It's a story as old as time: you decide it's time to tap into your inner musician and start learning how to solo on your guitar. You do your research, pick up some gear, find a teacher (or fire up some YouTube tutorials), and get to jamming. Things are going great... until you hit the dreaded roadblock. The learning curve just got steeper, and suddenly you're stuck, unsure how to take your playing to the next level. Unfortunately, this is the point when many guitars become wall art.

The good news? That next-level breakthrough isn't out of reach. It's often just a matter of spotting (and fixing) a few common beginner guitar mistakes. And with a little help from some modern tech, like Positive Grid's Spark amp series, improving your guitar skills fast is totally within reach.

Here are five beginner guitar mistakes to watch out for... and how to overcome them.

1. Poor Timing: Losing the Groove

One of the fastest ways to derail a guitar solo is shaky timing. If you're speeding up or lagging behind the beat, your performance loses its flow... and your confidence.

Fix It:

The Smart Jam feature in the Spark app acts like your personal backing band, responding to your playing and keeping you locked into the groove. Not only does it provide a virtual band to jam with, but it forces you to play to a metronome when laying down the chords.

2. Overplaying: Trying to Do Too Much

Throwing in every lick you know might feel impressive, but without structure, your solo can quickly turn into a chaotic mess.

Fix It:

Use Auto Chords in the Spark app to learn the harmonic foundation of your favorite songs. When you understand the chord changes underneath, you'll be more intentional with your note choices... creating solos that sound musical, not messy.

3. Lack of Dynamics: Flat and Monotone Playing

Playing every note at the same volume and intensity is like speaking in a monotone... technically correct, but emotionally empty. Remember, a good solo isn't just about the complexity of the notes you play, but also how you play them.

Fix It:

Get some inspiration from guitarists like John Mayer. His solos, while very advanced, are also very melodic. The genius of his solos is not in their complexity, but in how he can really make his guitar sing.

4. Neglecting Ear Training: Relying Only on Tabs

Tabs are helpful, but relying solely on them can stunt your musical ear. If you can't hear and identify intervals, licks, or chord progressions, soloing feels like guesswork.

Fix It:

Try learning a new song by just listening to it. A great way is to hook up your smart phone to a Spark amp via Bluetooth, and play along. Also, instead of going straight to figuring out the chords, try figuring out the bass notes first and go from there.

5. Inconsistent Practice: Losing Momentum

Practicing in short, inconsistent bursts can stall your progress. Without structure, it's easy to lose momentum and motivation.

Fix It:

This one is simple: practice more. Keep your guitar in a place where you spend most of your time. It could be your desk, the couch, or maybe even the kitchen.

Don't Forget to Have Fun

At the end of the day, playing guitar should be fun. Spark series amps are designed to help you enjoy every step of the journey, no matter your skill level. They come in all sorts of sizes for every kind of player: take the ultra-portable Spark GO anywhere, plug a guitar and vocal mic into Spark EDGE for stage-ready power, or stay quiet and focused with Spark NEO guitar amp headphones: perfect for silent practice at home. However you play, Spark helps keep practice fun, inspiring, and something to look forward to.