More Motivation to Keep Practicing and Playing

Need more motivation to play your guitar

1. How do you keep your motivation to practice guitar?

2. Do you need to practice 8 hours a day to be good?

3. Is my excuse not to play, the reason why I should?

Let's answer the first question.

Do you find yourself saying, "I can't." "I can't play those chords." "That seems to hard, I'll never be able to play like that." Stop with the "I can't." To get more motivation we are going to say "I wish." "I wish I could play those chords." "I wish I could play like that."

So how do you play like that? First, you have to want to. Second, you have to believe or hope in even the slightest way that it is possible for you. Say to yourself, or say it out loud, "Someday soon, I'll play like that."

Now take 10 minutes and try one thing. You end up with 100% more than if you didn't try at all.

Let's answer the next question, do you need to practice 8 hours a day to be good?

You sure do. (You thought I was going to say no, didn't you.)

You don't need to have your hands on the strings all the time. Nothing brings more motivation than not having it.

You can always think like a guitar player. How?

Bring your notes card with you and study it.(click link at bottom)

Do you always carry picks with you?

Can you picture that chord in your mind?

Can you hear that entire song in your head without your Ipod or the radio? Is there a song stuck in your head, all day, every day? Doesn't that drive you crazy? "Yes?" Then you are a music person.

Earl Nightengale told the world, "You become what you think about." You get to choose!

I like to take it a step further and add "You are what you do." If you spend an hour a day surfing the internet, you're going to be an expert at finding information on it. If you spend an hour a day talking, listening, reading and watching sports, you're going to be an authority. If you spend the same time with red shoes as your passion, you're going to be a red shoe expert. So, an hour a day of anything equals 365 hours a year. If half that time is spent learning, it equals 182.5 hours of new stuff.

Start your practice with something you do know, to warm up and build a little more motivation and confidence. After, practice what you don't know. One thing at a time and it'll add up to what you do know. Get your hands on those strings everyday. Even after years and years I find something new. If I could play for 8 hours today and learn new things, tomorrow I'll be way better. There's just no two ways about it. That's how you keep motivated. You have to "wish" first, "learn" second, and "do" third. All three add up to who you are, which brings us to the next question.

Is my excuse not to play, the reason why I should?

Ever heard the saying, "Always a good excuse, but never a good reason"? When I see people with disabilities play guitar well, it gets rid of my excuses. People with only 2 fingers on their fretting hand. People with no hands. Your frustrations and blues are better handled by trying to express and release them on guitar. So if you feel like everybody wants a piece of you, like a bunch of vampires making you mad, then you need to play. I may have fallen asleep with my guitar in my hands, but at least I got to play. Those vampires will be glad I did too. I get mean if I can't be who I am and accomplish my agenda.

I'm too tired.

I'm too busy.

I hurt too much.

I've been guilty of them all. I still have to fight theses reasons. I just ask myself one thing.

"What if the ability to play guitar was taken away from me?"

This has happened to me more than once. I wished I had more motivation to play and practice while I had the abilty. Lucky for me, I fought and got the ability back. It's different, but it's there. I'll just deal with it. I'll make the time, to take the time.

Now, go play your guitar!!

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