How To Find More Time To Practice Guitar
I am the queen of getting distracted and numerous times have set out to practice guitar and wind up looking at Free People instead for a half hour. It’s the worst feeling when I’m constantly thinking back to all the time I’ve “wasted” that I could have spent getting better at guitar! However, I have learned a few tricks to make sure I am regularly practicing and improving at guitar, even when I'm having trouble concentrating. I wanted to share them in this blog with you so l hopethat these help you!
My strat has been my go-to guitar lately for practicing!
I am the queen of getting distracted and numerous times have set out to practice guitar and wind up looking at Free People instead for a half hour. It’s the worst feeling when I’m constantly thinking back to all the time I’ve “wasted” that I could have spent getting better at guitar!
However, I have learned a few tricks to make sure I am regularly practicing and improving at guitar, even when I'm having trouble concentrating. For a lot of people, guitar is a hobby, but putting time into it can help stretch your brain, keep you creative, and be the most fun outlet for connecting with people and having fun! So in this blog, I wanted to give you my top tips for how to find more time for playing guitar so you can reap all the benefits of playing and not have to give up your normal life!
Find Things that Inspire You
I find for myself, the times I tend to practice the least are when I don’t really know what I want to practice and it feels like it’s going to take a lot of mental energy to figure it out. Instead of trying to figure out something to practice, I keep a list of sources that keep me inspired! The top places I find inspiration are songs that make me curious about how something is played, songs with solos that seem fun, YouTube videos that are short and straightforward (like a “learn this lick” video), and having a gig on the calendar where I know I need to learn the songs or I will embarrass myself. I went through a phase where I thought that to be getting better, I had to always had to weave in lots of theory and hard concepts (even though I am glad to have spent time building that foundation), but now I think that just picking up your guitar and learning a solo you love teaches you so much and is a lot more fun than finger exercises etc. I know I have heard a lot of people say that noodling doesn’t count as practicing but I feel like some days if you want to noodle and it makes you happy, then noodle away! Getting a source of constant inspo will help you feel motivated to practice and you’ll find yourself getting distracted with practice rather than from it!
2. Make Your Setup Accessible
When I have gear out of sight it’s truly out of mind as well. If I have my worst guitar lying around, I’m way more likely to pick it up and leave one of my favorites sitting neatly away in a case. It’s been really important for my practicing that I have a guitar I love to play easily accessible and in eye shot! The good thing about guitars is they are usually pretty and a lot of people who don’t even play use them in their decor! If you have a guitar (especially one you don’t mind being exposed to the elements on the reg), hanging it up where you pass by every day is truly a game changer! I have one of these natural wood String Swing Guitar Hangers and it’s perfect for this. Another challenge can be if you always have people around and don’t want to annoy anyone with your practicing, in which case I would recommend getting a setup that you can put headphones into. Overall, eliminating that one little step of setting up everything you need to practice can make a huge difference in how much you pick up your guitar!
I also really love the String Swing Guitar Floor Rack and the String Swing Guitar Case Rack! I have both of them and they are the only stands I have found that are both sturdy and asthetically pleasing!
3. Don’t Get In Your Head
Feeling bummed out about your progress can really demotivate you! I remember a time when I was working on a challenging theory concept and trying to understand how to apply it in a class setting and everyone was so much more advanced than me. Rather than being inspired at how good they were (like a positive person might), I felt just overwhelmed and like I would never get there (why must I have emotions!!). I think a lot of improving on guitar is how you mentally handle not being good at something because that’s part of the learning process. When I focus on having a curious attitude, play because it’s fun, and enjoy hearing better players because it makes me realize what I could do one day is when I find myself most excited to learn and practice. Any time I let my thinking go to “because someone else is good now I can never be good” I tend to feel more defeated about where I am skill-wise. This is especially tricky if you are in the thick of the intermediate phase because it’s hard to see your process (I heard a friend say it’s the same as not being able to see your hair grow, but it is!). Focusing on what you currently like about playing rather than just the result you hope to get out of it is so important for keeping your spirits up!
So I hope one of these tips helps you if you are having a hard time finding the motivation to practice. If you are looking forward to playing and don’t see practice as a chore, you will naturally find the little gaps of time in your day to squeeze in time to play guitar. Thank you tons for reading and let me know if you have any questions or blog suggestions!
How to Make It As A Gigging Musician- My Top Tips!
In this blog, I wanted to show you how to make it as a gigging musician without getting burnt out or discouraged. Sometimes the little things you do to protect yourself can make or break your whole perspective of being a musician so I wanted to give you some tips that I’ve learned over the years!
As the world (slowly) begins to re-open, I’m actually beginning to add a few local gigs to my calendar (WHAT IS A GIG?!). Needless to say, I’m very excited and the break has been a nice way to reflect on gigs in the past and re-imagine new show situations in the future. I wanted to write this blog for any of you who are starting to lay the groundwork for future gigs and think about what you want your next season of playing out to look like!
One of the worst and most embarrassing moments of my musical career was a gig I took a bit back. I was called 3 days before the gig and was supposed to learn a little more than 40 songs (all in weird keys!) in that span. For some reason, I took the gig (like an idiot) and spent all my waking hours learning this set for a Broadway gig. It wasn’t very much country music so it wasn’t easy to pick up and I didn’t have a ton of experience playing in that genre.
