What do you do to break out of playing ruts?

Utilize jam tracks here on youtube! There are THOUSANDS of them of every genre! Pick a genre you think you don't like, add 5 jam tracks to a playlist, and then DO IT. This has helped me out so much and it's insane to me that this always comes off as an "oh I never thought of that" moment for so many people.

I’ve been playing for over a couple of decades but have been doing the things below for just over a year and a half with incredible success. * Keep your gear handy: If your guitar it locked away in it’s case, in the basement, it makes it much tougher to play. * Set yourself attainable goals: This of course depends on your interests but for a common example, “I want to master the minor pentatonic”. Well, figure out what there is to learn about it. How about learning it all over the neck first? Then if you love blues adding the b5 in there. A related goal could be “ I want to play better blues” well, find yourself a nice course with blues vocabulary in it. That will lean on and reinforce what you’ve been learning about the minor pentatonic scale anyway and even better, will open your eyes to stuff you’ll probably want to learn next. Like the Major Pentatonic, or Mixolydian arpeggios. Keep notes of all the things you are finding interest in, and then slowly as you master one topic, add them into your practice routine. Keep interests varied, maybe learn some scales, certainly practice rhythm, work on your lead playing, learn a tune you like from top to bottom. But again keep the accomplishable. If you can fret cowboy chords, don’t make your short term goals to be Steve Vai by next week, Not gonna happen. A critical factor is, study things you actually care about. This may sound stupid, but I know many folks trying to play things they couldn’t care less about. Maybe once you master every music genre you care about you can worry about the ne0-classical-trance-polka Ulgur Mcvadishan licks you once heard. * Set a bare minimum of time you want to study ( I for example keep it at, at least 30 mins 5 days a week). This is critical when building a real habit. Really make it the bare minimum, even if its just 10 minutes. The point is that you actually get down and do it on those really tough days when you don’t have the motivation to do it. More often than note you’ll find that, on those tough days, once you actually get going you’ll get excited and study for longer than your bare minimum. But if not, stick to that minimum and keep a streak alive. * Put a study plan together. Once you’ve set your accomplishable goals build a study plan around them. I usually break mine up into: Scales and Arpeggios 5 mins Rhythm (whatever I’m working on) 10 minutes Lead (whatever Im working on) 10 minutes Song (whichever tune I’m working on) 5- 10 minutes. To keep things organized I use a free app (I have no relation to them fyi) called Modacity . I build my study plans with timers on there. It also has a metronome when I need it. And my favorite part, it logs my study hours. There’s probably better apps out there, but I started with this one and with my hours logged in the hundreds and hundreds ever since I started using it I just don’t want to let go. I also use another free app called Strides, where I set the 5 days a week goal, and just mark it as complete after evert study session. This keeps me in check to study 5 days a week, and tracks my streak. As I type I’m on a 75 week streak since I started using it. I really don’t want to break it. * Keep progressing If something is proving to be too hard (and I mean you;ve really tried meticulously but just can’t do it), or you feel like you’ve got it down, (it doesn’t have to be 100% perfect yet) move along on to other tougher or easier related things accordingly. But don’t get stuck, because then you lose motivation. With experience you’ll better understand how challenging things should feel, and how things that are just unrealistic feel. * Gear. Don’t let it get in the way. Choose a guitar, get a tone ready, and work with it. Don’t lollipop around with your gear as you practice. I’m probably forgetting things as I’m writing this on the spur of the moment. I hope this helps some of you on your musical journey.

I think seeing you still learning just goes to show that truly, no one has ever mastered guitar. Every and anything about guitar is a learning process, and it is not for the faint of heart.

SAME! Im mainly a blues/hard rock guy.....but Ive been learning jazz haha. Thats been helping me out. Oh and bass. Thats been helping me.

"why am I not getting better at guitar?" Me, as a bass player: ...

When Josh gets to improvising in his video response it just blows my hat off... this guy is a legend!

Chord revoicing idea/approach: Brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing these ideas. And yes, Josh is indeed one of the best guitarists alive today.

For me it's all about learning new songs, that way you can also find out new chords and new scales behind it. Btw great video as always Rhett

Holy crap. You've called it verbatim. Started the youtube channel almost exactly a year ago and I spend all of my time making videos. Lol. The good news is that I'm gonna hit 4k subs today. The bad news is that I need to find more time to practice!!! Thanks Rhett.

