Stuck With Your Guitar Practice? 

Looks like you have a wall covered with rut busters. 👍

I've probably learned 95% of my guitar journey from you. Always relevant, learner aware videos. Thanks

You have no idea how much most of us needed this. Love your stuff.

For us loners, I would add, “play with others.” I didn’t know anyone else who played locally, so I signed up for group lessons at the community center. Totally refreshed and reinspired me.

You’re definitely right about other instruments. Recently, I started taking bass lessons really seriously and I think learning that instrument has only reinforced my love for the guitar.

With a gap of more than 8 years I have started again playing and learning guitar. I had very few knowledge of guitar. Every year I planned to learn guitar but failed due to proper guidance . Since last month I followed your website it's so systematic programmed and now I have no reason to fail in my guitar learning journey. Love from India ❤️🙏🏻

I have struggled with this for years. As a teen I couldn't understand why I couldn't shred like other guitarists, and I did lessons full of theory that bored me to death! I also faced a lot of snobbery as a female metal guitarist. Ever since I've had periods of getting back into it, then life gets in the way or I feel stuck, and I give up. I've debated selling my guitars before. Had a lot of painful conversations with my dad about why I couldn't practice and why I wasn't better after playing for so long. But something keeps making me come back. I got to grade 5 originally but it might help me to work from scratch through your website to fill in the blanks, of which there are many :) I actually got diagnosed with dyspraxia in my mid 20s, which explained so much about why I was lagging behind others. Being kinder to myself and allowing myself more time to absorb stuff has actually massively helped, but I worry I'll never be able to shred and then I give up again 😅

One thing that has worked for me is finding a new person to play with: that often leads to some of the things suggested here, ie playing new music or different styles. Recently I've gone back to playing with someone I've not played with for a long time, and we are re-visiting stuff we did before, but which we can now play better and that has A) showed me how much I have actually learned and B) reminded me how much I liked those tunes.

On the "take a break" point. I don't really take a break from playing, but I take breaks from regular learning and practice. From time to time I'll just be extremely casual with the instrument. Only playing 15 minutes or so a day (Not even necessarily all at once). I won't learn anything. I won't practice. I'd just play the things I'm very comfortable with playing. I think it's healthy to stop learning for a bit and just have fun playing things you know. It reminds me why I started in the first place: To have fun.

I woke up. Watched your video. Busted a rut. Felt sleepy but got up anyway, ready for the day. 10/10

I LOVE #8! I stopped playing classical guitar for 5 years and then picked up the ukulele during lockdown and it re-inspired me to play guitar (on top of learning a new instrument).

This is my two cents, although someone has probably made this comment: in addition to piano or violin, saxophone etc. it is very useful to gain an intermediate level in drums/and or bass guitar. I find that the bass stylings that are essential to keyboard playing as well as learning how to play acoustic and electronic drums helped me to improvise when I gained an intermediate level in guitar. Even the down up cadence of guitar strumming is mirrored often in the sequence of snare drum and high hat strikes. I rarely struggle with rhythm when playing new songs on guitar probably more from my 3 year background in drumming rather than the decade I spent playing keyboards. Thank you for this video Justin. When I started played 2 years ago I struggled to follow most of your lessons; now I and others greatly value your lessons that give a chance for the novice guitar player, especially intermediate and advanced players to play songs at a more professional level .

Baritone ukulele is great for guitar players because it is tuned DGBE exactly the same as the 4 treble strings (#1 2 3 4) of the guitar without a capo. My ukulele club has a member who plays a baritone because he knows the chord fingering is the same as on his guitar ignoring strings 5 and 6 which the ukulele doesn't have. Ukulele clubs usually play from song sheets that display chord names with or without ukulele chord fingering grids, but the guitar players can ignore the grid and just play from the chord names. I think ukulele clubs would welcome guitars into their group, so if you'd like to play in an informal, non-judgmental group who are there just for the fun of making their own music and singing, find a ukulele club in your area. They're all over the world. In my vicinity of central California, there are 3 of them within a 30-60 minute drive, plus 2 clubs that I started in my city at senior centers. By the way, if you play a bass guitar, they make a great addition to a ukulele club sing-along.

