At some point in their journey, every musician—beginner or experienced—asks themselves, “Am I really cut By Chris – your fellow traveler in this wild musical journey
There was a night I almost packed up my guitar for good. Not a dramatic smash-the-instrument moment—just a quiet one. I remember sitting there, fingers numb, ears tired, heart unsure. I’d put in the hours. I’d tried. But the joy I once felt was fading. And I asked myself what many of us do, sooner or later:
“Is this really for me?”
Maybe you’ve been there too. If so, this one’s for you.
Here are 7 truths I’ve learned from standing on the edge of quitting—and walking back into the music with deeper love and clarity.
1. Progress Isn’t Linear—It Comes in Waves
Early on, I believed that effort = improvement. Like climbing a staircase: one step at a time. But music doesn’t care about your charts. It flows. It drags. It leaps.
Some weeks I soared. Others, I felt like I’d forgotten how to play a G chord. What changed everything was zooming out.
How I made peace with the plateaus:
- I started tracking progress over months, not days.
- I realized breakthroughs often came after dry spells.
- I accepted the dips as part of the rhythm.
Try this:
Keep a journal or record one take every Sunday. When doubt hits, listen back. You’ll hear growth that your day-to-day brain forgot to notice.
Ralph once messaged me saying, “I feel like I’m stuck, man.” I sent him a clip he recorded three months prior. He cried. Because he realized: he wasn’t stuck—he was evolving.
2. Talent Is Cool. But Consistency Is King.
I used to envy the “naturally gifted.” Their fingers danced, their ears caught every nuance. But here’s the thing: some of them quit.
The ones who kept going?
The ones who practiced even when it wasn’t fun?
They got really good.
Here’s what I saw:
- Talent flares. Discipline builds.
- 15 focused minutes daily > 3 hours once a week.
- Showing up matters more than showing off.
Pro tip:
Use a wall calendar. Mark every day you practiced, even for 10 minutes. Watch that chain grow. Trust me—it becomes addictive.
3. Comparison Will Eat Your Confidence
Instagram clips. YouTube prodigies. That friend who just gets it.
If I had a dollar for every time I said, “I’ll never be that good…”
Then I realized: I was comparing my rough drafts to someone else’s highlight reel.
What I changed:
- Muted accounts that triggered imposter feelings.
- Started recording my own messy takes.
- Compared “me today” to “me last month.” That’s where truth lives.
Little practice:
Create your own “progress playlist.” Short clips. Raw takes. Small wins. On hard days, go listen. You’re further than you think.
4. Music Won’t Always Feel Magical—And That’s Normal
This was a tough one.
I thought passion meant butterflies. Every session full of fire. But just like any love, music has quiet days.
Some days feel like brushing your teeth.
Necessary, repetitive, boring.
But important.
What I realized:
- Routine builds the room where inspiration can knock.
- Five dull practices often lead to one golden moment.
- It’s okay to feel “meh” sometimes.
Remember:
Don’t measure your love for music by how excited you are. Measure it by how often you return—even when the spark dims.
5. “Perfect” Is a Trap. Progress Loves the Mess.
I used to obsess over every mistake. I’d stop mid-song, rewind, redo. Again and again. And guess what? I hated practicing.
Then I tried full takes. Imperfect, emotional, real.
And something shifted.
- I focused on the feel, not just the flaws.
- I started loving the flow of the song.
- I learned: perfection kills momentum.
A trick that helped me:
If you can play it clean 80% of the time, move on. Repetition brings polish. Obsession brings burnout.
6. You Don’t Need Permission to Be a Musician
This one’s personal. For years, I hesitated to call myself a musician. I thought I needed a stage, a contract, or a certificate.
But then I asked: Who gets to decide that?
The shift came when:
- I started jamming with friends—no pressure, just joy.
- I realized my songs helped someone feel something.
- I finally said out loud: “I’m a musician.”
You don’t need a crowd to matter.
You don’t need a label to belong.
If you make music—any music—you’re in.
Say it with me, even if it feels weird:
“I’m a musician.”
There. You are.
7. The Joy Returns—If You Let It
After one of my lowest points, I took a break. A long one. I avoided my instrument for weeks. But one night, I picked it up. No expectations. Just… played.
And I smiled.
No perfect notes. No plan. Just a simple tune I loved as a teenager. It felt like reconnecting with an old friend.
Ways to find the joy again:
- Play childhood favorites.
- Make weird sounds for fun.
- Write nonsense lyrics. Laugh. Repeat.
Do this today:
Build a joy playlist—not for practice, but for feeling. Return to it when the grind gets heavy. Let it remind you why you started.
Bonus Truth: Music Isn’t About Mastery. It’s About Meaning.
A single chord, played with heart, can touch more than a thousand perfect notes.
Some of the most moving moments I’ve had weren’t in flawless performances.
They were in living rooms, parks, cars—with people I love, playing songs that mattered.
Music gave me:
- Peace during grief.
- Light during depression.
- Words when I had none.
You don’t need to be great to be real.
You don’t need to impress to connect.
Your sound, your journey, your voice—they already matter.
Final Note: You’re Stronger Than You Think
If you’re thinking of quitting, I won’t give you a cheesy pep talk.
I’ll just say this:
Doubt means you care.
Frustration means you’re growing.
Taking a break isn’t the same as giving up.
Keep showing up. One chord. One note. One moment at a time.
Because somewhere inside you, the music still lives.
And maybe, just maybe, it’s waiting for this version of you—the one who almost quit, but didn’t.
🎶
Stay human,
Chris
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