoso.

Answer 4

depends.
say if you already have a great songwriter, then you'll probably want the one who can play what you give him.
but if you already have a good guitarist, then clearly go with the songwriter.

but if you already have both, or neither, go with the songwriter. you can pick up skill by practicing more. but you can't learn creativity. take kurt cobain for instance. he was, by no means, a skilled guitarist. but he was and amazing songwriter and could create the most memorable riffs.
a lot of the great music isn't skill, but how everything comes together, and the emotion in the music.

Answer 5

What leaped into my head immediately was Chuck Berry and his admittedly limited but exciting guitar based songs. He could write great rock and roll tunes.

So, who's going to remembered long after they're dead? Chuck Berry for the great, simple intro to Johnny B. Goode or some technical wizard of today who can dazzle you with solos that will be forgotten next week?

Give me the writer. Soloists are a dime a dozen these days. Malcolm Young is more important a guitarist than Steve Vai or Joe Satriani, because he serves the song.

Answer 6

I'll have to stick with song writing skills. The acual guitarist that came to mind for me was David Gilmour, the man can write the most magical pieces but is much slower than many other guitarist. I guess what music really is about is self expression and even if you can play the guitar but can't express youself, it just voids the point.

Answer 7

I believe it is each tbh. It's a combination of each ideas. It's a talent in that you just must maintain operating at it to get well. You obtain expertise via revel in. And it is a proficiency in that once more you must paintings at it, however notion that a few folks are simply certainly proficient at some thing. And as you pass via existence stories, you simply hold doing some thing you like. Some folks are simply certainly proficient at some thing that they are attempting. It's additionally an artwork. As you create a tale for any individual else to narrate.

Answer 8

Great guitarists are plentyful.

Truly creative songwriters are rare.

Grab the diamond in the rough.

Answer 9

I would go with the player that can pick up anything. There is a lot of written music out there and what about the other players. Can any of them write? I would rather write for someone else that could pick it up than have a writer that can't play.

Answer 10

I'd go with the songwriter. give him/her some time n they'll pick up the guitar. not just anyone can write songs.