Even the biggest fan of guitar music can occasionally end up feeling bored while playing the instrument. In order to progress, you need to play almost every day and go through the same things repeatedly. This will naturally feel repetitive very quickly and you might find tons of other more fun things to do.
But skipping practice can easily get you off the rails and halt your progress. Next time you are feeling bored when playing guitar try these simple tips.
If you are trying to play an hour every day, it might be the length of your lesson that is making you feel bored. If you are the kind of person that gets bored easily and if focusing on one thing seems difficult to you, practice in smaller sessions instead.
Try playing for 15 minutes in the morning, 15 minutes right after you get home from work or school and another 15 minutes in the evening before you go to bed. You might even end up playing for longer because you don’t feel like you must play for that long in the first place!
You should also have a clear idea what it is you want to do during your play session. If you pick up your guitar and start thinking what song to play, you might easily feel like every song is a boring prospect. But just have a list at hand and start playing. Don’t think too hard whether you are in the mood for that song or not, just play it.
Make your learning sessions a bit more fun by focusing on your surroundings. Is there perhaps a specific spot in the house you enjoy spending time in? Perhaps you are a massive coffee or tea lover and a cup of this hot nectar would make your sessions feel just a bit more fun.
Make sure you also try different things, play along to backing tracks, take online guitar lessons, and practice improvisation. Rewarding yourself after a successful lesson with a movie afterwards, for instance, may also help you find practice more exciting.
If you always play on your own, then it isn’t any wonder boredom might kick in. If you have friends who play an instrument, then organise jamming sessions with them to mix things up a bit. Seeing other people be enthusiastic about playing can help you feel more excited again as well.
Even if you don’t have friends that are into music, you can always go online and connect with other music lovers there. Talk in online forums and have Skype sessions with other guitarist to exchange tips and tricks.
If you are just learning the ropes you might feel bored when you hit the brick wall and realise playing guitar isn’t as easy as it looks. At the same time, if you just play the songs you know time after time you won’t find playing challenging and it can bore you. Therefore, you need to strike a balance between the easy stuff and the more difficult things.
Occasionally practice easy songs that are just simple to play and make you feel happy. But remember to also add those challenging songs and bits of theory to make sure you are constantly learning something new.
If you feel frustrated in your playing, then step back for a second and take your mind off from playing altogether. After a short break, you’ll feel more energised to continue your guitar lessons!
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