🟢 The illusion of arriving on guitar 🎸

Many adult guitar players make a quiet bargain with themselves:

Guitar will feel good later.

It will feel good after the neck makes more sense, after their technique catches up, or after enough theory finally connects.

I know this pattern well. I have seen it in my own playing and in students throughout more than 20 years of teaching.

The goal keeps moving.

You learn more, yet the part you hoped to enjoy still seems one step ahead.

I think of this as the illusion of arriving. It is the belief that the rewarding part of music begins after enough preparation.

I am not arguing against serious practice or high standards. I am questioning why enjoyment, creativity, and personal expression need to wait until every weakness has been fixed.

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TRY THIS FOR TEN MINUTES

Before learning anything new during your next practice session, ask:

What can I make musical today with what I already know?

Choose something familiar:

• A chord progression
• Three notes
• A rhythm
• A riff
• One section of a song

Spend ten minutes exploring it.

You could:

• Change the rhythm
• Leave more space
• Play with the dynamics
• Create a call and response
• Play along with a recording
• Find a stronger ending note

When you finish, ask:

What sounded good enough to return to tomorrow?

This still develops timing, technique, listening, and musical judgment. The difference is you are using those skills inside music now instead of waiting until you feel ready.

This principle is becoming central to how I coach adults live online through Zoom.

Clear direction matters. Progress matters. Music also needs to give something back while the progress is happening.

I would love to hear your answer to one question:

What do you keep telling yourself you need to learn before guitar can finally feel good?

One sentence is plenty.

Ty

P.S. Ten focused minutes spent making something musical is a legitimate practice session.