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