Yeah…hope lies ahead. Thanks Justin. 😊 best channel for guitar.

"put your bum in the chair" - best advice Justin has given me. and, it works. once i get my bum in the chair by the end of the session, i do feel better. i've been with Justin guitar for about 2 years now and have progressed from a beginner to intermediate. being involved in Justin Guitar's learning program has really helped. Once i step into one of the instructional video's from Justin i always get inspired - he's got that innate ability to push me into the positive zone. thanks Justin!

The sneeze at the end of rutbuster #1 had me ROLLING!

#10 is definitely refreshing! I noticed that even with my young son, he would always be enthused and ready after a break!

Best guitar channel ever by far, learned 99.9% of my guitar knowledge from you! Really learning FL Studio and starting to make digital music has gotten me out of a really deep rut I was in for years. Also completely agree with playing piano, the notes all in a row is refreshing after the super confusing guitar tuning for years

this comes just at the right moment. i am stuck a end of grade 2/ beginning grade 3 and i am sooo lost. I dont feel like i am going anywhere and feel that i am about to lose my passion for the guitare.

I think one can get out of ruts by visiting singaround type things, blues evening jam sessions, folk trad sessions etc.. I've been amazed by some of the inspiring musicians I have met at these things, and how it can give a lift or new perspective to my own arts, incl guitar. Nice one Justin! 🌟👍

Here is what I am doing different in 2023 that is actually helping just a month in. I am a software developer & live the digital life. Last year I got in to Japanese stationery. Hands down the best there is, so I set myself up with a fountain pen & some good paper & then started journaling. Wanting to continue on that analog route I got a 2023 Weekly Planner from Rhodia. I have broken my goals in to yearly: Solo/Imp over chord changes, clean E & A barre chords, cleaner changes & strumming, Play by ear, fingerstyle & triads. Then I broke those down in to smaller chunks. I have quarterly goals that works towards meeting my yearly goals. Then I break them down in to monthly goals, then break those down in to weekly goals. I took a week off last week after having a medical procedure completed. The journaling & goal settings is HUGE! I am willing to bet many of you have said your goals in your head, and it ends there. I did that for 3+ years. I am now on my 4th year, and I think I've seen more improvement in this first month of 2023 than I probably saw in at least half of 2022. When you hit that plateau, my advice however much that is worth, it is to go analog. Write out your goals, break them down into weekly achievables. Record yourself so you can actually see that you have achieved a micro-goal. I just use my phone or gopro, nothing fancy at all. Honestly I need to be better at recording myself. Journal, daily journal. Just write what is in your head. Seriously, in just the few weeks I have been doing this, my head has cleared up while practicing. I used to get in my head & distract my own self. EDIT: Your goals, they can't be "Just play better" or "Play like Justin". How do you want to play better? Barre chords? Fingerstyle? What is it about Justin's playing you like? Pin point a few of those and think how long it may take you to learn it. If you think you can learn it in a month, break it into weekly bite size chunks. Final week can be maintenance. There is nothing wrong with forwarding a goal you didn't reach to the next month. It's going to happen until you learn how much you can actually achieve with your practice schedule.

New gear is always the best!

Don't feel I need this atm, but will stick it away for 'guitar block' day. Never know when I might need it 🙏. Much appreciated Justin

Really, really, really, great advise Justin. I was on the brink of the abyss and you've pulled me back! Thank you, Cheers!

Wonderful advice! One side note to #6 - deep dive into your hero's heroes. If you love Clapton, dig deep into HIS influences - Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, etc. If you are younger, your "hero" may have been deeply into seminal 70's bands like Velvet Underground, or Television, etc. There is always a generation or 2 before you to dig back into.

