Play the Guitar Like a Pro: Road to Success

• December 1, 2016
• Guitar

From the very first time that we pick up a guitar, we imagine playing on a stage in front of a crowd of fans. All of the long practice sessions, calluses, and dollars spent come down to being able to share our music with a crowd that’s hanging on every note. But before you can be a rockstar, you need to learn how to play the guitar like a pro.

We often think of musical success simply in terms of becoming the next Bruce Springsteen or Prince, but there’s a lot of professionals out there whose name you might not know. Selling out arenas is not the only way to make a good living in music. Between musicians that tour, guys that help out with studio recordings, and a host of other jobs, you can play the guitar like a pro and not see your name on a giant marquee. Success is whatever you make it, just try to be the best at your craft.

Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced - Play the Guitar Like a Pro

We have a hard enough time being honest about where we are on the spectrum of musicianship. It seems no one wants to be honest enough to say “I’m a beginner.” A student may sign up for music camp and put down on the application that he or she is “Intermediate" but can’t strum a clean G chord or has no idea what a timing signature is. Then, that same student may end up in a band or write a song that gets 2 million views on Youtube and suddenly has a record deal and in a year becomes a household name.

So do you want to play like the guy above or do you want to play like the master guitarist who has put in thousands of hours and earned the respect of guitarists all over the globe? By the world’s standards, the guy who knows 10 chords and has $1 million is worth more than the guy who knows a million chords and only makes $10 in tips on a Friday night. If both musicians were honest, though, they would both say that they will always just be students of the craft.

The point is that every person should set their own goals for what it means to play the guitar like a pro. Comparing yourself to people who are on a completely different path will do nothing but discourage you from picking up your guitar and putting in the hard work that’s necessary to find the golden pot at the end of that rainbow.

I Just Want To Get Better

Some say it takes 10,000 hours, or ten years of giving 20 hours a week for at least 50 weeks each year, to become an expert. Can you be a professional in the field of guitar and not be an expert guitarist? While you can maybe make some money, you set yourself up for very limited success as a professional who isn’t an expert. To play the guitar like a pro means putting in the necessary time to become a better musician either way. First thing is to make a list of 20 or so essential guitar practices. Your list could look something like this:

• Fretboard Exercises (at least 30 different exercises that involve the entire fretboard)
• Major Scales in all 5 positions (all 12 semi-tones or keys signatures)
• Major Chords (learn the CAGED theory and practice all 12 keys)
• Arpeggios (learn to arpeggiate all chord positions)
• Practice both Vertical and Horizontal or Linear Major Scales
• Manipulate the Major Scale (Make the Major Scale Musical by creating patterns)
• Practice Pull-Offs, Hammer-Ons, Slides, and Vibrato
• Learn a Classic song lick-for-lick
• Natural Minor Scales in all 5 Positions for all 12 Keys
• Melodic Minor Scales in all 5 Positions for all 12 Keys
• Harmonic Minor Scales in all 5 Positions for all 12 Keys
• Major Pentatonic Scales in all 5 Positions for all 12 Keys
• Minor Pentatonic Scales in all 5 Positions for all 12 Keys
• Minor Chords in all 5 positions
• Minor Chords Arpeggiated in all 5 Positions
• Diatonic Chords for each Key Signature
• Record and listen to yourself (be critical)
• Diatonic Scales from each scale degree of a Major Scale (or study of Modes)
• Listen to the very best guitarists’ recordings and decide who you sound like.

This list could be broken down into a 20-hour regimen over a 7 day period. Do that for 12 months and you will be a better guitarist in just one year. In fact, you’d probably be better than some of the people you hear on the radio. While that might be an extreme routine for some people, some version of it would be great to help you learn how to play the guitar like a pro.

You need to understand that it is truly about repetition. Your muscles learn the movements and subtleties of each adjustment to the fretboard. As the frets get closer together, your brain memorizes the space and you learn to be more and more accurate. Eventually, you rip into a blazing guitar riff that spans the fretboard and then sweeps into a beautiful minor 6th chord and you don’t bat an eye. Everyone else’s jaws are on the floor, but you? You’re smiling.

Master the Tune and the Tone

You’re an expert who wants to become pro. So you put in the hours and you play your butt off, but nobody hears you because you’re still in the basement. Get out of there, man! Look for a church nearby who could use a great musician. Find a coffee shop or concert hall that is hosting an open mic night. Master the tune and the tone of the songs you’ll be playing at those places.

If you can play the guitar like a pro, then you just need to find a professional gig. Audition for a local band looking for a hot guitarist. You can run ads yourself, but really it’s all about finding a music community. You gotta find out where the great players are hanging out and get out of your own house.

Another idea would be to check with your local music store. Introduce yourself to some working players and look for that special opportunity that opens the door even a little bit. Once you do your first paying gig and find a happy costumer, you’re on your way. The studio scene is pretty small and hard to break into, but record yourself and pass some demos around. When your big chance comes, be prepared and don’t blow it. Complaining about not getting your shot is much less productive than actually showing up and having the right attitude.

One of the first steps that you can take toward learning to play the guitar like a pro is enlist in some guitar lessons. Whether those are online or in-person is up to you, but following a consistent learning schedule is vital to becoming a better guitar player.

At Pro Lessons, our professional instructors are some of the guys that work on the road and at concerts around the country bringing music to the masses. Find out how they can help you become the best guitar player you can be, all at an affordable rate, by clicking on the link below.