What do I work on next?
I am struggling with what I want to focus on next with my guitar playing. I did a lesson on power chords and am almost done. I decided to do some exercises on palm muting that I found on The Guitar System. After that, I feel so scattered and like I could go in several directions but need to choose one. I could learn bar chords. I have been playing for about 2 1/2 years and still don't know them. On the other hand I think cross picking would be fun. I also really love finger style and want to learn that. Or I could learn 12 bar blues. Oh I could also learn how to use a pentatonic scale shape. I feel like I am overthinking this and going in circles. I keep thinking it would be useful to learn bar chords but frustrating and it more fun to learn cross picking. Help, how do I narrow this down? What is the balance between learning the basics that are useful and learning the stuff that is fun to play and maybe not as much of a basic skill to know?
I hear you Daphne. It can be tough to decide what to work on. One thing if for sure, if you divide your time up too much it will take you much longer to notice progress in any one particular area. Focusing on the building blocks (fundamentals) and one main thing can be very beneficial. For example, you could focus on strumming, changing chords, or bar chords. Things like that are what I consider the "foundations". At the same time, it's important to have something stylistic and fun on the go (this often involves learning a specific song). For example, you could focus on the blues, fingerstyle, or a simpler rock or pop song using bar chords.
Here is an anecdote from my personal practice. I've been focusing on fingerstyle as my main "style" and I've been very focused on learning fingerstyle songs all year. I've experienced way more improvement than I would if I had been working on the blues and fingerstyle at the same time. As far as the foundations go, I've been working on my rock lead chops. Not my main focus but something like bar chords for you that doesn't require a ton of time relative to my fingerstyle practice.
I would seriously recommend going with one main style that you are MOST excited about. This can included learning a few songs. Throw in a basic building block such as bar chords, and you will be good to go. The bar chords will keep you busy for a while and the songs you choose for your main style will provide a never ending stream of things to work on in that style.
Set some goals and commit to 3-6 months of focused practice.
I'm curious to see what you end up doing.