It's Okay to Be a Hobbyist: How to Hold On to Your Identity as a Guitarist
If you love music deeply but have had to put your dream of being a full-time guitarist on hold for another career, you've likely faced this dilemma: "Can I still call myself a guitarist? Or am I just an office worker who happens to play guitar as a hobby?" I've been there. Even after studying music for years, there was a time when I juggled a 'day job' and struggled with a sense of confusion and depression about my identity. It's a painful experience to feel your passion for music dwindle in the face of reality—not enough time to practice, fewer opportunities to perform. Today, I want to share this struggle and talk about the mindset we can adopt to protect our identity as musicians, right in the middle of our busy lives.
Guitar is just there all the time around me
It's About Direction and Attitude, Not Hours We often judge our legitimacy as a "player" by the number of hours we practice each day or how many gigs we have. But what truly matters isn't the physical time commitment; it's our attitude toward the music and the direction of our efforts.
1. Listening is Practice: Immerse Yourself in the Language You can practice even when the guitar isn't in your hands. Listening to jazz on your daily commute and humming along to the solos is one of the most effective forms of practice there is. Music, especially jazz, is a language. A child doesn't learn to speak by studying grammar books; they learn by being surrounded by native speakers. In the same way, you must constantly expose yourself to the groove, the swing, and the melodies of jazz. "Mouth transcription"—singing along to your favorite solos—is a powerful way to sharpen your ear and musical instincts without ever touching your instrument. It keeps the connection alive.
2. Embrace It as a Lifelong Companion Music is a field with no retirement age. There is no need to feel anxious just because you can't dedicate massive amounts of time to it right now. In fact, your day job can be a source of stability, allowing you to explore music patiently and without the pressure of having to make a living from it. Think of it this way: when the time comes to plan the second chapter of your life, the skills you've been quietly honing on the guitar will become a powerful, unique asset. The key is to adopt a long-term perspective, with the mindset that this is something you'll do for the rest of your life.
Learning tunes always
The Attitude of Sincerity in Every Note Ultimately, the identity of a 'guitarist' isn't determined by external validation or the frequency of your performances. It's defined by your inner attitude. Even if you only practice for one hour a week, if you pour your sincerity into every single note you play during that time, you are already a true musician. The very act of listening deeply to your own sound, of striving to make just one note better today than it was yesterday—that process is the musician's life. So, stop doubting yourself. As long as you love the guitar and hold the desire to express yourself through music, you are, and always will be, a guitarist. For more inspiration and motivation on your musical journey, feel free to visit us join us free at Essential: Building-Blocks.