Guidance

The Six Biggest Reasons People Stop Playing Guitar

Playing the guitar is very rewarding and a whole lot of fun. If you want keep at it and become a great player, it’s a good idea to take a good look at why people stop (give up) playing the guitar.

Reason One: They get bored playing the same songs or exercises over and over. Guitar music, both in tablature and regular music notation is everywhere. There are a number of good websites that offer tons of songs for free or a small membership fee. Guitar magazines are also a good source for songs and exercises and your local music store should have a great selection of guitar books. You can find songs and video lessons online as well (just make sure it’s a reputable source – not some guy in his pajamas playing in his basement!)

Reason Two: The guitar book they are using contains worn-out folk songs or corny camp songs and not the kind of music they want to play. If you want to play Rock or be the next Heavy Metal guitar god, learning “Kumbaya” or “Michael Row The Boat Ashore” isn’t going to get your there! Find a book you’re happy with and focuses on the kind of music you want to play.

Reason Three: Their instrument is too hard to play. Choose a guitar that is comfortable to play by making sure it’s the right guitar for your age and size. Kids have trouble with larger guitars or electric guitars with odd shapes while adults need to find an instrument that is a good match for the size and strength of their hands and fingers. Large hands have trouble playing a small scale guitar where the strings are close together as their fingers sometimes touch strings not to be played.

It’s also very important to use a guitar that is properly set up with low action and a neck that is straight and true. Thoroughly inspect any guitar you consider buying and if there are inherent problems, move on to another guitar. If possible, have a knowledgeable friend help you decide.

Reason Four: They don’t put in the time and practice. It’s important to understand that practicing guitar does not mean playing boring scales or exercises. I always give my students the kind of music that helps them develop a number of skills at the same time and, most importantly, something they love to play. Make your practice time fun.

Reason Five: They don’t understand the role the guitar plays in creating different kinds of music. Many students, after developing their playing, don’t know what to do next. Some are starting to think about starting up or joining a band yet don’t know what they need to focus on to succeed.

Study the music you are interested in. For example, do you have to be able to play killer solos or have a good understanding of a number of different chords and progressions? Find out what it’s going to take to get you to the next level and what the music is all about.

Reason Six: They don’t seek out other guitarists to play with and learn from. You might be surprised that one of your friends from school or the person you say hello to every morning at work is a guitar player who’d be up for a little jamming. You can learn a lot from other players and have fun doing it.

If you stay away from these pitfalls, you’ll become the guitar player you want to be. And you’ll enjoy playing guitar more than ever.

About the Author

Dale Schmidt is a guitar teacher in Washington state and author of Your Private Guitar Teacher.

For more information: www.yourprivateguitarteacher.com

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