Man I came across Tim searching for legato techniques, so cool you're taking lessons from him! Thanks for the time you put in to make these vids as always :)

Josh is a monster player. He's so humble and looks totally effortless when he's playing. I really dig his style. As a Americana and Classic R&B player, I really look up to him as a mentor and listen to anything he is saying.

The legend is true! He's back... the great Rut Shull!

I have found that playing a different type of instrument helps. Got in a rut on recorder, focused on ukulele for a while. Plateau there, swapped over to kalimba for a few days. When I come back, my ears have been cleared, and old ruts are not as tempting. Also helps in getting exposed to different styles of music, which can be applied to the other instruments.

Rhett you’re a monster of a player and have been such an inspiration to my playing. Would probably put you up in my top five influences with David Gilmour, Doyle Bramhall II, Rory Gallagher and Marcus King!

I am 73 and I find new things to play everyday. Simple ...I decided 4 years ago to write about 20 tunes and front a power trio. A job where as a guitarists I am 'IT". Yup no other players to pick up the slack. Best of all no keyboard player! Keyboards let you nap if you want! I even learnt to play and sing. If Mick Jagger can keep your attention with 5 notes in a tune anyone can do it. I spent all my life in that good old pentatonic. That had to go! Then there is being being able to shred! ...Yes playing triplets at insane tempos ...accurately. Also play thru a Plexi at a very high gain ...gone are those tame Fender's. Controlling the high gain and developing your hand muting skills so it sounds as clean and tight as a piano.Then there is the capper! Get a bass player and drummer that are young and have just graduated from the beginner stage to entry level semi pro. Then bring them up to pro in at least their execution of where they are at on other levels. ZERO rut ...Double zero boredom! Players that have not heard me in years stand therewith there lower job resting on their feet. The best part is I can blow the .ME' of 4 years ago out of the water!!! No...on second thought the best thing is for the first time in my life Iike ME! So...get off your ass right this second ...don't let some 73 old guy like me show you up! In other words ...pull your finger out! And for gods sake quit whining!

Very helpful. Thank you Rhett. How humble of you to reveal the various ways you grow as a player and out of the same old ruts we all get stuck in. Very cool.

Just loved the idea of making the practice video! Thanks man!

I started playing in different tunings. It’s awesome for your playing and super inspiring if you’re a songwriter.

Tim Miller is an amazing player and an extraordinary instructor - take full advantage of your time with him!

The mixtape tip is genius. I'd even skip the editing. Just hit record on the parts you want, save everything to one album in your photos app. Simply cutting it can be done on the phone as well.

I have learned the guitar from the youtube community and been in a rut,but this video has great ideas thats why I keep watching.Thanks cause i love guitar

The mix tape idea is brilliant. Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna do it.

Josh Smith makes it look SO EASY!! Awesome video though Rhett. Moving those chord voicings around at the end sounded amazing! I try and do something similar because it can be so easy to get stuck playing the same voicings due to muscle memory.

Here is a tip for getting out of lead ruts- find a song you love (or not - it actually doesn't matter) and try to play the lead vocal line. Not just the melody as written on sheet music, but really attempting to capture the feel and nuance of the original vocal performance. The slurs, The stops. The dynamics and swells. The fills. When it is soft. When it is aggressive. Everything. Obviously starting with a vocal artist who has some depth makes it more interesting. Aretha comes to mind. Michael Jackson would pose some interesting challenges (eg - his squeaks). But even some of the old crooners like Sinatra could open you up to subtle timing and dynamics changes that could be killer in your arsenal of tricks.

Great idea with the mix tape. Absolutely gonna do that. Thanks Rhett!

being organized is very important and this ties into that, learning is hard when you get comfortable and play the same stuff, but I’ve learned it’s worth the challenge to always stay learning, get out of your comfort zone, stay relaxed, and enjoy guitar. Realize that your getting better and it takes time, and if you put in the time and enjoy guitar, there’s no need to get frustrated bc your doing something you love

Wonderful video, love Josh Smith I had the fabulous chance to open for him with my local band and chat a little bit after the gig, he is such a nice and down to earth guy and he really played killer guitar with such a tremendous touch and sense of dynamics.Thanks you Rhett I'm gonna try to work on those new chord voicing that looks really apealing to me !

Can't wait to see the results of the 1-month challenge of different genre music

"I hate practicing guitar" I'm trying to transition from the 15 minutes a day thing into the second nature thing. It's soooooo hard to do! (I'm stuck in my own practicing habits) I tried the 10 hours a day Steve Vai thing, and that helped. I'm gonna go buy some tapes.

