I have been listening to Hand Built By Robots the new album by English acoustic guitar singer songwriter Newton Faulkner. He has immense talent, the sound he can get from a guitar is pretty incredible. He does a cover of Massive Attacks's "Teardrop" on which he creates the rhythm by tapping the body of the guitar while also playing the backing and singing. The are undoubtably years of practice that he would have put into developing that technique.

I remember once asking a guitarist friend why he was so good. Now that may seem like a silly question but I know there is more to being good at any instrument than just having a natural ability. While there may be some that can almost just pick up a guitar and play, the answer he gave me was much closer to the truth for almost all great guitarists. He explained that he was out of work and had no intention of getting a job either. Instead he lived on a few state benefits and spent his time..all day every day...playing. Now the point I am making is not most guitarists are lazy ass spongers who dont want to do a proper job (although the validity of this statement may require further discussion at some time lol) but that what it takes to be good is practice. You play and you play until you are sick of it. Then you take a little break and you play some more. Dedication is the biggest part of the equation.

I've got a bit more to say on this but the builders have just turned up..they probably want to be paid! Hold that thought I'll get back to you! :)

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