Playing guitar publicly can be daunting for beginners. They may experience anxiety that manifests itself through physical symptoms like sweating and shaking.
However, they should bear in mind that most audience members don’t care whether a guitarist missed a note or made mistakes – mistakes can happen and it is okay to carry on as though nothing had occurred.
1. Don’t Look at the Audience
Many people feel anxious when playing guitar publicly for an audience. Worries that their performance won’t meet expectations or that an audience member might criticise can lead to overemotional and subpar performances; but there are ways they can manage anxiety effectively so as to ensure they deliver a successful show.
One of the key things to keep in mind when performing is that audiences don’t really care about any mistakes you may make; they simply want to be entertained. Therefore, it is crucial that you relax and have fun performing – the more enjoyment you derive from playing, the better you’ll play!
Practice regularly is also key for becoming more comfortable with the songs that you are performing and to becoming a much better guitarist. Always pay close attention when performing music so that you can pick up on any details in it that may need further exploration.
Your goal should be to perform in front of an audience as often as possible. This will help get comfortable playing in front of others while working out any kinks in your performance. When doing this, be sure to do it with supportive friends or family who understand and are behind your musical endeavours – avoid negative people who could derail this goal!
Visualization techniques can also help reduce performance anxiety. By closing your eyes and envisioning yourself performing confidently in front of an audience, this can reduce stress associated with public guitar playing while making the experience much more pleasurable for you.
Preparing for your performance by gathering all the tools necessary is also key; this includes having your guitar, tuner and any necessary accessories with you. Furthermore, being aware of where you will perform is equally as essential.
2. Practice Makes Perfect
Practice makes perfect when it comes to playing guitar; the more often and intensely you practice any particular song, the greater your proficiency and comfort will become performing for others. Therefore it is essential that regular practices take place in an uninterrupted space where you can fully focus on music without distraction. If unsure how or how often to practice, contact your guitar teacher who can create a personalized schedule tailored to fit into your lifestyle.
When practicing, be sure to include all aspects of the song or riff you wish to improve upon, from its introduction and chord work through learning theory. Though this practice might feel monotonous at first, its rewards will ultimately come.
Test yourself when practicing, too. One way to do this is by writing down your comfortable speed and striving to beat it by small increments each day. Mnemonics can also help speed up learning; for instance, I teach my guitar students an E, A, D, G mnemonic as it takes about 10 seconds less time than memorizing everything the traditional way!
Visualizing yourself positively is another effective way to enhance performance. Doing this will reduce anxiety levels, providing a confidence boost before any performance. If you find yourself becoming increasingly anxious in relation to an impending performance, seeking assistance from a mental health professional might help address underlying causes that contribute to it.
Importantly, professional musicians experience stage fright just like anyone else. Once their nerves were under control, they learned how to manage stress levels and become confident performers – so don’t let nerves stop you from following your dreams!
3. Relax
Even experienced guitar players can experience stage fright when performing in front of others, known as performance anxiety. If this feeling arises for you, remember it’s perfectly normal and concentrate on all the time you spent practicing, which will eventually pay off!
One of the best ways to combat pre-performance anxiety is practicing visualization techniques. Close your eyes and picture yourself performing confidently before an audience, which will help familiarize yourself with performing in front of people and give a sense of control over the situation.
An effective way to relax is spending time practicing in a peaceful atmosphere, which will enable you to focus solely on music without distractions from outside sources. Environment plays a huge role in how well we play our instrument(s). If home practice becomes distracting for you, consider renting out studio or other private space instead – or invest in headphones to block out distracting noises while practicing.
If you are particularly anxious about an upcoming performance, seeking professional assistance could be invaluable. Therapists specializing in social anxiety can offer invaluable insight and advice for managing these feelings – for instance by suggesting exposure therapy techniques which involve gradually exposing yourself to situations which make you nervous until they no longer make you uncomfortable.
When learning the guitar, it is essential that you focus on what excites you about it. Once that happens, everything else should fall into place easily. Just keep in mind that no matter how hard you try, you will never learn everything there is about the instrument – don’t force anything!
Be mindful that even if your playing doesn’t seem great to you, others will still be able to tell that it brings enjoyment for you! Relax and let music carry you away!
4. Don’t Worry About Mistakes
Focusing too heavily on mistakes when playing guitar in public should never be your goal, yet this is often a common problem among beginner and veteran guitarists alike. They tend to stick to what they know instead of trying new things; therefore it is essential that practice makes perfect. You won’t always make the same mistakes each time, but as long as you keep practicing without interruption you will eventually reach a level where no mistakes occur!
Mistakes are inevitable and should not affect your confidence; rather, take a deep breath and don’t allow your mistakes to undermine how you perform. Instead, look at your audience and smile knowing they enjoyed what they heard anyway! A good reminder for musicians may also be to remind yourself that most audiences won’t care much for mistakes they may see during performances!
One way to help overcome your fear of making mistakes is actively listening to other music. Listening with an eye toward learning allows you to notice details you would miss when just passively listening; this will enable you to better your own guitar playing and add flair and variety into performances.
Be mindful of your surroundings and any impact your playing may have on those nearby. Some locations have specific rules about whether or not guitar can be played there, so be sure to contact local authorities prior to beginning to play guitar.
If you have the desire to learn guitar, a qualified instructor is key in getting started. Once you understand basic chords and strumming patterns, moving onto more advanced songs such as Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” may help get things underway quickly; then progressing with more intricate ones as time progresses.