So, you've tried to learn guitar...again - and all you've mastered is letting it collect dust in the corner. Let's change that.
I've gone through and overcome my fair share of guitar plateaus and dry spells, so I'm going to share with you what has helped me stick with guitar over the years.
Tip #1: Choosing your guitar
Don't overthink this. You don't need an expensive guitar to play well. Yes, guitars with a higher price tag DO often come with better experience in the forms of tone and playability, however...
There are loads of budget-friendly guitars that sound great and play well. The key is to find a guitar that is both reliable + comfortable. Comfort is key here.
If your guitar is uncomfortable to play, you're less likely to pick it up.
My favorite budget-friendly brand to recommend is Orangewood Guitars. They create beautiful, playable, great-sounding, and comfortable guitars! The two models I own and love suggesting taking a look at are:
Orangewood Echo (currently under $300)
Orangewood Oliver (currently under $200)
(For transparency: I do earn a small commission on each sale to help support my lessons. It does not, however, make my suggestion biased in any way.)
Bonus tip: Most guitars need an action adjustment. "Action" refers to the height of the strings from your fretboard - the closer they are, the easier they will be press down on. You can take your guitar into a music store and get a "setup" to ensure your guitar is playing well and feels comfortable.
Tip #2: Micro practice sessions
Forget long marathon practice sessions that are overwhelming just thinking about! I would rather you practice 3-5x/week for 10-30 minutes instead of only 30 minutes to an hour one time per week.
Smaller, but consistent practice sessions are like going to the gym a few times a week. You build up your strength, endurance, and muscle memory so much faster.
If you only practiced once a week, you would have difficulty remembering what you practiced the week before + you wouldn't build your callouses at all.
Practicing multiple times a week helps you build your callouses much faster, which will help the strings not hurt your fingers anymore. Ahhhh relief.
Bonus tip: You can also "trick" yourself into practicing longer by telling yourself you'll only practice for 5, 10, or 15 minutes. The key is to get your hands on the guitar and once you get warmed up, you'll just want to keep strumming because you're actually enjoying the process!
Tip #3: Play songs you love and enjoy
This should be a no-brainer, but sometimes other guitarists or teachers will insist that you learn how to play a specific song because it's beginner-friendly.
I understand the intent behind this, however, I promise you I did not go home and practice "House of the Rising Sun" when I was 15 because I had no idea about the greatness of the song at that time. I wanted to play music from Michelle Branch, Sheryl Crow, Hilary Duff, and other pop artists during that time...and that's what I spent my time at home actually practicing.
Learn the songs you already sing in the shower and belt out loud in the car. You can learn any song on guitar no matter the genre.
Tip #4: Keep it fun + focused
The key to sticking with guitar is having a balance to your practice sessions. A ying to the yang. Focused + fun. You probably decided to pick up learning guitar because it sounded like fun. If so, keep that at the forefront of your practice sessions. You don't want things to get boring or stale.
Start your practice sessions off by playing something you are already familiar and comfortable with before diving into newer, challenging material. This helps boost your confidence by proving that you once learned new and challenging things and you can do it again. And again.
When you get to the new material, this is where the focus comes in. Have a plan on what new technique you will be working on to nail down your current song.
Bonus tip: Create an experience for your practice sessions! Think mood lighting (salt rock lamp, candles, twinkly lights), brew some coffee or tea or pour your favorite drink of choice, light some incense. Create a calm, relaxed vibe that feels inspiring to you!
Tip #5: Discipline over motivation
Isn't motivation wonderful? It makes you feel like you're on a high and can take on the world, but it doesn't last long...
This is where discipline comes into play. Discipline means commitment. It means showing up even when you're feeling lazy or unmotivated. It means picking up the guitar for 5 minutes is better than not at all.
The amazing thing about discipline is it can actually lead to motivation. When you show up time and time again, you begin to build trust with yourself that you'll just about always follow through and you're actively building the identity of someone who plays guitar!
You can set a notification on your phone as a reminder to practice to help you build the habit of picking up your guitar!
Did you find this helpful? Comment below if you have any tips on how to stick with guitar!
If you need extra help with your guitar practice, check out my 7 day practice planner.
Comentários