Secrets To Overcome Stage Fright

How to you get to the point where you can relax when playing on stage?

You will be nervous the first few times, no doubt about it. Learning to relax is a skill that you develop over time by playing in public when you can. My very first solo performance came when a friend who thought he was being funny signed me up for my high school talent show. I did a Jonathan Winters stand-up comedy routine, and was as nervous as I could get. After a few performances, when I realized they weren't going to boo me off the stage, I got to where I could relax and enjoy myself. There's doubt when you're up there by yourself, so confidence in your ability is the key.

Performance experience, practice, and passion are the keys.

The hardest part for me, even now, is when I play a song in public for the first time. I practice it until I'm confident that I can play it flawlessly, but there's still that tiny bit of self doubt in the make of my mind somewhere. After I've performed it in public a few times it becomes part of my song list and I don't really think about it.

Warming up helps too.

Some songs give me trouble even after I've performed them live, so then what I'll do is practice them a few times before I go on stage. I try to play the song faster than usual, so it seems easier to play it when the time comes. Difficult passages get played a few extra times, making me feel more confident about my ability to play them correctly. I start out playing chords, doing some stretching exercises for the left hand, and rolls or finger picking patterns with the right hand.

Sometimes you're just going to have a bad night.

The other thing I've learned is that sometimes the harder you try, the worse you get. Once you can accept that, it will help you relax and things will get better. I'd like to tell you that it never happens, but it does. Sometimes there's a reason, maybe your day didn't go well, or you got bad news about something, but other times you're just having an off night.

Don't get discouraged.

This last piece of advice is simple, you just have to keep trying. The more you perform, the easier it will become, and that's a fact. In my case, I'd say that I've replaced being nervous with being excited about playing. There's still adrenaline flowing, but now it's positive energy.

Everyone goes through it.

Whether you're a beginning guitarist, or a more advanced player, your experience will be the same. So go to some low pressure open mics, jam sessions, and musical gatherings. You'll always find someone who's in the same situation and you can help each other get over being nervous. I start my guitar and banjo students out with a controlled, slow jam, with no pressure. You don't have to play a solo unless you want to, you don't have to sing, you just get used to playing with others.

Give it your best shot, practice a lot, and get out there and mingle. Before you know it you'll be over your beginner's fears, you'll be relaxing, and best of all, you'll be enjoying music!

Playing Under Pressure

Have you performed a piece well at home only to fall apart at your lesson?

I know how you feel! I had to take Class Piano when I went back to college, and even though I could play well at home, when I had to play for the teacher it seemed almost impossible. Since then, I've narrowed down the causes and the solutions.

• Confidence: The pressure mounts immediately when you lack confidence. Knowing your teacher or the person listening will be critical, you try extra hard to play well. Just another case of stage fright even though there's no stage. How to solve the problem? Record yourself, play for friends and family, go to open mic night, play in jam sessions. All of these are confidence builders. The more you do it, the more relaxed you become.
• Positive Thinking: I can't tell you how many times during the week my students preface their playing with telling me "I always mess this part up," "I'll probably screw this up even though I played it perfectly at home," and many similar comments. Two words: self-fulfilling prophecy. 
• Knowing, Understanding and Liking the Song: For a beginning guitar student it's difficult at the start because you probably don't have the skills to play like you want to. That doesn't mean you can't like the song and practice it until you know it well. I record assigned songs for my guitar students and tell them not to go too long without listening to it. They'll think they have it memorized only to be shocked when I point out that they've learned it wrong. 

So get out of your comfort zone, play in public if you can, or if you can't at least find someone to play for. Negative thinking only makes it worse, so make a game of learning the song. Parts that give you trouble need to be isolated and worked on. See how many times you can play that section without making a mistake. Play slowly so you don't make mistakes and that builds muscle memory as well as confidence. I always tell my students to please tell me if they don't like a song. There are usually many more available that teach the same concepts. Don't be too hard on yourself. Learning guitar takes time, so don't be discouraged if you think you need to move faster.

Is It Possible to Practice Too Much?

How much is too much when it comes to practicing?

The law of diminishing returns. While it's extremely important to maintain a steady practice routine, there is a point where you've stopped making any progress that day. Usually after 45 minutes to an hour, it's time to take a break. Your fingers get tired, you quit hearing what you're playing, and you don't seem to be getting anywhere. That's how you know you need to do something else for a while.


I practiced that part over and over, but when I went to play it for my teacher I messed it up. Playing at home is a lot different from performing for someone else. Whether it's your teacher, your class, or a live performance, it's much harder to play in front of people. You need to build confidence in your ability to play the part that gives you trouble and you can't let it get the best of you. My students will say things like "here comes the part I hate", or "here's the part I always have trouble with", and guess what? They immediately have trouble with it! At that point the problem is in your head, not in your fingers.

How do you overcome this? No matter how painful it is, play in front of and with other people. I conduct a "controlled jam session" at the studio where I get students of the same level together so they can all experience playing with others. The first week or two everyone's timid, shy and pretty much unable to perform at their normal level. Once they become more comfortable and relaxed the tension slowly goes away and they play much better.

Open mikes, jam sessions and other outlets. Being nervous or scared is a common reaction, so the best thing to do is to learn a few songs that you can play well, record and/or make a video of yourself playing the songs, and play them for friends and family members. Most cities have open mikes or jam sessions, so the best way to get some experience is to just do it. At jam sessions, play along in the background until you're comfortable. Most jammers are very encouraging and you'll be surprised at how helpful they can be. At an open mike, it's only going to get better if you keep doing it. Again, most of the people attending will be very encouraging and helpful.

Be prepared. Before you leave the house be sure you have everything you need. Extra picks, strings, a capo, a strap and an electronic tuner should all be in your case. If you've never practiced while standing up, you'll be surprised at what a difference it makes. When you think you're ready, just go for it.