Just like life, the journey of playing guitar is a blend of peaks and valleys. Initially, you’re inspired and eager to learn, but once you dive in, you may encounter difficulties or the boredom of slow to no progress, whether you’re a beginner or someone who has been playing for a while.
But fret not! You can navigate the challenges and maintain the drive to achieve your guitar-playing goals. Discover helpful tips to stay motivated when learning guitar. Overcome obstacles, find inspiration, and keep your musical journey on track.
Fun vs. Chore
Establishing whether learning to play the guitar feels like fun or a chore is vital, even before you start on the journey. It is essential to decide what kind of atmosphere you want to create surrounding your guitar practice, whether it’s an enjoyable and inspiring experience or something that feels like a burdensome task.
Playing guitar can be a chore if you lack a clear purpose and see it as a competitive pursuit. When you set unrealistically high goals and constantly compare yourself to others, it adds to this burden. It leads to rigid practice sessions, a lack of inspiration, and a sole focus on progress.
It can quickly become a monotonous routine or a burdensome obligation without embracing the joy of playing. And so, let’s explore ways to stay motivated through the highs and lows, find joy in the progress, and embrace the challenges as stepping stones toward mastery.
Tips to Stay Motivated When Learning Guitar
Learning guitar can be purposefully fun if you plan your journey. We’ve got guitar motivation boosters to help you stay inspired while learning.
1. Tune into Your Why
Reignite your passion for guitar with your ‘Why.’ This is your ultimate guitar motivation booster.
Remember what made you love learning to play the guitar. Discover what made you excited the first time. It doesn’t have to be something grand; those sparks of inspiration eventually made you ask others how to play the instrument.
Perhaps you heard a song that deeply resonated with you; or discovered an inspiring artist or a favorite band. It’s possible a loved one sang their cherished song, and you wished to be able to play it for them. Maybe you even have plans for a surprise where you desire to perform a song. There’s always something in the past that sparked your desire and motivated you to pursue playing guitar.
These simple joys will remind you to relax and alleviate frustration when facing difficulties or a lack of progress. While striving to be the best, note that it’s often the small things that truly make a difference.
This isn’t about making excuses for lack of progress but encouraging self-kindness. By doing so, you can define and shape your purpose and understand why you continue to learn how to play guitar.
What is it that you truly want? Take a moment to write it down on paper and explore the deepest desires of your heart for this musical journey.
Then, focus on your “why,” constantly reminding yourself of the reasons that drive you. Find joy in learning and be grateful for the gift of playing guitar. Shift your perspective and begin to view practicing as a delightful treat.
Above all, remember to HAVE FUN and enjoy the musical journey!
2. Get a Guitar that Sparks Your Passion
Maybe your guitar was a hand-me-down or a gift. It’s free, and that’s alright, yet you didn’t have the opportunity to choose and find your perfect match—the guitar that would make you fall in love at first strum. It is an essential guitar motivation booster.
When looking for a guitar, consider these top three factors:
- Quality – Ensure the guitar is well-constructed with solid craftsmanship, reliable materials, and good overall build quality.
- Playability – Test the guitar’s playability by assessing the neck, fretboard, and action (string height). A comfortable neck profile and smooth fretboard facilitate easier finger placement and smooth transitions between chords. The string action should be set at a level that allows for comfortable playing without excessive string buzz.
- Sound – Pay attention to the guitar’s tone and sound. Each guitar has a unique sound character, so try different models to find one that aligns with your preferred playing style and musical genre. Look for a guitar with a well-balanced tone with clarity, sustain, and resonance.
Remember, personal preference plays a significant role in choosing a guitar. So trust your instincts and select one that feels right and inspires you to play.
If you want to explore further, check out “15 Tips for Buying the Best Acoustic Guitar.”
3. Design a Dedicated Space for Guitar Practice
Create a dedicated practice space that inspires productive guitar sessions. Whether it’s a small area or not, ensure a space you genuinely enjoy and free from distractions.
Next, take your guitar out of its case and place it where you can easily see it. Use a guitar stand to keep it consistently in view. Your space and the accessibility of your gear serve as powerful guitar motivation boosters.
4. Set Goals
Let’s strike a balance between having fun and being a goal-getter. Lack of progress leads to boredom and is equally frustrating as struggling to play. Find a middle ground where you enjoy the process while challenging yourself to improve.
