Often times I get a parent who asks me how much their son or daughter should practice in order to get really good on the guitar. And, I have to be honest, as soon as I hear how much and how long I already know that someone is sizing up their effort.
This way of thinking makes sense on the surface, but it’s an improper way of looking at it.
Guitar is an animal. We never really master it completely. And, the guitarists I know that became very proficient at it play CONSTANTLY, or at least have spent a big part of their life playing CONSTANTLY. Yep, that’s the secret.
It almost takes an obsession of sort to just LOVE the entire process of playing the instrument.
This is why I see young players get good extremely fast and that is because they are able to put in a lot of time playing. They go to school, eat and play guitar. That certainly was me, too.
But, with enough time with the instrument in your hands and keeping your focus on the guitar, everyone can achieve a good level of proficiency. This is absolutely true. I see it happen all the time!
99% of my students want to get good and simply enjoy playing the guitar in order for them to play their favorite songs, write and/or record their own songs, be able to jam with friends, a band and just get closer to the music they love – metal.
So, I say go for it … play as much as you want!
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
– Aristotle