So anyway I got there, paid $20 for parking since I was running late (because I was trying to finish learning everything), and it was a total disaster. I forgot my earplugs and my hearing got completely blown out halfway through the gig (and taking recording classes in college I was so mad at myself!) so I could barely hear what I was playing and they didn’t have any breaks between their songs and would just start playing the next song right away. So YEAH. I was awful and to this day I have no idea why I took the gig.
Even though at the time it completely traumatized me, looking back, I’m glad it happened because 1) nothing will ever be worse than that gig 2) it taught me a lot about being prepared and protecting my love for music but not stepping into opportunities that would make me dislike playing.
Because “making it” can mean a lot of different things to different people, in this blog, I am focusing on making it as meaning having fun, being excited for what you are doing and playing, and being able to make money playing music.
A lot of what I have been learning through the years being a musician in Nashville is how to prepare for gigs, protect myself from potentially bad situations, and be more excited about each opportunity I do take and be able to be my best for the show! Playing guitar is such a beautiful way to connect with people both in your band in the audience, that I always want to be grateful and cherish every moment I get to be playing. In this blog, I wanted to share both little tips and favorite tools I’ve gathered so far from playing out so you can worry less about the little things and enjoy playing more!
My fav overdrives and distortions these days!
Always Ask Questions Before Taking A Gig
I think when I was first starting out it was too easy to just take anything offered to me. In Nashville especially, there is this common thought process that you have to start at the bottom and take any gig out there. Looking back though, I’m not sure I agree with this. There is a time to be less picky while you are learning and to take gigs purely because they give you experience, but I think a lot of musicians get stuck here. For me, I felt like there was always someone with more experience who was a lot better (and there always will be!), so it was more a matter of getting over my imposter syndrome and believing that I actually had something to offer! Playing guitar and learning songs (especially other people’s originals) can be time-consuming and you’ll never get that time back, so I think it’s important to weigh if a gig is worth all the time you’ll spend learning the songs and possibly driving. Just like if you were taking a job in something like graphic design, sales, or coding, you want to get all the deets before committing yourself. My friend told me he always thinks about 1) if he loves the music 2) if the gig pays well 3) if the opportunity is something he especially wants. The gig has to have at least 2 of the three. Also, I always make sure to ask about the length of the set (and make sure I have an idea of if I like the songs) and the number of rehearsals to make sure it’s something I want to spend time on. Overall, how you treat and respect yourself as a guitar player is how other people will treat you!
2. Stay Organized
There is something about staying very organized that just makes me feel more professional and prepared. One of the biggest tools I got was my dad’s friend’s old iPad. I never really wanted an iPad and don’t use it for anything but music, but this thing is amazing! I use the 1Chart app to chart all my songs and can store them in organized folders. You can change your charts from number to chords and change the key easily. I then have to export them to ForScore which is a little annoying, but it’s the best because as you build up songs, you can quickly pull one up if you’re on the spot.
I also love the Amazing Slow Downer app. You can slow down songs and also transpose them which is nice for songs that someone wants to change to a weird key! I love being able to learn fast solos note for note too!
I also have a gig bag fully packed that I bring no matter what and have a lot of extra things in there (like straps, cables, picks, strings). No matter how well packed I think I am, I am always thankful to have my gig bag because I almost always forget something! You can watch my video here to see what’s in mine!
Photos by Johnny Giles
3. Invest In Something To Carry Gear
Like a roadie! JK But my hubby is my next best option ;) haha One thing I couldn’t live without is my MONO case. I didn’t have one forever and everyone was always saying I needed one- I finally did it and it’s life-changing! It’s so padded and has a ton of pockets and makes my guitars feel little (a big bonus if you are shrimpy like me!). I always have had my eye on one of the Rock Rockers but have yet to get one… One day! I also got an HX Stomp and no longer tote my amp around which makes me v happy! :)
4. Figure out the sound situation
I always like to ask about the sound situation because it can vary drastically from place to place! Do they have a P.A.? Do they have a sound person? Do they have access to power? Are they expecting you just to have an acoustic guitar? Keep in mind, a lot of people aren’t quite sure what all musicians need when they hire them, so especially for private events, double-check they have everything you might need! I always come with an extra mic, XLR cable, 1/4 inch cable, guitar stand, etc. just in case! Check out my video here for more on this!
5. Have a good attitude & be someone people want to play with
This is the most important one! I think of my role as supporting the other members of the band and helping other people be the best version of themselves. When people feel like they are doing a good job and appreciated they will play better and it’s going to be more fun! A lot of musicians definitely feed off the energy the band is giving, so the more you can contribute to the good vibes, the better the gig is going to be!
So I hope that these tips help you prep for your next season of taking on new shows. I think this time of being at home had truly made me more thankful for the people I get to play music with and shows that I do take. It’s always good to remind myself to hold loosely to things I want in my career and music and focus on being thankful for the season I’m in rather than always thinking things could be better! Thanks so much for taking the time to read my blog and I would love to hear your thoughts below!
How to Find Other Musicians to Jam With
Playing in your room alone can only be inspiring for so long! In this blog, I wanted to give you the specifics on how you can find a community of musicians or just a few people to jam in your city/town with so you can stay passionate about playing guitar!
