All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And even if your name isn’t Jack, it’s so true. And it’s particularly important to guitar players who’ve decided to make a commitment to up their game from being someone who has learned to play gradually, over time, by learning songs and maybe doing some shows with a band, to someone who feels in command of their instrument.
It seems like almost all the great players I know went through some intense period of hard work. Maybe a few years – maybe a lot of years. They knew that if they were going to break out of their less-than-thrilling status quo, they would have to break out of their complacency and put in the time.
If that’s you, and you’re thinking about defying the gravity of laziness or if you’re already in the middle of the big breakout, remember one very important thing. Make sure you’re having fun – either in the hard work or in addition to the hard work. If you don’t, burn out will hit you and that can be fatal to your goals.
Remember, you’re already making music, you’re already enjoying it. You’re investing the extra time in your skills so you can grow. Playing well is fun – a lot of fun. So enjoy the journey getting there.
