So, you want to know how to break the guitar plateau? Are you on a guitar plateau right now? Is there really a guitar plateau? Does it really happen to everyone? These are the usual questions guitar players ask one another. Experiencing one can be a hard time, and you need to have the right approach to overcome this problem.
So, what is a guitar plateau? You are on a guitar plateau when it seems that you are not progressing on your guitar playing. No matter how much time you spend practicing or playing, there are really times that you will feel that you have not improved as a guitar player.
All guitar players can be susceptible to having a guitar plateau; it just really depends on you on how to get out of one. For others, this can be a very motivating factor for them to improve, but for others, this can also be a deal-breaker. The main thing is that if you have the right mindset, then you can probably get out of a guitar plateau.
As a guitar player, you should be quick to observe if you are already on a guitar plateau so that you can fix the issue faster rather than letting it happen without making any solution to the problem.
Why Guitar Plateaus Happen To Guitar Players?
There are many reasons why guitar players are experiencing the guitar plateau sometimes. One reason is that maybe you are not practicing enough. Some guitar players feel that their practice hours are already enough for them to improve, but sometimes perhaps you still really need to practice more.
There are many reasons why guitar players are experiencing the guitar plateau sometimes. One reason is that maybe you are not practicing enough. Some guitar players feel that their practice hours are already enough for them to improve, but sometimes perhaps you still really need to practice more.
There is really no standard amount of time that you should practice playing the guitar, but for most guitar legends, practicing for more than twelve can still be normal for them. This is why you should assess whether you are really spending the right amount of time practicing or not.
The second reason is that maybe you are hesitating to go deeper. This can happen when you avoid studying the more complicated things. If you want to really improve in playing the guitar, you should not be afraid to learn the more complex music theories. You can never really reach your potential when you do not go out of your comfort zone.
The third reason is that when you transition from a beginner-level guitar player into an intermediate-level player, things can be challenging as you do not know what skills you should improve to get over the hump. It is the same with intermediate-level guitarists trying to become expert guitar players; they can also experience guitar plateaus when they do not know what to do to overcome the wall.
What Happens When You Are In A Guitar Plateau?
Here are some experiences that guitar players experienced when they were in a guitar plateau:
First is when you have already learned many songs, and you can already play some guitar solos of the songs, but you still do not know how to do your own solos. When you are experiencing this one, and you know that you should learn the scales, but you are having difficulty understanding them because you think that they are too hard, you are in a guitar plateau.
The second is when you can already play your own guitar solos, but you are stuck in one position only. If you are afraid to try to stay away from making guitar solos in one position only, then you are experiencing a guitar plateau. Experimenting with the other parts of the fretboard can significantly enhance your tone; you just do not have to be afraid to make mistakes.
Pentatonic scales are really the go-to scales for guitar players learning how to play guitar solos, but time will come when you will need to learn other guitar scales too. This is the moment when you can experience a guitar plateau if you are afraid to try new guitar scales to improve your guitar solo skills. There are still many guitar scales to learn and not pentatonic scales only.
The fourth is when you are already great in your guitar solos anywhere on the fretboard, but they all just sound the same. This problem is usually experienced by intermediate-level guitar players trying to get over the hump and become expert guitarists. When you are stuck on your same runs, and you still do not know how to add some flavors to your licks, then you are definitely on a guitar plateau.
The fifth is that when you have already mastered all the fundamentals there are to learn in a guitar, but you have not yet been able to develop your own unique way of playing. This is what separates a guitar virtuoso and an advanced-level guitar player, the uniqueness of playing the guitar that many people will be able to identify that it is you who is playing.
If you are experiencing all of these, you are probably in a guitar plateau.
How To Get Past In Your Guitar Plateau?
Many ways will help you get out of a guitar plateau, but to be able to get out of it successfully, you need to have the correct mindset in doing all the things that are required of you.
The first step is never to stop practicing. There are times that maybe you just really need to have more time in practicing to be able to get out of a guitar plateau. If practice makes you perfect, then maybe practice will also get you out of your slump.
The second step is to be patient always. Always remember that you will really experience hardships and difficulties along the way. Still, if you really want to improve your playing and get out of the guitar plateau, you must really be patient in everything you do, as improvements cannot always be seen, but that is not the reason to stop trying.
The third step is that maybe you just really need to take a break. Taking a break does not mean that you are going to stop, but there are times you need to stay away from the guitar for a day, a week, or maybe even a month. Taking a break will help you to regain the energy and motivation that will be needed to get out of the guitar plateau.
The fourth step is to improve the areas of your guitar skills. When you are too focused on improving your guitar solos, there is a possibility that some facets of your guitar playing will be left behind. So, when you are on a guitar plateau, there is no better way to get out of it than to improve the other skills you will need to become a great guitar player.
The fifth step is never to be afraid to learn complex music theories. Having the wrong mentality of never getting out of your comfort zone can also cause your stagnation as a guitar player. You need to face the truth that you will never reach your true potential as a guitar player if you do not go by the rules. Learn to embrace the complexities of playing the guitar.
Overall, experiencing guitar plateaus can happen to any guitar player; that is why it is essential to know how to break the guitar plateau. If you are experiencing it now, then have the right attitude to be able to get out of your slump.
