GUITARHABITS

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Learning New Things

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                                                    photo from Istockphotoguitar player on the road to learn
Whenever I become lazy I ignore that voice in my head saying: “I don’t want to, I don’t feel like it, why should I, tomorrow is another day”. I stop listening to myself and start doing something. Something small. I know when I learn something new I get a great feeling out of it. So I say to myself: “Just learn one new thing, even if it is just a little one.”

To become productive I always first stretch my legs and drink a glass of water. If I have done these two things my motor is up and running. Now I just pick up my guitar, put a guitar book or magazine in front of me and tell myself I will learn one or two new licks or chord progressions. Before I realize it, time is flying by and I’m enjoying myself immensely. I write down in a little notebook next to me that I want to learn one or two new things tomorrow without expecting major results, without expecting the same level of productivity I accomplished today. It is not about that. It’s about learning something new and and enjoy that new lick, chord progression or whatever you learned to the fullest.Continue Reading

10 Reasons Why You Are Never Too Late to Learn

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photo from Istockphotoistock_000003543692xsmall
While I started playing guitar at an early age, I know many guitar players who started out in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s or even in their 70’s. And yet these players do an amazing job.

Maybe when they were young it just wasn’t the right time. They probably couldn’t find the right teacher or were busy learning other life lessons.

You might think yourself while you read this : “I am probably too old to learn.” Well I think you’re never too old to learn, you grow old when you stop learning. Guitar playing is not about how old you are when you start out. Guitar playing is about passion, creating and having fun with it.

I am always inspired by the passion and motivation of guitar players. While you can achieve a lot with discipline, you achieve the most with passion and motivation. You need to find out why your passionate about guitar playing and how to motivate yourself in the progress. These are the two key elements in achieving your goal.

So let me convince you why you should still learn to play the guitar today and fulfill that long lasting dream of yours:Continue Reading

Back to Basics

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                                            photo from Istockphotoguitar man
As a musician there are so many things that will distract you from making music. We get caught up in all the stuff we can use to enhance our music… or so we like to think.

A better guitar, a more powerful amp, more and more effects, the best sequencer, the latest plugins, always looking for updates and upgrades. I admit I’m guilty as charged. I always thought: “If I only could have that plugin, sequencer or this effect, life would be much better”. I’ve been there, done that, but I’ve come clean. I realized it took my eyes off the ball and I lost a lot of precious time because of it. Now I’m back to basics.

I focus on playing guitar. Practicing and writing. That’s my main goal. Why? Because I love it. I also try to be basic in my lifestyle. Although I’ve got stuff like everyone else, I get rid of the things I don’t need. When you go basic, you automatically create more time for your music and social life. The more basic you get, the more time you have left.

What do I do apart from practicing and writing?Continue Reading

Musicians Contemplate

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                                             photo from Istockphotocontemplating
We all have busy lives nowadays. A lot of people aren’t content or living their dreamlife while they should be.

In order to create a life where you can spend all the time you like on music, family, friends and other things you love most, you need to sit down and relax.

Stop being busy. Stop running around. Stop everything for a moment.

It’s good that you read about the things you enjoy and the dreams you want to be inspired by, but you also have to let your own mind inspire you. The best way to do this is to do nothing. Just sit on a couch undistracted. Find a place where you have a little peace and quiet. Try a bench in the park.
Once a month or once a week take some time to do nothing and just observe….

Here are some ways to take one step back and many steps forward:
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