NO NO NO!!!*Milo* wrote:Well... well... After reading all messages, I feel like I sould give up playing guitar. I'm struggling everyday to motivate myself in order to play guitar. At the moment I play 3 to 4 times a week, usually one hour per practice session. For that one hour, I'm completely focused on what I want to achieve on that day; I know that my practice routine is all about quality. But I still think that I don't play as much as I should. What do you think?
I admit that it's more comfortable to come home after work and relax in front of your TV, and very often I just don't have enough time (I know what you're thinking... if you love your guitar then get the time... you're probably right) but playing guitar is exhausting for me and I wish I'd have a more relaxing hobby. That's the shattering truth
Hear me out.
Some will tell you to practice lots and lots. And yeah, you'll get good if you practice, but there's more to it than that, or rather I think that there is an underlying cause behind it. You have to *enjoy* what you're doing, and know why you're doing it. And for one simple reason. If you enjoy it, you will practice. The actual practice might not always be fun, and at times will probably be frustrating. And everyone has dry-spells. But often times I've gotten frustrated because the amount of practice I will put into something doesn't seem to yield proportional results. But I never let this lead to me believing that it is all just a waste of time. Focused practice is never a bad thing! Even if you don't accomplish what you set out to do, the least you would have improved is self discipline and the increased your mental capacity to persevere. And that is very value-able on the long run.
But, many times, good focused practice will yeild(in the proper time) the desired results. The simple process of seeing your own improvement is so rewarding, and if you don't find enjoyment from that. Then how much you improve will be up to how stubborn you are.
I mean, if someone wants to get better, then they will find satisfaction from getting better, and hopefully enjoy the process because the journey is as important as the goals that one sets.
Just set goals that are realistic for your situation. Unless you're ultimate dream is to become a guitar-shreddy/virtuoso/uber l33t instrumental musician who goes on world tours, then don't sweat it if you're not playing ridiculess hours a day. lets be honest, just being good at your instrument will not fullfill that dream on it's own. It takes more than that, and yeah, people like Vai seemed to get stuck in the right place at the right time(luck/providence/fate, whatever you wanna call it.) But even he was once just picking up a guitar, completely clueless and perhaps intimidated by all the strings and frets. But anyways...
Just remember, you don't have to become a virtuoso to be considered competent or to be happy with playing the guitar.