Being super bored playing music alone and knowing you NEED other people to stay inspired, have fun, and keep learning and then not being able to find them is the woooorst! A lot of times, when you are starting to get better at music, people say you just need to “get out there” or just go find a band (just hanging around somewhere waiting for you…). For me though, “getting out there” sounds like I would just be roaming around town awkwardly bopping into people’s band practices like heeeey it me!
Me “getting out there”
I certainly don’t want this for me or anyone so in this blog, I want to break down exactly how to build a community of musicians when you first move to a new town to do music, or if you just decide you want to start playing out more!
Here are my top tips to get you started!
1) START WITH THE EASIEST MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES FIRST
Looking for opportunities that have zero barrier to entry and get you going right away are always a good start. Things like meeting people at small shows, performing at a writer’s night (you can sign up for most online), or asking to sit in at the end of someone’s set are great ways to do this! I met a new awesome music friend who found my show last week on Instagram, came, and ended up sitting in on some songs (and sounded great!). Small opportunities like this don't take a big time commitment (just don’t take it too personally if you ask and they say no!).
If you feel socially anxious just walking up to people you don’t know and talking to them about music, a good place to start is asking them things like which pedal is their favorite or things about gear. I feel like this is the music world’s version of talking about sports.
My sister Molly has been so much fun to play music with! I never really thought we would make our on little band but here we are!
2) LOOK IN YOUR IMMEDIATE CIRCLE FOR A JAM BUDDY
The phrase “In high tide, all boats float” is SO true when It comes to music things! You don’t need to be writing or playing with a ton of people way better than you when you are getting going, but rather try to connect with and take a chance on the people who are right around you who are also looking to do music. In Nashville, there are lots of groups of songwriters who have started to write together. If one person has a hit song and co-writes It with someone who’s not a well-known writer, people will usually ask about the co-writer, opening up a lot of cool opportunities. YEET!
3) CHECK OUT MUSIC AND GIG FINDER FACEBOOK GROUPS AND FIND MUSICIANS ON INSTA
Instagram has been the biggest way I have found my bands, gotten auditions, and found people to jam with! It’s truly insane that you can find someone you think seems cool and you like their style and then you meet them in the real world and they are just as awesome as you thought. Shameless pitch- you should check out my course Instagram Toolkit for Musicians here! I promise it’s not how to be Instafamous ( We don’t even cover how to start promoting Sugar Bear Hair Gummies in it!) but how to create real opportunities using the connections you make on Instagram! The biggest thing is not being afraid to reach out and message someone and having enough confidence that if they say no, you aren’t crushed.
Need help using Insta to meet other musicians?
Check out my Instagram Toolkit for Musicians Course here!
Also, this is kind of hit or miss, but the group YEP (stands for Young Entertainment Professionals) on Facebook can sometimes have cool opportunities. I met a friend who I did radio tours with on there, but have also gotten into some weird situations I had to just scoot out of. But at least this guarantees you will at least be meeting people and could find your music soulmate on there! There are also a few apps popping up like Gigtown and Jamcard (invite-only though) that you can use. I haven’t use Gigtown so I’m not sure how helpful It would be (tell me if you try it!) but could be cool!
The Project my sister and my we are doing is purly fun and zero pressure which is so great! This is always an awesome way to start a band just making It for fun and not having any expectations of what It needs to look like.
4) TAKE A MUSIC CLASS
There is always more you can learn on guitar, and signing up for group lessons is a good way to meet people who are on the same level and looking to get out of the house and play music! I loved my class with the Nashville Jazz Workshop (sidenote- my teacher Lindsey Miller was an amazing player and so cool!). I feel like this is a great way to at least start playing in some capacity with other people.
How To Get a Gig
Check out this post for more on this!
So there you have it! I always love seeing any comments or emails hearing your thoughts! If you feel like you are stumped trying to figure out where to play or how to get connected to the music scene in your city or town, know there’s nothing wrong with you and It truly just takes time. You will get opportunities and there are people who also want to play music with you so keep trying different things and eventually something will happen! Thank you so much for reading my blog!
Ways to Give Back as a Musician
This year, I want to be more intentional about noticing people around me and trying to connect with and love people outside of my usual bubble. As a community of musicians, we have these talents we have worked on year-round and I think using these gifts to make someone’s day is the most rewarding part of being a musician. In this post, I’ll give you a few ideas of ways you can give back as a musician this season and make a difference!
Here’s Ann! Such an awesome human! :)
I’m a big holiday lover and have already begun to think about my Christmas movie list (1. The Holiday 2. Love Actually 3. It’s a Wonderful Life ), what I will be getting my fam and friends for Christmas, and what recipes I want to try this year! I love it all! But this year, I also want to be more intentional about noticing people around me and trying to connect with and love people outside of my usual bubble. As a community of musicians, we have these talents we have worked on year-round and I think using these gifts to make someone’s day is the most rewarding part of being a musician.
I wanted to share this awesome story that Ann, one of my online students, shared with me about how she has been sharing her skills to make other people’s days!
“ I wanted to share a kind of exciting, new guitar-related thing I'm doing these days... 6 weeks ago I started as a volunteer guitar teacher through the local VA hospital. There's a program that provides guitar lessons and then a free guitar package to veterans who have PTSD, as a method of music therapy. I want you to know that the confidence I've started building from your courses and from your Instagram content really helped me decide that this is something I could do. I'm not the best guitar player around, but I am passionate about it -- and your messages of sharing passion for music encouraged me that this was a way I could make a difference.”
