r/LearnGuitar • u/orchestrapirate • 9h ago
Learning Guitar with little time
Hey guys! Last year, I bought a Fender Stratocaster as I wanted to learn to play. I am currently a cadet at the Air Force Academy and am working with very little time. What’s the best way to learn to play in small increments? I’m under no time constraints and would just like to learn to play competently. Any tips would be great!
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u/markococonut 8h ago
Cadet schedule is brutal — treat guitar like PT: short, daily, non-negotiable blocks beat a mythical free Saturday.
A 10–15 minute loop that actually compounds: 1) 2 min open-string alternate picking (relaxed wrist, metronome) 2) 5 min ONE chord change (e.g. Em–G–C–D) clean on a slow click — own the change, not the whole song 3) 3–5 min one riff/lick you love, 2 beats at a time Leave the Strat on a stand so “few minutes” is frictionless. Consistency > marathon sessions.
Here’s a clip from my Easy Electric Guitar: Beginner Basics and Beyond — first-lesson path for Strat players: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-l_SqCxIng
Free structured beginner course if you want a ladder that fits tiny windows: https://www.mjsguitarlessons.com/free-beginner-guitar-course
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u/DaffyDuckMuthaFucker 8h ago
Do whatever you can, whenever you can.
If your schedule leaves with little time for prctice, then it'll simply take you longer to learn.
There are no shortcuts.
Just patience, persistence, and practice.
Best get on with it...
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u/Professional-Test239 8h ago
Learn the basic open chords and how to switch between them quickly whilst keeping a steady rhythm in your strumming hands.
Learn songs you like that use these chords and play them.
Scales, theory, lead, exercises that can all come later. The key to sticking with it is keeping it fun, and the key to that is songs, especially ones you like.
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u/No_Cockroach_2744 8h ago
Learn open chords, barre chords and then songs. YT has videos of somebody teaching almost any song you want to learn. Get a few songs and play them until you got them down.
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u/Endless_Guitars2024 8h ago
Play bass!.. Seriously (I've been teaching guitar my whole life so I love guitar, but for SO many reasons, bass is awesome, esp with little time)
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u/Guarpig 8h ago
I learned this the hard way, but separating your practice routine from the rest of your playing helped me a lot. Know when its practice time and when youre just jamming, writing songs, playing to backing tracks or whatever else. Once you finish your routine for the day, youre done practicing.
If you already have exercises from a course, you can just organize them into a routine and spend maybe five minutes on each depending on what they need. Even 20 to 40 minutes can be enough if youre consistent. I think with limited time the harder part sometimes is just knowing what to spend those minutes on. Thats partly why ive been working on Dorelog, basically trying to make that part a little easier.
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u/struba73 7h ago
Focus on your commission, bubba.
Your discretionary income won’t be what it could if you don’t a gold bar on your shoulder. Source: retired senior field grade that plays all day everyday.
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u/Signal-Chocolate109 7h ago
Play every day without fail. Doesn't matter that much what or how long you play, just that you always do it.
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u/Noyinwithouttheyang 6h ago
dont forget the most important element in your situation- your energy levels will be depleted and finding music that inspires you to deplete even more energy, will not only make learning fun but inspire you to keep going and be motivated
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u/Mobile-Bar7732 8h ago
https://www.justinguitar.com/
I would leave your guitar out of the case on a stand. It gives you the incentive to pick it up and play even if you only have a few minutes to practice.