What percentage of copywriters also play the guitar?

Three copywriters who play guitar does not a trend make. Kind of a weird question anyway. Lots of people play the guitar, whether as a pro, semi-pro, or as a hobby, so I'm not sure if I see the connection.

I play the bass, does that count?

I don't play guitar, but I see some similarities between this and how copywriters think.

Here's a well-written piece about copywriter traits that came to mind when reading this thread: How to Tell if You’re a "Natural Born" Copywriter | The Total Package ... notice the line where he mentions the guitar.

I think it has to do with as he says in the article, sales copywriting requires both the use of left and right brain functions.

I play!

And I do see a connection.

Copywriters tend to be creative types (naturally drawn toward music and art), as well as the left brain/right brain thing Hans mentioned.

Interested to see the poll with more votes.

-Scott

It may be a male creative thing. Several prominent male novelists
come to mind who have an interest in music.

There's an aspirational connection with the guitar - it represents
something kind of universal and admired in Western culture,
particularly after the advent of rock music.

Maybe the same sorts of guys who are attracted to the guitar
are also attracted to writing for a living.

I have an interest in music predating my interest in direct response
writing... and yes, I can play the guitar, but that has probably more
to do with the near-universal availability of the guitar and its
popularity in so many styles of music popular in the West than
any essential merit to the guitar.

The guitar, and other fretted chordal instruments are largely
popular because they can play chords easily while most instruments
can only play single notes. The other instruments that can
play chords tend to be cumbersome and hard to move around -
with the exception of the accordion family instruments which
don't have the same percussive rhythmic quality that made
the guitar so popular in rock and country music.

If it hadn't been for the electrification of the guitar and the
invention of rock, copywriters might be amusing themselves
with the violin instead.

I don't play the guitar or any other type of musical instrument. I've never had any interest at all in playing a musical instrument, thought I've enjoyed writing my entire life. I've always been very creative though.

Wow, I just read the article that Hans linked to in his post. I fit right smack into the middle of most of the things John mentioned. The dry humor... the additive, compulsive personality... avid reader... don't watch much tv... love to debate and be proven right...curious about everything...not an extrovert... and of course, I wouldn't kick a dog

I was a guitar player long before I was a copywriter.

Took a LONG time to flip the burger mentally and
self-identify as no longer being that person.

One of these days we're gonna have to do the
Great Copywriter's Jam featuring an all-star
line up as "The Forced Continuities"...

Brian

Everybody plays guitar lol...

I hate to be the lone non-musical copywriter, but I don't play the guitar (or any instrument), and I can't sing, either. I take my creativity to needlework.

I don't play guitar... but like Brian, I was into music before I got into copywriting.

Saxophone... clarinet... flute... piano.

I can only play two chords on the guitar, though

-Dan

Yeah, I'm a guitar player and a copywriter...and I know a couple of other writers who also play guitar. I guess it's part of being creative. But I never found anyone who wanted to pay me for playing the guitar...so I guess I'll stick to copywriting and marketing

Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (the well-known French copywriter) plays guitar. Sings too. Here she is here (click on the title rather than the empty box) -

Hi,
I play: piano - 8 years; guitar - 12 years; flute - 9 years; washtub bass - 5 years; harp - 27 years; fiddle/violin - 14 years.

For my needlecrafts, go visit Aunt Dot's Crafts - Home and you'll see my accomplishments. Some day I plan on recording a decent dvd teaching various knitting, crocheting and tatting techniques. (I found out the hard way that it's freakin' imPOSSible to record yourself as you demonstrate!)
Dot

Jason Fladlien is also a musician

I don't do any freelance copywriting but have created over 200 websites and squeeze pages.

I played guitar professional when I was young, a long time ago. I still have a flat top to pass the time when I want to relax.

Doberman Dan, a student of Gary Halbert, is a terrific jazz guitarist.

Hey OP...does beating the hard level on Guitar Hero Metallica count??