Literally the nicest message ever but also WOW! That’s so inspiring to me and really made me think about what I’m doing as a guitarist to make an impact in my community. It’s important to learn and always be growing as a guitarist, but what’s the point if you aren’t going to use that to make a difference.
So in this blog, I wanted to share some practical ways you can use what you know as a guitarist to brighten someone’s day this holiday season!
Volunteer to play at an assisted living home or hospital
Doing something like this is so rewarding and you may come out with a true friend in an older generation! My family used to occasionally sing songs from the 40’s era for my grandma and I think there is so much nostalgia around some of those songs for people born then. Also being in a nursing home or hospital can be very depressing and lonely, so having someone visit who is literally there to make their day can be a huge pick-me-up for someone who’s sick or in assisted living. Musician’s On Call is a super awesome organization that I have always wanted to be a part of (I applied three years ago and was told there was a really long waiting list haha!) so maybe one day I will be able to be a part of that!
2. Teach a few lessons at an underfunded school
I volunteered for a bit at a program that helps teens who needed a little extra guidance at an after school program here in Nashville and it was so rewarding and helped me make friends with people I would have normally never ran into! There’s some neat opportunities to teach youths whose families might not be able to fund lessons as well! If you are in Nashville, here’s a few options!
And if you aren’t in Nashville, try checking out The MusicLink Foundation!
I think having an awesome music mentor that helps people discover how rewarding and inspiring playing guitar is is definitely a need!
3. Post a tutorial of something you’ve learned
Ok this isn’t as much your traditional “helping out” type activity, but I think it’s super beneficial and helpful whenever I run into videos people make showing me how they learned something I’m trying to learn. It’s super frustrating to be stuck on a solo/song/concept with guitar, and having someone break something down in a video and encourage me to keep going is huge! Even if you are a beginner, this can be a great way to help — sometimes it’s almost better when you find a person who’s only a few steps ahead of you to learn from!
4. Host a jam party
Playing music can be the most fun and bonding activity to bring people together! A lot of people also don’t choose to seek opportunities outside of their houses if they don’t feel prepared. So having a super laid back jam party when no one has to be amazing at guitar can bring a ton of joy to friends/family members’ lives!
If you want to host one, you can check out my tips here!
If you don’t get the vibe your friends and fam would want to play along, you could also volunteer to play a mini-concert for them!
5. Take someone to a show
Going to a live show is so incredibly inspiring and personally, I think is one of the biggest ways to stay motivated as a musician. If you do a program like Big Brothers Big Sisters, taking your buddy to an awesome show might be a cool way to brighten someone’s day!
I hope these give you some fun ideas and I would really love to share any of your stories if you’ve used music in a cool way to love people around you!
6. Buy from guitar and gear companies who are doing good in the world
Here are two of my favs!
Taylor: I can’t say enough good things about Taylor and their team! What they have started with the Ebony Project is hugely impactful on so many levels. Not only are they planting back Ebony trees the guitar industry has been cutting down and never replanting for decades but also helping educate and hire employees in Cameroon. A lot of guitar players talk about wood type purely from a quality standpoint and don’t stop to think about where this wood comes from. I’m very excited about all they will be releasing about this over the next few years!
Orangewood: Orangewood is an incredible new(ish) company based out of L.A. also with an absolutely amazing team! They are truly making music accessible to all. Right now, they donate ukuleles to public school music programs that need instruments to start or continue their music programs. They work with a company called Give a Note and you can check out more on their program here!:
If you like this blog, I would love for you to screenshot if and post It on your story! :) You rock!
How to Practice Guitar Without a Guitar
I have been counting down the days these past few months and TOMORROW I am finally leaving for my Europe vacay! In this post, I wanted to talk about what I’ll be doing on vacation to refresh my guitar inspiration and not lose all my practice progress I’ve made these past months. I will not be able to bring a guitar with me, so all these tips are for the traveler who can’t bring their instrument with them!
I wish I could bring my mini Orangewood Oliver with me!
I have been counting down the days these past few months and TOMORROW I am finally leaving for my Europe vacay (Ireland and Spain!) for me and my husband’s 5th anniversary (which what- I can’t believe it’s been 5 years)! We don’t have too many plans and I’m mostly planning on eating and drinking my way through both countries!
With that being said, these past few months I have been really trying to up my practice game (especially relating to theory and finger accuracy) and the idea of missing 16 days of practice is a little bit scary. And I know I’m not the only one — with the holidays coming up, I’m sure a lot of you are going to be spending some time away too! Even though I’ve thought about taking a travel guitar along and practicing every day, in reality it’s difficult because it’s pretty hard to tell the people you are traveling with you can’t come sit on a balcony and drink sangria (this is what I imagine my life will be like next week lol) because you have to practice the modes and do finger exercises. I am also packing the tiniest carry-on so I don’t have room for a travel guitar anyway.
Watch my video on how to not lose your guitar skills while on vacation here!
As I researched around the internet, I found some good ideas for coming back to your guitar feeling inspired and full of creativity! I obviously wanted to share with you what I will be doing, and would love to know what you normally do to not lose your guitar skills when you are on vacation!
1) Go see live music as much as possible
I haven’t traveled to Europe very much, but I did go to Ireland in high school — I know for a fact the live music scene in Ireland is amazing! Almost everywhere you go, there is bound to be local music somewhere, and absorbing new sounds, instruments, and different vibes of musicians in other places is SO refreshing! Whenever I travel, I love seeing the way other people do things and go about music, and it fills me with so much inspiration when I come back home!