Setting goals powers your guitar learning, and giving yourself a stretch can be an effective guitar motivation booster.
Achieve strings of success by setting both short-term and long-term goals. This approach enables you to establish realistic targets that align with your current skill level and facilitates smooth transitions from easy to more challenging guitar techniques.
- Short-term goals are typically quicker to learn. It provides a sense of accomplishment sooner and more frequently.
- Long-term goals are more time-intensive and require sustained effort and dedication. These goals encompass significant milestones and achievements that may take several months to learn.
5. Practice Effectively
Efficiency amplified! An effective guitar practice results in productive sessions in a short period.
The key to effective practice is not just what you practice but how you approach your sessions. If your approach is inefficient, it can compromise the effectiveness of what you’re learning. Your practice routine can make or break your guitar motivation.
Here are simple tips to enhance your practice routine:
- Set a daily schedule – Establish a consistent practice time, dedicating at least 15 minutes daily.
- Find your best practice time – Choose when you feel most alert and focused.
- Learn concepts in order – Build a solid foundation by progressing logically from basics to advanced techniques.
- Learn and play new songs – Add excitement and progress by incorporating new music into your repertoire.
- Take strategic breaks – Allow yourself to take short breaks in between practice sessions. It’s giving yourself time to recharge and maintain focus.
- Explore new territory – Experiment with different styles, genres, or techniques. Continually challenge yourself with new styles, guitar techniques, or genres.
- Have fun – Keep the fun alive during practice to stay motivated and inspired.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
Cheers to progress! Celebrate every note and every milestone.
Track your progress to gauge your growth and development. Remember, even the tiniest improvement is worth celebrating—it’s a step forward on your musical journey.
Instead of comparing yourself to others, focus on aiming for greatness while embracing and celebrating your small wins. And don’t forget to reward yourself for your dedication and accomplishments. Treat yourself to something special as a token of your hard work and commitment.
7. Learn and Collaborate with Fellow Musicians
The benefits of learning together surpass learning alone, so embrace the opportunity for a shared journey and enjoy the rewards of collaboration.
To start, consider these three approaches:
- Learn Guitar with a Friend – Find a practice partner who can hold you accountable and keep you on track. Having a guitar buddy not only motivates when frustrated but also inspires perseverance. Their passion can reignite your own and help you stay committed to learning guitar.
- Jam with Others – Stay active in the guitar community and seek opportunities to play with musicians who are more advanced than you. Jamming with a band or participating in live performances allows you to learn new styles, techniques, and progressions. Besides the fun, playing guitar with others offers a chance to form lifelong friendships.
- Teach Others – While it may seem like you’re giving something away, teaching others can surprisingly enhance your learning experience. Teaching reinforces your existing knowledge and helps you retain information better when you share it with others. Additionally, witnessing someone learn and grow from your guidance can provide motivation and propel you to the next level in your learning journey.
8. Listen to Music
Tune in and get inspired by the power of music. By regularly immersing yourself in music, you may discover new favorite songs, learn new techniques and styles, and find inspiration from artists you haven’t explored before.
One practical step you can take while listening is to create a list of songs or music that you want to learn. This way, you won’t forget the songs and can incorporate them into your goals.
9. Watch Live Performances
Live and Amplified!
Witnessing the energy and passion of live performances can be a valuable source of inspiration and a catalyst for growth in your guitar journey.
It provides a firsthand experience of skilled musicians performing on stage, allowing you to witness their techniques, stage presence, and musicality up close. Observing how guitarists engage with the crowd, execute complex solos, and navigate through different musical styles can inspire and motivate you in your guitar playing.
Live concerts have a remarkable way of igniting dreams for your musical journey. They inspire you to be committed and strive for improvement, fueling your passion and dedication to becoming a better guitarist.
Keep Strumming, Stay Motivated
Emotions can change in an instant, but your purpose will not. As long as you don’t stop, you’ll rediscover your motivation.
Celebrate every bit of progress, no matter how small, and stay inspired by remembering why you started learning in the first place.
May you find joy along the way and take pride in your decision to keep going. If you’re frustrated or bored, take the opportunity to reassess your practice routine and explore other factors that can reignite your motivation. By making adjustments, you can make your practice sessions both fun and productive.
Ready to take your guitar playing to the next level? Start your practice today, and keep going!
