Are You a Settler?

Do you practice the same songs over and over?

Have you settled into a practice routine that's in your comfort zone? Is playing the same old songs keeping you from learning new material? While it's a good idea to review and not lose the skills you have, you also can improve your guitar playing by working on newer, more challenging songs. I see students who pretty much refuse to move forward once they're comfortable with their repertoire. Or, sometimes they get so hung up on a song they end up in a rut.

Become a pioneer instead of a settler.

While it's not easy to pioneer new sounds, stretching out and playing other kinds of music, listening to different genres, and exploring the fingerboard are all ways to improve your guitar playing. Not sure what kinds of music you'd like to play? Have your guitar teacher play some different styles for you, listen to some of the best guitar players and keep an open mind. There are fantastic guitar players regardless of the type of music they play.

How many of these names do you recognize?

Here's a list of guitar players you may or may not have heard of. Spend a little time listening and learning about them and you just might be surprised as well as inspired. In no particular order and in no particular style:

• Chet Atkins
• Doc Watson
• Eric Clapton
• Jimmy Paige
• Tony Rice
• Joe Pass
• Django Reinhardt
• Carlos Santana
• Jerry Garcia
• Andres Segovia
• Julian Bream
• Les Paul

This is a very, very small sample of great guitarists past and present. Do some research and prepare to be shocked and amazed.