5 Rock solid reasons to get out of learning to play guitar.
Here is a familiar conversation.
Other person "Up to much this weekend?"
Me "Spend some time with the kids, maybe cut the grass, do some guitar practice."
Other person "Oh the guitar. I'd love to play, but........."
Well, never fear. Today we have 5 stone bonker ways to finish this sentence so that you aren't left thinking on your feet.
1. I'm just not musical.
This one is very popular and probably my favourite. The basic, undeniable premise is that there is a special quality that musicians have that we just don't. Kurt Cobain of the 1990s phenomena Nirvana, for example. Just watch him play live on YouTube. Actually, maybe don't. His performance of the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" solo is just too cringy!
The draw back with this excuse is that its utter cow droppings. Now don't misunderstand me, there are some very talented people out there, but even they had to put the work in. I guarantee they worked harder than many of us mere mortals.
More than just a cop out, this mindset actually prevents us from getting the results we are more than able to achieve. In his book Bounce, Table tennis champ, Matthew Syed sums it up well.
“If we believe that attaining excellence hinges on talent, we are likely to give up if we show insufficient promise.”
— Matthew Syed, Bounce
The truth is, playing a musical instrument is simply another skill. You can learn it and with the right support and approach, you will.
2. I'm just to old now.
Another top contender, largely reserved for those of us who stretch belief when we refer to ourselves as forever young.
Kid's brains are like sponges and to make any real progress, you just gotta start young. By the time your 20, your capacity to learn is just shot. Don't waste your limited, remaining time on this earth.
Probably don't mention that, when asked why he continued to practice at aged 90, legendary cellist, Pablo Casals replied, "Because I think I'm making progress." (New York Times, 1946)
Thing is, learning a new skill is more than just our brain's capacity to absorb new information. Motivation, previous experiences and knowing how we like to learn, all play a huge part. In truth, our mindset is what matters, not our date stamp.
3. My hands are too small.
I like to use this one. Not that I have tiny hands, of course but when I watch Jimi Hendrix or John Mayer drop their thumb over the top of the neck, their extranordinarily large hands give me all the excuse I need.
Please don't mention Paul Simon, Angus Young or Randy Rhoads, none of whom have been blessed with larger hands. Fact is, one of the advantages of the guitar is that the same note appears many times and chord shapes are littered generously across the fretboard. Guitars also come in all shapes and sizes. Neck shapes vary widely and finding an instrument that supports your style and proportions has never been easier. Hale Guitar Studio can help you make the right choices.
4. I just don't have the time.
After all, your an adult now and need to drive cars and watch TV. Who has hours to spend every day, frustrated whilst trying to perfect that intro from "Stairway to Heaven."
Don't tell anyone, but 30 minutes a day with the right practice goes a long way. Its more than just repeatedly playing the same riffs and licks you were shown on YouTube or by a friend. That's fun too so don't stop, but to get bang for buck we need focus. Clear goals, good feedback and knowing what to work on are big hitters. A good teacher will make sure you have that and more.
5. I can't find a good teacher.
For starters!
So there you have it. You will never again be lost for a good reason not to do the thing you want to do, if only you were...
Your welcome
Happy Riffing, or not...
Chris
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