Top 5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Play Guitar
Are you struggling with motivation to play the guitar?
Learning guitar is supposed to be fun… so why does it sometimes feel like a chore? Whether you’re a total beginner or someone who’s hit a plateau, losing motivation is part of the journey. The truth is, every great guitarist has had days where they didn’t feel like picking up the instrument. The difference is they found ways to keep going anyway. If you’ve been struggling to stay consistent, these five motivation tricks will help you reconnect with your guitar and enjoy the process again.
Make the guitar available
The first and most important tip is to keep your guitar in a room where you spend most of your time. If you usually practice in your bedroom, place your guitar next to your bed. If you spend more time in the living room, keep your guitar there. When you can see it, you’re much more likely to pick it up and start practicing.
If your guitar is hidden away in its case or tucked into a closet, it takes extra effort to get it out and start playing, and that small barrier is often enough to kill your motivation.
listen to music
The second trick is to listen to music, but not just any music! Listen to guitar-based music, especially songs you actually want to learn. This kind of listening sparks inspiration and makes it way more likely that you’ll pick up your guitar and start practicing.
Sometimes I listen to songs I really love but there is no TAB available for it. When that happens, I try to figure them out by ear on the guitar, which is also great practice for developing your ear.
A lot of flamenco players do this too. They listen to masters like Paco de Lucía, get inspired by that level of playing, and suddenly feel the urge to grab their guitar and practice again.
start guitar lessons
Another very effective trick is to start taking guitar lessons. In many cases, lessons work better than self-paced guitar courses. With a course, you have to set your own deadlines and stay motivated on your own. With lessons, you’re meeting someone regularly, which automatically creates structure and accountability. Knowing you have a lesson coming up makes you far more likely to practice.
I also use teaching as motivation to practice more myself. Some of my students want to learn masterpieces, and I make sure I can play those songs well before teaching them. Having advanced students pushes me to improve my own playing, and I honestly love that challenge!
If you decide to take lessons with a good teacher, you’ll naturally feel more motivated to practice and learn the songs for your sessions.
By the way, I run a guitar academy. If you’d like to become my student, you can find more info on this page.
setting reminders
You can set an alarm on your phone to remind you to practice at the same time every day. Choose a time when you’re usually more free, relaxed, and likely to follow through. When the reminder goes off, it becomes a simple nudge: this is your guitar time. This could be before or after work or school, whatever time you know you’re least likely to get distracted.
Even practicing just 15 minutes a day can make a real difference if you do it consistently. Of course, the more you practice, the faster you’ll improve. It’s hard to imagine someone like Ana Vidović becoming one of the world’s greatest classical guitarists with only a few minutes of practice here and there. Consistency and commitment add up.
join a band or book a gig
The final tip (and the most effective one for me) is to join a band or start playing live gigs. I’ve been in many bands over the years: guitar duos, full bands, and even a girl trio with a singer and a violinist. Playing with other people creates real expectations. You’re expected to learn the songs for rehearsals and performances, which gives you deadlines and accountability. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun to make music together.
If you don’t feel ready to join a band or play full gigs yet, try an open mic night. At open mics, people usually play only one or two songs, so it’s much less demanding to prepare for a single performance.
This is one of the strongest motivators for me personally. When I have a live gig, I have to be ready, there’s no room for big mistakes, and sometimes I even need to be prepared to fulfill requests. Weddings especially raise the bar. One of the most important moments is the bridal entrance, where I usually play a classical piece, and I can’t afford to mess that up. That’s why I practice those songs weeks in advance to make sure everything goes smoothly.
final thoughts
I hope this blog post was useful and inspires you to practice the guitar more. I’d also love to hear what works for you when it comes to staying motivated. If you’d like to share your thoughts, just click on the YouTube video below and leave me a comment. I read them all and love hearing from you!
Top 5 Ways to Motivate Yourself to Play Guitar
would you like to try my guitar courses?
I have several online courses available on this website. Just click the button below to explore them and find the one that fits you best.
would you like to get an update when a new lesson gets published?
Then sign up for my newsletter!