Whole tone scale, tritones and diminished or augmented scale to move between chords on standard blues progressions.

Great video! Plateauing guitar skills can be very frustrating. These tips are very helpful.

Great tips Rhett. Thanks. I'm in a rut right now so this will really help.

The first minute made me chuckle.

New and creative chord voicings always inspire me when I'm in a rut! Take that old A major in open position and turn it into an Aadd9 and boom! You got a whole new sound happening! Thanks for the great video Rhett, keep it up brotha!

Thanks Rhett, I plateaued early on just as you said, that was many years ago. The things that really helped me (other than KZfaq) were playing with other people, in a band, playing live, having to learn songs that I didn’t always know well across a fairly broad spectrum.

Great tips. I’m going to try to learn parts from my favorite players.

Some great tips right here! Thanks, Rhett

Truefire is a great resource. Love your videos man, keep it going!

I needed this. I’ve been caged in a box for years, mostly pentatonic. This video may have set me free. I recently release a smooth jazz tune and when I first released, I was excited. But now when I listen to it, you can tell I’m stuck in that box...the song sucks lol. But we fail when we don’t get back up, so I’m charging ahead! Thanks for this...I needed it bro!

Hey Rhett, really great ideas! thank you for this clip🙏🏼

Your open mind is commendable Rhett and who am I to question your esteemed guitar teacher but this approach seems contrary to the creative process which could be deployed simultaneously while practicing. For example....pick a key / establish a rhythm / identify a progression utilizing parallels chords and secondary dominants / put on the loop / experiment with notes inherently / drill new good sounding phrases. Consider putting newfound phrases into tabulature for ones own archive.

Loved the attitude that allows you to use familiar things to find new areas. I think it is important that your practice routine isn’t based on things that are so difficult to execute that you lose the flow of covering a lot of ground in a comfortable manner. We all need and strive to learn hard stuff, but a little familiarity like your tape system makes it a bit more accessible and repeatable, in my opinion. Yet another great video from you, Rhett!

Excellent topic! After 40+ years I’ve been over this issue quite a bit! Great idea you have here! I can’t wait to try this! Thank you for sharing this with us!

Really needed this. Thank you, Rhett!

You're totally right. When I was a teenager (in the 80's) I used to play guitar every day, while listening record tapes of Dire Straits, Pink Floyd,... I tried to learn every chord progression and every solo, and it was really good to improve my guitar skills. I've never learnt more than I did back then. Thanks for your videos and your music.

One really effective way to work on these great habits is to set a calendar reminder with an alarm every day to focus on one specific practice session. Set aside 15 mins to learn a new song, write out some new changes, or meet with your guitar teacher AFTER you practice, even if there's no new content yet. You know you're surfing KZfaq. Before you do, set aside 15 mins of playing. Amazing how a quick daily practice will improve your connection to your instrument. Thanks for your inspirations Rhett!!

I have a guitar exercise playlist on my media player - goes from Satch and Vai to Neil Young to Prince to Primus to Santana to Loreena McKennit (very intoxicating stuff to solo over) - currently freaking out over Jimmy Herring and going to throw some of his tunes in there as a challenge - and I practice scales on an acoustic for a few minutes before picking up the electric...

My way of practicing to make me better is just noodling but I try to add in new ideas or line into it, which connects it to stuff I already know. Probably not the best but it’s what I do

Love the mixtape idea! Started my first one today!

I love following you Rhett because you are so pragmatic! You seem relatable. I love the "mixed tape" idea and will give it a shot tonight. Thanks!!

I do something similar but with only audio, and a notepad/google docs file to track progress. Basically, download a bunch of mp3 files (or rip audio from KZfaq videos, which I have been doing a lot lately), download Amazing Slow Downer, import all the files in, create a playlist in ASD, set the loop time (e.g. 30 seconds-45 seconds of the first clip will loop repeatedly until you turn it off), then practice that section til I've nailed it. Repeat with the next clip.. I usually only do a few of these a day though. I like the idea of using video but this process takes way less time so I can focus more on actually practising.

Thanks for yet another helpful video Rhett!

I love Rhetts videos, so much inteligent and out of the box content. Kep it up bro!

The mixtape idea was soooo killer. Never thought of this

Super useful. Thanks Rhett!

