How to Bust Through Your Guitar Playing Plateau

Ok.

So…. I often get emails or comments asking….

How long it will take to learn guitar if I practice xxx hours every day?

Or…

Will I be able to master the guitar if I practice 2 hours every day?

Or…

Will I become an expert on the guitar if I practice everyday for 30 minutes?

People want to know how long.

They want to know – what to do.

And the thing is – it’s gonna be different for everyone. There is no perfect practice routine that can be prescribed to every person. But also – there is no perfect practice routine that will work for just ONE single person.

The Beginner…

As you start to learn the guitar – just about ANY kind of hands-on guitar playing will help.

Just about ANY amount of time playing and practicing will help.

You’re new to the instrument!

You’re excited!

You’re motivated!

When you’re first learning to play, it should be easy to sit down and practice.

If you’re having trouble practicing as a brand new beginner, leave a comment below and tell me why…. maybe you’re not a beginner any more. Maybe you’re not learning the right stuff.

For most of us (when we first start learning), practicing is exciting and fun.

Each time we pick up the guitar we’re making HUGE PROGRESS!

But eventually we plateau.

Now what?

Plateaus and How to Break Through Them

Contrary to what you feel, plateaus are good!

It’s ok – it’s normal and GOOD that you’re hitting a plateau. It means you’ve made some really great progress, it also means that it’s time to switch up your routine.

As you get better, you’ll need to ADJUST HOW YOU PRACTICE – what worked in the beginning won’t work anymore.

Your getting better, and now you need to practice differently.

Some people realize this and switch up their routine. Some people DON’T realize this and wonder why they’re hitting a plateau.

There are zillions of things you can do to switch things up:

• Try a new teacher (or youtube video)
• Learn from a new music book
• Focus VERY SPECIFICALLY on what you want to improve on
• Try a different genre of music
• Try to learn different techniques
• Switch to an acoustic instead of electric
• Try to get out and play with other musicians
• Take a few lessons
• Learn some new songs

The list goes on.

NOTE: Practicing “differently” does NOT mean practicing LONGER

It can mean practicing longer.

It can mean practicing more frequently.

But I’ll warn you: if you simply practicing the same stuff you’ve been working on, only now you do it for an hour instead of a half hour…. you’re not gonna get any better.

What next….?

Ok.

So let’s say you’ve busted through your plateau and you’re feeling good.

That’ll last for a little while until you hit another road block.

Once that happens, you’ll need to do the same thing – switch up your practice routine.

You see what I’m getting at?

It’s a cycle. And you can’t optimize it. You’re gonna hit road blocks. You’re gonna get to plateaus. It’s all a part of the process. If you realize this NOW – you’ll save yourself frustration in the future…. but you’re still gonna reach those plateaus.

Let me say that again: You’re still gonna reach those plateaus.

You’re still gonna run into road blocks.

But that’s good.

It’s part of the process.

It means you’re learning and doing good work.

The closest you can get to optimization is realizing that there will be bumps in the road – and that this stuff isn’t perfect.

Trying to optimize EVERY ASPECT of learning is going to set you up for failure.

Now – that’s not to say you can’t optimize some things. For example: You can focus on WHAT to learn. If you’re interested in learning how to solo very quickly – your focus should primarily involve soloing techniques, scales, playing melodies, improvising. It should NOT be power chords, singing and playing, or rhythm guitar.

But Jake – you may say – what about a practice schedule? Surely I can optimize that!?

Ok – let’s say you decide you will practice EVERY DAY for one hour before bed. What happens when you are sick? When you decide to go out drinking with friends? When you have to work late? When your house needs to get fumigated and you have to stay with a friend?

You’ll break the routine and lose that efficiency and optimization – you may even get discouraged and start to neglect your practice on days when you have no other excuse.

But you know yourself better than I know you. If you think having a specific practice schedule will work for you, then go right ahead – just don’t get obsessed with it please.

Two more things…

If you don’t have a teacher, contact me here to set up online lessons (I use Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Zoom).

Some people only need a lesson or two to correct their mistakes (that they don’t even KNOW they’re making). Some people need the accountability of having a steady teacher to set them straight!

Also, if you have ANY guitar related questions, feel free to e-mail me… but please consider leaving a comment below… chances are: If you have questions, someone ELSE has the same question and would benefit from your input and thoughts!