2) Read or watch a musician bio
I have been wanting to see Bohemian Rhapsody and the Ken Burns Country Music documentary, so maybe this trip will be the time. It’s really fun to use time on trips to get a bit of the background of a genre or band/musician you are interested in. Sometimes with documentaries, I won’t as often choose then in the times that I would normally decide to watch movies, so using the plane/ train time for something like this seems perfect. I also will bring my in-ears so I have some fancy noise-canceling headphones!
3) Go to a cool music store
I love vintage music stores and it’s especially cool to see the variety of instruments in music stores in other countries. This can also be fun to just noodle around and add a tiny bit to your practicing. The only downside is if you find something amazing, you might not be able to bring it back with you!
4) Keep up your hand strength (more important for beginners!)
I remember being a beginner and my hands instantly getting weak if I didn’t practice for even just a week! There are a lot of random little gadgets out there to help with this, but an easy one is just getting a tennis ball or something around that size and practice squishing It a few times a day!
A nice thing about doing music is having in-ears for the plane! I got these bbs on Amazon and they are actually awesome (5 drivers!)!
5) Download my practice guide and make your practice plan!
I made this practice guide for you so that you can get inspiration and ideas for your practicing! You can download it for free right here and go through it if you have a little extra time on the plane. I tried to make It fun so hopefully it’s an enjoyable read for ya!
These are the main ideas I will try to be sticking with! There are more things you can do (like study the theory you have been struggling with on the plane, watching Youtube video lessons if you have good wi-fi, and just watching videos/ performances of guitarists you love)! I think the biggest thing I’m looking for on my vacation is coming back refreshed and inspired, being truly in the moment and enjoying every second, and trying to learn new things! And remember, you are way more than just your skills or playing and have such a huge purpose in life, so really take the time to be thankful for your life and enjoy getting to travel!
Wondering what you can do when you get back? Read my blog here!
Thank you all so so much as always for reading!! Comment your thoughts! :)
Have you gotten your chord sheets yet?
Download them for $6 here!
How To Overcome Stage Fright
Dealing with nerves is essential as a guitar player because it allows you to be more creative and relaxed on stage! In this blog, I wanted to give you a few of my top tips for overcoming stage freight and being the confident player you were born to be!
This reissue Mexican tele is definitely a a gem! I love finding a inexpensive guitar that plays great!
When I was in high school, I attended a guitar camp in northern California for a week. I was in the improv class, and the first session of class our v metal looking teacher informed us all that at the end of the week there would be a showcase that all our friends and family were invited to attend. Most of the class was super excited and looked forward to their communities gathering around watching them be the best version of themselves. Meanwhile awkward high school me was completely dreading the week’s end and wondering if there was any way I could tell my teacher I had to be picked up early. I was really worried I would stick out as the only person who wasn’t actually good at guitar, and thought they would probably kick me out of the camp for not being at fluent as the other guitarists in the modes or shredding! After a week of getting that tight feeling in my chest whenever I thought about it, the showcase finally came to fruition. And guess what- I can’t even remember it like AT ALL. I know we all played some very fusion-y type song and I don’t think I did bad (I don’t think?)? Looking back on that experience though, it’s weird to me how nervousness wrecked my little week and put a damper on things until the performance was finally over.
Since this experience, I’ve struggled with nervousness on and off, but for the most part have learned some really helpful tips to manage it! If you are in this boat, here are a few tips that have helped me deal with stage fright.
1. Literally Don’t Think About It
I know in most areas of life, pushing things down and refusing to confront your problems isn’t too healthy, BUT in this case, this has been the biggest thing that’s helped me. I never really realized I had the power to will myself into a new way of thinking, but I do! Whenever there is something that I’m feeling nervous about, I tell my brain that we aren’t even gonna go there and change the conversation in my head. If people ask me if I’m nervous, my answer is no, and I try to make my body language relaxed as well. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy!
2. Be Prepared
Ok duh, but I’m talking about thinking through those little things that will trip you up! For me, if I am somewhere and my tone doesn’t sound like it normally does, this makes me really nervous. For this reason, I put little pieces of tape on the side of all my pedals as a consistent default tone basis (if you have a Kemper or something you are blessed with always the exact same tone). I take the time to get the licks I need to know exactly right, have lots of picks, and now I have an iPad that I can take to practices with song charts and notes (allelu!). Knowing I’m ready gives me a lot more confidence so I can loosen up on stage and have the little things taken care of!
3. Getting Over Imposter Syndrome
When I first heard about imposter syndrome, I was like wooow this is 100% me. If you haven’t heard of imposter syndrome, it’s basically when you’re pursuing something you are passionate about, at any given moment, someone is going to find out that you aren’t actually good at that and are just a poser. I just listened to a great podcast by Jenna Kutcher the other day on this and it really resonated with me! I’ve definitely worried that someone will find out I’m not a real guitar player or entrepreneur and I’ve also talked to a lot of you who I have noticed don’t feel comfortable saying that are a real guitar player unless you are making money only from touring. That’s simply not true though. If you have played a note on guitar, then you are a guitar player and you are capable and ready for any scary opportunities that have opened up for you.