I don't play the guitar, but I do produce and DJ electronic music. I heard something at a workshop that I thought was interesting and applied to online marketers as well. The cortex that connects the left and right brains is noticeably larger and stronger in people who are musicians. This is because they are using both the creative side of their brain in music composition, and the analytical side during performance, arrangement etc. I think this translates to copywriters/marketers as well. We use the creative side often whether its creating sales pages, landers copy etc, but we are also thinkers when it comes to keyword analysis and things like that. Not really related to the op question, but an interesting connection none the less

I have just started to learn copy writing and a few weeks ago my other half bought me a guitar. Does that mean my copy writing future is secure?

I don't quite know how you put the two together, but it is actually quite fascinating. I have played guitar since the age of 7!

I have been playing since 1977 and workout on an Ovation acoustic and a Telecaster.

And who beats a Telly better than Stevie Ray Vaughn?

Is there a conncetion between copywriting and playing guitar? Don't know; but I do know that when stuck on some copy, I take a break for an hour or two and fire up the Telecaster.

Works for me; but I'm not sure my neighbors are big fans.....

Copywriting is a creative process, so some of their hobbies might be creative as well. The same happens with animators form whom many play the drumns

This is a really interesting question and I'll be curious to see how many more copywriting guitarists chime in.

I'm another one. Been playing since I was 8 as well as piano and songwriting.

I think there is a bit of a connection there between the qualities you have to have to be good at both.

There's a certain "song" to a great sales letter that unfolds in a very similar way to a piece of music.

And being able to tune in to the "sound" of what you're creating and staying dialed into the right flow definitely does have similarities on both counts now I think about it.

The other question I have is how many copywriting guitarists also write their own music?

I know Brian does, right?

My guess is that percentage might be higher than average too.

I'm killer with the air guitar. Is that why my copy is good?

I play guitar, bass and 'cello.
My weigh-in on the discussion of WHY is this: Playing music is a synthesis of technical skill and artistic expression. The ability to both analyze and synthesize information is really not all that common. I am also a translator (Latin, Ancient Greek and Hebrew, German, and French), which ideally requires both analysis (strict, rule-following break-down) and synthesis (fluid, artistic putting back together).

My favorite guitarist is Tuck Andress (of Tuck & Patti). Brilliant!

If not guitar then some other expression of emotion. It's all about composing something that an audience relates to. The abilty to resonate with reader's emotion can be likened to the string generated vibrations traveling through the bridge and across a solid spruce soundborad. There efetiveness is measured by the length of sustain.

I play the guitar. I only know three chords but they can play thousands of different songs.

I'm also a writer. I probably only have three basic skills but they can write me thousands of different pieces.

I like to think of it as a connection, however vague!

LOL best poll ever. me -> no guitar.

Playing music is the most wonderful thing... as Bob Marley said "it satisfies my soul".

I've never taken a lesson but I do enjoy learning music theory on my own.

I noodle around with guitar, trumpet and keyboard. I don't know any songs but I like to improvise and make up melodies.

As far as connection to C/W goes independence of mind and creativity seem to be two shared characteristics. We should commend ourselves, I think, both for engaging in an "artistic" endeavor and for striking out on our own independent careers.

And actually, I think trumpet may have an even closer relationship to C/W in as much as few other instruments announce their presence so well.

Cool thread!

-Scott

Copywriters tend to be creative types (naturally drawn toward music and art), as well as the left brain/right brain thing Hans mentioned.

I've played a bit of guitar in my time. But also piano, clarinet and the oboe, the saxophone and a bit of percussion to the mix. In other words, perhaps it's the curiosity factor and the willingness to learn something deeply challenging.

I write Copy. & Play guitar

I made my living as a musician for 15 years - guitar, bass, keyboards. Also taught private lessons for 13 of those years.

Who would have thought there are sooooo many of us.

:-Don

I know Michel Fortin playing the drums has already been mention, but...

YouTube - Drum Karaoke - Michel Fortin - Love Gun Cover

Come on. That's awesome.

Best,

Angel

I share the name Robert Johnson and from Chicago, so it's almost expected of me to play guitar, therefore I learned.

I think guitarist and copywriters are very similar, for both are about recreating a shared emotion.

Yup...guitar, sing and songwrite.

It's partly what got me involved in copywriting. Grabbing emotions is related to music and copy in many ways.

(WooHoo...100th post, and it's on guitar!)