10 Guitar Habits Even Experienced Players Struggle With
You’ve been playing for years and you know your scales. You’ve got your favorite chord grips locked in (if you know, you know..), and you’ve spent hours tweaking tone settings until they felt perfect.
But the problem is, a lot of guitarists won’t admit the habits they still do that drag down their playing.
The good news is every single one of those habits can be fixed, but it’s about being conscious of them in the first place.
So, here are ten of the most common habits seasoned players run into, and how to break them (or at least become aware of them):
#10: Overlooking Dynamics and Touch
As a guitar teacher, I’ve seen a lot of players spend years working on scales, speed, and finger strength, but then every note they play comes out at the same volume. When everything you play is flat and even, your solos and music as a whole lose the emotion.
Once you start treating touch and dynamics as part of the song, your playing immediately sounds more authentic and alive.
To get there, start thinking more like a singer. What I mean is, a singer doesn’t belt every line at full power. They pull back in the verse and get louder in the chorus.
You can do the same with your picking hand. Play a lick softly, then play it again with more power.
Try palm muting on one take and letting the notes really come alive on the next go. You can even switch to hybrid picking for a different texture.
#9: Ignoring Rhythm While Focusing on Technique
When you only focus on speed or scales, your timing usually slips. Even advanced players struggle with this because they think technique will carry them.
Here’s how to focus on rhythm:
- Jam with a drum loop. Instead of practicing scales in silence, lock your riffs to the kick and snare.
- Record yourself strumming. Play a simple chord pattern and listen back. Do you feel it pulling forward or dragging behind?
- Switch focus mid-practice. After running a lick, spend a few minutes just playing quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes and subdivisions, in time.
Above all, rhythm changes everything, so make this a focus during practice.
#8: Over-Dependence on Familiar Scale Shapes
Every guitarist has the spot on the fretboard they are most comfortable with. For most players, it’s the fifth fret A minor pentatonic box.
Don’t get me wrong.. it works in a LOT of situations. But it’s safe, and staying there too long makes everything you play sound the same. I’m sure you’ve already noticed this.
The way out is to expand slowly.
So, start by connecting that box to the patterns to the right and then the left. Learn where the root notes repeat, then use those as jumping off points.
Another approach is to take an easy lick you already know well and shift it into a new position. At first it will feel awkward, but once your fingers catch on, your solos will start to open up across the neck.
Essentially, make it a habit to break out of living in one box, even if it’s a slow process.
#7: Weak Chord Tone Awareness in Solos
I remember learning my first scale patterns and thinking I was the guitar GOAT. I could run up and down the neck, but when I tried soloing over songs, it felt off.
And that is what happens when you ignore chord tones.
Scales are great, but the music comes alive when you target the chord tones. The third and fifth are what makes the solo feel right. If you leave them out or you don’t land on them, the whole thing can sound lost.
The quickest way to fix this is with arpeggios.
They map out the notes in each chord, and practicing them teaches your ear where the good landing spots are and where you should go.
Watch my free Youtube lesson on arpeggios here:
Another trick is to loop a simple progression and force yourself to target the root, third, fifth, or even the seventh on every change. It might feel restrictive at first, but soon you’ll hear how melodies connect to the harmony.
#6: Skipping Ear Training
It’s no secret that a lot of guitarists rely on tabs for everything. And I’m not poo-pooing tabs. But tabs won’t teach you how the music is supposed to feel. It will only get you to the right frets.
That is why so many players can’t learn things by ear.
To start moving away from relying on tabs, pick an easy riff you already know and try to figure it out without looking it up. Sing the notes first, then match those notes to your fretboard. You can even practice calling out intervals while you play.
#5: Avoiding Keys Outside Your Comfort Zone
I’m guessing many of you are living in the “guitar-friendly” keys: E, A, D, maybe G. I’ve been there, too.
And it’s fine.. until a singer wants a song in B flat or you sit in on a jam where everyone shifts into keys with flats.
The way around this is to stop avoiding the uncomfortable keys and practice them. Yes, practice, practice, practice, but with intention.
The Circle of Fifths is a great place to begin. Pick one key you typically don’t play in and build a I–IV–V progression. Strum it until the changes feel natural, then try moving into its relative minor.
Another approach is to take a riff you already know in E and shift it up or down until it fits a different key (no capos though, that’s cheating lol).
With repetition you realize it is the same patterns, just moved.
#4: Neglecting Tone Shaping
A lot of players skip the simple controls built into your guitar. They more so focus on pedals and amp settings. I’m not saying you shouldn’t play around with your pedals and amps, but tone starts in your hands and with the instrument itself.
- Volume knob: Roll it back to clean up your sound, and push it up when you want grit.
- Pickup selector: Learn how each position changes the mood of what you’re playing.
- Tone knob and coil taps: Subtle tweaks here can shift your sound significantly.
- Picking hand placement: Play near the bridge for brightness and near the neck for something softer.
- Attack: Dig in for aggression or lighten up for smoothness. Use the tip of the pick for clarity and use the rounded side for softness.
#3: Forgetting to Play With Other Musicians
I once practiced for months on end without playing with a single other person. My scales were great and my bends were, too. But when I went to a jam session, I realized I could not lock in with the drummer. Not great for a gigging musician lol.
I realized that the riffs that felt great in my bedroom sounded out of sync.
Practicing alone is important, but it can trick you into thinking your playing is tighter than it is. Playing with other musicians forces you to learn how to step forward and when to hold back, and how to leave space.
If you do not have local friends to jam with, try recording a rhythm track and play over it, or use backing tracks online.
#2: Over-Practicing “Safe” Riffs and Licks
As I mentioned, every guitarist has licks that they’re most comfortable with. The problem is that those riffs don’t teach you anything anymore.
Here’s how to break out of that:
- Set a challenge: Pick one technique you usually avoid, like alternate picking, and give it more practice time.
- Change positions: Take a lick you love and move it into a new part of the neck.
- Flip the rhythm: Play the same notes but shift the timing; maybe try an odd time signature.
- Dedicate practice time: Spend at least 20% of your session on material that feels uncomfortable.
#1: Playing Without a Plan
Noodling always feels fun until it turns into months of no progress. The fastest way to grow is to set simple goals. I typically recommend things like learning triads, or getting comfortable with improvising in new keys, but it obviously depends on your skill level, too.
Write down one short-term goal and one long-term goal that you want to achieve as a guitar player. That structure will keep your practice moving forward instead of looping in circles or noodling.
Conclusion
Even experienced players slip into habits that hold them back.
The key is noticing them early and making small adjustments. Fix just one of these blunders and your playing will feel more intentional.