Cool video Rhett...keeping a journal helps you remember where you are when you come back to practice time. Knowing what you are going to practice before you sit down is another great idea...Peace ☮️

Seriously, showing up as often as possible. Definitely, everyday. Great ideas to improve...mix tape. Learn songs -- Love Josh Smith...amazing player, and generous. Class - Being open, not locked in negative emotion. Don’t watch the news

Rhett, this is really good advice... I recently started doing this for practicing tricky/interesting parts from songs I play on my covers band... and the benefits are showing.. and is fast, fluid and entertaining.

Well done topic Rhett, and Josh Smith is something else love his guidance and yours as well, grip and rip brother!!

This is a great idea Rhett! I have always struggled disciplining myself to practice and as a result my playing has plateaued and hasn’t progressed so much on the past few years. I’m going to do this loving forward. Thank you for the awesome video 👍🏻

I work best under pressure when preparing for a gig or show, but this video is so helpful in forcing a new thought process for practicing. I'll be working on my mix tapes this week. I'll also add, that as a songwriter, I often will force myself into playing completely different and unconventional chord arrangements that break rules lol. Then, I'm at the mercy of what I've put down on paper and have to make up solos to accompany. I look forward to attempting this approach for practicing!

Nice video, very good timing with the social isolating going on for so long that people (myself at least) are getting in some playing ruts.

Rhett, great insight man ! I feel it’s key to jump outside the comfort zone anyway you can to grow!!! Thank you 🙏

Tha intro monologue was aces!

Glad to hear I'm not the only person who does stuff like this. This is a really good idea.

I am currently working on recording the full arrangement of John Mayers 'I guess I just feel like'. Recording all the different lead lines, diamond chords and solo's forces you to listen really carefully to what is being played and it teaches me a lot about how you can play just a few simple chords and make it sound beautiful. Secondly, recording myself is a great way of finding out that my playing is often very sloppy. When I am jamming to a track I feel like I sound great, but recording it and playing it back tells me otherwise 😁. Which is a great way of improving my playing!

This was an eye opener. Thanks!!!

So many good pieces of advice in this

Great video! Very helpful and inspirational. Will try out everything you said here.

Thanks Rhett. Great video that addressed exactly what I needed. I think there are a lot of players like me . . . played a long time (maybe in lots of bands) and relatively competent but not that disciplined at practicing, maybe who don’t read proficiently or have a deep knowledge of theory . . . but still love guitar and who want to continue to improve. None of the teaching material out there seems to be for us. This is a great approach. And PS . . . I downloaded your Helix presets and like them a lot.

I absolutely love your channel and your teaching tips! It's also cool to see you supporting others (like Pete Thorn!) by hanging out in his live Sunday chats!!!

So that's means that I'm in the stage of upload videos to KZfaq 😮 Nice tips Rhett, I'm going to put them in practice.

This is going to help. You and Josh are a Godsend. I really needed this. Thank you guys a bunch.

wild to hear that you are taking lessons from tim miller... I 'attended' (virtually) the alternative guitar summer school and loved his insight. Huge fan of his playing and watching his dynamic with nir felder, who he taught, was pretty great...cheers!

Josh is a beast ! Great video man

For me the best thing I ever did to get out of that rut was switching to Open and other altered tunings, and start incorporating slide into my playing. I had stagnated and altered tunings opened up a whole new Universe of possibilties. Slide let me work around the damage from a stroke that ruined my left hand. I think a lot of the 'rut', that stagnation and frustration, is slavishly sticking to 440khz.

For me blues, classic rock, funk, pop were all easy to learn but metal and jazz were harder and I practice those a lot now

Great video and tips, from start to finish. Josh is an amazing player. And your ideas, from mix tape to chord voicings, very very good. Thanks for sharing!

Excellent advice Rhett! love the mixed tape idea, and appreciated Josh's advice as well. Very helpful Thank you!

I’m a fan of Trufire . Sooo many styles, and you can save the lesson clips in a favourite section and then play through them exactly like you are talking about. I am doing the Blues and the Jazz course and my playing has improved, a lot. I also am doing the Street Theory Course. All 3 of those together, for me keeps me inspired, sets a regime and teaches me heaps.

I've been in a rut, not learning new stuff for maybe around 5 years. Just getting back into it now and watching videos like this for some ideas. New guitar arrives next month but practicing on my acoustic for now, hoping to try these ideas out!

I'm a blues guy all the way. I play hardcore punk in a band for fun. But as someone who never solos... at all. Rock Discipline by John Petrucci is an absolute ace guitar practice guide. It's weird. It's different. Which is perfect, for anyone to use to help bring inspiration, or just practice a different style.

