PractiSaurus Has Some Tips For you!
You can take all the lessons you want, but improvement and mastering guitar comes from one major thing and that's Practicing. A good teacher can show you every lick and trick on the planet, but if you never work on them in between lessons, you're never going to get better. Remember, a teacher can't practice for you, he can only teach you what you need to know and how to practice it, the rest is up to you.
Seems simple doesn't it? Practice to get better. Then why is it so hard to practice and actually want to practice? Perhaps it's because we feel it takes away the 'freedom' of playing music in the first place. "Having" to practice feels more like a chore than fun. I'm guilty of this myself, but I've also some great, practical ways to keep practicing interesting.
For practicing to be effective and fun, you need to first of all practice things you want to learn! While I do recommend trying different styles as you progress as a guitarist, learning bebop scales in five positions when all you want to do is strum some Taylor Swift songs does not sound effective to me and will probably make you want to quit. And if you're with a teacher who's forcing you to learn things you have no interest in, even after telling them so, I would recommend a new teacher!
My first guitar teacher taught me songs I wanted to learn. I would bring in a song, he'd show me how to play it, write it out and then have me go home and work on it. He would respond with my interests in mind and also add his expertise and suggestions. I would also buy guitar magazines and learn the songs I liked and try some the exercises. I kept a variety in my routine and that helped me from getting bored.
Here are some effective and fun ways I've used over the years along with many other guitarists to practice and also recommend to my students:
1 - You + The Guitar
This is the most basic way of practicing. Grab your guitar, a song chart and a quiet place and just strum along. Take time in between chord changes to correct any 'slip-ups' or missed fingerings. Make sure all the notes in your chord and ringing out and there are no blocked strings. You'll be able to hear any mistakes much easier without any other noise or music going on in the room. Tap your foot to stay on the beat and make sure your strumming is in time and even. Slow it down and nail it, then speed it up. It sounds a lot better to play something slow and great than fast and choppy. Accuracy first. Another added bonus of this method is you can sing along and have some fun with it! And if you fall a little short in the vocal ability like I do, set up stuffed animals to play in front of. They are a pretty forgiving audience.
2. You + The Guitar + Music
This is another wonderful way to practice and one that has helped me incredibly. Playing along with the song you are trying to learn works wonders. For starters, it helps you stay right on time with the beat and let's you know when you fall off. Remember, if you can't play the song at full-speed just yet, practice Method 1 of just you and the guitar at a slower speed, then work towards the song speed. Unless you're playing thrash metal, and more power to you if you are, then it should not take you long to get up to speed on a song. Most tempos in songs are at moderate or slow speeds and can be easy to get a handle on.
Another cool thing about playing with the song is that you automatically sound better. You guitar is now with all the other instruments you're hearing and it's like you're in the band and you got all these cool musicians backing you up. It makes you more confident. It also gives you a boost of confidence when you nail a part and hear your guitar and the track's guitar line up perfectly. This method also helps you prepare for what it's like playing with other people in a safe setting. If you get off time at home, the drummer won't stop and yell at you to stop pushing him! It's like the X-Men's Danger Room for Guitar. It also makes you think on the spot and get anticipate parts because you know it's coming up and you don't have time to slack off.
When I started with guitar, I would plug one set of headphones into my amp and one into my cd player. The ones to my amp would go on my head first and I would put the other pair over those. This way I would hear the cd in both hears and hear my guitar mixed just on the right side. This made me sound like I was right in the mix and I could easily hear myself blended with the track. I did this a lot for Pearl Jam's "Ten" album as that was one of my favorites to play along with. I use a Line 6 Interface now and run the Pod Farm software the same way now and just play with iTunes on my computer. You can also play along with an iPod dock and acoustic guitar. Any combination works. Just make sure you the song speed down or close and listen well to the guitar on the track you're trying to emulate. And the best part of all, if you get bored, just pick another song. I'm sure you can find a few laying around on your iPod.
3. Finger Exercises
Right away this might not sound like the most exciting method of practice but the key here is to offer variety and change it up. A finger exercise is going to serve as a great warm-up and help you gain accuracy. I was given the simple simple exercise below and thought it would be the most useless thing to do and it turned out to be one of the most effective practice exercises I’ve ever learned. Within a week, my playing was noticeably better and I was hitting notes faster and much cleaner. I still use it to this day, especially when I have to play at church at 7.a.m. and my hands, along with my brain are in no means awake, let alone ready to play anything. This is also great when you need to warm-up and literally go blank and can’t think of any saucy riffs. It can also come in handy when you need to loosen up your fingers before launching into your EVH Tribute. Give it 5 consecutive minutes a day for a week, and let me know what you think.
