Just a quick post here about ruts. These are those times, even after practicing day after day, hour after hour, that you feel like you're just totally wasting your time. You feel you're not getting any better, and you'd rather tie a fishing line to the headstock of your guitar and use it as a fishing pole.

Well, welcome to the world of learning to play an instrument. I know quite a few musicians, and there's not one that hasn't went through a rut. It's completely normal, and you do 'come out the other side'. Well, until your next rut that is. Personally, I believe it's just your subconscious trying to tell you something. Something like, I"M BORED, or maybe, let's do something else. My point is, when (not if), you hit a rut, start taking a day off from practicing. That is of course, if you're already practicing everyday as you should be. Maybe take off every Sunday and go fishing (with a pole, not your guitar), go out and see a movie, whatever it is, just something to change the pace a little.

Some people decide they're going to do something, and they become obsessed about it. I can tell you from experience, if you do anything too long, too often, it's going to turn into something that you don't like doing anymore. Don't turn something as great as being a guitarist into something that you don't love anymore. As I mentioned in my practicing post, just play as long as you're getting something good out of it. Granted, if you're working on scales, and trying to build speed, it can get pretty mind-numbing. However, there's a difference between doing what is productive, but difficult, and just grinding it into your brain until you want to scream.

So, I'd bet if your reading this, that you're a fairly new player and not getting bored yet, or in a rut. I just want you to know that we all have our trying times learning the guitar, and even in our daily lives in general. Sometimes you just have to take a step back, relax, and know that it'll be okay. You get out of the guitar, like most things in life, what you put into it. If you get frustrated, through things and scream, you'll have nothing but bad times in your guitar endeavors. Don't be that guy.

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