Guitar players need to develop a practice routine to build their skills. This routine involves determining which skills to work on and how much time can be spent practicing each day. Once this information has been gathered, it’s time to pick routines and exercises to achieve the desired goals.
Identify Goals
Every guitar player needs to have goals when buying an electric guitar for the first time or picking up a new one to add to their growing collection. One person might wish to learn new chords, while another wants to master a particular technique. Decide on these goals and write them down. Doing so turns them into actionable items, and a plan can be developed to get from where the player is to where they wish to be.
Start with three actionable goals and break them down into smaller steps. As each step is mastered, there will be a sense of accomplishment which provides the motivation to keep practicing. Limit the list to three goals so it doesn’t become overwhelming.
Determine the Skills Needed to Achieve These Goals
The steps mentioned above involve learning new techniques and skills. A new player might wish to read music and understand scales, while a more experienced player might want to perfect their hand position. Make a list of what is needed to build each skill.
For example, the new player may need to learn the names of the notes and their position on the musical scale. The experienced player might need exercises to improve their posture before enhancing their hand position. Particular skills required to achieve the desired goals may appear under multiple goals. Consider prioritizing those skills, although some people find they want to start with the most complicated skills because mastering them makes it easy to learn those skills that are less challenging.
Find Exercises That Focus on Those Skills
Countless guitar exercises exist today, so players must find those focusing on the skills they are attempting to master. Once a new player learns the names of the notes, they can find an exercise that focuses on practicing scales so they can work on their reading and scale skills simultaneously. Find exercises focusing on one skill and those covering multiple skills and include both in each practice session.
Include Mental and Mechanical Skills
Focus on mechanical exercises during each practice session. They improve coordination and fine motor skills used when playing the guitar. The mental part of playing guitar is understanding music theory. Study the fretboard, work out chord progression, or practice with a metronome to be a well-rounded guitar player. A great place to find mental and mechanical exercises is in guitar books.
Update the Schedule Regularly
Add more to the original list when one or two skills are mastered. The practice schedule needs to be challenging to see skill progression without being overwhelming. Switch up the practice session every few weeks so it doesn’t become boring, and the skills will soon follow. Set aside time for each skill during the practice session while finding the right balance between mental and mechanical exercises.
Once a player has their practice routine, it’s time to mix things up. Practice with other musicians to stretch these skills and learn new things. However, the goal is to keep it fun. Learning and mastering a musical instrument should never be a chore. With the proper exercise routine, it will be something the person looks forward to every day.
Want More?
We hope you’re enjoying our content. For a deep dive into all things related to Habit, click here! For more helpful advice on a range of topics, explore our Success Blog now!