Today it seems that everyone is trying to be the next best guitarist. So many people dream of playing in a legendary band or being the next Jimi Hendrix or Eddie Van Halen, and have the innate desire to learn the instrument inside and out and be able to express their own style and play many different types of music.

No matter what any advertisement for a guitar course or private instructor states, there are no shortcuts to mastering the guitar, and no guarantee of stardom even after mastery. There are basic skills that must be learned in order to get the most out of the instrument that memorably fantastic guitarists have achieved through hard work and many years in the business of accruing various types of musical knowledge.

There are seven major abilities that are critical to the development of any player that truly wants to become not only an excellent guitarist, but also an excellent musician:

1. TECHNIQUE

The greatest guitarists put an effort into fully understanding the underlying techniques of guitar playing. Too many people try to mimic a great guitar sound, merely doing whatever it takes to copy it, rather than getting to know the underlying technical applications that go into making the sound.

2. TUNING

Playing in tune and keeping the instrument in tune is critical to good guitar playing. Everyone has heard a band play live or even on a recording that doesnt quite hit the mark in the tuning category, and the results can be painful and sound amateurish.

3. MUSICIANSHIP

For many, the desire to become a guitarist is based on some natural creative talent or inspiration that begs to be developed. But many with this natural affinity for music and for the guitar in particular mistake inspiration for skill and musicianship. Just because someone has the talent to play the guitar does not necessarily mean he/she needs less practice than a person for whom music might not come as naturally. Musicianship, or artistry in performing music, is another essential ability for a guitarist, and like any other skill, takes concentrated practice and effort to fully develop.

4. CREATIVITY/FLEXIBILITY

Another essential ability for great guitar playing is creativity as it relates to flexibility. As mentioned previously, creativity is both a cause and effect of musicianship and practicing. But by practicing being creative by improvising with basic technique on a regular basis, a guitarist will learn the critical tool of flexibility.

5. EAR TRAINING

Some claim that ear training is the single most important part of being a great guitarist. It certainly does bring the ability to process all the other skills flexibility/creativity, quick technique implementation, musicianship and even others such as stage presence/confidence, but it is one of the more complex skills to learn because it takes a lot of different types of practice, particularly for those without natural aural abilities.

6. STAGE PRESENCE/CONFIDENCE

Stage presence and confidence are tied in with personality and natural charisma, but even more so with practice and knowledge of basic techniques and all the other skills mentioned that make up a great musician and guitarist.

7. PRACTICE

Practice is a difficult necessity for being an outstanding guitarist because it demands time, but it is also the most obvious way to tie in all elements of great guitar playing. Practice is simply allowing time to implement the techniques and musicianship, the ear, the confidence and all other elements of the guitar and the guitarist as they develop.

There are different opinions about what is the most important skill to learn in order to truly excel at the craft of guitar playing, but a lot claim there is no one skill that can exist alone or is all-important all work together like puzzle pieces to create a whole, functioning being capable of growth, innovation and inspiration.