Guitar And The Left Hand Of Creativity: The Left Hand... And The Gift Of Creativity

I'm Craig Smith... and I am a guitarist and composer. I have played guitar nearly all of my life as a full time profession, not as a hobby... or only as a sideline. I first began playing a ukulele around two years of age and started guitar at about five when my grandfather died and I acquired his guitar. My mother was also playing guitar while she was carrying me for the nine months before my birth, and many people have expressed since that when I entered this life I was most likely subconsciously aware of the guitar's sound... and probably on a hunt to discover what was that sound I had heard prior to birth.

Today I play all types of guitars, acoustic/electric, electric and nylon string classical... for whatever type of music seems to be appropriate at the time. I do however play all guitars only in the classical finger style, that is never using a pick. I did begin my guitar playing with a pick, but after almost twenty years decided to try using my fingers and shortly after never went back to a pick again. All of the music I play is based on an improvised style... creativity is very important to me and is the essence of composition in music. I enjoy never playing the same piece the same way twice, which is really quite common among many professional musicians. This spontaneous, improvisational style lets one explore new areas of sound, as one would discover new ideas in any walk of life. I usually perform live as a soloist because I can rely on myself showing up, however there is nothing finer than playing with and exchanging musical ideas with others in any musical setting.

Craig Smith