I remember being at a local battle of the bands show when I was in high school. I loved the energy and mood. I loved the people I was there with. I loved the music.
Usually.
On this particular day, I was anticipating an epic show. The guitar and bass players had top-shelf instruments, enough pedals to make anyone dizzy, and amps bigger than their bodies. I awaited what was sure to be a life-altering performance.
And my life was altered, but not in the way I had expected.
The band sucked. Completely, utterly, and totally sucked. I mean, I'm sure they were nice enough guys, but they barely should have received a participation trophy. All the glitz, glam, and splendor of their rigs couldn't make up for the absolute lack of true musical skill demonstrated that day. But hey, at least Mommy and Daddy's money made them look good, right?
I wish this were an isolated case, but it happens all the time in so many areas of life. People want to start something new, so they go out and spend, spend, spend on the latest and greatest equipment thinking it will help them get there. In reality, about 1% of that equipment might be necessary at the outset; the rest is just...frosting.
Yes, frosting: the part of the cake that is the prettiest to look at, but lacks substance. Sugar. Pretty colors. Maybe some butter, if you're lucky.
Think about it: if you make a cake with just frosting, it's just a...um...blob of frosting. Now, I'm sure there are people out there just salivating at that thought, but I, for one, am not. Gross.
If I'm going to eat cake, I want it to be about 5-10% frosting (if that) to complement the overall flavor and texture of the cake itself. Solid, simple, and delicious!
The guys in that band from earlier had fallen for the frosting effect: good looks, but no musical substance.
Now, it's important to note that I have no problem with nice instruments, cool effect pedals, and giant amps. In the right hands, these things are tools to create amazing works of musical art. However, it's a losing game to think that just by possessing them someone will magically be a good musician. Some thinks like skill, feel, and musicality can't be bought on a shelf.
So what's an aspiring musician to do? I believe the answer is to start simply.
Once you know what instrument(s) you want to learn how to play:
- Pick up a good beginner instrument
- Find a trusted guide that can get you started
- Commit to small, achievable goals to grind towards
- Listen intently to the music you're interested in playing
The next trick after starting simply is to simply start. Like seriously: do it. Do the work! Find time. Make time. Be consistent. Take baby steps. Improve gradually and consistently. There is no shortcut to musicality, but the way has been made clear by those who have gone before: Do. The. Work.
As you grow and become more competent on your instrument's fundamentals and get some "chops," it may be appropriate to invest in supplementary gear such as pedals, fancy sticks, software plugins, etc. However, these will only complement musicality; they cannot be a substitute for it. You've been warned.
So, will you do the work to become a solid musician, or will you fall into the frosting effect trap? The choice is yours. Choose wisely. Your listeners will thank you!
