Are You Giving Up Too Soon?
I have lots of ways to help you accelerate your guitar progress and enjoyment. I can tell you what to practice and in what order. I can show you ways to practice that will enable you to get the most from the time you invest. I can be your cheerleader and I can advise you regarding motivation, inspiration, and mindset. But the one thing that I can’t do for you is practice.
Everyone knows they need to log in the hours. But a lot of people who initially surrender to that process give up on some of the most important aspects of practice too soon. If you ever feel like you’re not getting the results you want in spite of having practiced intelligently, the answer may well lie in a deeper investment of time and attention. And the best thing you can do to start resolving that is to make a plan.
Think, Write, Play
When was the last time you thought about your guitar goals, and what are you doing to achieve them? You’re unlikely to get what you want until you’re clear about what that is!
Start by writing down your long-term goals. Next, make a list of short-term goals that will take you in the direction you want to go. Finally, make a practice plan based on those short-term goals. It’s important to have detailed daily and weekly plans, so make a habit of writing them down and referring to them at the beginning of each practice session. (I created the DAILY to make this process effective, enjoyable, and easy, so check it out!)
As you practice, look for the specific parts of the music that are problematic. Instead of repeating the whole song or exercise, choose one of those parts and practice it until you can consistently play it correctly, with ease, and up to tempo. That one part may require 10 repetitions or 100. Just do what’s called for. Then, reinsert that small part and play the song from beginning to end, non-stop.
Once your newly repaired piece seamlessly fits into the whole, choose the next problem area and repeat the process. Continue in this manner until the entire piece is satisfactory. This process could be completed in one or two sessions, or it may take several weeks or more. Be patient and stay with it.
Avoid judging your progress frequently. There’s a difference between critiquing specific songs, parts of songs, or exercises as you work and constantly judging your overall progress. Drop your expectations and just practice, one day after another. Trust the process!
But Do You Know When It’s Correct?
Because you understand the importance of practicing correctly, you may be avoiding repetitions due to concerns over the correctness of your notes, fingerings, rhythm, or learning approach. That’s an understandable concern, but don’t let it slow you down. There are solutions!
Recording yourself can often give you clues. You don’t need to make a production of it – a simple phone recording can do the trick. When you listen back to your recording, you’ll hear things you may not have noticed when you were focused on playing. The more you record and analyze, the better you’ll get at listening to yourself as you play and the faster you will improve.
The best way to discover rhythmic problems is to count out loud, either while you play or with your recording. Take the time to do it. It will help you in everything you play.
Even if you’re confident that you’re playing notes and rhythms correctly, you may still be unsure about your learning approach. For example, you may be unclear about when to practice a problem area more slowly or when to speed it up, or when it’s time to reinsert a small part you’ve been working on. You may also wonder about hand position, fingering, or the execution of a particular technique. If you’re stuck on these kinds of questions, you’ll need some quality feedback.
For any of these concerns, feel free to email me with a quick question (free!). Or, to send a video of a song or exercise for me to analyze and correct, you can use my Single Song Support($25). It can help get you back on track quickly and with confidence. If you want more in-depth help, email me to book a full-length lesson or coaching session.
Be persistent. You will get there, and it will be more than worth the investment!
