don't stick to one type of music.

when i started playing in 1960, i was into duane eddy, then the ventures, then into rock when the beatles hit.

my teacher got me into all types of music. i learned some jazz, some blues, some country, and got into things like bossa nova courtesy of jobim. i had a rounded education.

i may not be into all types of music, but i love hearing a great guitar player in any song. that's what inspires me

You can get inspiration from listening to virtuosos on any instruments such as violin and people like Itzhak Perlman(whose legs are crippled from childhood polio,yet his hands make some of the most wonderful and beautiful music ever heard),Salvatoré Accardo,Michael Rabin.Cello-Yo Yo Ma,Pablo Casells.Sitar-Ravi Shankar.

BTW:I can see now-after buying many of his CDs-how Ravi Shankar inspired George Harrison.Even Ravi's slowest passages that one would assume were easy to play,are very difficult to play because of the meticulous phrasing he used and the way he held the notes and plucked the strings.When I listen to such marvelous players such as these I make a beeline for my guitar after because their music just compels me to do so for some reason that I can't fully explain.Basically it's because their playing just takes hold of me and makes me want to play.

PS : Eliot Fisk has recorded a CD of his transcriptions of Paganini's 24 Caprices for violin that he arranged for guitar.His playing here is absolutely astounding and there are parts where you would almost swear that there was another guitar or even two,dubbed in.I know for sure that it's available through Musical Heritage Society/Passionato http://www.musicalheritage.com and the CDs stock No. is: 513555Y and the title is: Nicolo Paganini 24 Caprices Eliot Fisk Guitar. Listening to this CD would inspire anyone to better themselves on guitar it's just an incredible work. Fisk studied for years under Segovia's tutelage and was his star pupil-that is until there was nothing more that he could teach him as he was so advanced with his playing.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Ha I think ill take the gamble on the divorce!

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Fender MIM 1995 Standard Stratocaster
Fender USA 2012 Deluxe Telecaster

Just by wanting to be a better guitarist today than i was yesterday.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

I try to learn something new everyday, which improves my playing and that keeps me motivated to do it all again tomorrow.

+1 inspirational, educational and all in all good natured fun, I've had my Fendears reconfigured to take in alot more than I thought was out there music wise, guitarists I'd never heard of and music I wouldn't normally get into, but with just a slight push from other forum members it open up new avenues to explore and expand your musical abilities and tastes I found myself just the other night getting rattled into some " mid 50's Punk riffage"not a pretty sight but blew away some cobwebs

This is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read!
The definition of music is organized sound...
Just because it is not the style that you enjoy, does not mean that it is not music. Not all music has vocals, there this little thing called instrumental music, look it up.

Jimmy, it's the love of the instrument and music in general that keeps you motivated.

Don't worry about what or how other people can play. As long as you can express yourself the way you want, that's all that's important. We all have our lows and what we perceive as genius in our musical abilities. Only compare yourself to yourself. If you feel an improvement in yourself, it's all good. if you don't, work a little harder or try a different style of music.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

i've nearly given up numerous times because of the condition of my right hand, but giving up purely cause you know someone better than you or you cant play your favourite song is a total joke. if i were you, i'd learn something that you dont have any experience with, eg; jazz, funk. there are countless things you could do, even just getting a new amp, or pedal or guitar motivates me.

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former user radio_friendly_unit_shifter

I think every guitarist at some point (in most cases) struggles to keep motivated at playing. Even Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, etc., etc. the list goes on. However, if you really want it, you gotta keep reachin for the skies. Sometimes I take a day or two away from my guitar and for whatever reason I seem a little better after warming up (I know that it's probably B.S. but that's what I honestly think ) Sometimes a break will make you realize how much you miss playing and then you'll pick up the instrument like it's the first time again and play your heart out.

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"I won't be a rock star. I will be a legend."

-Freddie Mercury

The thought of losing the ability to move and finely control my hands, fills me with horror. Some years ago and completely out of the blue, I was struck down suddenly with something called Guilliame Barre Syndrome. Within 3 days I was unable to stand, walk and was affected by creeping paralysis over most of my body. I was in hospital for 7 weeks, but made almost a complete recovery. I couldn't play for that time obviously, but I was lucky that the disease never touched my hands. At the time I was more worried about that than the (temporary) inability to walk.

Better to have loved and lost (the guitar) than never to have loved at all? Somehow I doubt it..

Good luck to you Guitslinger. I can only hope for improvements for you.

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Listen to new music. Doesn't even have to have a guitar in it.

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"Speak the truth, and speak it ever,
cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
-Miss Uel

listen to good songs that make you wanna play the riffs/solos

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2010 Gibson Les Paul Studio (Silverburst)
2007 Fender CD-60 (Sunburst)
G.A.S-ing for a Fender Stratocaster HSS with floyd rose

What keeps me going is the idea of mastering every The All-American Rejects song. It's a life goal of mine. I can't break it.

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"All I see is a lot of dudes with a lot of abs that aren't quite as good as mine." - Nick Wheeler

I keep lesson books around and am a member of JamPlay for access to teachers and lessons!

I do chromatic warm-up exercises before I practice stretchy scales and chords and songs. Occasionally, I just dig into songs.

I do easy songs for short-term gratification and work on more complex songs for mid and long-term gratification.

Recording practice sessions is good for self-critique.

I do noodling sessions as part of practice to help develop my own sound and songs.

I do lots of slow practice to internalize and understand easy and complex songs and I follow the relaxed body and "proper" technique taught by GuitarPrinciples.

Alternate tunings always spice up a practice session.

I always take a few days off here and there to give my hands time to recover from intense practice sessions, in some cases, if I over do it, a week or two.

Sometimes I play beyond my ability, fumbling, laying the groundwork for where I want my hands to go and what I want them to do, then go back over the weak spots.

I improvise over songs I am learning and I improvise over generic band tracks.

Repetition practice sucks but it is necessary.

I never play when I am stressed out or tired, no sense practicing mistakes.

My roommate is a bartender at a verrrry popular club where the who's who in music started out. She's been there for 27 years. She has really good taste in music. She's literally seen and heard it all! So, she's my best critic. I play around her as often as I can to get her feedback! Sometimes her jaw drops, which is encouraging! She loves my pretty songs the best so she's inspired me to work on pretty songs too! So, play around people who you want to impress, find out what they like, learn how to play it!

I play all genres of music.

I learned how to take care of my guitars so I don't have to rely on anybody else for setups and repairs anymore -- I'm real picky and like it precise!

I visit forums like this for insight, info, to take a break from it all, and to pay it forward and help people out with info the way people have so generously helped me! This makes me happy and always improves my attitude towards disciplined practice.

To me, music is a passion and a hobby, nothing to get stressed out about. If my music ever evolves into something more, cool. If not, cool!