Music Information

Guitar Players...Learn About The Point Of Discipline


Have you ever started learning a lick or exercise and stopped practicing it before you had mastered it? Now I don't know you, but my guess the answer to the question is yes! Why is that? Why did you stop, when it was something that you REALLY wanted to learn?

There are quite a few reasons for it, but the one I would like to mention now is what I call the "point of discipline". This is the point when the initial enthusiasm of learning that new lick/exercise wears off. It is no longer so new and exciting. This is the time when you will have to use your self-discipline to complete the task at hand.

A lot of guitar players will tell you at this point?"Hey man, guitar's supposed to be all about fun! If I have to use my self-discipline, I'll no longer enjoy it." If anyone says that to you, have a look at their playing. Most of the time they are not very good :)They have not reached a virtuoso level of playing, so why listen to them!

The point of discipline is when most guitar players quit. Rather than using their self-discipline to TRULY master the lick/exercise, they stop practicing it and move onto something new. It's tempting isn't it? We've ALL done this at some point in our development as a guitarist. But what's the cost of doing this?

Some of the negative consequences of quitting at the point of discipline include:

1.You'll never reach the virtuoso levels of guitar playing. Can you imagine virtuosos like Yngwie Malmsteen, Rusty Cooley, Michael Angelo etc, quitting before they have mastered what they are working on? I don't think so! They didn't become so incredible by being quitters. They have learned to tap into their self-discipline.

2. You'll never have that feeling of pride that comes with truly mastering something.

3. You won't learn to confront your present technical limitations and overcome them. This will mean that you'll learn a lot of new things but your overall level of playing won't become elevated.

4. You'll know about 1007 bits of songs, but if someone asks you to play a song from start to finish, you can't.

Not a pretty picture is it? So what are some things that you can do about it? Here are a few ideas?

1.When learning a new lick or exercise, set a speed goal. Keep practicing the lick/exercise until the speed goal has been reached. Realise that this can sometimes take weeks, months (or even years!).

2. Learn to enjoy using your self-discipline. Feel proud about yourself every time you follow through and master something.

3. Use visualization. See yourself in your mind's eye becoming a guitar virtuoso. This will help keep you motivated and enthusiastic!

4. Make a commitment to completion. With everything you learn, refuse to quit. Keep working on it until it has been mastered.

I guarantee that if you learn to tap into your self-discipline your guitar playing will improve at an accelerated rate! Of course, if you want to sit on the couch watching TV and eating bags of potato chips,dreaming about one day becoming an awesome guitarist, that's cool also!

Copyright 2005 by Craig Bassett. All Rights Reserved.

Craig Bassett is a professional guitarist, guitar tutor and author living in Auckland, New Zealand.

Master the notes on the guitar fretboard...
Master the Guitar Fretboard.


MORE RESOURCES:

Joy Online

New York Music Examiner
Examiner.com - 4 hours ago
... Polow Da Don, Rodney Jerkins, DJ Montay, Ne-Yo, Espen Lind, Amund Bjorklund, Kanye West, T-Pain, and Universal Music Publishing Group.
Michael Jackson snubs family reunion Times of India
Jacksons reunite at BMI Urban Awards The Associated Press
BMI Honors The Jacksons, T-Pain and Many More at Urban Awards in ... MarketWatch
eFluxMedia - Urban Network
all 243 news articles


Mobtown Modern's goal is to make new music less scary and more fun
Baltimore Sun, United States - 2 hours ago
"I looked at the music scene and the composers I wasn't seeing on programs, all the music not being performed that should be heard here," says saxophonist ...


Dallas Symphony Orchestra's new music director takes the stage ...
Dallas Morning News, TX - 8 hours ago
By SCOTT CANTRELL / The Dallas Morning News Jaap van Zweden conducts his first local concerts as music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra: a ...
Impressed with its vision for future, Doug Adams returns to Dallas ... Dallas Morning News
all 8 news articles


Classical music preview: Big names take the baton
Chicago Sun-Times, United States - 7 hours ago
Pioneer, mystic, devout Roman Catholic, birdsong collector, organist, teacher, composer and technical explorer, Messiaen has in music and example influenced ...
Bernard Haitink garners appreciation from Chicago Symphony ... Chicago Tribune
all 2 news articles


ABC News

One More Time: Britney returns to MTV VMAs
The Associated Press - 21 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Another year, another attempted comeback for Britney Spears at the MTV Video Music Awards. The rebounding pop queen is hoping to complete ...
Britney to open MTV awards ceremony The Press Association
Kanye West to Close Video Music Awards New York Times
Brand vows to 'pinch' Britney at VMAs Times of India
MTV.com - Toronto Star
all 1,363 news articles


8 classical music events from Bernstein to Galway
Newsday, NY - 9 hours ago
14 appearance of the Philharmonic at Carnegie under music director- designate Alan Gilbert. There will be films, lectures, panel discussions - exhausting, ...
LI says 'I do' to 'Wedding Singer' and 8 other shows Newsday
all 2 news articles


CLASSICAL MUSIC + DANCE FALL CALENDAR
Kansas City Star, MO - 12 hours ago
(913-469-8500, Ext. 3605) BRENTANO STRING QUARTET: Friends of Chamber Music. 8 pm Oct. 3. Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th. www.chambermusic.org (816-561-9999) ...


MUSIC FALL CALENDAR
Kansas City Star, MO - 12 hours ago
MOTORHEAD WITH THE MISFITS, AIRBOURNE, VALIANT THOR AND YEAR LONG DISASTER: 7 pm Sept. 7. Harrah’s Casino, VooDoo Lounge, One Riverboat Drive, North Kansas ...


The Smart Set

Musical taste linked to personality
The Press Association - 1 hour ago
Heavy metal fans are gentle, indie music listeners lack self-esteem and lovers of pop music are uncreative, according to research. ...
Classical to Rap: Music lovers have much more in common than you ... Independent
Research shows music taste defines your personality 3 News NZ
Music tastes link to personality BBC News
Dispatch Online - CBC.ca
all 77 news articles


Music’s breaking out all over
Arkansas Online (subscription), AR - 6 hours ago
Our selected list of highdes a number of shows in Fayetteville, which seems ewed energy on the music front. North Little lltel Arena will still be a big ...

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006