First, look at the title of this article again.
What does it say? If you could pick one word from the title of this article that really stands out, what word would it be? Hopefully, you chose the word mental.
We all know, or we should all know, that there are mechanical challenges that come along with learning to play the guitar, let alone, with mastering the guitar.
There are guitar scales to learn, guitar chords to learn, picking techniques to master, along with a host of other mechanical issues.
These mechanical issues are well known to most guitar players who have practiced and played the guitar for years and years.
Mechanical issues are just that; mechanical issues.
Mechanics can be learned, practiced, and mastered.
Practice is a beautiful thing.
All progress on the guitar, is the result of practice.
Once again, the experienced guitarist knows this to be absolutely true.
How can one execute a musical thought on the guitar, without a history of practice? The answer is simple, one cannot.
As we progress as guitarists, practice time seems to be less present in our schedules for a variety of reasons.
Playing the guitar, for some guitarists becomes work.
Making a living as a guitarist is a goal that many never achieve.
However, there are plenty of guitarists who do achieve this goal.
When gigging takes up most of one's time, pure and quality practice time diminishes.
Playing the guitar for many, becomes a job.
This then, is where this article really begins; when practicing and playing the guitar is viewed as a job, and is viewed as such, by any guitarist.
To extract my point here, allow me to share a story with you.
The story is simple and to the point.
It's a good reminder that one can easily get off track and distracted from practicing and playing the guitar.
The distraction is subtle yet profound.
Recently, I have found myself avoiding the recording studio because of an overwhelming feeling of responsibilities in other areas of life.
There just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day.
It's all work, work, work and no play.
The prospect of getting into the recording studio, for me these days, is viewed as just more work.
In other words, the job thing again.
Little did I know that I had fallen into the very trap that I preach against to all of my students and musical associates.
The trap is that playing the guitar is a job syndrome.
One would think that with approximately fifty years of playing experience, I'd be smart enough to recognize the slump.
Wrong! This is where living life can sometimes get in the way of real progress.
Believe me, we can all fall victim to these pitfalls.
No one is ever smart enough to know it all.
It doesn't matter how successful we are musically, we're still human.
This means that mistakes will be made, and that nobody is perfect.
Perfect is impossible, at least on this earth.
A friend of mine recently reminded me of a few things that I have mentally misplaced through the years.
During our conversation, my friend was explaining how much he loved practicing and playing the guitar.
His schedule, like mine, is full to the brim.
I explained to him that I had no idea how he maintained his level of energy and enthusiasm.
This is where I got firmly and figuratively slapped back into reality.
My friend explained that anything that he did he viewed as fun and joy, not work or a job.
Bang! What a beautiful reminder.
The Red Sea parted again, as it had so many years ago for me.
How on earth could I have drifted so far away from the joy of playing guitar.
Here's the point.
There are two major aspects involved with mastering the guitar.
They are as follows: mechanical and mental.
The mental aspects are every bit as important as the mechanical aspects.
Hopefully, the reader will benefit from this article and thus, avoid the trap as described herein.
Approach the guitar with joy.
Don't look at the instrument as work.
This sounds simple, but without a continuous reminder, the concept of work can cloud the reality of joy.
Have I mastered the guitar? Absolutely yes.
In my idiom of music, I can command the guitar to no end.
Do I know it all? Absolutely not! I'll always continue to learn.
Did I slip? Yes.
After so many years of playing the guitar, touring, composing, teaching, etc.
, I forgot the joy part.
Why? Because of the work part.
However, I am once again planted firmly in joy, and am solid ground.
I love this part.
Life is a continuous rebirth.
As for my friend John; a simple thank you seems trivial compared to what he reminded of.
This just goes to show you that we all get by with a little help from our friends.
Remember to stay Ele-Mental.
©2008 Michael E.
Fletcher.
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.