Here’s something that happens to almost every guitar player:
They sit down to practice.
They grab their favorite guitar.
They start playing the song they love—the one they’ve been working on for longer than they’d like to admit.
For some, it’s been weeks.
For others, months.
And for a few… years.
But every time they hit that part—
…the tricky chord change
…the awkward finger stretch
…the rhythm that never quite lands right—
their fingers fumble. Again. And again. And again.
They stop.
Put the guitar down.
And just sit there, staring at the floor. Frustrated. Embarrassed. Maybe even a little ashamed.
“Why can’t I do this?”
That’s the moment a lot of people quit.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just… quietly. The guitar collects a little dust. Practice gets pushed to “tomorrow.” And eventually, it just fades into “maybe someday.”
But here’s the truth:
The players who actually get it—the ones who go on to play confidently, creatively, and consistently—aren’t the ones who never get frustrated.
They’re the ones who feel that same frustration…
…and pick up the guitar anyway.
Not because they felt a sudden burst of motivation.
Not because they magically figured it out.
But because playing badly still felt better than not playing at all.
And that small shift in mindset?
It changes everything.
Stop Measuring Your Progress by Songs and Skills
We’ve all been trained to think progress = results.
Can you play the song?
Can you nail the solo?
Can you switch chords without a pause?
And sure—those things matter. But if that’s all you focus on, you’re setting yourself up for guilt, pressure, and burnout.
Because there will always be something you can’t do yet.
So what if you changed the way you measure success?
Instead of counting the songs you can play…
…count the days you
showed up.
That’s it.
Even if you just tuned your guitar and played a few chords.
Even if all you did was run through an exercise for five minutes before dinner.
That counts.
Every time you pick up your guitar, you’re reinforcing a habit.
You’re strengthening your connection with the instrument.
You’re saying, “This matters to me—even when it’s hard.”
And you know what happens when you keep showing up?
Skills follow.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
Now here’s the part most guitarists don’t realize soon enough:
You don’t have to figure this all out on your own.
In fact, trying to teach yourself everything from scratch—using random YouTube videos and apps—can make progress feel even slower. You’re constantly second-guessing:
- Am I practicing the right thing?
- Am I doing it correctly?
- Why isn’t this working?
Working with a good teacher takes away that uncertainty.
✓ You get expert feedback right when you need it.
✓ You don’t waste time on stuff that doesn’t move you forward.
✓ You build skills in the right order—so you stop hitting the same walls over and over.
And maybe most importantly? You don’t feel like you’re doing this in the dark anymore.
Having someone in your corner who’s been through it, who knows how to guide you past the sticking points—that changes everything.
Because when you’re supported, encouraged, and actually shown how to fix what’s holding you back?
Progress isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable.
Progress Without Pressure
When you stop treating guitar practice like a test you’re constantly failing, everything gets better.
✓ You enjoy playing more
✓ You stop feeling “behind”
✓ You give yourself space to grow
✓ And you start getting better without the stress
It’s not magic. It’s consistency.
Progress doesn’t come from one breakthrough session—it comes from stacking small, imperfect efforts over time.
You’re not “supposed to be farther along by now.”
You’re exactly where you need to be—as long as you keep going.
Your Practice Is More Than Just a Task
Guitar isn’t just about developing and measuring skills.
It’s a place to breathe.
To explore.
To disconnect from the noise.
To reconnect with yourself.
Some days, it’s frustrating.
Some days, it’s effortless.
And some days… you just play the same old riff because it makes you feel good.
That’s not wasted time.
That’s the point.
Final Thought: Keep Showing Up
If you’ve ever felt stuck, slow, or tempted to give up—know this:
You’re not alone.
You’re not broken.
And you’re not falling behind.
Every guitarist you admire has sat where you’re sitting now, wondering if they’ll ever get it.
What made the difference?
They picked the guitar back up.
Again. And again. And again.
Not because they always wanted to.
But because they knew: showing up matters more than playing perfectly.
So take the pressure off.
Play a little today.
Even if it’s messy.
Even if you “should” be further along.
It still counts.
And tomorrow?
Pick it up again.
Let that be the measure of your progress.
Because when you make showing up your goal—skills are just a matter of time.
About The Author
Brian Fish is a professional guitarist who has been dedicated to helping other guitar players in Northeast Ohio pursue their musical dreams since 1994. He’s passionate about guiding others on their musical journey! He is the Guitar Playing Transformation Specialist, instructor, mentor, trainer, and coach at
Guitar Lessons Geauga.
Brian has also assisted people from around the globe in developing a solid sense of timing and enhancing their creativity through the fantastic rhythm course, “Ultimate Rhythm Mastery,” available at MusicTheoryForGuitar.com.
If you live in Geauga County / North East Ohio, Guitar Lessons Geauga can help you become the player you’ve always wanted to be.