I needed this. Thank you! Perfect timing.

There's some great tips there Justin - many thanks- love your tutorials.

Since I bought my first guitar I have been attracted to it. Never had a goal except very close ones : get the D right without looking ; shifting to G . Slow slow slow. NOW I want to be a guitarist . I want to play for my own enjoyment and have people say he plays guitar . You , my friend , are a great part of this . I even want to do music theory - I like it 😮

Always enjoy your videos, Justin!!

One of my favorite things about listening to contemporary music, as someone who also appreciates older music (which relates to your “history” point), is understanding where the contemporary stuff comes from. New music is just a fresh take on the old stuff! Even pop songs come from somewhere. It’s also great to find artists that are inspired by the same older music I like.

Excellent timing. I needed this. Thanks, Justin!

What a useful list this is! Thanks, sometimes I naturally drift to something different…it’s good to change it up! (We don’t need anymore guitars around here (my whole family plays, I’m a beginner/intermediate…). But I am the only one in the group with ukulele! It’s fun, especially within a group! You are a great teacher!

As a result of Guitar Acquisition Syndrome, a lot of guitar players already have more than one instrument. I tend to reach for one or two favorite guitars when I practice. So instead of buying a new guitar when you’re in a rut, you can rediscover one of your less played guitars and remember why you liked it so much when you purchased it.

Loved it. Always with Justin’s sense of humor and honest introspection.

Thank you Justin.

Perfect timing…thanks Justin!

Lots of excellent advice!! Sadly, I don't have much money to go out buying a new guitar or guitar. However, what I do is only change the strings once every 12-14 months. Replacing the strings after this length of time is almost like getting a new guitar! I would highly recommend this approach if you aren't rolling in money!

As it happens just bought a new acoustic and all my old tab books are back out on the coffee table, thanks for keeping us going Justin 👍

I have a lot of friends who love music, so I just ask them to make playlists for me or just share their existing ones and usually I play it in the car while driving. Discovered a lot of new music.

Love you, man.

Great video Justin.

Fantastic advice as always Justin 👍

Thank you SOOO much.

Here are some things that I’ve done to get inspired: 1). Go see live music. My favorite is to go to Nashville for ~4 days and see the players up close in the clubs there. Great players and nice people. 2). Expanding on the alternate tuning idea, try a partial capo. Yields intervals like DADGAD, but down a step. 3. On the idea of listening to different kinds of music , satellite radio offers every genre of music that exists. Pick a channel that plays a style you don’t usually listen to and see if there are songs you want to cover, or some stylistic snippets you can use. If you really want to go far, listen to “world music”. I’ve gotten some inspiration from Middle Eastern music.

well said Justin; thanks so much.

Thanks for this. Now I understand my diffuculties better and I can smile about my motivation and me:-)

Great list and a great topic. Much appreciated!

Thnx for the tips! It is sometimes hard to take a step back due to back problems and arthritis..but hey.. even after a long break 10 minutes playing is so much fun!😊

Well done, great list. Sight reading might be added to the list for folks that don't read music or Tab. You are consistantly an excellent teacher. Thanks for all your efforts helping people find the joy in in playing music. G'day mate.

Thanks Justin, you've inspired me to go buy another guitar!

Was in a rut myself recently. Doing my practice, and kind of enjoying it, but realised that I don't feel much of a connection. I figured out that it was because, while I was doing the practice routine, I wasn't playing much outside of it, apart from a small bit of noodling. Playing outside of practice, just for fun, experimenting I think is important. I also wasn't learning many new songs.

Thanks for sharing your helpful video.💪👍

*Learn More:* www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/feeling-stuck-here-are-my-top-10-rutbusters-bg-2106

Bought a Yamaha TR5A which spiced up some of my practice sessions playing around with the effects!

Just started learning guitar and i didn't even know one of the Peaky Blinders is teaching on RU-vid 😁 Jokes aside your free lessons are amazing!!!

