10 overlooked skills to make you a better musician

I’ve learned music in a lot of ways — strict cello lessons as a kid, teaching myself guitar chords from a book, bass licks from videos, DJing vinyl in my bedroom, playing in bands, and even making coffee in recording studios and just watching. Half the things that made me a better musician weren’t written down anywhere or taught in lessons or tutorials.

These are practical skills and techniques I’ve picked up along the way — things you can do to improve your playing, your feel for music, and your ability to adapt and work with other musicians. You don’t have to be advanced to try them, either. They work whether you’re learning piano, guitar, or singing (or even producing a track).

Here are 10 creative, often overlooked skills that can make a real difference when learning music.