Great Guitar Players THINK Like THIS
Great Guitar Players THINK Like THIS
Hey guys, Brad Litton from SimpleGuitar.com. This blog post transcribes my YouTube video on three mindset shifts that separate you from your favorite guitar players — and make learning a lot more resilient when frustration shows up.
You're strumming, trying to nail that first song. Fingers won't cooperate. Chords sound messy. You're thinking you'll never get this. Ready to toss the guitar in the closet.
Don't give up. Frustration is the biggest roadblock for new players. Slow progress or messy chords can feel like failing. Here's the truth: your mindset shapes the journey. Pros like Slash or John Mayer didn't get there by talent alone. They mastered their mindset.
Shift 1: Ignite Your Desire
One of the only things separating you from your guitar heroes is how bad you want it. Desire fuels you when it's tough.
Think about why you picked up the guitar. Wonderwall. Sweet Home Alabama. Shred like Eddie Van Halen. That fire is your superpower.
Exercise: grab a notebook or your phone. Write down one specific guitar goal — "I want to play Sweet Home Alabama fluently" or "I want to jam a solo confidently." Then write why it matters — impress my friends, feel like a rock star. Spend one minute reading it aloud.
Every day this week, write it down and say it aloud again.
Shift 2: Embrace Repetition
The second thing separating you from your heroes: reps. Every chord, lick, or song they nail came from doing it over and over. Reps build muscle memory and confidence. "I can't do this" turns into "I got this." G to C gets easier every time you do it.
Exercise: pick a skill you're struggling with — a chord change, a strum pattern, whatever. Practice it 20 times in a row, slowly and correctly. Every day this week. Watch it become effortless.
Shift 3: See Mistakes as Progress
Pros don't fear mistakes. They learn from them. Every fumbled chord or missed note is one step closer. Reframe frustration as feedback and you'll stay motivated.
Exercise: try a tough change (like D to G) for a minute. When you mess up, say out loud: "Cool. I learned what not to do." Then try it again. That rewires your brain to see mistakes as wins. Make those fumbles your friend.
Recap
- Ignite your desire (specific goal + why, said aloud daily)
- Embrace repetitions (20 slow, correct reps a day on one sticky skill)
- See mistakes as progress (say it out loud when you flub)
Practice these every day this week and you'll be amazed. If you want a simple place to start, grab my free Top 10 Things to Learn on Guitar First at http://simpleguitar.com/top10.
And hang out with other adult guitar players in the Simple Guitar Facebook group: http://facebook.com/groups/simpleguitar.
About the Author
Brad from Simple Guitar helps adult learners play the songs they love without the frustration. Visit simpleguitar.com for more free resources and lessons.
