From a technical perspective, we don’t need to remind you about the pains of learning the guitar. At times, it can feel like one of the trickiest instruments to master – even if the rewards can be so satisfying.
Today, we’re going to give you a rest from the technicalities and instead talk about something which is much easier to implement. As countless professionals have publicised, with Tom Hess being one example, there’s more to the guitar than just how you manoeuvre your hands. While this is naturally the main part – psychological issues, which are much more within your control, can make a monumental difference.
We’ll now take a look at some of the best psychological tactics you can implement into the way you learn how to play the guitar.
You need to find something to keep you motivated
At first, you’ll be completely motivated to learn the instrument. As we’ve already said, this can be an almightily satisfying thing to conquer.
Over time, there’s no doubt that these motivation levels sink though. You’ll start to find that your progress slows down, while to add to this you’ll start to experience excruciating pain in your fingertips following your hours of practice.
All of the above means that you need a plan for when your motivation goes. For a lot of people, this might be merely setting micro goals. For others, it might simply be imagining yourself playing on the big stage. The big takeaway here is to understand that your motivation levels will be affected as your learning progresses, and that you shouldn’t throw in the towel at the first sign of this.
Be a good listener
It’s a bit of a cliché, although not necessarily in relation to learning the guitar. Learning to listen is one of the primary skills you should arm yourself with during this period – it’s something that can turn an average player into an excellent one.
This isn’t just a piece of advice that is going to be applicable when you play in a band either. It’s something that will be invaluable as you look to fine-tune your own skills as a guitar player, as well as if you are looking to pick up new skills by listening to others play.
Never neglect the variety-factor
In truth, this is one suggestion that should apply to any form of learning. If you keep your routine the same, it’s never going to become enjoyable. Sure, your fingers are going to master the instrument much easier if you rely on repetition, but it’s going to drive you crazy (and probably affect those infamous motivation levels).
As such, always make sure you play songs you enjoy – even if you can’t necessarily play them correctly. Not only does this change-up your practice sessions, but it also provides something of a challenge and will really test your ability.
We’re by no means saying that you should vary things every day, but at least try and fluctuate between styles every now and again.