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0—1—2—3--4--|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0—1—2—3--4-----------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------ -0—1—2—3—4----------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------- 0—1—2---3—4-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------- -0—1—2—3--4------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---0- 1- 2---3--4---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Using one finger per fret, start at a slow speed picking each note with a downstroke. Make sure each note sound clearly before going on to the next fret.
Once you can play all the notes without any errors, increase the speed. Repeat the process until you can play at your fastest speed without any errors.
Duration: 5 Consecutive Minutes as a warm-up
4. Playing with Other Guitarists
The next few practice methods can be extremely effective but require a bit of playing time under your belt. Playing with other guitarists at different skill levels opens up lots of new experiences and new playing tips.
Once you know a couple of chords and basic rhythm, you can jam with other guitarists and play songs together. Watch closely how they strum their chords and their timing. Notice how they move their fingers. You may notice slight or major differences in their technique yet it works just as well if not better than yours. You will pick up these nuances in their playing and add them to your repertoire. You will also be forced to step up your game having another guitarist in the room and make you want to do your best. I’ve seen amazing things happen when I’ve gotten 2 students together and played on the same song. It almost instantly makes you a better player and you’re adding to your experience meter as well. Think about Blues Jams or the Crossroads Festival, all those guitarists are going at it and trying to outplay each other. They are feeding off of the live energy and are giving it 200%. The are feeling it!
You can play with someone at the same level and work on chords together, someone better than you and learn a few new things, or even someone below your playing level and take on role of teacher as you show them a few things. That one feels really good! Playing with other people is a wonderful experience and gives you a chance to really express yourself. In fact, sometimes we find it so much fun we want to invite other musicians to jam with us as well which is where we move on to the next few practice ideas…..
5. Playing with a Singer
Even if you sing yourself, this is a fun way to test your timing and musicianship. Find a willing friend, parent or singer and get together to play some songs. People like to sing, so it should not be hard to find someone who’s interested in belting out their next Idol audition song.
Keep it simple. Get a few song charts you’re familiar with and have them pick out songs. Adjust the key if you need to with the capo and be the accompanying guitarist. This is your chance to work on that timing and those chord changes and lay down the music to help the singer shine. This method will really test your timing and technique as there will be more drummer to track to keep you in time nor big loud band to help mask any mistakes and that’s a good thing. You want to hear what you’re really producing and then be able to work on any areas that need improvement. Ask the singer how it felt and their opinion. Try to be open-minded to suggestions.
And finally, don’t worry about messing up, it’s still practice after all. Besides, I’m certain they’ll hit a few notes you won’t find so flattering from time to time; and then you can offer your “loving suggestions”. = )
6. Start/Join a Band
Most of us start guitar with interests in eventually being in a band. And what better way to really rock out than having a group of people with similar passions ready to take over the world with their awesome music. But before you can scale that building and swat a plane out of the sky, you have to make sure you’re ready. I’m not here to rain on that Sold Out Concert, but before you get in a room with others to play, several others that is, you want to make sure you have your parts down and you’re prepared. That could mean having your charts and chord changes down, or it means you having every mode of the C major scale down. I can’t tell you exactly what level you’ll be at when you join your first band, but what I do know from experience is that you don’t want to be the one in the room holding everyone else up because you can’t remember how to fret that Csus2 chord.
On the other side, once you get your basic chords down and you can play along with several songs and have a handle on rhythm, I say go for it and start getting together with others to play. I started my first band maybe a year after I started playing with my best friend who started bass a month after me. We grew together as musicians and eventually got better and better. Chances are your first band won’t be the one that has Label bidding-war after them, but never say never, it could also very well be. Find some musicians in school or around town; musicians are everywhere. Also, do not write anyone off if they don’t have 100% the same musical tastes as you. I was in a country band where the bassist came from a Thrash Metal band! You never know who you’re going to make great music with. Bands also help you form new friendships and can be rewarding experiences for your entire musical journey. Just remember there is one thing that all the guitar practicing in the world won’t help you find-------------a reliable drummer!
Final Thoughts
My point here is that Practice should be about playing and doing on the the guitar, what it is you love doing. The more you love it, the more you're going to want to do it. These ideas are to help you get an idea of ways you can do that and keep it fresh. You may have some great ideas of your own like playing along with music videos perhaps or writing a song.
At the same time, don't give up on a song you love just because you hit a block in it or a hard chord change. Push through it or take lessons with a good teacher. Perhaps you're just missing a small detail in your fretting that could turn the whole situation around instantly.
