Not Happy With Your Progress on Guitar?

What may be holding you back and what to do about it.

Lately I've been getting more and more calls from beginning guitar students frustrated with their perceived lack of progress. Learning guitar is an ongoing process, and unfortunately it's one that you can't speed up very much. Here are some observations I've made recently as well as some helpful hints to improve your progress.

Expecting too much too soon.

I can't stress enough how important it is to learn, understand, and be able to execute a technique or concept. Beginning guitar players tend to rush through things so they can play the songs they want to play. Like learning math, guitar depends on your building a solid foundation. Being patient in the early stages is extremely difficult, but it's what will make you a better musician in the long run. Well meaning friends will try to tell you to learn barre chords, scales, alternate picking and other techniques that you may not be ready for. This is where having a live, caring teacher comes in. Your guitar teacher can guide you and make sure you're learning things in a logical order. I'll sometimes get a theory question from a student and the answer will be that you really don't want to ask that question right now!

Information overload.

The internet is a great invention, but again, I'm seeing and hearing from more and more frustrated guitar players. The best way to avoid information overload is to take small steps and to be sure that you're ready for the next concept. Go slow and absorb all the things you've learned. Ignore the wild claims that convince you that you'll learn the "secrets" of playing guitar. Do you want to know the secret to learning guitar? Commit time and effort, know what your goals are and practice. And no, you're not going to be the second coming of Jimi Hendrix in one weekend! Sorry, you have to put in the time.


Realize how important small signs of progress can be.

Minor breakthroughs are very important. If you've been working on a song and can now play it flawlessly and up to speed, it doesn't matter if it's Yankee Doodle, it's a breakthrough. Savor it and use the positive feelings to encourage you and to help you advance to the next level.

Push yourself, but don't pressure yourself.

Trying to improve, working hard, and spending time practicing are all worthy goals, but you don't need undue pressure. The value of taking private, one on one guitar lessons is that there is no competition and therefore, no pressure. Learning guitar is tough enough without adding the burden of expecting more than you're capable of playing.