Last Updated on January 21, 2024 by Victor Estevez
1. Connect with Others Who Are Learning
Find others who are learning guitar. This could be online or in your area. Jamming with friends or even just talking about some difficulties you encountered can help to stay motivated and help you to find the right perspective if you are struggling. Another added bonus is, you can help each other out with tips on how to overcome your struggles or where to find new material to grow on.
So don’t hole up, with your guitar but share your music and you’ll see, the world is so much more musical.
2. Set Achievable Short-Term Goals and Stay Organized
To stay motivated set achievable short-term goals that can be completed in a reasonable time frame. For instance, you could aim to play a particular song by a specific date, or to master a particular chord progression within a certain number of practice sessions. This way, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment sooner and more often, which can be a powerful motivator.
But it’s not enough to simply set goals – you also need to stay organized and track your progress. Many guitarists practice in an unstructured and ineffective manner without even realizing it.
This could involve keeping a practice log, using a metronome, or using a mobile app to help you stay on track.
To make the most of your practice time, ask yourself if you’re practicing effectively. Are you spending too much time on skills that you want to practice, rather than skills that you need to practice? For example, it’s a common mistake to focus on lead guitar riffs before mastering essential rhythm and chord training. By prioritizing the fundamental skills first, you’ll build a strong foundation and set yourself up for success in the long run.
3. Use Music You Love as Motivation
Attending concerts to get inspired might not always be practical, but you can always listen to music that motivates you to play guitar. Whenever you need an extra push, turn on a song that you want to learn or that has a guitar riff that you admire. It could be something like “Learning to Fly” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers or the iconic guitar solo in “November Rain” by Slash (let’s be real, we all have to start somewhere).
There’s no better feeling than mastering a challenging riff or solo that you’ve always wanted to play. It can give you a boost of confidence and open up new possibilities in your playing. To stay motivated, create a list of songs or riffs that you want to learn and work your way up to them.
4. One of the most effective ways – keep your instrument within sight
When famous guitarists showcase their homes on TV shows, you’ll often see multiple guitars in nearly every room. The idea behind this is the proverbial saying “out of sight, out of mind.” By having your guitar in view, you’ll be more inclined to pick it up and practice, even if it’s just for a few minutes. This practice is not exclusive to professionals as anyone can benefit from it. So if you’re struggling to stay motivated, try keeping your guitar within view as a reminder to practice.
5. The Importance of Setting Long-Term Goals
Setting goals is an essential part of any learning process, and playing the guitar is no exception. While short-term goals are necessary for progress and motivation, it’s also important to set long-term goals to guide your overall guitar-playing vision.
Long-term goals provide a clear direction for your journey and help you stay focused on what you want to achieve in the future. For instance, if you want to become a professional guitarist or play in a band, your long-term goal could be to master different genres, learn music theory, or develop your improvisational skills.
Once you have a clear idea of your long-term goals, you can develop a practice routine that aligns with them. For example, if your long-term goal is to play in a band, you may want to focus on learning how to play with other musicians and work on your rhythm and timing. On the other hand, if your goal is to master a specific genre, you may want to focus on learning the techniques and playing styles that are unique to that genre.
Setting long-term goals for your guitar playing is crucial to stay motivated and focused on your progress. It provides a sense of purpose and direction and helps you develop an effective practice routine that supports your overall guitar-playing vision.
Additional Thoughts on Staying Motivated and Improving Your Playing Skills
Passion for music can go a long way in helping you learn and practice the guitar. If you have a favorite genre or song that inspires you to learn and play guitar, you will be better equipped to stay motivated and put in the necessary practice. It’s essential to learn how to feel satisfied with your guitar practice, even when you don’t feel like you are making progress.
In such situations, you can change up your practice routine, set long-term goals, or listen to music that you want to learn.
To further enhance your playing journey, you can find tons of free articles on our blog to switch up your routine. Maybe you want to try a new tuning style?
By following these tips and using all available resources, you can improve your guitar skills and stay motivated throughout your playing journey.