Guitar is more than just an instrument; it's a joyous experience to play music and connect with others. It does take a lot of work but from all my teaching and playing experience, I can assure you, it is well worth the obstacles that may come from time to time. Always keep it fun, enjoy it and you'll be amazed what the Guitar gives back.
Seems simple doesn't it? Practice to get better. Then why is it so hard to practice and actually want to practice? Perhaps it's because we feel it takes away the 'freedom' of playing music in the first place. "Having" to practice feels more like a chore than fun. I'm guilty of this myself, but I've also some great, practical ways to keep practicing interesting.
For practicing to be effective and fun, you need to first of all practice things you want to learn! While I do recommend trying different styles as you progress as a guitarist, learning bebop scales in five positions when all you want to do is strum some Taylor Swift songs does not sound effective to me and will probably make you want to quit. And if you're with a teacher who's forcing you to learn things you have no interest in, even after telling them so, I would recommend a new teacher!
My first guitar teacher taught me songs I wanted to learn. I would bring in a song, he'd show me how to play it, write it out and then have me go home and work on it. He would respond with my interests in mind and also add his expertise and suggestions. I would also buy guitar magazines and learn the songs I liked and try some the exercises. I kept a variety in my routine and that helped me from getting bored.
Here are some effective and fun ways I've used over the years along with many other guitarists to practice and also recommend to my students:
1 - You + The Guitar
This is the most basic way of practicing. Grab your guitar, a song chart and a quiet place and just strum along. Take time in between chord changes to correct any 'slip-ups' or missed fingerings. Make sure all the notes in your chord and ringing out and there are no blocked strings. You'll be able to hear any mistakes much easier without any other noise or music going on in the room. Tap your foot to stay on the beat and make sure your strumming is in time and even. Slow it down and nail it, then speed it up. It sounds a lot better to play something slow and great than fast and choppy. Accuracy first. Another added bonus of this method is you can sing along and have some fun with it! And if you fall a little short in the vocal ability like I do, set up stuffed animals to play in front of. They are a pretty forgiving audience.
2. You + The Guitar + Music
This is another wonderful way to practice and one that has helped me incredibly. Playing along with the song you are trying to learn works wonders. For starters, it helps you stay right on time with the beat and let's you know when you fall off. Remember, if you can't play the song at full-speed just yet, practice Method 1 of just you and the guitar at a slower speed, then work towards the song speed. Unless you're playing thrash metal, and more power to you if you are, then it should not take you long to get up to speed on a song. Most tempos in songs are at moderate or slow speeds and can be easy to get a handle on.
Another cool thing about playing with the song is that you automatically sound better. You guitar is now with all the other instruments you're hearing and it's like you're in the band and you got all these cool musicians backing you up. It makes you more confident. It also gives you a boost of confidence when you nail a part and hear your guitar and the track's guitar line up perfectly. This method also helps you prepare for what it's like playing with other people in a safe setting. If you get off time at home, the drummer won't stop and yell at you to stop pushing him! It's like the X-Men's Danger Room for Guitar. It also makes you think on the spot and get anticipate parts because you know it's coming up and you don't have time to slack off.
When I started with guitar, I would plug one set of headphones into my amp and one into my cd player. The ones to my amp would go on my head first and I would put the other pair over those. This way I would hear the cd in both hears and hear my guitar mixed just on the right side. This made me sound like I was right in the mix and I could easily hear myself blended with the track. I did this a lot for Pearl Jam's "Ten" album as that was one of my favorites to play along with. I use a Line 6 Interface now and run the Pod Farm software the same way now and just play with iTunes on my computer. You can also play along with an iPod dock and acoustic guitar. Any combination works. Just make sure you the song speed down or close and listen well to the guitar on the track you're trying to emulate. And the best part of all, if you get bored, just pick another song. I'm sure you can find a few laying around on your iPod.
3. Finger Exercises
Right away this might not sound like the most exciting method of practice but the key here is to offer variety and change it up. A finger exercise is going to serve as a great warm-up and help you gain accuracy. I was given the simple simple exercise below and thought it would be the most useless thing to do and it turned out to be one of the most effective practice exercises I’ve ever learned. Within a week, my playing was noticeably better and I was hitting notes faster and much cleaner. I still use it to this day, especially when I have to play at church at 7.a.m. and my hands, along with my brain are in no means awake, let alone ready to play anything. This is also great when you need to warm-up and literally go blank and can’t think of any saucy riffs. It can also come in handy when you need to loosen up your fingers before launching into your EVH Tribute. Give it 5 consecutive minutes a day for a week, and let me know what you think.
e|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0—1—2—3--4--|
B|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0—1—2—3--4-----------------------|
G|------------------------------------------------------------------ -0—1—2—3—4----------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------------------------------- 0—1—2---3—4-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------- -0—1—2—3--4------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---0- 1- 2---3--4---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Using one finger per fret, start at a slow speed picking each note with a downstroke. Make sure each note sound clearly before going on to the next fret.
