20 Easy Ways To Stay Motivated To Play Guitar Every Day

Playing guitar can be a great way to relax and unwind, but it can sometimes be hard to stay motivated to practice every day.

Sometimes it feels like you’re stuck in a rut or like you’re not making any progress, and it can be easy to get discouraged.

If you’re finding it hard to stay motivated to play guitar, there are many things you can do to make it easier.

From setting goals to practicing with friends to making a game out of it, there are plenty of ways to make guitar practice more fun and enjoyable.

Here are some of our favorite ones that we found to be more effective:

1. Watch videos of other people playing guitar

One of the very first things that got me into playing guitar was watching other people play.

There’s something about watching someone else that is incredibly motivating, especially when you see how much fun they’re having.

It’ll make you want to get better so you can have just as much fun playing guitar as they are.

There are plenty of great videos on YouTube of people playing guitar, so make sure to check some out.

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On top of that, if you have a certain guitarist that you admire, watching them play can be a great way to get motivated to learn and improve your own skills.

Even more, if you’re trying to mimic their style or learn one of their songs.

2. Keep your guitar in sight around the house

Another thing that can help you stay motivated to play guitar is by keeping it in sight around your house.

If you have an acoustic guitar, putting it in your living room or another area where you spend a lot of time can be a great reminder to pick it up and play it every once in a while.

You don’t have to practice for hours every time you pick it up, but even just playing for a few minutes can help keep your skills sharp and prevent you from forgetting how to play.

If you don’t have an acoustic guitar, keeping your electric guitar out where you can see it can also work.

For example, if you play guitar every day for 15 minutes instead of once a week for an hour, you’ll practice much more frequently and consistently, which will help you improve faster.

3. Set small goals and celebrate when you reach them

When it comes to learning anything new, it’s important to set small goals so you can celebrate when you reach them.

This is especially true for guitar since it can be easy to get discouraged if you do not see results as quickly as you’d like.

So, instead of setting a goal like “I want to be able to play this song perfectly,” try setting a goal like “I want to be able to play the intro to this song by next week.”

Once you reach that goal, you can set a new one.

Not only will this help you stay motivated, but it’ll also help you feel confident in your abilities and proud of your progress.

4. Get a guitar-playing friend or family member to jam with you

This one is a special one on this list and that’s because it can help you in two different ways.

First, it can make guitar practice more fun because you’ll be doing it with someone else.

And second, it can help push you to improve since you’ll likely want to keep up with them or even surpass their abilities.

If you don’t know anyone who plays guitar, you can also try taking guitar lessons together with a friend or family member.

This way, you can learn new things and get better together while also staying motivated to practice.

5. Join or start a band on your own

Another great way to stay motivated to play guitar is by joining or starting a band.

This can be a great way to push yourself to improve since you’ll likely want to keep up with the other band members.

It’s also a lot of fun and can help you meet new people who share your passion for music.

If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of online resources that can help you find local bands or musicians who are looking for new members.

Now, if you’re just getting started and don’t feel ready to join a band quite yet, that’s okay.

You can also start your own band by recruiting friends or family members who are also interested in playing music and have the same level of experience as you.

This can be a great way to get started and learn more about playing in a band without feeling pressure to be perfect.

6. Attend concerts by your favorite guitarists

Attending concerts by your favorite guitarists is another great way to stay motivated to play.

Not only will you get to watch them perform live, but you’ll also see how they interact with their fans and their passion for music.

This can be a great way to get inspired and push yourself to be the best guitarist you can be.

Plus, it’s just a lot of fun and can help you appreciate music even more.

As opposed to watching them playing on YouTube, you’ll get to see them perform live in person, which is a completely different experience.

If you have good eyesight, you might even be able to see how they play and learn from them.

7. Take guitar lessons from a professional

If you’re serious about wanting to improve your guitar playing, taking lessons from a professional can be a great way to do it.

Not only will they be able to teach you the basics, but they’ll also be able to help you develop your own style and sound.

And if you get stuck, they’ll be there to help you figure things out.

While it can be tempting to try to learn everything on your own, there’s a lot to be said about getting professional help when it comes to something as complex as playing the guitar.

Some people might not be able to afford lessons, but there are often ways to get around that.

For example, many guitar teachers offer discounts for referrals, so you could ask a friend or family member if they know anyone who’s looking for a guitar teacher.

Also, many guitar teachers offer free trials, so you could take advantage of that and see if it’s something you’re interested in.

8. Read guitar magazines or blogs

Reading guitar magazines or blogs is yet a very effective way of staying motivated to play guitar.

This is because it can help you learn new things and keep up with the latest news in the guitar world.

Plus, it’s a great way to find out about new products and see what other guitarists are using.

And if you’re ever feeling stuck or lost, reading articles or posts by other guitarists can be a great way to get some inspiration and fresh ideas.

Especially if you’re a beginner, reading guitar magazines or blogs can be a great way to learn more about the instrument and get better at playing it.

9. Listen to guitar-centric music genres

Listening to guitar-centric music genres is another effective way of staying motivated to play guitar.

This is because it can help you appreciate the instrument even more and see all the different ways it can be used.

Plus, it’s a great way to find new bands or artists that you might like.

Some of the most popular guitar-centric music genres include rock, metal, blues, and jazz.

But there are plenty of other genres out there that feature the guitar prominently.

These are usually instrumentals, but there are also some songs with lyrics.

10. Go to open mic nights at local bars or cafés

Going to open mic nights can be a great option if you’re looking for a more social way to stay motivated to play guitar.

This is because it’s a great way to meet other musicians and share your music with an audience.

Plus, it’s a lot of fun and can help you get better at performing in front of people.

Open mic nights are usually held at local bars or cafés, and they typically feature a variety of different musicians.

