Musical Mindsets for Classical Guitarists

Beyond moving our fingers, classical guitar is a mental game.  This is true for all instruments. We don’t just play the guitar – we play ourselves. In any moment, our thoughts and attention can improve or degrade our experience.

So one of the greatest challenges as a musician is to train our minds.  Each element of practice has its details.  From learning new pieces, to practicing scales, to performing for others, we call on our awareness and focus to make things work.

Training our minds is a lifelong challenge.  It’s something that we never “finish”.  Instead, we learn tactics and habits we can use to meet the challenges at hand.

Below is a big list of articles on various elements of mindset and “inner game”.  Enjoy!

  1. 11 Classical Guitar Lessons for Beginners (+3 Pitfalls to Avoid)
  2. 3 Secrets to Getting in “The Zone”: Flow States in Practice
  3. 42 Questions to Blow (open) Your Musical Mind
  4. 5 Common Misbeliefs that Hold Guitarists Back
  5. 5 Mistakes to Avoid in Classical Guitar Practice
  6. 6 Tips for When You Get Tired of a Tune
  7. A Guide to the Fine Details: How to Mine Your Music for Gold
  8. A Musical Phrasing Exercise for More Expressive Playing: Conduct and Sing Your Pieces
  9. Backing Up to Go Forward: Faster Learning, Better Playing, through Easier Pieces
  10. Be a better classical guitarist by harnessing the power of simplicity
  11. Beginner Progress: What to Look for in Early Guitar Success
  12. Better Listening for Musicians – What to Listen For in Practice
  13. But I don’t FEEL Like Practicing Guitar Today!
  14. Classical Guitar Visualization: What, Why and How
  15. Creativity in Classical Guitar Practice
  16. Curiosity: The Single Most Important Practice Skill
  17. Focus More in Practice, With the “Brain Dump” Technique
  18. Frustrated with Guitar? How to Recalibrate and Move Forward
  19. Guitar Anchors: Turn Your Guitar into a “Feel-Good Button”!
  20. Have a Positive Agenda in Your Guitar Practice
  21. How to Enjoy Constant Improvement on Classical Guitar
  22. How to Fall in Love with Classical Guitar Technique Practice
  23. How to Make Your Guitar Playing Easy
  24. How to Master Motivation in Your Classical Guitar Practice
  25. How to Play Classical Guitar With No Mistakes, Flawlessly
  26. How to Use Balance to Trigger Faster Learning (a Fun Guitar Practice Trick)
  27. Inner Game of Practice: Release Guilt and Accept Reality
  28. Perfectionism vs. Excellence in Guitar Practice
  29. Practice Mindsets that Improve Your Performances
  30. Progress vs. Success in Classical Guitar Practice
  31. Short on Time? Simple Tricks to Learn Music Fast
  32. Successful Practice Tip: End On a High Note!
  33. The Amazing Power of 1% Improvements
  34. The Philosophy of Kaizen in Classical Guitar Practice