There’s nothing quite like the feeling of strumming a guitar and letting your fingers flow along the strings. For some people, this is an obsession that they cannot help but indulge in. For others, it is a hobby that they dabble in every once in a while. Whatever your motivation is, one thing is certain – there are many advantages to becoming a good guitarist and learning how to play this instrument well.
Let us take you on a journey on how to get started or maybe how to get back into playing the guitar.
Are you ready?
How to Become a Guitarist?
If you’re reading this, I’d like to request an active participation by honestly answering the following questions. I highly recommend you get a pen and a notebook so you can write everything.
Why?
This is the most important question you have to deal with to begin right. It all starts with your WHYs.
Are you attracted to the sound of music and found comfort or freedom while listening? Did you enjoy watching someone play music and you want to experience the fun in playing guitar?
For now, try to write everything you can think of why you want to become a guitarist. Don’t overthink, just write freely what inspires you. This is a way of discovering your desires and understanding yourself better.
Remember your WHYs because this is powerful to make you start with passion, continue to persevere and this will pull you back to the journey you started. Don’t skip this part because you will be doing yourself a favor if you’re clear with your why. You will save much time with the next steps and you will spare yourself from a lot of frustration.
When?
The best answer is NOW! I’m saying this with intensity and passion. If you decide on someday, that day might never come. This is a common struggle to many artists thinking when and that future ended in decades of doing nothing.
How?
In terms of practice, think of small steps. We dream big but we’ll do it by taking realistic, small consistent steps to make progress. We have priorities that are definitely non-negotiable and we are responsibly tied into it – most of our time, effort and resources. To save you from unnecessary stress and time, take lessons. This is the wisest thing to do when starting or even when you’re trying to make things right and better.
7 Steps to Becoming a Good Guitarist
Let’s continue mapping out your journey. Don’t put away your pen yet and keep that notebook open to write more specifics. We will try to be more SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) this time.
1. Purpose
The moment of truth. Music is only fun and satisfying when you’re able to bring it to as many people who value it. Every gift is meant to be shared and enjoyed with others. Whether for one or a crowd, playing for a more meaningful purpose is a greater driving force to fight to continue and last long in the journey you have started.
So, what makes you persevere in becoming a good guitarist?
2. Goal
Let’s paint a picture from your list of WHYs. Your purpose will define what kind of guitarist you will be pursuing.
What is it that you see yourself doing?
Do you want it as a hobby?
- You have a long day at work and you want a creative break to relax..
- Maybe you enjoy playing songs for your family at home or during family gatherings.
- You’re having an outing and you want to play over a bonfire with your friends.
- Or maybe you want to jam with your musician friends when you are out with them.
Do you want to be a solo artist?
- You want to play cover songs and perform live in different public events.
- You’re a singer-songwriter who wants to make music and play on gigs.
Do you want to play in a band?
- You dream of playing in a band with your friends or even play professionally in a group.
- You want to make your passion, your work, and play as a session guitarist.
Do you want to become a guitar teacher?
- You want to pursue a profession by teaching others how to play guitar.
There are no limits to what you can be as a guitarist. You also get to define your own success so there’s no need to compare a person playing songs with friends to others who are playing on stage.
3. Action Plan
A goal is nothing without an action plan. So let’s start carving the steps to take in achieving the goal you have chosen to become.
What are you practicing?
- Write the things you want to learn: your favorite songs, the techniques and skills you want to achieve. It will all depend on the goal you have previously set.
When are you practicing?
- Schedule the soonest time you can get your own guitar. Buying a guitar will hold you more accountable to commit to playing. It’s always painful to waste any hard earned investment.
- Practice daily. Examine your daily routine and decide what time you will dedicate to learning guitar. Consistency is the key.
- A focused 15 to 20 minutes daily practice is more productive than distracted long hours and inconsistent practice.
Remember, put it on your calendar and follow the schedules diligently.
Your action plan should also involve breaking those big goals into smaller chunks to make it more SMART. Don’t go big and end up frustrated. Take small wins to get to your big goal and come out more inspired.
4. Smart Practice Routine
We’d like to discuss this action plan separately. Your daily routine is crucial. Make every 15-minute practice count.
How do you practice?
- Guitar Chords & Scales
- Guitar Techniques
- Learn and Play Songs
Those are good working bullets to cover your daily routine as a beginner. Feel free to add on your time and lessons if you desire for an in depth learning experience. For now, focus on those three, build consistency and establish good habits.
Talking about good habits, one of the basics is timing. Timing is everything!
Smart practice includes practicing with a metronome to keep you playing in time. Start slow, master each level as you gradually increase in speed.
5. Take Lessons
This will solve your “WHAT”. As mentioned, taking lessons will save so much time and will save you from a lot of headaches.
Enrolling yourself will allow you to enjoy well-structured lessons so you can quickly learn and build on the right foundations. You will also benefit a lot from having mentors and a community you can always run to for questions, feedback and inspiration.
An action plan for this part is deciding where and when to enroll. Guitarist Academy is always ready and would be glad to welcome you in our community.
6. Track Your Progress
Keep a log of your daily lessons, note the progress and the things you need to improve. Your growth as a good guitarist can greatly improve by the simple awareness of progress and identify fruitful practice phases you can recreate or upgrade.
Not only that, getting a list of the things you need to improve will help you spot on in solving the problem. All of these pave the way for consistent progress, it makes you learn and advance faster.
7. Collaborate
You will only learn how far you get practicing on your own the moment you play with others.
Two or more creative heads are better than one. Beyond making a great piece of music, you can tap different skills, techniques and ideas. It lightens the workload and increases productivity. You also receive feedback and constructive criticism. They often see your blind sides.
The benefits are absolutely amazing, you get to exercise creativity, control, and test your timing.
Be a team player and add value to someone else’s dream. This is a proven principle in life. It also gives so much inspiration so you too will persevere in reaching your goal. Who knows, from a mere hobby to bless a few loved ones, you will become a famous guitarist touching the lives of many around the globe.
So, connect more and build your network of fellow musicians. There’s beauty in working together. It provides so much growth than being alone. Besides, no man is an island.
Can Anyone Become a Guitarist?
Yes, anyone who commits to learn and practice consistently can become a guitarist. With the right knowledge and smart practice routine, mastering the 7 basic steps, will set you up to becoming a good guitarist.
Yes, the goal is becoming a good guitarist. You gotta be good at whatever goal you have chosen for yourself.
If you’re asking how long it takes to become a good guitar player, it depends on the work, effort, and time you put in. Again, a consistent daily time of smart practice gets you faster and farther in your journey to becoming a good guitarist.
There’s only one more left to do, have fun! Laugh and learn!
