Get into the learning zone
It happens to all musicians, at any level of skill or experience: You hit a point where you’re playing the same things every time you sit down with the guitar—a limited repertoire of songs, progressions, and patterns that are familiar and manageable. Over time you become less attentive and engaged with the music, and you start feeling like you’re on a treadmill—going through the motions while looking at the same wall.
The musicians’ path, for beginners and seasoned players alike, is all about continuing to move forward, learn, and grow. So how do you push yourself and regain the sense of momentum and progress?
I posed that question to a group of accomplished artists/educators for a feature in Acoustic Guitar magazine, and below they share some of their favorite exercises, strategies, and tricks for helping their students—and themselves!—get beyond the comfort zone and discover new territory on the guitar. In the video above, check out the musicians demonstrating some of these ideas.
Find the complete lesson in the March/April 2023 print or digital issue of Acoustic Guitar, with tips from Janet Feld, Larry Baione, Vicki Genfan, Stash Wyslouch, Al Petteway, Adam Levy, Frank Vignola, David Hamburger, Karen Hogg, Molly Miller, and me.
Also included in the issue is my article “Creative Covers: A songwriter’s guide to arranging and performing other people’s songs.”
