What's the biggest mistake a guitarist can make

[Puddleglum]

Blowing money on cheap gear that I never really wanted, when I should have just saved up and bought the good stuff in the first place. This is actually cheaper in the long run.

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

I think the biggest mistake guitar players make is not working on new music on a regular basis. Too many guitar players just play the same stuff, year after year.

- Glenn

Lots of truth in this! I'm guilty.

[Mr. Jelly]

Not being willing to play bad music to get experience with playing with people.

[J Patrick]

Originally Posted by CharlieBman

Comparing yourself to others. Don't do it. Learn to love and appreciate who you are and the music that comes from "you".

Absolutely this is the biggest mistake I’ve seen guitarists make……even guitar players that claim they don’t do it do it….it’s only natural in some ways but something we need to put in perspective because it will always take away from the our sheer joy and love of playing….

[Highroller]

Originally Posted by L20A

Impulse purchases.

Sorry, but I couldn't disagree more! Some of my finest instruments have been total impulse purchases.

Drop by a shop for strings, bring home a guitar! What could be more fun!?


To me, the biggest mistake: Thinking you know it all. You never know it all. There's always something new to learn.


---

[mawmow]

Have a naïve guitar player wanna be go with one of your jewels for a while…

[1000mile]

Originally Posted by janinep7

You don't need to wait until you're "great" to buy a great guitar. You can enjoy one right now. You don't need to "strive" for some huge future goal; who knows what the future holds? You can just learn and play guitar because you love it and it's fun and you love music. It's not required to perform for anyone or please anyone but yourself. It's ok to play and sing like an amateur if you are one. That's how you eventually get better. You don't have to be an "expert" on Day 1, or ever. You get an A+ just for showing up and trying. Everything that happens after you pick up the guitar and start trying to play it is just icing on the cake.

I love this so much, I may just need to print it out and stick it to my bathroom mirror so I can repeat it every day. I am a beginner and also just happen to be in the honeymoon period with my new-to-me HD-28. It’s an indulgence, but I am loving it and it inspires me daily to get better.

[Guitars44me]

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

Comparing yourself to others rather than enjoying your journey.

And, I would add, trying to copy anyone else.
And thinking that “correct” notes are more important than TONE.

Let the SONG be the driver….

Just be YOU! And sing it like you MEAN IT!

Paul

[BuddyO]

Showing up at rehearsal with nothing but a pair of drum sticks.

[Deliberate1]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

I think the biggest mistake guitar players make is not working on new music on a regular basis. Too many guitar players just play the same stuff, year after year.

- Glenn

And the corollary, Glenn, which is chasing any shiny tune that I get a whiff of, when I should be working on the last shiner that came my way. Time to get back to .... wait....squirrel....
I went for a long time to a local jam session where a very nice fellow played the same song, week after week. I could not help but think of Carl Sagan who said, "God, pity the one-dream man."
David

[RichardN]

Biggest regret was giving up playing bass in my sophomore year of college. I was really good and could have done something with it.

I started playing guitar about 20 years ago and have never gotten close to the skill level I had on bass.

[Blackmore Fan]

Originally Posted by Bob from Brooklyn

The biggest mistake would be giving up.

Yes, and the 2nd biggest is lack of small, consistent, effort. A guru I have grown to like recently asserted that if you do 17 minutes a day doing ____________ (fill in the blank), you will within a year be better than 95% of people on the planet at doing whatever that thing is. 17 minutes a day is 2 hours a week--that's certainly doable.

I wish I had that kind of consistency, rather than going some weeks where I played lots of hours and some weeks/months where I didn't play at all.

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Blackmore Fan

Yes, and the 2nd biggest is lack of small, consistent, effort. A guru I have grown to like recently asserted that if you do 17 minutes a day doing ____________ (fill in the blank), you will within a year be better than 95% of people on the planet at doing whatever that thing is. 17 minutes a day is 2 hours a week--that's certainly doable.

I wish I had that kind of consistency, rather than going some weeks where I played lots of hours and some weeks/months where I didn't play at all.

Good advice from the guru. It doesn't always happen, but I try hard to at least pick up the guitar daily.

I also watch lots of instructional/demo/performances on YouTube and try and glean little things that I can put into my playing the next time I pick up my guitar. Rather than scrolling on the phone when I get downtime away from my guitar, I'll try and use that time to learn something visually. Watching people on YT has helped me more than anything else in all my years of playing.

It feels good to be growing as a player after 30 years rather than just playing the same old riffs, etc. I'm going to think about this 17 minute thing...

[ALBD]

Ignoring rhythm and dynamics!

[Coler]

Too much time reading about guitars, thinking about guitars, buying guitars and not enough time playing a guitar.