To stop plateauing on guitar, change what you practice, not how long you practice: learn a new style, a new technique, or a new song, practise your weakest skill, and get feedback from a teacher or a recording. A plateau is a sign that the practice has become a habit, not a challenge, and the challenge is what makes the brain learn.
How do you stop plateauing on guitar?
To stop plateauing on guitar, change what you practice, not how long you practice: learn a new style, a new technique, or a new song, practise your weakest skill, and get feedback from a teacher or a recording. A plateau is a sign that the practice has become a habit, not a challenge, and the challenge is what makes the brain learn, because the brain learns from novelty, and a habit is not novel, so the brain stops learning, and the progress stops. The plateau happens because the player has learned the easy skills, and the hard skills are not being practised, or because the practice has become automatic, and the player is no longer paying attention, and the attention is what makes the learning happen. The fix is to make the practice challenging again, by learning something new, or by practising the weakest skill, or by getting feedback, so the brain must pay attention, and the learning starts again. The metronome keeps the beat, and the practice chord quiz tests what you have learned.
How plateaus work
A plateau works because the brain learns in steps, not in a straight line, and the steps are followed by flat periods, where the learning seems to stop, and then a sudden jump, where the learning appears. The flat period is the brain consolidating the learning, and the jump is the consolidation showing itself, and the plateau is normal, not a failure, and the player who keeps practising through the plateau will have the jump, and the player who gives up during the plateau will miss it. The plateau can also be a sign that the practice is too easy, and the brain is not being challenged, and the fix is to make the practice harder, by learning a new style, or a new technique, or a new song, or by practising the weakest skill, which is hard, and the hardness is the challenge, and the challenge is the learning. The G major guitar chord and the C major guitar chord are the chords most players first plateau on, and the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major is a good progression to practise through a plateau with.
Worked example — breaking a plateau. A player has played the same three chords, C, G, and D, for six months, and the playing has not improved, because the practice has become a habit, and the brain is not being challenged. The fix is to learn a new skill: the F major barre chord, which is hard, and the player practises the bar alone, and the E-shape change, for five minutes, three times a day, for two weeks, and the brain is challenged, and the learning starts again. The player also learns a new style, fingerpicking, with the P-I-M-A pattern, on a C major chord, and the new style challenges the brain, and the plateau breaks, because the practice is new, and the brain must pay attention. The key of F major lists the chords the plateau is broken with.
How to practise breaking a plateau
Practise breaking a plateau by changing what you practice, not how long you practice, so the brain is challenged again, and the learning starts again.
- Learn a new skill, such as the F major barre chord, or the P-I-M-A fingerpicking pattern, and practise it for five minutes, three times a day, for two weeks.
- Practise your weakest skill, the chord change that is slow, or the barre chord that buzzes, for ten minutes a day, until it is clean.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with a new technique, such as fingerpicking instead of strumming, and listen for the song to sound different.
- Record yourself playing, and listen for the mistakes, and fix them, because the recording is feedback, and the feedback is what makes the learning happen.
- Get feedback from a teacher, or from a friend who plays, and ask what your weakest skill is, and practise that skill, until it is clean.
Common mistakes
- Practising longer, not differently — A plateau is not a sign that the practice is too short, it is a sign that the practice is too easy, and practising longer will not fix it, because the brain is not being challenged. Change what you practice, not how long you practice, and the plateau will break.
- Giving up during a plateau — A plateau is normal, and the jump will come if you keep practising, but giving up during the plateau means missing the jump, so keep practising, and the jump will come, even if it takes weeks.
- Ignoring the weakest skill — The plateau is often caused by a weak skill that is not being practised, and ignoring it will keep the plateau, because the weak skill is the limit. Practise the weakest skill, until it is clean, and the playing will improve, and the plateau will break.
Quick reference
This table lists the three causes of a plateau, with the symptom each one causes and the fix for it, so you can diagnose a plateau in seconds. The first cause is the practice being too easy, the second is the weakest skill being ignored, and the third is the lack of feedback, and the fix for each is different.
| Plateau cause | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Practice too easy | No progress for weeks | Learn a new skill or style |
| Weakest skill ignored | One skill limits the playing | Practise the weakest skill daily |
| No feedback | Mistakes become habits | Record yourself, or get a teacher |
Use the table as a checklist when you plateau: find the symptom, find the cause, and apply the fix, in order, practice too easy, weakest skill ignored, and then no feedback. When you can break a plateau in weeks, not months, you will never be stuck, and the playing will keep improving.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop plateauing on guitar?
Change what you practice, not how long you practice: learn a new style, a new technique, or a new song, practise your weakest skill, and get feedback from a teacher or a recording. A plateau is a sign that the practice has become a habit, not a challenge.
Is a plateau normal?
Yes. The brain learns in steps, not in a straight line, and the steps are followed by flat periods, where the learning seems to stop, and then a sudden jump, where the learning appears. The plateau is normal, and the jump will come if you keep practising.
How long does a plateau last?
A few weeks, usually, and then a sudden jump, where the playing improves noticeably, because the brain has consolidated the learning, and the consolidation shows itself. A player who keeps practising through the plateau will have the jump, and a player who gives up will miss it.
Should I practice more when I plateau?
Not more, differently. A plateau is a sign that the practice is too easy, and practising more of the same will not fix it. Change what you practice, learn a new skill, and the brain will be challenged again, and the learning will start again.
Can a teacher help with a plateau?
Yes. A teacher can see the weakest skill, and the bad habits, that the player cannot see, and the teacher can give feedback, and the feedback is what makes the learning happen. A teacher can also set a new goal, and the goal is the challenge, and the challenge breaks the plateau.