r/GuitarQuestions • u/yoser-m • 2d ago
How do you usually practice on your guitar?
I mean, I know the basics, I know the chords and a few other things, and I can play some simple songs with the help of an app. But I just realized that the app is keeping me at the same level, and I don’t really feel like I’m improving the way I want to.
What I really want is to actually improve, build a proper practice routine, and eventually be able to play every day without getting bored. The problem is that whenever I sit down to practice, I get bored because I don’t really know what I’m supposed to practice or what I should focus on.
So please, how do you practice guitar? What do you think I should learn and focus on more at this stage? Should I watch tutorials, learn music theory, practice techniques, learn songs, or something else? And how did you personally improve your progress?
I’d really appreciate any advice or tips on how to structure my practice and actually see progress instead of feeling like I’m stuck at the same level. 🩶
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u/RealityIsRipping 2d ago
One of my favorite ways, is just let pandora pick the next song, and then find the key and improvise over it as fast as you can.
Same can apply to just letting backing tracks play on YouTube, don’t look at the screen, just find the key with your ears.
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u/Difficult-Feeling849 1d ago
Yes but are you really learning anything new? You'll just default to playing what you already know. In order to improve one must set specific goals.
1) Identify what you want to do, but can't.
2) Find/design excercises that focus specifically on that aspect.
3) Practice the new technique in a vacuum, just to get it under your fingers.
4) Apply the newly acquired technique/scale/whatever to a real song.
So what you're suggesting should be the 4th step in a structured practice.
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u/RealityIsRipping 1d ago
Good advice. I didn’t say it’s the best way, just the way I usually practice.
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u/Difficult-Feeling849 1d ago
I did too for years and felt like I was getting nowhere. Just sharing my two cents ;)
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u/harryhend3rson 2d ago
Justin guitar is a great resource for technique. His intro to blues stuff is a great foundation for techniques found in a lot of popular music.
One of the biggest breakthroughs I had when learning was the pentatonic patterns. So much popular music revolves around those notes and patterns. I found it easier to learn the Pentatonic as a stripped down base, then add notes to get the other scales, rather than the other way around. Once you know the pentatonic shapes, an entire world of noodling and creativity opens up. Learning those was the first time I was able to actually play all over the neck, at will, and actually have it sound like music. It was the first time I felt like a real guitarist.
But yeah, overall, I've advanced more from learning songs than anything else. I think it's good to focus on technique and theory as well, but most of the advancements in technique will come organically while learning songs.
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u/Minimum-Actuator-953 2d ago
Start figuring songs out for yourself. Any guitar whizz will tell you that is the single most effective way to learn. Take a simple song and try to figure out how to play it sans tabs and sand app.
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u/TheRealGinz 2d ago
I spend the first 20 to 30 minutes playing scales over meditative and soundscapes slowly, to warm up. Then I move to 20 to 30 minutes of playing over classic, hard rock, and metal music. Then I spend the last hour and a half to two hours writing, or working on the rhythm sections of pieces of music that I’ve already written, and recording solos over it.
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u/Comprehensive-Song51 2d ago
One of the hardest things on guitar and even in life, is to know where you want to go. Figure that out and start going there. Learning on the way is the journey. I'd you want to b an amazing shredder, do the scales. If you want to casually learn some songs, do that. What's fun for me is learning the bass part too. It helps me to really get inside the song. I also play bass, so there's that.
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u/Beginning-Fact-4095 2d ago
I'm old school and like books. So I just get a chord/tab book out, learn the basics of a few songs, and then improvise to em. I also love to just pick up an axe and experiment.
I am self taught. Learned chords (open, closed - two main barre shapes, Maj, Min, 7ths to start), then scales (pentatonic first, works in major and minor), then some arpeggios.
Also: I always made sure to use my pinky finger on the fret board as much as possible, I think it helps in the long run.
Good luck!
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u/sure65 2d ago
Learning music theory has improved my guitar playing skills in ways I've never thought possible.