4. Relaxxxx
Did you guys know I teach Pilates on the side (so no need to worry about me sitting hunched over on the floor playing my guitar!). I have learned so many things that have helped me with guitar playing through this. Two of the biggest things are thinking about posture and breath. Taking deep breaths where the air goes to the very bottom of your lungs is super helpful at keeping you calm and bringing your shoulders down and relaxed (ps have you seen this TED Talk on body language- it’s fascinating!). Also reminding yourself to move on stage so you aren’t a lil statue guitarist is always good!
If there’s anything else that’s been really helpful to you, I would love to know! Remember that the more you perform, the more you will definitely start to feel less nervous and probably just stop caring how you look. I have been congratulated on my “bass” performance enough times to know people really aren’t noticing me in a band as much as I think they do lol. Music is so connecting, nostalgic, and healing and it’s so important you keep sharing the creativity inside you even if you feel some nerves! Tell me your thoughts below and as always, thank you so much for reading!
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Finding More Time For Playing Guitar
When you are passionate about guitar, it’s easy to feel bummed when you can’t seem to find the time to fit it in your life as much as you’d like to. In this blog, I’ll give you a few tips that have helped me add guitar in my life daily!
Lately I’ve been including learning more about gear and trying new effects in my practice time!
When my husband and I first got married, we started a woodworking and interior design business called South and Sea where we made custom furniture for peoples’ homes and helped them design the perfect piece for their space. We started growing pretty quickly and absolutely loved it! We had a bit of an unconventional workspace (aka the living room of our small apartment) and were constantly getting sawdust stuck in the rug and having to leave the sliding glass door open in the freezing cold winter to let out the fumes of the wood stain. But in a way it was kind of nice (not the fumes though)… we would put on a movie while we worked together and we were constantly reminded to finish our projects quickly because they were taking up literally all of the space in our house. We kept getting more orders and it was rewarding seeing the excitement of giving someone the perfect piece!
Having our business set up so it was easy to pick up and put down (since it was in the middle of our living room) made it easy to be productive…even if I did sometimes step on splinters and risked inhaling stain fumes. Because everything was right there, we never forgot about what we were working on and it fit into our lives.
Set up for the day! :)
I talk to so many guitar players through Instagram who say they would play guitar more or would like to get better but don’t have the time. But getting better at guitar doesn’t need to take a lot of time and can fit into your life even if you’re busy. In this blog, I wanted to share some tips about how to meld guitar playing and practice with the rest of your life so you can be a better guitarist without changing your schedule.
1) Practice While Watching TV
Finger exercises are so incredibly helpful for getting your muscle memory on point, and your left and right hand working together like a well-oiled machine. Since they take little to no mental energy, I have found that whenever my husband wanted to bond and watch a movie or TV, I can grab my guitar and noodle away unplugged. The repetition has helped so much, and having something else I’m thinking about forced my fingers to do what I want them to without thinking about it.
My Fender jag is my fav rn!
2) Jam With Friends
I used to think that my friends who weren’t trying to be in a band or weren’t actively playing music probably weren’t that interested in jamming. But especially this year, I have had more of my friends over who like singing just for a hobby (but don’t get to do it very often). Gathering around playing songs everyone already knows has made for some of the most fun evenings and sharpens my improv and playing by ear skills!
3) Have Your Guitars Out and About
Hanging my guitars on my wall has been the best decision. Similar to when all our woodworking tools were in the middle of our living room, it makes playing easily accessible! I still keep my higher quality acoustics in their cases (cause humidity amirite?!) but having all the electrics hung up makes it so easy to grab one while you’re waiting for someone to leave, waiting for cookies in the oven, or don’t know what to do with your night. Also if you are concerned with design, I love using the rustic looking wooden hooks you can buy on amazon for like $10!
4) Saving Videos On Insta
We have all experienced the feeling of scrolling through the grams and wondering how 20 minutes slipped away watching “picked for you” dogs being reunited with their owners videos, fast motion cake decorating, or videos of odd creatures found in the deep sea (or is this just me?). But lately, my scrolling has become more inspired through the save feature on Instagram. Now whenever I hear a guitar player I love playing a cool lick or song, I’ll save it and come back to learn it. It comes in really handy when I’m practicing the next day, wondering what to learn — I already have all this inspiration built up.
5) Playing in a Band With People You Love
My dad is maybe the best example of this. All of his friends are in his bands and this is also how he makes more friends. It makes playing out (especially when you get fun gigs at wineries, cool restaurants, and bars!) feel like friend time but you’re also doing the most fun activity. If you are wanting to get in a band and start doing this, you can start small by grabbing a buddy and build up a small set list.
Read my blog on how to get a gig for more on this!
Playing guitar doesn’t have to be a separate life activity that you either work at excessively or don’t do at all. Weaving it into your life makes it more fun, helps you stay motivated to get better, and brings other people into the experience. Leave a comment with your thoughts and what’s helped you!
Here’s the gear on my board in these pics!
Being Thankful for The Middle
It’s easy to feel thankful when the big epic things in our life happen, but harder to have gratitude for the equally important in-between stages.
Also thankful for this amazing Orangewood guitar and dad hat! Also if you use the Code: haleysfriends10 you can get 10% off an awesome guitar!
