Five Steps to Becoming a Better Guitarist

There is no doubt that the internet has made learning the guitar more accessible than ever. It is also a mine field of information and misinformation alike. While there is no “magic pill” that will turn you into a guitar god overnight there are however some easily overlooked, simple, and inexpensive good practice habits that will last you a life time. What follows are five steps that you can add to your practice session today.

        KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHEVE BEFORE YOU BEGIN

 It's embarrassingly simple but so often overlooked. Before you start your practice session know how long it will last. Have a clear idea of the material you want to cover and a reasonable expectation of how much you really will get done in the time you have allotted. For example; I want to learn a chord melody arrangement of My Shining Hour to do this I will need to spend some time limbering my fingers. I will need the music on my music stand. I will only expect to learn and memorize the first 16 Bars today.

        PRACTICE IN TIME

Play all warm up exercises and examples with a metronome. Not only will it help you keep better time which in turn in makes you a better guitar player you will also see results as the numbers on the metronome get gradually higher. It is a great feeling to know you are playing cleanly 20 BPM faster today than you were yesterday.

         TWELVE KEYS

 Learn to play everything in all twelve keys this will engage your mind as well as your fingers. It is guaranteed that being comfortable with music in all twelve keys will make you a more confident player and free you from thinking when performing.

        SING WHAT YOU PLAY

Singing your musical phrases will certainly help you with your rhythmic and melodic phrasing. It will also add a natural "vocal" like quality to your playing. You can start with something regimented like singing as you play one octave major and minor scales through the cycle of fifths. Another well used exercise is to sing each note of the chords of an ii - v7- i before trying to play them.

        

        LISTEN

 It's simple to say but often we are so focused on playing we don’t listen. Ask yourself; am I playing with good tone and dynamics? How is my rhythmic phrasing? Am I playing appropriately for the moment? Your ears are a great barometer of correctness by listening you will learn to trust them. Rather than playing all the new sounds you have been working on you will train yourself to play appropriately for the situation you are in.

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