Guitar Practice Routine

About

Create a structured practice routine and consistently edit it to keep yourself on the edge of your ability. Decide what you want to learn and modify the routine to reflect the skills involved. Record and reflect on your progress. This is your ride. Have fun with it. Link to edit is below.

warm-up

Be a professional, don't go in cold.
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Stretch

Spiderwalk

tune-up

Check, 1-2.
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Always tune-up before you play. Pay attention to the process. It's the first step of you getting into the music. It's also the basis of ear training. Check out the write-up on how to tune guitar by ear for instruction.

theory

To quote Richard Feynman, "understanding something only adds to its beauty." Basic theory is important and can help connect your mind to the instrument. When you learn theory have the guitar in hand and apply it in a musical context. The knowledge you gain here helps you become a better musician and play to the song.

technique

"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast."

Structure your practice based on the fundamentals of motion mechanics. You will progress faster in this section if it's split up in 5-10 minute practice intervals multiple times a day. You want to get to the point where you can clean your six shooter in the dark.

repertoire

What do you want to play? The jukebox has some good tunes.
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Let this section inform the other areas of your practice routine. Follow your ear – what sounds and feels good? Who are you influenced by? Who influenced them? Go down the rabbit hole. All artists study the techniques of others and incorporate them into their playing. See if you can hear what they picked up and how they made it their own. Can you translate an idea from another medium into a musical context? What you learn on your own makes you who you are.

You determine your path. There is no "right way."

transcribe

Audio only.

Listen to songs, riffs, licks, phrases, or sounds you like and figure out how to play them by ear. Use tools to help rewind, slow down, and loop tracks. Progress to learning entire songs start to finish. Challenge yourself to rely less on tools and do it all in real time.

time

Can you feel it?

Time to get in the groove. We’re talking about rhythm. You can play all the right notes but if your timing sucks it’s going to sound like shit. This is a do-or-die skill. Practice and play with a beat. Tap your foot when you play. Use a drum track and metronome. This will build your sense of rhythm until it becomes innate.

improvise

Ask yourself, "what do I hear?"

This is how you begin to find your voice. Start asking yourself what the music sounds like in your head. What are you going to play when your turn comes around at the table?

Set aside time to play with records. Add to the music.

reflect

Reflect and iterate.

Record yourself. How does it sound? Where can you improve? What do you want to work on next?

ruth’s toolbox

Tune Transcriber
Drum Machine

Tuner

inspiration

"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it accounts to. I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time." – Chet Atkins

template

Practice Template [Edit]

Good luck!

Lesson 101