subject: Good Guitar Practice - 4 Tips To Have Effective Practices And Improve Faster [print this page] We've all heard the typical excuse for guitarists that don't improve and it's "I don't have enough time to practice." Really, sometimes we can't fight our own lives and schedules, so the next best thing to focus on is making the most of the time that we do have.
As hard as it might be to sit down and get a good guitar practice going, you need to make sure that you're using your time effectively and in an organized manner. Check out this routine that you can adopt as your own to have an effective practice the next time you pick up your guitar.
1. Document your progress.
To ensure that you're not wasting time going over things you've already covered in your previous practice, documenting your progress is important. You really don't have to do anything too fancy either. You just want enough to note what you played well and what you need more time to cover.
These are the most popular methods of documentation for guitar practices:
* Practice Journal
If you have an old notebook lying around, grab it and start scribbling down your achievements. Mark the date, what you did well, and what you need more work with.
The best type of notebook would be one that actually fits in your guitar case for convenient storage with your instrument.
* Recording Device
Whether it's a tape recorder, your cell phone, or a professional piece of computer software like Pro Tools or Cubase, an audio recording of your practice is a great idea.
Recording with professional software is great for playing along with if you're the type who enjoys writing music as well as playing others'.
2. Stretch.
Before you start anything in a good guitar practice, it's not a bad idea to do a few stretches. Bend your fingers back towards your wrist until you feel the twinge and hold them there for approximately ten seconds.
It's also a great idea to stretch out your shoulders and triceps if you intend on doing some full-arm strumming or wearing a heavier guitar on the strap like a Les Paul.
3. Do a few scales.
You don't need to jump into anything fancy with your scales and practice riffs, but it should be just enough for your fingers to realize that it's practice time. Even if you have a few personal licks that are just fun to play and make your fingers work a little bit, run through them a couple times before you dive into the real material.
4. Don't move on until you can actually play the material well.
The "progressing" part is where most beginning guitarists get frustrated because they don't understand when it's appropriate to move on. Only move on to more material when you are confident playing a piece through at least three times.
When that third time occurs and you nail it, celebrate and whip out another piece.
It's a great feeling to get through a good guitar practice and know that you've accomplished something. Remember these tips when you start your next guitar practice and hopefully you'll be progressing and improving at a faster rate than before.
