The Secret to Accelerated Guitar Growth

Practicing a craft takes time. Guitar is no exception. It takes time to learn the chords, strumming patterns, and scales.

Every new guitar player has a long journey ahead of him or her.

However, there is a secret to accelerating your growth; a challenge, should you choose to accept.

First, let’s identify the biggest thing that can slow us down when learning guitar. Accountability, or a lack thereof.

Who is pushing you to practice more? The answer could be you, a spouse, a friend, a teacher, or one of many other possibilities. Who is providing feedback? Are they pushing you enough?

You need to be kept accountable for your learning. People who have nothing to push them often lack commitment, and their regular practice schedule falls apart.

The more people you have holding you accountable for your practicing, the better.

This brings me to my main point. How do we accelerate our guitar growth?

By playing live.

Playing live gets you in front of people.

Don’t worry, I’m not talking about a three-hour set at Madison Square Garden. Start with a small group of friends or family, then go from there as you get more and more comfortable.

When you’re at home practicing a song, you can stop and continue as you please, you can backtrack to work on a specific part, or you might skip parts you’re not comfortable with.

When you’re playing the song live, you have one chance to pull it off as smoothly as you can, without stopping.

This forces you to practice the song to the point that you can play it beginning to end without stopping or tripping over yourself.

When you’re playing in front of an attentive audience, they will provide feedback on what works about your playing, and what doesn’t. This will be very helpful if you take it to heart.

The audience knows what it likes.

The more you play live, the more your audience will grow, and develop their favorite songs to hear from you.

The better you get, the more people will want to hear you play.

This can be a very intimidating venture though. Putting your talents on display and opening up to criticism can be nerve-racking. Start with just one easy song.

So what are some easy places to start showing off your skills?

1) Small parties

Family get-togethers, backyard parties, or even just hanging out with friends. Pull out your guitar and tell everybody you want to play a song.

Your friends and family should know you well enough to stop, listen, cheer, and provide constructive feedback without hurting your feelings or putting you down.

They are the perfect no-pressure tester crowd.

2) Church

Not everybody goes, but those who do most likely have worship bands at their church every week.

Apply to play in the worship band. If you can’t get in, the worship leader should be able to tell you exactly what you need to work on before you apply again. Work on whatever he or she says, and go for it again. Eventually you will get in.

Once you’re in the band, you’ll be able to play in front of a group of very supportive, encouraging people who will tell you what they liked about your playing, and what you can do better.

3) Open Mic Nights

There are most likely a number of bars in your town that have an open mic night.

An open mic night is a designated night each week when a bar opens up its stage to aspiring performers.

The audience is usually made up of other aspiring performers, so you’ll be in very comfortable company. Listen to how the audience reacts to specific songs, and see if you can tell which ones they liked the most.

Once again, these people should be able to provide good honest support and feedback.

Also, as you get better and better, and play more and more songs that people love, the bar may start hiring you to play professionally.

Start with a few songs though. Practice them up, and see how the audience responds.

4) Group Lessons / Seminars / Recitals

Many music stores will put on group lessons or seminars for various instruments. In a guitar circle, players of different backgrounds and levels sit in a circle and take turns playing songs. Sometimes people play along; sometimes it’s just an open jam.

Whatever vibe it has, it will once again give you a chance to play in front of people who will be holding you accountable. Peers who will want to hear your improvement week after week.

Take advantage of the attention and try to impress them more and more each time!

If you are taking private lessons, go to the recitals! They’re not just for kids. Prepare a song, and show your peers what you can do. Then, try to do even better the next time.

5) Coffee Shops / Busking

This one may be the most difficult for young learners, but well worth the time.

Find a small coffee shop that does live music. Chances are, it won’t pay very well (if at all), and the people will not be there to listen to you play.

These are the most difficult crowds to play, because they’re not there to support you.

However, playing to these crowds is invaluable. If you are not grabbing the attention of the room, then you know you have something to improve.

If you put on a great performance, you will see people shifting their attention to you.

Don’t be discouraged, nobody will put on a great performance the first time. It takes time to learn what a good performance is.

That is exactly what this article is about.

The audience will teach you how to be a great player, and a great performer. Pull up your boots, and open yourself up to learning opportunities presented in demonstrating your abilities to your friends and peers.

Perform often, and try to play better each time. The more you perform, the more people will hear your progress. They will tell you when you’re getting better.

Their response to your progress will keep your practicing in check.

Everyone likes to know they’re doing well.

When you play live and experience how people react to your music, you will find your growth will accelerate more than ever.

Take the leap, and be inspired.

That is your challenge, should you choose to accept.