Ruts Archives - Unlock the Guitar

When NOT Breaking Out of the Box is a Good Thing

Mental StuffGraham TippettMarch 22, 20190

You’ve probably seen a ton of stuff on the internet, and particularly on YouTube, about ‘breaking out of the box’, which basically means you’re stuck in a scale pattern and want to somehow break free of it to play more … Read more

The Reason Intermediate Guitarists Don’t Progress

Intermediate PlateauGraham TippettJanuary 11, 20190

This leads on from what I was talking about in a previous article but it applies more specifically to intermediate guitarists, or those that are stuck on the so-called intermediate plateau. I say so-called because the main problem you face … Read more

How to Approach Scales in Your First Few Years of Playing

Beginner GuitarGraham TippettAugust 21, 20180

If you’re serious about learning guitar, beyond having the technical ability to play your favorite songs, then at some stage you’ll need to learn scales. While this might seem like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be. Sure, the

How to Get Out of Any Guitar Rut

Mental StuffGraham TippettAugust 7, 20180

If you’re committed to learning the guitar, it’s inevitable that you’re going to get into a rut from time to time. Ruts can last from a weeks to years and can be very frustrating but once you understand the psychology

3 Ways to Get Out of a Scales Rut

Guitar HacksGraham TippettSeptember 7, 20170

Most guitarists get stuck in a scales rut sooner or later; this is somewhat due to learning patterns which, because of their enclosing nature, train our fingers not to stray outside of them and encourage us to play almost on