How to Practice Guitar: Ensure Faster Progress and Enjoyment

Name: How to Practice Guitar: Ensure Faster Progress and Enjoyment
Rating: 4.5 (20 reviews)

Guitar Practice: The Art, Science and Psychology of Effective Practice of Scales, Theory, Chords, Fingerpicking, Songs…

Created byErich Andreas

Last updated 9/2024

English

What you'll learn

Psychology of Practice: Understand the mental aspects of practice, including how your brain works and how to make your training more effective.
Step-by-Step Practice Methods: Learn precise, step-by-step methods to maximize your progress during practice sessions.
Looping and Chunking Techniques: Master advanced techniques like Looping and Chunking to break down complex solos and songs into manageable parts.
Inventory Breakdown Method: Learn to practice effectively by taking inventory of your skills and assets, simplifying scales, chords, and other guitar techniques
Slow it Down, Break it Down: Discover how to conquer any daunting song or solo by slowing it down and breaking it into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Real-World Application: Apply what you learn to real-world practice situations, ensuring you can use these techniques in your daily routine.
Perfect Practice: Understand the concept of “perfect practice” and how to implement it to achieve consistent progress.
Practical Exercises: Engage in hands-on exercises that reinforce learning and help you build muscle memory.
Forward Momentum: Experience continuous progress with each lesson designed to build on the previous one, keeping you motivated and moving forward.

Course content

4 sections • 29 lectures • 5h 13m total length

Introduction To How To Practice10:15
I get the questions, "What should I practice?", "How do I practice?" and "How much do I practice?" a LOT, which is why I created this series. Now, because EVERYONE is approaching the guitar with a different set of desires, goals, discipline levels, etc., there REALLY is no "one size fits all" for practicing. Because of this, this series is more of a guide with suggestions, than, "this is exactly how to practice". In fact, that is a question that you will come to on your own, IF you are serious about learning the guitar.
Please use this series to spark your creativity and bolster your practice regimen.
Warming-Up5:08
"Warming-up" is not required, BUT for those who are more advanced, you will find that warming up will sharpen your skills quite a bit before a gig. When we practice, especially for longer periods of time, we reach new plateaus. Warming up before a gig helps to bring you back to that plateau in a shorter amount of time.
Even though warming up is not a "must", if you are gigging a lot or practicing a lot, warming up will most likely benefit your playing.
Scalular Practice15:56
This lesson will cover various ways to think about scales and increase your practice routine with single notes.
Chords Practice8:57
In this lesson, I will show you how to focus on your chord practice. UGS has LOTS of chordal lessons, so you will want to integrate those as well, but again, no one size fits all.
Fingerpicking Practice9:37
In this lesson we will focus on picking practice.
Theory Practice8:08
Let's add some theory to your practice routine! In this lesson I discuss how to add theory exercises to bolster your theory knowledge.
Section Conclusion1:22
Congrats my friends! Apply what we have talked about in this series and please let me know if you have any questions.

Introduction to the Inventory Breakdown Method Using the 12-bar Blues3:37
In this series we will break down the 12-bar blues chord progression that I play in this video along with all the licks, chords and tricks. Let's discuss just how we are going to break all this down!
Inventory Breakdown Method Using the 12-bar Blues - Chord Progression4:45
In this lesson we will take a look at the chordal structure of the 12-bar blues progression. It's best to have a good 30,000 foot view of whatever song you are preparing to learn, before just jumping in.
Inventory Breakdown Method Using the 12-bar Blues - The Chords3:50
In this lesson, we will break down the actual chords that you will use in this series.
Inventory Breakdown Method Using the 12-bar Blues - The Lick10:00
In this video, we will work on the lick that is played throughout the chord progression. It's really not as hard as it sounds, once you get the hang of it and it's SUPER fun!
Inventory Breakdown Method Using the 12-bar Blues - Picking Pattern4:18
In this lesson, we will focus on the picking pattern. Take your time! Slow and steady wins the race.

