When we sit down with our guitars to practice, sometimes our minds are anything but focused. One minute we’re running through scales or working on a tricky passage, and the next, we’re thinking about bills, errands, or that friend we haven’t called in weeks. I experienced this exact distraction while practicing a Larry Carlton tune recently. Halfway through, I stopped, completely lost in thought, thinking, “This would be an interesting topic for my blog!” If that sounds familiar, then you’ll know that concentration while practicing isn’t just a matter of willpower; it’s a lot like meditation.

It reminds me of a Zen story:

A young monk struggled to focus during meditation, his mind jumping like a wild monkey. His master took him to watch real monkeys in a tree and said, “Don’t try to silence them—just try not to chase them.”

So, when practicing a repetitive passage, it actually is a lot like meditation: our job isn’t to fight or scold that monkey; it’s to gently recognize when it wanders and bring back our attention back to the present moment. In guitar practice, this means catching yourself when your thoughts drift and refocusing on exactly what you were practicing. You know? Many times I’d like to have a time-machine that let’s me travel to the present, to the here and now.

No, this idea is not just from Zen masters, monks and the such, in fact, science backs up the idea that our minds are wired to wander, and bringing them back can actually improve our ability to concentrate over time.

Why Our Minds Wander and Why It’s Normal

Research shows that our brains are naturally inclined toward mind-wandering (Jebara et al., 2024). People spend a positive part of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they’re currently doing. The “default mode network,” or DMN (Raichle, 2015), governs this state, keeping the brain alert and functioning even during periods of daydreaming or mind-wandering. In essence, our brains never truly rest. Even when it seems like they do, they’re operating automatically. For guitarists, this automatic mode can kick in during repetitive tasks, like practicing a familiar scale, causing the mind to drift or leading to a loss of focus during long practice sessions.

Mind-wandering isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can help us with problem-solving, creativity, and even processing emotions. Hey, if I didn’t have a wandering mind, you wouldn’t be reading this! But when you’re practicing guitar, it’s not exactly helpful to start worrying about your grocery list! Every time our minds wander, we’re more likely to make mistakes on the guitar—missing notes, losing the rhythm, or just feeling disconnected from the music. Recognizing this as a normal part of human psychology, though, takes the pressure off and helps us be a little gentler with ourselves. You don’t mistreat the monkey; you just stop chasing it.

3 Tips to Stay Focused While Practicing Guitar

While distractions are natural, there are ways to train yourself to stay focused during practice. Here are three practical tips to keep your mind anchored to the guitar, even when that monkey tries to take over.

1. Break Down Practice Sessions into Smaller Chunks

Instead of long, uninterrupted practice sessions, break your time into focused blocks. For instance, spend 10 minutes on scales, 15 minutes on a new song, and 10 minutes improvising. This helps your brain stay engaged and reduces the likelihood of drifting. The variety keeps things fresh, and quick mental breaks between each block allow you to reset and stay sharp. If your mind starts to wander (or the “monkey mind” kicks in), take a short pause—grab a coffee or tea, and return feeling refreshed. Keeping it engaging and manageable helps your brain stay focused and productive.

2. Use a “Mental Anchor” Technique

A “mental anchor” is a point of focus you return to when you notice your mind wandering. For guitar practice, this could be something as simple as feeling the strings under your fingers or listening closely to each note’s tone. Whenever you catch your mind drifting, just bring it back to this anchor. This technique is similar to how meditators focus on their breath to maintain awareness. Over time, you’ll find it easier to stay present, whether you’re working on a tough solo or practicing chord changes.

3. Practice Mindfulness Exercises Outside of Guitar

Practicing mindfulness outside of guitar sessions can help strengthen your focus when it’s time to play. Mindfulness exercises are simple and can be as brief as a few minutes each day. Try sitting quietly, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breath for a minute. When your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the breath without judgment. This simple exercise trains your mind to recognize distractions and let them pass, a skill that will translate directly into your practice sessions.

Why This Matters for Your Playing

Staying focused on the guitar isn’t just about hitting the right notes—it’s about deepening your connection to the music. When you can focus fully on what you’re playing, you notice subtleties like dynamics, tone, and phrasing that might otherwise get lost. Over time, this focus becomes a natural part of your playing, allowing you to express yourself more fully and develop a sound that’s authentically yours.

Plus, learning to gently guide your mind back from distractions builds patience. Each time you bring your attention back, you’re reinforcing your ability to focus, which can spill over into other areas of life as well. Guitar practice, then, becomes a dual-purpose activity: you’re building musical skill and mental resilience at the same time.

Conclusion

Guitar practice, much like meditation, is about recognizing when your mind strays and gently bringing it back to the present moment. Just like that wild monkey in Zen teachings, your mind will wander—it’s inevitable. But with practice, you can learn to guide it back without judgment, keeping your focus on the strings and your sound. The more you practice this art of refocusing, the deeper your connection to the guitar becomes. So next time your mind wanders to the bills or that Larry Carlton lick, just acknowledge it and bring it back. You’ll find yourself not only improving on the guitar but also gaining a little more peace and focus in the process.

References

Jebara, S.B., Daly, S., & Marco, G.D. (2024). Investigating the Impact of Mind Wandering and Attentional Control on Force Production. 2024 IEEE 12th International Symposium on Signal, Image, Video and Communications (ISIVC), 1-6.

Raichle, M.E. (2015). The brain’s default mode network. Annual review of neuroscience, 38, 433-47 .

Sabater, V. (2021). Your Brain Has an Autopilot Mode: The Default Mode Network. Exploring Your Mind. https://exploringyourmind.com/your-brain-has-autopilot-mode-the-default-mode-network/