I’ve worked with lots of singers and I’ve noticed something: the singers who are easiest to work with are those that play an instrument.

They might not have the greatest voices (some definitely do) but singers who also play instruments have a real advantage when working as part of an ensemble. They understand about chords, about beat, about all the ensemble playing and instrumental skills that pure singers sometimes don’t.

I guess this is because having a wider musical background makes you a better musician.

I also think something similar can be said for songwriters – you’ll never be as good as you could be if you don’t play and sing other people’s songs.

Do I think you need to be a world class performer? No, in fact I don’t think you need to perform in public at all, you could only ever play other’s songs when alone.  But playing other people’s songs gives you important insights. I think you need to have a long experience of playing to really understand both the structure and shape of a song and the performer’s perspective.

What do you think? Can you write if you’ve never played?

ps. On a related issue for those lyricists out there – can you write, or even understand lyrics, if you never sing?

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