Skill Vs. Emotion: How Effective is Your Songwriting or Why Flash Doesn't Matter

What is more important to you in composing your songs: virtuosity or emotion? I know many of you believe that your raw skill on your instrument should be enough to become the next big thing in your genre but is that really so? I submit that the average fan could care less about your virtuosity if you’re not connecting on an emotional level with your audience.

One of my favorite artists is Tom Waits. It’s not because of his virtuosity, it’s the feeling I get what I hear his music. Raw, emotional and full of life. It’s not always pretty, in fact, it is rarely pretty but it is definitely full of a realness and it has a charming quality all its own. I am hardly alone in this.

 Although he is not a household name, he is easily one of the most popular performers worldwide. That is because he conveys a story through his music and it’s hard to be tak3n with it. Now I have heard complaints that it’s too simplistic, or just weird. I’ve heard it said that it is far too rudimentary but that ignored the chord structure, the rhythms, and the overall composition of the piece, which is far more important than any one element.

Let’s take a look at another well known yet simplistic artist: Tom Petty. He is more accessible to mainstream audiences and you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t know who he is.  Now he didn’t rise to prominence because he was an incredibly gifted guitar player, he isn’t very technical but man oh man, can he write a fun song!

Again, how you feel about a piece of music is hardly due to the amount of notes you can fit into a 20 seconds, but more what those notes say. Ask any well-known bluesman and they will tell you that each note is a word and the melody tells a story. Sometimes, it’s best to let each note sing its own song rather than trying to cram it into the next. Besides, the only people who really care about how fast you are, or what kind of tricks you use are fellow musicians so don’t as they say, fall in love with your own airship.

Simply write first to tell a compelling story or convey your emotions in a way that others will understand and relate to. If you happen to be an incredibly gifted musician, use that talent in context of the overall story. Don’t neglect it mind you, but neither should you rely on it. After all, there is a reason why those three chords get so much attention. In the end it’s all you really need. The rest is simply decorative icing and all the icing in the world won’t make the cake taste any better.