Lack of Guitar Progress Part 3

Lack of Self-Evaluation


Do you ever think back in your life and compare yourself to where you were then to where you are now? Look at your job 2 or 3 years ago to now, your income a few years ago to now, etc...
I would imagine most people do. But how many people really do this with their guitar playing?
Sometimes people continue playing for years on end with little improvement in their playing and don't really think about it, thinking it will magically just come together on it's own, but to no avail.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to constantly self-evaluate your playing and progress, at least each month. Set goals for yourself and see if you reach them in the time frame you set for yourself.
I've always been good at using a year timeframe, I can look back each year and see where I have improved, and what areas need more work.
So evaluate yourself from right now to this time last year, a moderately serious to serious guitar player should notice large improvement over a span of a year.
Is there not a fairly dramatic improvement in your playing? Let's honestly evaluaty why:


a) Your practice routine is non-committed and unefficient.
b) Your learning methods are unefficient (either on your own or even perhaps your instructors methods.)
c) Your instructor's methods are efficient, but you fail (at your own choosing) to apply them properly.

Look really hard, it has to be one or more of the three.

See you next time for part 4.

Lack of Guitar Progress Part 2

The Dangers and Downfalls of "Songs Only" Lesson Formats.

Many instructors teach guitar with the format of simply showing students what they want to play.
Why this method? People inherently have misconceptions about guitar, and about the process of learning the guitar, people (students, and parents) relate progress and quick gratification on the guitar to being able to play bits of their favourite songs. Many instructors oblige this by teaching in this method only. This might seem like the best method in the quick short term, but in the long term it clearly spells disaster and a large loss of invested money.
Why is this? Well for many reasons, and I am speaking in this sense for people with modest to serious goals on the guitar, meaning they want to become a good player.
1) Learning the guitar is like learning to be able to build a house, you need to learn to use the proper tools to be able to build whatever you like. When you are shown songs only, you are not learning proper tools (fundamentals like proper technique, different techniques, etc...)
2) When you are learning "songs only" you are not learning in a methodical chain of lessons, learning to build on what you were previously shown.
3) Let's say you are a fan of Metallica, and you would like to be able to play a particular solo to one of their songs. If the teacher shows you the notes, you still will never be able to play it properly because you are NOT SHOWN the proper way to improve your technique to that level to play it perfectly!
4) You are not being given theoretical knowledge to understand what you are being shown and how the music works. I am so fortunate to have the instruction I had when I started out, and having been shown how to develop proper technique, and having been taught theory as well. Because I was given the tools early on, I learned to use them to keep building on what I had. Students who learn with the "songs only" method will never have that opportunity (unless they try different instruction.)
5. Society is generally subject to misconceptions all the time, and learning guitar is one of them. If you look around, EVERYONE owns a guitar, yet there are so few really good players!

In conclusion, if this is your chosen method, evaluate yourself, are you happy with your progress? Many people do not give themselves a self-evaluation, really ask yourself about your progress. Here's another simple one: If you have been taking lessons for over 2 years, here are a few things a good guitar player will be able to do:
a) Be able to spell out a major scale in any key.
b) Be able to play the 15 beginner chords on command.
c) Be able to play two or three note patterns on each string to eighth notes at 100 bpm (minimum)
d) Be able to perform half step and whole step bends and be in tune.
e) Be able to play at least one scale in any key over the whole fretboard.

If you have been taking lessons for more than two years, and you are not capable of doing this, it's time for some serious reflection.

See you next time for PART 3

Lack of Guitar Progress

In this latest blog installment, I would like to talk about a very common situation for many guitarists, why they are having a lack of progress on the guitar.

Let us break down and analyze most of the common reasons why this is so:

1. Most people do not take lessons.

• I would estimate that very few virtuoso guitar players learned without lessons, no matter what you may believe, you are stacking the odds against you if you choose not to take lessons.

2. You do not take lessons, but you feel you can learn with the abundance of "free" guitar lessons on the internet.

• Not all free guitar lessons are bad, I have some free lessons up on the internet as well.
• The proven reality is, is that solid guitar players have had a methodical path to learning, with a teacher/mentor holding them by the hand and leading them the way in a set pattern of learning. This is not so with "free" internet lessons. With this method, you are learning in a "spot" method, learning a bit here, and a bit there, but not in the methodical and proven chain of learned that is truly required. I am sorry, but nothing worthwhile generally comes for "free."

3. You do take lessons, but the guitar is very low on your priority list.

• I have a video up on YOUTUBE discussing this, and in no way am I faulting someone for this, just giving the reality.
• When I get asked by many people how I came to play at the level I play at, it is important for them to understand that when I was taking lessons in my early formative years, guitar came first, and that is an important reason why my playing has developed to the level it has.
• For some students, the guitar lessons are low priority, and this is fine, but remember this when you think about why you are not happy with your progress. If going to your grandma's lawn bowling tournament or if various other activities are more important than going to your guitar lesson, then you reap what you sow.

4. You do not apply your instructor's methods to your practising.

• In many cases, a student is drawn to his instructor after seeing him play.
• When the instructor gives his methods for improving, for some reason some students do not do what they are shown. Why is this? I do not have a concrete answer, but I have some theories, mainly that the student wants to be a good guitar player, but they are not willing to put in the work aspect of it, or sub-concientiously avoid something that may seem "not instantly fun" right off the bat.
• You see how your instructor plays, do not waste precious time and go for it!

In a few weeks we will continue with part 2 of this topic.

I welcome all correspondence, please feel free to email me through my website:

www.bryanbriggs.com