If you are reading this right now, you are probably feeling the same way I was when I started researching articles to try and improve my playing. Well, here’s some good news for both of us….WE ARE NOT ALONE!!!
The internet has been a technological wonder for the world in general. We now have access to more information than ever before. And that is both a good thing and a bad thing.
Because unlike the motto that tells us there is “no such thing as bad publicity”, there IS such a thing as “bad information”.
And in this era of information overload, one that surrounds us with constant “noise”, it can be hard to decipher the good information from the bad. And even when you find the “right” information, there is sometimes so much of it, that it can be hard to know where to start.
If you are anything like me, you have probably found yourself spiraling down YouTube rabbit holes, and asking yourself “Is this the right exercise for me, with my current ability?” Or “Is there anything I should be learning BEFORE trying to play these scales at that BPM value?”
To try to make things a bit easier and less confusing, here’s a list of some of the most common myths that have been propagated in music education circles, both in schools and online. We’ve all heard them before. And while some of the advice given may be good-intentioned, it can sometimes do more harm than good, when it comes to your progress.
So, let’s take a look at 8 common myths of guitar improvisation.
Musical ability is innate. Some people just have more “talent” than others.
While it may be true that certain people may have a “knack” for something, accomplished musical ability is not one of those things. Students at top level music schools like Juilliard can put in anywhere between 4 and 8 hours of practice a day. Also, there’s the now-famous “10,000 hours” rule, invented by Malcolm Gladwell, that insists that it takes 10,000 of focused practice and experience to truly become an “expert” at something.
Those at the top of their game will tell you that they worked for years to get where they are, honing their craft meticulously, and never stopping….because there is always something new to learn.
So, while some people may have a “better ear” for melodies and things of that nature, elite musical ability is definitely something you have to work hard on. So, don’t lose hope….just keep working!!
You need to spend at least 30 minutes (or 60 minutes or 4 hours) every day to make progress.
This one is actually half true. Practicing is a huge part of making progress. But it’s not about HOW MUCH you practice….it’s about HOW you practice. Think of it like a person who goes to the gym. Some people spend 2hrs a day in there, 4-5 days a week, for months, and never seem to get any closer to their fitness goals. Whereas an actor, who needs to get in shape for a role, will work with a trainer and maybe a dietician, and either bulk up or slim down in a matter of weeks. So, what’s the difference?
Simply going to the gym is not the answer. And while it DOES show great motivation, that frustrated person is not working EFFECTIVELY enough to see progress. Therefore, they will feel stuck….like nothing is working. The same thing happens to musicians. They find themselves playing a lot, yet not making a lot of progress. This happens because they are practicing the right things, with measurable progress goals, in order to see improvement.
So, while spending hours and hours a week playing may be fun, and may lead to SOME improvement, it will not lead help you achieve your technical goals unless you are practicing the “right” way. Spending 30 mins a day on the “right” exercises to help you reach a specific goal is FAR more effective than spending 2 hours a day on the “wrong” ones. The trick is figuring out the “right” exercises.
When your progress stalls and you hit a “plateau”, you’ve either got to be patient and keep pushing forward in the same way, or accept you’ve just reached your natural limits.
Any true professional will tell you that there is no such thing as a “natural limit”. With music, like so many things in life, there is always something new to learn. No one knows everything, not even the legends. Eric Clapton is a highly regarded blues-rock guitar player. But he would most likely be the first to tell you that he’s not a good jazz player….or reggae player….or fusion player, etc… However, that doesn’t make him any less great.
Clapton chose the style and genre he is most passionate about. And that’s what true artists do. They focus on a certain artistic element that drives them, that inspires them. And for Clapton, it’s blues and rock.
Any goal that you set for yourself CAN be reached….but some take more patience and dedication than others. If you are not seeing results from your current practice routine, then it’s time to change things up.
Think of the classic pop culture definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”. Simply being patient or doubling down on your current practice regimen is not enough. Remember, a LOT of people have already accomplished the progress goal you are trying to achieve…so it CAN be done, as long as you are practicing EFFECTIVELY. Keep that in mind.
If you can’t keep up a consistent practice habit, your life is too busy or you need to have more discipline.
There are more distractions in life now than ever before. While it’s true that some students at very prestigious music schools practice up to 8-10 hours a day, that is not the only way to see progress in your playing. If you are trying to be a professional musician, you should definitely prioritize your practice regimen. However, having a life that is already very busy might be the best thing for your playing. A busy life is a great incentive to make sure you’re practicing in a way that is as effective as possible.
