Guitar Practicing Tips - Let's make this a long thread!

[GuitarTutorHelp]

The way you practice and what you practice is very important. Often, we get stuck playing the same riffs or songs. The goal is to always get to the next level of playing.

In this thread, let's list some very helpful practice tips.

Let's make this a long one, ok?!

I'll get it started by listing three helpful practicing tips:

Practice Tip #1:
Have variety in your practice sessions. While it's good to have consistency, make sure to change
things around to keep your practices fun and engaging.

Practice Tip #2:
Work on playing FULL songs! Learning riffs and licks are great, but it's also important to play songs
from start to finish! Choose songs that you can tackle and write out an outline of all the parts. Or, get
the sheet music or learn by ear!

Practice Tip #3:
Keep track of your practice sessions (things practiced, time spent,

[olly]

Practice Tip #2:
Work on playing FULL songs! Learning riffs and licks are great, but it's also important to play songs
from start to finish! Choose songs that you can tackle and write out an outline of all the parts. Or, get
the sheet music or learn by ear!

This is a good one. I used to just learn the intro or main riff and that was it. There is a skill for all parts of music and learning the whole song gives you a better understanding of composition as well as improving your rhythm and timing.

My tip for improving speed is use a metronome. You can download them for free now. using a small exercise or lick you are working on slow it down until you can play it perfectly. Then up the tempo by 2 - 5 bpms - can you still play it perfectly? If not, keep working on it until you can. Only move on when you have mastered the new tempo.

[Instructor]

In my opinion practicing too much is detrimental. Its better to practice with focus points for brief periods of time. BUT, be consistent.

Choose a few goals, but don't try to work on everything that needs work. Better to progress faster through rapid skill sets that are developed a few at a time, than overload yourself with things to do. Pick your battles and prioritize.

One of the things I am glad about our material, and how quickly it can be learned, is that a student can progress literally by simply hitting mute on the television commercials and practicing and working on material while they are muted.

If you do this, and use proper tools, to accomplish what you are setting out to do, i.e metronomes etc, you'll find that in less than a month of consistent practice you'll come farther than you'd expect. The hardest part of this is the consistency, you have to make it a habit to:

1. Focus only on what you need to do to overcome the barriers to the practice objectives, and not just widdle or noodle.

2. Practice consistently.

Instructor

[jamesd74]

I watch Angus young then dream.

I might get the guitar out and then it turns to a nightmare.

I do this daily.

[polyal]

before you start practising set up your metronome to the required tempo
http://www.metronomeonline.com/