Better Guitar Practice Methods
How to create a better practice routine
One big question many guitar players, beginners and advanced alike, have is how to create a better guitar practice routine so that they can make better progress in their playing. They know they have to practice but they don’t really know how to go about it. Below are some suggestions if you are just getting started with the guitar or are just looking for a better practice routine.
Define your schedule
The most important things when it comes to practicing is to define exactly when you are going to practice and for how long. In the beginning, it may only be 10-15 minutes and that’s okay. Just set your schedule and stick to it. Maybe Monday, Wednesday, and Friday you practice in the morning before work or when you get home for the day. Define what you are capable of doing, then design the routine.
Use your time wisely
A lot of students get overwhelmed with their guitar playing because they try to learn and focus on too many things at once. In the beginning, break the guitar down into 3 fundamentals: rhythm (strumming), chords, and dexterity (picking). When practicing, focus on spending your time working on 1 or all of these key concepts but take your time with each and if one needs more time than another, spend your practice time on that.
Focus on your weaknesses
If you want to play songs to have fun but your chord changes are not quick enough, then you need to spend the majority of your practice time on hand dexterity and chord changes. There is no point in learning a song yet if you don’t know the chords or can’t change between them. Songs are great, but they are the reward. Save playing your guitar for the end of your practice time. Focus on practicing first and reward yourself with the fun songs afterward.
Track your progress
The biggest mistake you can make as a student is not tracking your progress. How will you know if you are making improvements from week to week and month to month? Keep a journal where you write down your practice speeds. It not only helps you, but it will also help your instructor know how you are doing. Each week you should push yourself to increase your speed using a metronome. Even if it’s only 3-5 bpm each week, that’s progress. Not only that, but you can actually see that you are improving which is a huge motivator and will help you want to practice more and stick to learning the guitar.