Confused? Good!
There’s not much to be confused about when you begin playing guitar. You learn to form some chord shapes, practice a strumming pattern, and you’re off and running. But when you move beyond first position chords, start exploring single note playing, or delve into theory, you’re faced with concepts of varying complexity.
Your initial reaction is likely to be confusion, which has the potential to stop you in your tracks. But once you realize how beneficial confusion can be for learning, you open the door to unlimited progress.
Good Confusion
Neurobiologists tell us that confusion is actually a catalyst for learning, as it motivates deeper processing and leads to a more thorough understanding of concepts. As you struggle to understand new material, you’re motivated to solve problems. You tend to make connections, your recall is enhanced, and the concepts you learn will be more deeply ingrained than if you had acquired them without struggle.
This information is important to remember when you encounter confusion. The more often you embrace and work through confusion, the faster and better you will learn.
Not-So-Good Confusion
Although confusion is generally a positive component of the learning process, staying confused for too long can result in frustration or anxiety that shuts down motivation. But even if you experience a shut-down, you can ameliorate your frustration and get back on track to clarity with a few simple tricks.
What to Do
The first thing to do when you’re feeling anxious is to take a short break. Take a few slow, deep breaths and empty your mind. When you revisit the challenge after a reset, you’re likely to have more clarity.
If you’re still feeling a high level of frustration after resetting, walk away. Sleep on it. When you return to it, choose a time when your mind is calm.
Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Repetition will help you understand what you learn. When you use musical concepts, you come to understand them in a natural way, so don’t postpone practice until your confusion abates. Remember that you don’t have to completely understand what you’re learning before you can start practicing it. Take a small bit of information, use or practice it until you’re comfortable with it, and then learn the next thing.
This approach is especially important when learning music theory. For example, if you’ve ever studied chord construction without attaining a benefit in your playing, it’s probably because you never practiced what you learned. When I wrote A Guitar Player’s Guide to Music Theory, I included worksheets to help you avoid that problem. You probably won’t find those in other music theory books, which is why you can have a stack of theory books and lessons and still not be a better player.
No matter how much you initially understand something in music, it won’t stick—or be useful—until you use it repeatedly. But as you faithfully log in repetitions, you will inexplicably gain understanding without mental or emotional struggle.
Ask for Help
Sometimes confusion is too deep to unravel on your own. At those times, I’m here to explain concepts or coach you in the approach. Also, remember that you can find the lessons you need to shore up your foundation in the Virtual Studio. Not sure which lessons you need for a particular challenge? Ask me! And next time you’re confused, remember how smart you’re getting!