Remember what we said before…it’s not HOW MUCH you’re practicing, it’s HOW you’re practicing. And a little can go a long way if it’s done right. If you are trying to increase speed in your guitar solos, try setting small, incremental goals for yourself at certain BPM values. Only increase the speed once you can play comfortably and confidently. Increasing your practice speed by even 1 BPM every week means that if you stay focused and disciplined in your regimen, you will be able to play 52 BPM faster in only ONE year. And that is HUGE progress.
The goal of music practice is to eliminate mistakes – the fewer the better.
No one WANTS to make mistakes, in life or in music. But mistakes can be incredibly beneficial if you look at them the right way. With the current online information overload, it can be quite a daunting task to sift through the hours and hours of guitar lessons and tutorials, all of which claim to be able to improve your playing seemingly overnight. But every player is different, in terms of where they are with their own progress. I’ve actually heard people say that they LOVE making mistakes because it shows them exactly what they need to work on. It’s like your own playing is your coach, showing you what needs to be worked on. And because you will never play everything perfectly, at every tempo, your mistakes will forever guide your progress in the right direction. If you are playing stuff right now and not making any mistakes, then you are also not making any progress. Keep this in mind: Playing and practicing is not the same thing.
Some people have a “bad memory” or are “slow learners”.
For this one, it’s probably more accurate to say that people are “different learners”. Not everyone learns at the same pace, or even in the same way. Some people learn by listening. Some learn by seeing. And some learn by doing. No one method is the “right” way. It just has to be the right way for YOU.
For example, some musicians have great ears and can hear a melody and play it back to you on the first try…though it may be a bit sloppy. Others are incredible technicians, who may take a few extra seconds to wrap their head around a melody, but after a few seconds, can play it back perfectly.
Or you have musicians who can sight-read on the fly, and then play a particular piece of music flawlessly, yet they have trouble composing their own stuff. Others may not be able to read music at all, yet they can compose a beautiful piece of music. Both types learned their respective crafts very differently. The most important thing is to find the style that works best for you. Don’t let yourself get frustrated because you are not learning at the same pace as someone else. The only person you have to compete against is yourself. And as long as you are practicing what Tony Robbins calls “CANI” (Constant And Neverending Improvement), you are winning.
There are so many things to learn in music, so you need to be extremely organised.
Being organized is far less important than being focused. If you were trying to learn 20 different things at the same time, then yes, being organized would be extremely important. However…if you ARE trying to learn 20 things at once, then you most likely will not make huge amounts of progress in any of them. If you were trying to learn how to play 20 sports at the same time, how long do you think it would take for you to truly be an expert in one?
Remember Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hours” rule? It takes 10,000 hours of focused practice to be an expert at something. Well, you can’t possibly dedicate that much time to 20 different things, and not expect to be worn down.
Learning an instrument is not a race against anyone else. It’s a very personal thing. No one knows your weaknesses better than you. And when you find them, and you will, don’t try to fix them all at once. Set small, achievable goals for yourself, and once you hit them with confidence, set more. That sense of achievement will drive your progress further.
So, while there ARE so many things to learn in music…not a single musician on Earth knows them all. For example, the best rock guitar player is not the best classical player. Choose your style, the one you are most passionate about, and then focus on hitting the progress goals associated with that particular sound.
Learning music is hard work.
Anything can be seen as hard work if you are trying to be the best at it. Two quotes come to mind right now. The first is: “Nothing worth having comes easy”. The second is from Mark Twain, who once said “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life”. Most people call something “hard work” when it’s something they don’t enjoy doing. But if you love it, is it really “hard work”?
The perfect example of that is someone like Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones. Touring at the highest levels can be exhausting, despite some of the luxuries that massive success provides. And many artists are burnt out after long tours. That’s when they take time off, before regrouping and starting work on another album. But what does Keith Richards do when he gets off the road with The Rolling Stones? He starts working out how to get his solo band together and playing. He’s ALWAYS playing music. ALWAYS. That’s all he knows. And when you see him now, he looks like the happiest and most relaxed man in music. And not just because he doesn’t need to worry about money. There are plenty of wealthy “rock stars”. Keith is happy because he always seems to be doing exactly what he wants to be doing. He has followed his passion for his entire career. He has always “sounded” the same because that is HIS style, and it’s what makes him happy. If he’s still learning anything new right now, then you can sure that it’s exactly what he WANTS to be learning. And that’s the secret to true success…happiness.