I had a wake-up call in my twenties when a renowned American producer/manager hit me with this truth. It took me weeks to fully grasp it, but it’s a lesson worth contemplating. I frequently encounter guitarists who are technically exceptional—shredding, sweeping, and mastering scales at lightning speed. Yet, despite their technical prowess, they often struggle with the fundamental skill: playing music.

Consider this scenario: A guitarist performs a technically challenging and rapid solo on stage, only to see the audience drifting away to get drinks and snacks. Then, the guitarist plays just two chords in rhythm, and suddenly, the crowd goes wild, even tossing drinks and snacks in excitement. This stark contrast can make you wonder, “Why did I spend so many hours perfecting that solo if it didn’t engage the audience?” The reality is that endless hours spent on technical exercises can become a fruitless endeavor if it doesn’t translate into music that resonates with people.

Create music that touches your audience!

In essence, many guitarists get lost in an abyss of technical exercises. They can play so fast that they might as well be oxygen-deprived, but they fail to connect with their audience. Mastering scales and executing lightning-fast riffs is impressive, but it’s all for naught if you can’t convey music that moves people. What’s the point of knowing every scale if you don’t know how to use it to create music that touches your audience?

Key Takeaways:

• Focus on creating music, not just perfecting technical skills.
• Remember that engaging your audience is more important than showcasing technical prowess.
• Invest time in understanding how to connect with listeners through your music, not just through speed and complexity.

Make your practice sessions count by balancing technical skill with musical expression. After all, the ultimate goal is to play music that resonates with people, not just to impress with technical feats.