"Clunk" or "Check Engine" are familiar sounds and sights that we've all heard or seen from our cars at one point or another. Some of us are then bold enough to pop open the hood and snoop around for the issue, and some others are even a degree bolder in actually pulling out some tools and trying to fix the problem.

If we are that bold, it's obviously important to have the right tools to get the job done. I've had numerous posts about new great tools for songwriting, networking, and selling music in the past, but I have neglected to mention that those tools are essentially useless if the "hands" that are using them aren't as capable as the tools themselves...

Don't hear me wrong - I think we live in an amazing day and age where anyone in the world has access to write, record, and distribute music on a worldwide basis, and that fact alone should open our ears to many amazing artists that we've never heard before. It does, however, also open our ears to many artists that might be using the right tools, but probably don't have the right understanding of how to use them or maybe (forgive me), shouldn't really be using the tools at all.

I will take a jab at myself here - I have a nice set of adjustable dumbbells at my house.  If used properly, it is possible (as much as my genetics and body frame will allow), that I can use those "tools" to get an Olympian-esque build. Now, my personal trainer friends who are reading this are pulling out their soapboxes to let us all know that it's not as easy as that. Besides knowing how to use the tools, and actually using them, you also have to combine that with a good rest schedule, a diet that matches up with what your weight gain/loss goals are, and proper technique and form in using the weights. It's not just enough to have the tools...

That brings me to the main point of this post - the tools are there for musicians, and they're easily accessible and pretty user-friendly for the most part. So, why aren't we all rich and famous? I think the answer lies in having the right hands to operate those tools. What are we doing as artists to make sure that we're becoming the best songwriters, musicians, singers, etc. that we can be? I've personally been spending a lot of time reading material that encourages an uninhibited creative process, and trying to explore new musical roads with my main instrument (guitar), and other instruments...sometimes even when they're played by another musician.

We can't rely on the tools to make the job complete itself. Let's be responsible for both sides - getting the best tools we can, and make sure we're the best operators of those tools we can possibly be.

Until next time,

-TRMJ