Once you can play all the notes without any errors, increase the speed. Repeat the process until you can play at your fastest speed without any errors.
Duration: 5 Consecutive Minutes as a warm-up
4. Playing with Other Guitarists
The next few practice methods can be extremely effective but require a bit of playing time under your belt. Playing with other guitarists at different skill levels opens up lots of new experiences and new playing tips.
Once you know a couple of chords and basic rhythm, you can jam with other guitarists and play songs together. Watch closely how they strum their chords and their timing. Notice how they move their fingers. You may notice slight or major differences in their technique yet it works just as well if not better than yours. You will pick up these nuances in their playing and add them to your repertoire. You will also be forced to step up your game having another guitarist in the room and make you want to do your best. I’ve seen amazing things happen when I’ve gotten 2 students together and played on the same song. It almost instantly makes you a better player and you’re adding to your experience meter as well. Think about Blues Jams or the Crossroads Festival, all those guitarists are going at it and trying to outplay each other. They are feeding off of the live energy and are giving it 200%. The are feeling it!
You can play with someone at the same level and work on chords together, someone better than you and learn a few new things, or even someone below your playing level and take on role of teacher as you show them a few things. That one feels really good! Playing with other people is a wonderful experience and gives you a chance to really express yourself. In fact, sometimes we find it so much fun we want to invite other musicians to jam with us as well which is where we move on to the next few practice ideas…..
5. Playing with a Singer
Even if you sing yourself, this is a fun way to test your timing and musicianship. Find a willing friend, parent or singer and get together to play some songs. People like to sing, so it should not be hard to find someone who’s interested in belting out their next Idol audition song.
Keep it simple. Get a few song charts you’re familiar with and have them pick out songs. Adjust the key if you need to with the capo and be the accompanying guitarist. This is your chance to work on that timing and those chord changes and lay down the music to help the singer shine. This method will really test your timing and technique as there will be more drummer to track to keep you in time nor big loud band to help mask any mistakes and that’s a good thing. You want to hear what you’re really producing and then be able to work on any areas that need improvement. Ask the singer how it felt and their opinion. Try to be open-minded to suggestions.
And finally, don’t worry about messing up, it’s still practice after all. Besides, I’m certain they’ll hit a few notes you won’t find so flattering from time to time; and then you can offer your “loving suggestions”. = )
6. Start/Join a Band
Most of us start guitar with interests in eventually being in a band. And what better way to really rock out than having a group of people with similar passions ready to take over the world with their awesome music. But before you can scale that building and swat a plane out of the sky, you have to make sure you’re ready. I’m not here to rain on that Sold Out Concert, but before you get in a room with others to play, several others that is, you want to make sure you have your parts down and you’re prepared. That could mean having your charts and chord changes down, or it means you having every mode of the C major scale down. I can’t tell you exactly what level you’ll be at when you join your first band, but what I do know from experience is that you don’t want to be the one in the room holding everyone else up because you can’t remember how to fret that Csus2 chord.
On the other side, once you get your basic chords down and you can play along with several songs and have a handle on rhythm, I say go for it and start getting together with others to play. I started my first band maybe a year after I started playing with my best friend who started bass a month after me. We grew together as musicians and eventually got better and better. Chances are your first band won’t be the one that has Label bidding-war after them, but never say never, it could also very well be. Find some musicians in school or around town; musicians are everywhere. Also, do not write anyone off if they don’t have 100% the same musical tastes as you. I was in a country band where the bassist came from a Thrash Metal band! You never know who you’re going to make great music with. Bands also help you form new friendships and can be rewarding experiences for your entire musical journey. Just remember there is one thing that all the guitar practicing in the world won’t help you find-------------a reliable drummer!
Final Thoughts
My point here is that Practice should be about playing and doing on the the guitar, what it is you love doing. The more you love it, the more you're going to want to do it. These ideas are to help you get an idea of ways you can do that and keep it fresh. You may have some great ideas of your own like playing along with music videos perhaps or writing a song.
At the same time, don't give up on a song you love just because you hit a block in it or a hard chord change. Push through it or take lessons with a good teacher. Perhaps you're just missing a small detail in your fretting that could turn the whole situation around instantly.
Guitar is more than just an instrument; it's a joyous experience to play music and connect with others. It does take a lot of work but from all my teaching and playing experience, I can assure you, it is well worth the obstacles that may come from time to time. Always keep it fun, enjoy it and you'll be amazed what the Guitar gives back.