Guitar Lesson 30: Inspiration, motivation and enthusiasm to avoid guitar learning ruts

In guitar lesson 30, I go to Dan with three questions looking for his guidance. Dan picks up on some very important points about the big picture, maintaining enthusiasm, the importance of live work and how to push yourself towards being an advanced player. You will hear some jamming over a Danny Gatton style backing track, a blues shred idea and plenty of snippets from players as Dan shares the wisdom of his experience. Hopefully, you will be as inspired and motivated by this episode as I am. 02:22 - Introduction - I ask whether we can look at some questions around bringing your skills along 02:36 - Question 1: Advice on having the time to practice 02:55 - Question 2: What skills do you think you need to be moving along from intermediate to advanced guitar 03:14 - Question 3: What do you do to get you out of being in a rut? 05:34 - What causes the ruts? Sometimes caused by doing the same thing and sometimes caused by being on a plateau 07:34 - QUESTION 1: So how do you get out of a rut? 09:52 - Advice on how to gain motivation - get yourself a good teacher 11:12 - The Great Phil Hillborn 12:25 - Advice to find something which excites you - licks, riffs and styles 13:46 - Never forget that you're a student of guitar 13:50 - Never forget you can learn off anybody 14:32 - I mention my motivation being the challenge to see how far I can take it 15:54 - I talk about my 10 years of not playing guitar 16:27 - Advice on motivation - Guitar is therapeutic & a stabilising force 17:22 - The importance of live work and fun interactions with the crowd 18:34 - Losing your mojo and holding onto your childlike enthusiasm is not always easy 19:54 - 1) When you've not got a band to gig with, seek open mics 21:06 - 2) Sometimes buying a piece of kit can be invigorating 22:22 - 3) Trying another instrument 22:24 - 4) Get yourself a teacher 23:27 - 5) Changing things up - change where you are on the fretboard 23:44 - 6) Try a different style 24:09 - 7) Buy some techniques books 25:24 - 8) Go to a gig 27:57 - QUESTION 2 – what do you do if your practice time is limited? 28:55 - Big Jim Sullivan on styles and session work 31:50 - You have to immerse yourself in the style. 34:48 - Andy Wood flatpicking 43:44 - Quick jam over a Country backing track in the style of Danny Gatton 48:41 - Playing the country rhythm 52:06 - QUESTION 3: How do make the leap to advanced and how do you recognise that someone is an advanced player 52:24 - Is Dave Gilmour an advanced player? 54:43 - Dave Gilmour: on the turning away 56:29 - Gary Moore: The messiah will come again 59:21 - Dave Gilmour: Sorrow 60:21 - An advanced player is someone whose personality comes through and they're instantly recognisable 61:48 - Dream theatre John Petrucci 62:10 - Jeff Beck 64:56 - Learn how to accept your playing is your unique sound 67:56 - Dan's take on the blues and Marty Friedman mucking up normal playing for interest 69:55 - Explaining the lick: Blues mixed with sixes rhythms 70:49 - Change the sound on your guitar to get a new idea 71:48 – Final advice summary: Only work on one thing at a time and immerse yourself