Piano tip is great, thanks 👍

✨🎸Great Ideas and Thanks for being Honest!✨😎

Bit spooky that this came up today....been playing lots in public but today I just couldn't handle it and stopped after 3 songs..I was boring myself and my playing sounded flat..thanks as always Jason for the 15 year ride with you...taking a month off and going on holiday without my guitar.

I have given up from time to time over the years. Now I persevere. When I was younger, I thought I would never play bar chords and so it wasn't worth trying too much with guitar. 3 years ago, I watched Justin and others on RU-vid and I've made more progress in 3 years than the previous 30. I'm almost a full intermediate player now. Oh, and getting your guitar set up properly is a must even if it's an inexpensive guitar. Take it to a luthier. Just do it!

How very well put as usual - Keep up the good work.

Hi Justin thanks for the videos, they have helped me lots with my teaching cheers

Very useful and funny video! Can’t express how much your channel has helped me to learn RHCP and Frusciante. Appreciate it a lot man! Thanks!

Thanks for the inspiration. I am making great progress following your website and doing the Music Theory course. I do sometimes take few weeks break when I loose interest. I have recently bought a Boss Katana 100 MkII Amp and awaiting new electric guitar to turn up. I'm sure it will get me back to my practice routine after this break session.

More wise words from JustinGuitar. We love Justin.

I am just 19 months as a beginner guitarist, 59 years. 19 months practicing everyday. My old hand for fretting aches nonstop though dull. Survived 2 severe scooter oops. Fair tolerance for pain. I need more healing time to get outta muh rut! L&R

I applied your advice and bought a new guitar 😁😁 thanks Justin for everything you teach us !

3:24 I think this sums up why Justin is from to learn from. Able to be both informational and entertaining to listen to.

Really liked that old Rut Busters series you did with Andersons too. Good vid.

Great vid as ever Justin! I’ve been feeling stuck and that I’m getting nowhere. The other day I bought myself a micro amp for £80ish. Really helped. Lots of different sounds, and with good headphones you can get really immersed. Love the idea of trying another instrument too. Alternate tunings are also amazing. Thank you!

Thanks man!!! It’s called a learning plateau- it’s a gift!

I'm stuck in the 70's through 90's rut. While I don't have them all memorized, I have a catalog of about 200 songs that I can play after a peek at the music. Sometimes I look at that list and don't feel inspired to play any of them. Likewise, when I listen to most music produced in the past 5 years, I don't hear anything I care to learn. I think I'm going to have to buy a new guitar!

That’s a nice sweater. Great advice as always, also.

Thank you for making this video Justin. It catches me at just the right time. I am idefinitely in a rut. I think I may try something completely different to get out of this funk I am in. Probably the most helpful for me is knowing that pretty much everybody goes through a rut at times. That gives me perspective.

Building on the buy a guitar idea, it doesn’t have to be expensive. I’ve revived my interest a couple of times by buying a cheap guitar from second hand or auction sites, spent a few quid doing them up - nothing major just a good clean, new strings, bridge pins, maybe a new nut or saddle, played it for a few weeks and then sold it on. Always made my money back and got my interest back. Great videos by the way @Justin!

A thing that gets me inspired is just trying out different plectrums. It's inexpensive and fun to try a different feel.

Hi Justin sir,. Couldn't follow u for the recent past. Will watch n practice regularly 👍👍💐

thanks for helping me bust my rut justin :)

I think listening to the music that inspired you to take up the guitar (or any other instrument) could get you going again.

Lots of great advice here. I’ve found that trying alternate tunings has been really useful for breaking out of a rut. To state the obvious, your guitar sounds very different in DADGAD for example, from standard tuning, which in itself can capture your imagination. Learning another instrument can be great too. I recently bought my first bass guitar and even after only a couple of weeks I’ve found that focusing on the bass parts, and the drums, in songs I’m trying to transcribe has given me a new perspective and appreciation of music which has complemented my guitar playing. Thanks again, Justin.

