I​solation is No Stranger to Success

Social isolation has at one point or another been the best friend of every guitar virtuoso worthy of worship. Guitar players like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and John Mayer undoubtedly were born with gifts of hyper-musicality and technical ability. No one could say otherwise and be correct. However; it's well documented that these guitar titans spent hours and hours locked away in bedrooms, playing to no one but their own reflection. In this socially distant state of the world, that's reassuring for guitar players of all ability levels, from finger cramped beginner to veteran player *slash* aspiring rock star. As COVID-19 keeps people from venturing outside, and "normal life" seems to be getting further away, everything you need to level up your guitar playing and hone your craft could not be closer to home.

T​he daily news is dark enough, so we're trying to keep it light over here. We're talking Ernie Ball 9s type light, okay? let's continue. 

A Look at the Positives

With working from home being the new normal, there has never been more opportunities to practice. I​f you've been putting off picking up a guitar because there are not enough hours in the day, now is your chance to make up for lost time. Spend that work from home lunch break with a guitar in your hands. I promise you can fit those sandwich bites between songs. That commute to work that no longer exists? Spend that time in the morning learning a new riff. Have fun with this new-found accessibility to your instrument. As the work day begins, tell yourself that if you focus on your 9 to 5 for the next hour, then you'll be rewarded with 15 minutes of stress-free noodling afterwards. I bet you power through the day (I know I do) while having a lot more fun! 

Yes, it's possible you have been advised to stay at home. That doesn’t mean your guitar progression has to stop? Now is a great time to take advantage of the endless remote education resources available to you. Thanks to the internet, you can take high-caliber Nashville guitar lessons without ever actually traveling to guitar lessons in Nashville. All you need is a computer or smartphone, a guitar, and a willingness to learn from the comfort of your home. If you're reading this, it's safe to assume you have all three...get to it!
 

Hey, maybe you want to connect or interact with other musicians who are bored in their room too. What a perfect time to immerse yourself in the online guitar community. The points of entry into the virtual guitar world have never been so dynamic, or, so welcoming. Every second, there are millions of guitar heads like us talking about the latest gear, freaking out over an artist's latest release, or showcasing guitar chops on social media. The social app Tik Tok, has an especially cool feature that enables users to "duet" other people's videos and film themselves playing or singing along. This is a great way to gain exposure if you write original music, and it's also a unique opportunity to collaborate with musicians from all corners of the globe. Who knows, maybe you're the next break out guitar-shredding-viral-sensation waiting to be discovered! 

There is no wrong or right way to navigate life and work at home, as we now know it. I do think guitar playing is one way to make it a little bit (a lot) more enjoyable. Whatever it is you decide to do with your time at home, please be safe, be well, and stay tuned.