Just like every other learning experience, a guitarist can often fall into an unimaginable rut. The hurdles and detours are just a part of the process, and you have no option but to find your way around them.
We agree that a guitar rut looks like a dreadful circumstance and can be extremely frustrating. It can lead to low motivation, lack of progress, and a giant creative block that seems unfathomable. However, as with everything, it takes tremendous willpower, and a few tiny wins to get back to your ideal flow.
In this article, we discuss some methods that you can immediately deploy to accelerate your journey to recovery, or rather creativity.
#1. You need to acknowledge the rut.
Well, you can’t solve a problem if its existence is not established. You need to first come to terms with the fact that you’re going through a rut before you begin to resolve it.
Start by accepting and acknowledging that you’re stuck on a bad patch, take note of your thoughts, try to look for reasons that led you there, and fix them one by one. Take control of the situation instead of being delusional about it.
#2. Try a different music style.
A key reason that often leads musicians into a rut is the lack of creative output. You might be stuck in a place where you cannot produce the great music that you usually do. Trying out a new style or a new technique could inspire and prompt you to create something fresh that might just work.
Exploring new ideas can provide you with a different direction that could potentially be a better path than you were on before. Moreover, it takes a novel challenge to feel inspired at times, and this could be a way to find yourself one.
#3. Consider going back to school.
We don’t literally mean for you to pick up your bag and head back to your school or university. But, seeking the support of a professional guitar coach or a mentor could be highly beneficial. A more experienced person would have certainly gone through similar situations and can help you navigate such difficult times easily.
You could also pick up some new skills and trends and catch up with the younger guitarists in the industry.
#4. Stop playing and thinking about a guitar for a while.
We often overwork ourselves to a point where nothing other than taking a complete break works. If playing the guitar doesn’t make you happy anymore, then put it on hold for some time.
If you’re not enjoying your creation, then your audience certainly wouldn’t. Take a break, go on a vacation, spend some time with your loved ones, or do anything you like that puts you back in a cheerful mindset. And, when the time is right, you’d automatically be drawn back to the instrument.
#5. Set smaller, more achievable goals.
Sometimes, easing back into the routine could do wonders. If practicing for hours on end for a day seems scary, do it only for 10 minutes.
Setting such small milestones and consistently achieving them helps you build back the courage to get on with the bigger ones yet again.
Either one, a combination of some, or even none of these methods might work for you. But, all you can do is try! No matter what technique or ways you deploy, remember that this is temporary, and you will undoubtedly emerge a better guitarist on the other side of the rut.
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