So if you’re ever feeling stuck or lost, going to one of these can be a great way to get some inspiration and fresh ideas.

Plus, it’s a great way to meet new people and make friends.

A simple Google search can help you find open mic nights in your area, but you can also ask around at local bars or cafés to see if they know of any.

11. Purchase a new guitar or upgrade your old one

If you’re looking for a more tangible way to stay motivated to play guitar, purchasing a new guitar or upgrading your old one can be a great option.

This is because it can help you feel more invested in the instrument and make playing it even more fun.

Plus, it’s a great way to get new ideas and inspiration and can also help you learn more about the instrument.

If you’re a beginner, purchasing a new guitar might not be an option, but there are still plenty of ways to upgrade your old one.

For example, you could buy new strings, a new strap, or a new case.

As long as you’re doing something to improve the guitar and not spending money you don’t have, you’ll be fine.

12. Play along to your favorite songs

Playing along with your favorite songs is yet another great way to stay motivated to play guitar, and even more so if you’re a beginner.

This is because it can help you learn the chords or melodies to a song that you love, and it can also help you get better at playing guitar.

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Plus, it’s a lot of fun and can help you feel more connected to the music.

If you’re not sure how to play along with your favorite songs, there are plenty of resources online that can help you.

A few tips include finding a guitar tablature version of the song, watching YouTube tutorials, or listening to the song and trying to figure it out by ear.

13. Experiment with different guitar pedals and effects

Experimenting with different guitar pedals and effects is another great way to stay motivated to play guitar.

This is because it can help you create new sounds and make playing the instrument even more fun.

Plus, it’s a great way to learn more about the different capabilities of the guitar.

There are literally hundreds of different guitar pedals and effects out there, so there’s definitely something for everyone.

A looper pedal, in specific, can be a great way to practice your guitar skills and also create some cool sounds.

If you don’t have someone to play with, it can help you create your own backing tracks to play along to.

14. Write your own songs

Writing your own songs is another great way to stay motivated to play guitar.

Although it can be challenging, and not everybody is a natural songwriter, it’s still a great way to exercise your creativity and learn more about the instrument.

You can keep the song strictly instrumental if you don’t sing.

And if you’re having trouble getting started, you can take a chord progression that you like and start improvising over it.

You can also try writing a melody first and then adding chords later on.

The point is to experiment and see what works for you, and maybe even, from there, get more motivation to improve your guitar skills.

15. Learn how to play various styles of guitar

Learning how to play various styles of guitar is another great way to stay motivated to play the instrument.

This is because it can help you become a more well-rounded player and make playing the guitar even more fun.

Also, if you have a lot of different styles to play, you’ll never get bored and will always have something to play.

One of the things that I found to be really helpful when learning new styles was to find songs that I liked that were in that style and then learn how to play them.

This way, you’re not only practicing the style but also getting familiar with some of the repertoire.

In my case, I had flamenco, rock, jazz, and blues songs that I liked to play, so I would learn them and then practice them.

Eventually, I became pretty proficient in all of those styles, and it was a lot more fun.

16. Enter online guitar competitions

Another great way to stay motivated to play guitar is to enter online guitar competitions.

This one is a bit more challenging, but it can definitely help you stay focused and improve your guitar skills.

In addition, it can also be a lot of fun and give you a sense of accomplishment once and if you win.

There are a few different online guitar competitions out there, so you should definitely look around and see if any of them interest you.

For the most part, you’ll find contests for all different levels of guitar players, so you should be able to find one that’s a good fit for you.

I’d check on social media first and then look for websites that host online guitar competitions.

17. Give impromptu concerts for friends and family

Even though most people won’t do this, depending on your personality, you might not care to play in front of people.

In this case, you could always give impromptu concerts for your friends and family.

I know it sounds a bit silly, but it can actually be a lot of fun and also help you stay motivated to play guitar.

This is because it will give you a chance to show off your skills, and it will also give you something to practice for.

Plus, it’s always nice to make other people happy with your music.

So if you’re the type of person who doesn’t mind playing in front of others, then this could be a great option for you.

I did this all the time when I was first starting out, and it was always a lot of fun.

Even if the songs and my playings were not that great, people would always encourage me to keep going.

18. Busk in public places around your town or city

Busking, or playing music in public places for tips, is another great way to stay motivated to play guitar.

This is because it will give you a chance to play for other people, and it can also be a great way to make some extra money.

If you’re not familiar with busking, basically, you set up in a public place and start playing your guitar.

People who walk by will then have the opportunity to listen to your music; if they enjoy it, they can give you a tip.

Of course, this isn’t for everyone, but if are cut out for it, it can definitely help you stay motivated to practice and play guitar.

Just make sure that you check with your local laws and regulations before you start busking, as there may be some restrictions in place.

19. Volunteer to play guitar at local events

Another great way to stay motivated to play guitar is to volunteer to play at local events.

This is a great option if you enjoy playing for other people and want to help out your community.

Plus, it’s always nice to be able to give back with your music.

There are usually plenty of opportunities in churches, schools, and even community organizations to play guitar.

So if you’re interested in this, definitely reach out to some of these places and see if they have any openings for someone to play guitar.

Plus, if you don’t know many musicians in the area, this is also a great way to meet some new people.

20. Most importantly, practice every day!

Lastly, but definitely not least, one of the best ways to stay motivated to play guitar is to practice every day.

I know this may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s really true; the more you practice, the better you’ll get, and the more motivated you’ll be to keep going.

If you stay consistent with your practice, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you improve.

Even if it’s just for a few minutes, it will make a big difference in the long run.

Treating it like a daily habit will also help you stay on track, so make sure to set aside some time each day to practice.