Awesome Vid Rhett!!! Thanks man!!!

Let's see...what do I do to break out of playing ruts? Buy a new guitar? Seriously, I find playing or learning a different instrument such as ukelele or mandolin or I tune the top four strings of my guitar to a mandolin type of tuning and learn some songs on it to get my head out of a rut and make things interesting. Or try different tunings to mix things up. I agree with trying new or different chord voicings. Cool video and great ideas.

I try to pick one thing to focus on and learn songs that really force you to work on that area. Try to focus on rhythm like Josh said. I'm approximately 1% of the way to playing like Josh!

Big help. Thanks!

Just what the doctor ordered. Thanks Rhett!

A great alternative to this mixtape idea is using a loop pedal with a memory function like the BOSS RC-30. You can put different tracks you’ve recorded in specific orders and use rhythm functions to create a collection of backing tracks / rhythm tracks that you can scroll through quickly and easily.

I make myself little braille crib sheets on index cards. I put the: key, starting note interval, count down to start, phrases with the first three words in places I get stuck or space out. On the next index card, or the back of the same I put chord groupings, and bridge. I will digitally record start to finish leaving all my flubs and space cadet moments in. Then I will layer over the top the corrections. So I can hear where I'm likely to lose the plot, or be distracted by people talking to me or something. ...but I can now hear what's supposed to happen stronger over the top of that. It sticks in my head better even if I can't practice it in full while I'm waiting on a bus or walking I can just listen through a couple times, (ear buds) and then see if I nail the recording when I get home the first time. That was what I had been doing, but before I had a digital way I did it on tapes like that, very primitively. Oh I put any timing things I need to pay close attention to on the cards too. I have a different way of marking that out.

This video is gold. Good tips.

Thanks Rhett!

That is an awesome idea. Thanks

So true..I am at that point I grew fast but am in a rut........that guitar looks amazing what is it ...love sparkly guitars and new looking ones are boring. Sweet blco inlays... I'm drooling dream guitar....

I'm learning a song a week from Hal Leonard play along DVDS. I'm five weeks and five songs in on the ZZ Top DVD. I capture the backing track from the DVD, pull it into reaper, add a guitar track and use amplitube 4 to match a sound to the guitar on Billy's original track, next I sit every night for at least an hour but some times as long as 4 hours a night watching the video, looping and slowing down parts in reaper and I add the original song from ZZ Top on a separate track so that I can compare. I have been playing for just over two years and this current song a week routine is the most progress I have made during my short learning period. Now I have a set list file with backing tracks that I just hit play and let the tracks go, I downloaded the lyrics and put them in the set list order, my plan is to play every thin g on my set list at least 3 times through once a week, then move onto the next hal Leonard DVD that I have which is a Jimmy Hendricks deep dive with 12 songs, then Stevie Ray, then Albert king, then Freddy King, then BB King and so on. That's my plan anyway to keep moving forward to achieve continual forward momentum and progress.

I've even used my phone and recorded parts and ideas for a song I was writing, or how I would like to arrange a cover in my own style.

Thanks for the advice Rhett i myself have been playing a 10 string mexican guitar called the Bajo Quinto it's similar to a Baritone Acoustic guitar and I've been playing for almost 2 years and in that short time I've learned very quickly and I'm now playing with a band and we gig every weekend but now the pressure of that plateau is starting to hit me where i feel like I've slowed down a lot when it comes to learning and I want to keep progressing for myself and for my band. it's crazy how fast I learned all the basics and some intermediate things and suddenly one day that progression just stopped out of nowhere 😔

I'd been playing by myself for a LONG time with the very occasional jam with others. About six years ago I joined a cover band - we play monthly (or did until March) as part of a larger meeting ("Sunday Assembly" I, ahem forget which city, but we're on KZfaq ). I learned rhythm and lead for 3-5 songs a month, we had rehearsals once a week, and I learned a lot of leads and got better overall because of it. Notables I remember are "Pride/In The Name Of Love" and Jonathan Coulton's "Nemeses" because the chorus has so many fast chord changes.

A loop pedal helped me massively in progressing playing guitar. Also being a massive fan of Joe bonamassa, he inspires me to keep playing and learning new chords and voicings!

Yo Rhett, just wanted to thank you for convincing Rick to start his KZfaq channel. I got to your channel after watching him, and duuude you have no idea how many lives you changed just by convincing him.