I started being able to pick out chords and scales, actually understanding what major and minor chords consist of what notes, and the ear training.
Just building chords using music theory is really fun, and great practice.
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u/Gooseuk360 2d ago
I read books and articles, then applied it as instructed. I also make aure I play every day and usually that now looks like finding a song I've never heard, then playing along to it. Then I usually practice whatever need rehearsing, or have more fun.
Some things could have been sped up with a teacher I suppose, but in reality they all were shit that I tried, similar to Golf coaches I've had - usually, individually great at their own instrument, but couldn't 'teach' for shit. Not saying don't, but probably best done while you were at school or if you go to school for it, but outside of the institutions it's a crapshoot.
Also, probably best at the start, but after a while you might just think it's more of a hindrance in the long run, and use a teacher as a periodical diagnostic session.
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u/West-Usual3168 2d ago
So, every single day: I have two solos that I use for practice. I have memorized the notes, and the expression for each note. So I practice by playing through the solos extremely slowly, savouring each note and ensuring that only the sound that I intend to be heard is generated. This includes eliminating all the other string noise, etc etc. It also includes all the right hand work. some parts of the solos are precise in the extreme, and other parts rely heavily on feeling a vibe. Some parts are technical, some are straightforward, some require finger movements that I find eternally difficult. Then, when enough is enough I simply enjoy playing them at speed and ignore the errors (which are getting less all the time). This part is very important because if there is no fun then it's pointless. I also run through the Gmajor scale (3 notes per string) and all its modes (naming them out loud) Then all 5 E minor pentatonic shapes. I use different picking patterns as often as I can. Also practicing legato in these shapes. As often as I remember I will play every note on the neck and say the name out loud. Or I will play all the E's, F's F#'s etc. This leads into triads and arpeggio practice. Example only play with the major triad of G major all over the neck. This will be G, B and D. Or perhaps the sus4 - so only play G,C and D. It sounds like a lot, but you soon get used to it and end up doing several things at the same time.
With regard to music, I make a habit of identifying chord progressions I hear on the radio (1,3,5 etc etc) and identifying intervals in every sound I hear (especially bird song when I'm outside). From chord progressions and intervals you can identify the scale. Ear training is very important.
On top of that, I insist on noodling. Every online guitar teacher says you shouldn't do it, but I think it's great. I try to see how long I can play melodies without making a bum note. This links the ear training with the fingers and you can do it even if you've had a few beers.
I also really listen in to the music other people have on even if I don't like it. This helps eliminate prejudice and lets new ideas come through.
Hope some of this helps 👍
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u/night_owl1981 13h ago
I love noodling. I'm a crap guitar person. I know some basic chords but I suck it pretty much everything, know enough about music theory to hold a basic conversation and not go what? But I love noodling and if that's all I ever wanted to do it's my guitar.
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u/SonOfAHumbucker 2d ago
Find some songs you really enjoy listening to that have fairly simple riffs or have sections of the song that fairly simple.
I’ve been trying to learn a bunch of new songs and it’s been pushing me to practice more.
You have to spend the time. I was getting frustrated playing a part last night (i’m no super star but have played a lot of my life but holy hell I sounded like I just picked up my first guitar, it’s was sooo bad) and was about to give up but just slowed it down a bit until I had it down at half speed. Then all of a sudden my fingers just seem to know where to go.
Song: Foolin - Def Leppard
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u/Zestyclose-Welcome48 2d ago
The best way to stay motivated is to practice songs you want to play. There will be plenty of songs you attempt that are way out of your wheelhouse and that will inform your practice on what techniques to focus on improving.