About 2 months before I got married, I booked an appointment at our local Entrepreneurship Center for a free mentorship meeting. I had been an entrepreneurship major in college and it had always been my dream to start a business and do music. The only issue was figuring out what that looked like. I am definitely someone bursting at the seams with exciting ideas, but like a lot of creative people, sometimes I’m guilty of “shiny object syndrome,” AKA getting bored or giving up too soon on one thing in order to do something that is obviously going to be WAY more exciting and cool than what I already started (I’m a 7 on the enneagram and an ENFJ maybe P on Myers Briggs, so this is just my cross to bear). So anyway, I thought of this business idea (I can’t completely remember what it was but it was some kind of platform for artists? I think??).
I had my notebook and my “trying to be trendy- professional” clothes on and was all set to figure out my straightforward path so that when I get married, I can have this career I know I’m passionate about and then I will have my life all figured out (it works that way right?). So I got into this meeting and it’s this serious (but kindly) business man who listens to my idea and after I’m sure that he’s about to give me all the answers I need to run with it, instead he basically tells me maybe I should just focus on my upcoming wedding and get a more clear idea of what I want to do…
I obviously left feeling a heavy weight of doom and thinking like well now I have zero path and I’m just going to die meandering around trying to find my path (the drama!). Looking back now, I can so clearly see that this wasn’t me being lost or having no path at all. I think God was guiding me on a very clear path, but I just couldn’t see any of it yet.
I think on social media, most people don’t post about the middle of a journey as much because we sometimes don’t see how certain things are important in our lives or how they are setting us up for the next step. If you are feeling a little lost or confused about not knowing how to get into music, not knowing how to get a gig you want, or how to find a career that you love, I wanted to make this blog for you because we have all been there!
So here are my top tips if you are in the middle:
Have we all being thinking of Maren ya?
1) Keep moving!
It’s really tempting to stop trying anything until you are sure it’s the right next step. But I think it’s almost impossible to think yourself to a new career or life decision. I read this book The Defining Decade which is all about being in your 20’s and navigating life. While parts of it definitely stressed me out, it was actually really helpful in teaching me about being “in motion.” Rather than getting some random job you really don’t care about or enjoy while you are trying to figure things out, choose something that is at least in the realm you want or has perks that allow you to work on your dream! I think God has a plan and purpose for all of us and is there to guide us once we start moving!
2) Don’t get stressed when everyone asks what your job is
The fear of telling some random person what you do for a living is so real! I think it’s because it kinda digs into insecurities we have about our jobs. But let me tell you, there is almost no job that is shameful (unless it’s embezzling money from the elderly or something). When I first graduated, I worked at a bean-to-bar chocolate factory and then at a few different breweries and a winery. Then I got a job at a healthcare compliance company and worked at an interior design business… Could my resume look more scrambled?? Also I went from “no way that’s so cool!” responses to my brewery job to “oh wow” with glazed over eyes at my healthcare job. But this tiny response from someone who can’t see or have time to understand your whole journey/dreams/purpose in each job isn’t worth feeling insecure about. So 1) be proud that you are working 2) be confident that there is a purpose for each place you’ve worked.
3) Everyone else is there with you
There is always going to be something that is not perfect and finished in everyone’s lives because we are all humans (and that would also be sad and boring). We all know social media is full of life highlights and doesn’t give the full picture, but also it would be super weird if it did. I don’t think social media was made to share all of our deepest darkest secrets with the world (even though I do think being transparent and sincere is still really important). I think if you are going to use social media, you need to focus on being confident in yourself and stop comparing yourself with other people. I know the times that I find myself looking through instagram and feel worse after are the times that there’s something in my life I’m not happy about or feeling insecure about.
4) Be thankful
I think gratitude is maybe the number one way to accept where you are. I heard once that where you are right now was once your dream. I think about the fact I am completely in the middle of what I’m doing with guitar stuff/this business and that gives me anxiety sometimes and consumes a lot of my thoughts, but quitting my job to go for a dream, moving to Nashville, and marrying the best guy in the world were all previous dreams and prayers of mine that have already been answered. This might sounds a little cheesy, but gratitude journals have really helped me! Writing down the things you see as progress and gifts in your life can help change your focus from feeling like you are lacking to being motivated to do things because you are excited about them.
I really think that you will do so much better going for the things you want to do in your life by coming at them from a positive perspective. Rather than thinking I have to do this thing or get this career so that I can have purpose and value on my life, reframe your thinking to I always have purpose and value in my life and this is a new exciting step for me to impact someone else’s life.
I hope if this is you, it helps a little bit! I am completely there in the middle with you of figuring out how to pursue the dreams in my life and make them work as my living. We are all so much more than what we do and being the type of person that you want to be is way more important than checking something off a to-do list!
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More blogs:
How to Make a Guitar Video for Instagram
Want to start making guitar videos for Instagram? Here’s how to start!
I've been getting some questions lately about how to make a video for IG of yourself playing guitar and I love that question because I really want more people to feel comfortable posting guitar videos! I think IG videos are great because 1) they are an awesome way to connect with people because you are sharing a little glimpse of the vulnerable ideas in your head and melodies you just like for no apparent reason 2) it's a cool way to contribute to helping other guitarists grow by giving back licks for the community. There have been so many cool things I've learned or been challenged by when watching other people's videos and it's really stretched my creativity as a guitarist! 3) participating in community is a way to connect and make IG friends which is the best! I've actually heard scrolling through without liking/commenting/ posting can sometimes make people feel more isolated, so if you are in this boat it's not too late to start engaging!