Brilliant video, thanks! Definitely in a bit of a guitar funk so this is so timely! Don't know if that was planned (if so 👌), but the sync between the enunciation of rut buster #10 and the ad break was hilarious! Lola so much🤣 Many thanks, loved it 😁

How long have you been teaching guitar? You have helped so many people, it's amazing!

Mandolin. I just got my hands on an electric El Ray mandolin and love it.

Just bought a new to me 12 string, a whole new sound!

Luv#1 did it 2 yrs. ago (but I’d add DON’T tell the wife the real price to the advice). Recently I did #8 and got a Lyre Harp. I’m always comming back to you and learned tons from you since I first found your "Wish you were here" tutorial way back in 2007-ish. That was the first full song I learned to play! Thank you for what you do!

Eddie Vedder’s Ukulele album was essentially a rut buster… I would add playing/jamming with other/different musicians to your list. If you only play in your bedroom, it can shake things up to play in a friend’s lounge room. And… It mightn’t be as effective, but you could theoretically go to a guitar shop and just try some new guitars/amps/pedals.

Just watched a video of Justin’s from 8 years ago. Content was still great, but the execution seems so 2015. I love both Justins!! Keep it comin’, brother!

I went crazy my first 6 months then pretty much stopped for a few months. Back at it a couple months now and have progressed nicely. I did get a new guitar which helped 😂

Great advice as always Justin. Is that a new Resonator ? Someone has been Rut Busting !

gear obsession grinds my gears

get yourself a new guitar, and im not even kidding 🙏 best advice i have heard on any guitar channel🤣

Buying a cool cheap guitar is fun and not hard on the bank account. Squire, IYV, guitars like that, love my Squires.

I do agree with a new guitar!…. However I usually change from electric to acoustic & try a new tuning.

Get a new guitar does seem to be your favourite. I had that with motorbikes. Guitars, I watch lots of other people trying them out. At my lowly stage I 'm reaaly fine with what I have. Just need to keeep going. Thank you Justin.

I love the rut busting topic. I went the new toy. I mean important piece of equipment 😂, route. Bought a Beat Buddy Mini 2. Pretty cool so far.

Get a BOSS BR-80 (effects and multi track recorder). Annoying menus but there's unbelievable amounts of fun to be had. I've got about 5 years worth of riffs and song ideas stored in mine. Just set one of the backing tracks and improvise. I lose hours doing this. Something original always comes out. Every guitarist should own one. Fits in pocket too. You're welcome.

Regarding new guitar (or other gear), I was lucky enough to get have some spare cash last year and bought a nylon fusion guitar to go alongside my electric and steel acoustic. The difference in tone and playing style was an inspiration. Going back to electric I started playing without a pick on some stuff and got really interesting tones. Getting a new guitar is easier if you already have a small collection as most guitars hold value well and can be sold on after a few months; you can treat any loss as a rental charge, e.g. I had a PRS for over a year and it only cost me £50 "rent" when I sold it on. Regarding new sound, I also had enough for a Helix LT which has really opened up a vast catalogue of sound and playing options. Now trying to get out of new gear mode and concentrate on playing again.

Thanks for the advice! I can't wait to tell my wife that Justin said it was okay to buy another guitar!

Nice one! You'd be a great psychologist Justin!

Hello from California

Re point #7, I can only recommend checking out Japanese singer-songwriter Kaneko Ayano. She writes great tunes and she's a solid rhythm guitar player, with very interesting patterns. A lot of live videos around, both on her YT channel and posted by third parties, where she's playing her tunes solo on acoustic guitar - a bunch of them quite easy to figure out. There's a few on UG too. For Japanese speakers you even get to sing along - for others, like me, nobody said humming along wasn't cool. ;-) Anyway, she did the trick of rut busting for me, and actually renewed my interest in music altogether.