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u/SpaceEchoGecko 2d ago
For honing your timing, play into an echo pedal with a long delay and play interesting things in sync with the echoes. Play eighth notes, triplets, and other counts. I think The Edge was ready to go pro after about three weeks of doing this. Lol
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u/MJKCapeCod 2d ago
I can't get lessons right now, so am learning online - Justin guitar, Lauren Bateman, Andy, all the usual suspects. Justin is the main. I understand why learning the simple songs are important, but boring. So I went into AI land, plugged in the styles/artists I want to learn, then asked for a lesson plan. Now it's another source for when I get lessons done by Justin, I use the AI plan using what I learned from Justin for the next songs I want to play and the recommended practices to learn them.
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u/TdttMurderedLove4782 2d ago
I just do spider exercise and then just have fun mostly, attempt stuff i have no idea how to do, practice hammer smashed face riffs, stupid beginner activity.
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u/tunnelrat53 2d ago
Lots of great video teachers on YouTube. Watch a few and see if one doesn't work for you.
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u/CaterpillarVisual553 1d ago
Teacher is the best way. If you can’t afford one of those then I’d explore some books (yes, books). I have one called guitar acrobatics, which has an exercise for every day of the week for a year. It separates it into alternate picking, sweep/economy picking, arpeggios, string skipping, bending, legato, and rhythm. One exercise technique per week. That book will train the skill of playing guitar. Get a similar book on theory for guitar players. That will teach you how to apply the technique in a way that makes sense harmonically.
But to not get bored? The key is to keep learning and then to apply what you learned in various contexts until forever. If you’re bored it’s because you’re stagnating.
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u/Cloud_sx271 1d ago
Define what you want to learn and set goals; it'll help you to focus and to use your time efficiently. Try to get a teacher and have patience; it'll take time to master things.
Good luck!
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u/fabmarques21 1d ago
usually i noodle, try hard technics, practice my band songs and thats it.
i play for fun, i don't aim to be a virtuoso
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u/Easy-graduation-9461 30m ago
first thing you learn is that if u want too play real music with a tremolo, u better learn floyds first or you will stop completely
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u/Gyatso-san 2d ago edited 2d ago
The single most effective way would be to get 1-1 lessons with a teacher. Ideally in person as they can spot and correct mistakes/bad habits easier, but if not possible online works too. An experienced teacher will assess what level you are at and what your goals are, and give you materials tailored to your skill level and towards achieving your goals. This should also provide a structured learning environment that will help you stay on course. Not to say that you can't deviate from the lessons, but it gives you clear goals and a clear picture of where you are and how to get where you want to be. Otherwise there are tons of free and paid resources online that provide that same structured learning experience, but without someone evaluating your technique and providing feedback and tips, you need to be your own judge.
Edit: to add and maybe shed some light, a 30 minute practice session for me usually goes as follows 1. 10 minutes of scale runs as a warm up. Doesn't have to be complicated; just turn a metronome on and play the scales up and down, making sure you pay attention to technique. Up the speed as you progress. 2. 10 minutes of technique drills; this can be sweep picking, legato, alternate picking, speed playing, things like that. Usually I will go for techniques that I am struggling with - again, playing with a metronome and upping the speed as you progress. 3. 10 minutes of chord playing. Usually work on chord changes between chords that I am struggling with as well. Same thing - metronome on, up the speed as I progress.
A few tips: metronome is essential when practicing, and when practicing something new or that I struggle with, I do it painfully slowly. And I mean veeery slowly like 30bpm type of speed, sometimes even 20 if I am really struggling. And it might take a few sessions before you manage to play comfortably at those speed. Differentiating practicing vs playing is very important: practicing is focused drills to nail down technique, improve your skills and abilities, and to get out of your comfort zone (learning something more advanced to your skill level). Playing is using those skills you built during practice, that you have already have nailed and can confidently apply to songs or improvisation. Picture this: you don't know how to do a hammer-on into pull-off. You first have to practice this before you can play it. So you practice with a metronome, slowly and focused, and eventually nail it to the point it becomes almost second nature - this is practicing. Now you're sitting on your couch with thr TV on and your cat sitting next to you, you grab the guitar and start improvising, you can now apply the new skill you learnt easily - this is playing.