{"id":87096,"date":"2020-02-28T08:00:20","date_gmt":"2020-02-28T16:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/?p=87096"},"modified":"2022-12-05T08:14:37","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T16:14:37","slug":"5-common-misbeliefs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/5-common-misbeliefs\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Common Misbeliefs that Hold Guitarists Back"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As guitarists, most of us go through similar phases. We have the trials of first learning our chords and learning our notes. We labor to get our fingers to to what we tell them to. And on and on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But we also often fall into believing some things that may not be true. In fact, some beliefs we hold are outright mistaken. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are five common misbeliefs that many people hold. Enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"centerc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"700\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gs-yv1cXKS4?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;autohide=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-i-should-be-learning-this-faster\">#1. I should be learning this faster<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most skills we need to play classical guitar (and guitar in general) take time. We have to build and connect the synapses in our brains. We have to etch the grooves into our mental records. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And when we\u2019re taking too long to learn something, we may judge ourselves harshly. We tell ourselves something is wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But learning takes exactly as long it\u2019s supposed to. Guitar is an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/how-much-guitar-practice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ongoing study<\/a>. It\u2019s not a summer project (though guitar summer projects are wonderful). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And what\u2019s more, our learning is not a \u201cone and done\u201d affair. Just because we ace a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/rasgueado-technique\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"technique (opens in a new tab)\">technique<\/a> today does not mean it will still be aced when we wake up tomorrow morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The better belief is that we have all the time in the world. And that the way to improve at guitar is to give it our full, undivided <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/tq-albert-schweitzer-moon-flowers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"attention (opens in a new tab)\">attention<\/a> when we practice. Then let the results take care of themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-other-people-have-an-easier-time-with-this\">#2. Other people have an easier time with this<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a saying that \u201cEveryone is fighting battles we know nothing of.\u201d This is also true with guitar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guitar is not easy for anyone. Sure, some people have genetic advantages. Some have already built skills that help them learn guitar faster. And loving music and the act of practicing also helps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But these folks still have to work just as hard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we see someone who has mastered something, it means they have worked hard to get there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/tq-bob-goff-comparison-purpose\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Comparisons (opens in a new tab)\">Comparisons<\/a> are futile and dangerous. When we compare and find ourselves on the lesser side, it\u2019s demotivating. It sucks the joy from our practice and causes unnecessary inner turmoil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we think this, the best answer is: \u201c No they don\u2019t. Stop comparing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-i-don-t-know-how-to-solve-this-problem\">#3. I don\u2019t know how to solve this problem<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This belief may actually be true. But it becomes a misbelief is when it becomes a stopping point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learning guitar pieces, we often find problems we don\u2019t know how to solve. It\u2019s normal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step is to experiment. Solving problems is usally a process. The path forward is to try several <a aria-label=\"solutions (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/polish-guitar-music-troubleshoot-tricky-spots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">solutions<\/a>. We can practice the section (<a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/how-to-hold-a-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to hold a guitar<\/a>, technique, etc.) in first one way, then another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By approaching the issue from many directions, problems often solve themselves. We may or may not know which of our practice methods succeeded. It may well have been a combination of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we face an impasse, when we locate a stumbling block, this is an invitation to change the way we practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of banging our head against the same wall, we can instead try something different. We can play the melody and bass one at a time (for example). We can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/7steps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"7-step process (opens in a new tab)\">7-step process<\/a> to dissolve confusion. We can use every trick and practice we can think of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And in the end, there was nothing concrete about the problem. It was just a call to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/curiosity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"experiment (opens in a new tab)\">experiment<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-xyz-is-too-easy-for-me-to-spend-time-on\">#4. XYZ is too easy for me to spend time on<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For intermediate and advanced guitarists, the biggest obstacle is often the ego. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we pay attention to small details, no piece is \u201ceasy\u201d. In fact, a sparse set of notes can be even more challenging to make sound musical and compelling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we judge a piece by how many notes we find on the page, we miss the point of music. We miss the opportunity to look deeper into something besides the technical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lower-level pieces offer intermediate and advanced guitarists a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"treasure trove (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/easy-pieces\/\" target=\"_blank\">treasure trove<\/a>  of study options. We need not spend months on these pieces. They can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/guitar-projects\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"short-term projects (opens in a new tab)\">short-term projects<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But without the challenge of learning and playing the notes, we can work on <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"dynamics (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/dynamics-phrasing-classical-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\">dynamics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/fix-rhythm-problems-in-classical-guitar-pieces\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"rhythm (opens in a new tab)\">rhythm<\/a>, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a piece seems too easy, and we find no challenge in it, we should embrace this as a strong signal. This signals that we don\u2019t know what to do with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And this can be the call to explore. This tells us that, while we may be able to learn complex sets of notes, we are still musically immature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is wonderful news, if we take the next actions to learn something new and grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-i-should-be-doing-more\">#5. I should be doing more<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We do what we can. There is no minimum speed or time limit on learning guitar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most guitarists would love to spend more time playing. After all, guitar is for fun. It\u2019s a way to study and improve. It\u2019s meaningful work we do for the sake of doing it. It makes life better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But when we hold negative feelings about our progress and the time we spend &#8211; this is detrimental. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of fussing that we can\u2019t or don\u2019t spend more time with guitar, we can opt to be grateful for the time we do have. We can feel good about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guitar is a long-term hobby. It is a relationship we plan to continue through to the end. <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/beginners-avoid\/\">When we make unrealistic expectations of ourselves<\/a>, then fail to meet them, we feel bad. And this is unnecessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is purely an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/tq-captain-jack-sparrow-attitude\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"attitude problem (opens in a new tab)\">attitude problem<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whenever we feel we\u2019ve let ourselves down, we should immediately stop and reassess. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Personal goals and commitments are useful. But negative feelings only taint our musical experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If we want to do more, we\u2019ll find a way. If we\u2019re fine with what we currently do, we\u2019ll continue to do it. Our actions reflect our priorities. If we truly want to practice more, we will. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But beating ourselves up is not a habit worth fostering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-this-is-all-for-fun-guitar-is-supposed-to-make-life-better\">This is All for Fun: Guitar is Supposed to Make Life Better<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The misbeliefs listed above all are not an exhaustive list. There are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/mistakes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"others (opens in a new tab)\">others<\/a>. And we may notice new ones coming up occasionally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But any time we feel bad about ourselves in relation to our music, it\u2019s like we\u2019ve poured the wrong spice into our stew. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We will improve faster and enjoy guitar more when we release any bad feelings about our music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guitar is for fun. Yes, it will bring up emotions. And yes, it will be challenging and difficult at times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this is not a reflection on us. It\u2019s part of the game. To climb any mountain, we have to walk uphill. The important part is to enjoy the view. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As guitarists, most of us go through similar phases. We have the trials of first learning our chords and learning our notes. We labor to get our fingers to to what we tell them to. And on and on. But we also often fall into believing some things that may not be true. In fact, some beliefs we hold are &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/5-common-misbeliefs\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":88012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,434],"tags":[54,373],"class_list":["post-87096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-main-content-parent","tag-mindset","tag-time"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>5 Common Misbeliefs about Learning the Classical Guitar<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are your thoughts holding you back? 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