Here's my Insta!
How I started my guitar insta
When I first started my guitar business/ Instagram last year, I honesty was really scared! Like I literally called it my year of anxiety to my husband because I just reached a point where everything I did was new and scared me! It wasn't because I was doing something that was clearly a bad idea, but rather because it was new and I had zero experience. I also had a lot of fears like I'm not good enough/ qualified to do this. Guitar had always been something I have loved so incredibly much and I hadn't really ever connected with a ton of people on Instagram that weren't already my friends in real life. It's easy when you are starting something to wonder if you are ready yet, but the truth is that jumping right in is really the only way to grow and get ready (like learning on the job)! So if you're reading this blog wondering if you are qualified to do something like this, the answer is yes yes you are!
Want to take a deeper dive in this? Sign up for my course here!
Instagram Toolkit for Musicians
Find your online community with other musicians and share your music!
Helpful equipment
Obviously a guitar, gear, etc… Also these two pieces are what I use now for my tripod (ps, these are associate links so you should use them! Woo!)! When I was first starting, I would try to balance my phone against books, my succulents, and chairs etc and it worked fine but got super annoying the amount my phone would slide down. I did this for like a year before getting these and they made a huge difference! If you are going to be doing a lot of these, it may be worth just getting these in the beginning! Use my amazon links here!!
Fugetek Mini Tripod
This thing has made making these videos SO much easier and faster.
Vertical Mount Tripod Adapter
I will move this piece from my mini tripod (left) and my regular for instagram videos. It made the vertical format easy to film!
Let's start with planning!
*this is all based on how I do my videos, but you may want to make them totally different depending on the vibe of your IG and style. Stay true to your own style first!
So there's two ways you can make your instagram video:
1) Straight to your phone:
Pros- Easier, takes less time, less expensive if you don't already have recording equipment, can be a bit more organic feeling.
Cons- Not great sound quality (the bass is usually lost)and you're limited to tones you can get through your amp/pedal board.
2) Separating the audio and video and then combining it for the IG video:
Pros: You can get your tone exactly as a want it and clean everything up through your recording software.
Cons: It takes a bit of time and can be tricky if you don't have a ton of experience editing tracks. You also will have to match the audio and video so everything is cohesive.
I do a mixture just depending!
Here's two examples so you can see the difference:
Through Logic
Through my iPhone
Could you hear how the video on the left has more of a clean sounds that really cuts through?
In this post, I will only be covering how to make the video with your phone.
Making an Instagram Video through your Phone
What you need:
-I use my iPhone 7 ( i used to use a 6 and it works fine too!).
- VSCO app with video (optional)
- Video crop app
This is pretty straight forward, but here are the details!
1) Turn your amp up to a normal level you would use to practice.
If it's too loud, the tone will obviously sound better to you, but the iPhone sound can't handle it and it will end up sounding muddy. This has definitely happened in some of my videos (boo!).
2) Find your light!
If you don't want a super grainy video, get the light shining on you and not behind you. You also may want to think about making whatever is behind you look clean (or not depending on your feel!). I love design-y stuff so I like clean videos!
3) Prop your phone up and flip your camera toward you.
I always put my phone like maybe 5-6 feet from my amp so the phone sound doesn't overdrive. Then just start your video and play your piece!
4) Choose to post or edit.
Once you have a video you are happy with (which can be annoying if you are OCD about it. I have my days for sure that nothing I come up with is interesting or the exact sound I want! Think of it like having guitar practice time though!), you can either post it right then or edit it!
Check out this video for more tips on creating videos for Instagram!
5) Edit your video.
I like having a cohesive look to my IG, so I also edit them through VSCO video. This is a paid feature of the app, but has been worth it to me. However, when I first started I just used the Clarendon filter on Instagram and turned down the intensity a little.
When using VSCO's video feature, I try to use the same-ish filter I use for my photos to create the feel I like for my feed. I used to always use the A6 filter and usually just had to turn up the brightness and contrast a little. Now I have been into the KE1 effects that are created to mimic old Kodak film! I will also use the Video Crop app to cut out anything that looks distracting in my background.
6) Post your instagram video
When posting, I usually crop out the beginning and end of the video and try to choose a good cover shot that is clear what I will be doing.
My usual beginning of video face before choosing my cover shot.
7) After you gram your gram
IG will rank your post based on overall momentum to your account. It used to be just comments and likes, but I've heard recently it's changed to activity in comments, stories, messages, highlights etc. I also always post a comment with hashtags after like #guitar #guitarplayer #fender #effectpedals etc.
8) Be real and interactive!
Don't worry about your stats, but rather your real human connections. It's WAY better to have 50 followers who you actually relate to and have a real IG community with than 10K randos! When I started, I remember going from 272 followers and then it would drop to 270 a few days later and then go back up again! That's super normal! A lot of those people though I met when I started earlier, are now still awesome friends and I have even met a few in real life (you know who you are people!). Really think about what you want to say and give back to your followers. Your post is going to be like .05 seconds of someone's day, so use it to make a difference!
Having a lot of followers will not somehow make your life any better, but having real friendships that you can make through an app definitely will!
I hope this was helpful and please email me with any questions you have! Thanks so much for reading!
I mentioned this above, but I also created a whole course around this topic that you can enroll in here! You’ll also get a free personalized Instagram assessment from me! I hope you love It!
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