Why Do You Want to Play Guitar?7:20
Why do you want to play guitar? Having a defined answer will determine how you should practice and how much you should practice. it will also help you get to your your guitar goals quicker.
How to Practice - Introduction1:54
This lesson will give you a 30,000 foot overview of the science of specified practice schedules. A blues guitarist is going to have a different set of practices compared to a songwriter or a studio guitarist. Knowing this alone will REALLY help you to understand the importance of focus and specific practice.
How To Practice As a Songwriter7:49
Songwriters write songs. They are in the business of writing songs. If a songwriter wants to be the best songwriter, they want to be and they have limited time, like everyone does, focusing on the handful of tools that I discuss in this lesson will give them a strong core that will support their songwriting. I won't go over each lesson here, as I do teach all of these techniques within the UGS course.
Nine Essential Chords
How To Strum
Know How To Use The Capo
Knowing What Chords Work Well Together - Knowing How To Keep Songs In The Feel of G Major or C Major
How To Practice as a Blues Player35:14
So you want to play some killer blues?! GREAT! Let's put a plan together! There are a few things that we need to get familiar with. Check it out!
12-bar Blues Progression - We must know this chord progressions INSIDE AND OUT! You should be able to transpose this easily to ANY key and feel the chords as they move. You should get to the point where you don't need a chart.
Chords - 7ths chords ALL over the neck. This will help with "outlining" the chord and riffing on chords within your improvisation.
Blues Scale - Know all forms in all keys(really not that hard using my method). Be able to play them up and down and be able to jump around a bit, especially when improvising.
Playing Outside of the Blues Scale - Go through the blues section and emphasize Minimalistic Blues, Embellishing the Blues Scale and Call & Response.
Blues Riffs and Licks - As children we learn to speak by listening to others. The same is true for guitarists. Listen and COPY to as MANY blues players that you like. The more, the better!
Improvisation - EVERY great blues guitarist MUST be able to come up with riffs and licks on the spot. This is called improvisation. EVERYone sounds bad at this at first. The more you do it, the better you will get.
Turn-arounds - Got to know them to sound cool!
Vamping/Comping - Be able to play your chord progressions with different feels. If you play the same thing every time, it will get boring. Change it up my friends!
LISTEN! - Enjoy LOTS of blues music. It will start getting in your ears and veins and it WILL start coming out of you.
Open Jam - Test your abilities by playing with other musicians and jam sessions. Nothing like that pressure to see where you are really at.
Preparing to Play Out Live32:40
Playing out live can be overwhelming, BUT with these tips, things will go a LOT more smoothly:
Respect for playing out live/BRING IT - Respect your audience and be prepared to deliver the goods. Your audience does not care about excuses, they want to see you WOW THEM!
Repertoire - Know your songs inside and out
Start small - start with smaller gigs at first. You WILL mess up as I do and EVERY musician does. Better to do this with a few people than a LOT of people. Playing through mistakes is a skill you will need to develop.
BE IN TUNE - Do I need to explain this one? If Hendrix was out of tune, even HE would be difficult to listen to. Tune multiple times before you step on stage.
Gear preparation - Ask "what gear will I need?" and bring that. Ask the sound person too. Nothing worse than showing up without a piece of gear...like a guitar strap...UGH! Prepare!
Be courteous/be kind - Ego sucks and NO ONE likes it. Also, WHEN you mess up, better to do it while being humble, than conceded. Make jokes, tell stories of your songs, make eye contact. YOU are there to entertain. So DO IT!
Show up early - Stuff happens. This will help cushion the blow AND help you prepare for surprises.
Bring supportive friends and family - Leave the nay-sayers behind. It's nerve-racking enough to play your first gig, bring the winners and leave the losers.
Jitters(what to do?) - If you don't get them, you are VERY luck and unusual. I am friends with a LOT of live performers here in Nashville. It's rare that any of them say they get NO stage fright. All that to say, there are some things that you can do to remedy the nerves.
Talk - Tell stories about your songs. Interact with your audience. They will LOVE you for it.
YOU CAN DO THIS my friend! It's not brain surgery, SO even when you DO mess up, it's no big thing!

Questions to Ask When Coming Up With Your Practice Schedule15:44
In this lesson I will discuss what variables and questions need to be addressed in order to know WHAT to practice. Everyone's skill sets, desires and schedules are different, so there is not a "one-size-fits-all" plan. That might make one feel like there is a plan, but realistically we have to ask the questions and name our desires. Do you want to be a rock player? Country player? Professional? Campfire guitarist? Just the basics?
These are the important questions that will help bring you closer to efficient practicing.
Please see the attached PDF for some suggestions.
"Perfect Practice" As Opposed to Just Practice4:31
This video discusses the philosophy of "perfect practice" and how understanding this ONE concept will literally change the way you practice and play the guitar. Understanding this very concept can make/break you from being ALL that you can be!
Practice Schedule - How To Practice11:04
Now that you know what you want to do with the guitar and you have your goals defined, how and what should you practice to get you closer to your goals?
Deliberate Practice - How It Will Revolutionize Your Progression9:52
In this lesson I discuss the concept of "deliberate practice". EVERY time you pick up the guitar, have a goal. EVEN if it's just to have fun. Obviously if you always do that, you will only progress so far. If you want to progress, SET SOME GOALS!
How to Get the Most Out of Your Practice - Building Neural Paths6:48
In this video I explain that just understanding how the brain works by building neural paths will allow you to practice much more efficiently. WHATEVER you do consistently, you will get good at. Your brain does not care whether that is a mistake or not. You get good at whatever you practice. This is why it is VERY important to be observant and practice correctly. Speed will happen after accuracy, but never before. Do yourself a solid and be VERY patient with yourself as you learn EVERY new skill. I've been playing for over 30 years now and STILL do this. Trying to force something and play it faster will ALWAYS slow down your progress. Be like a ninja zen master and TAKE YOUR TIME when you practice. Remember the "meadow of grass".
Woodshedding Versus Dress Rehearsal - Different Ways To Practice5:07
In this video, I cover some different ways to practice and think about your practice as it relates to what you want to accomplish. There are some gems in here that will really help your practicing.
Talent vs Practice7:17
Please watch this very necessary video that dispels the myth of talent. The power of your thoughts are infinite. If your mindset is limited, you will never get beyond what your mind believes to be true. This applies to every aspect of life, not just guitar.
The Juggler - How To NOT Get Overwhelmed When Learning a Piece of Music10:55
Need some motivation? Some "get up and go"? I do too! But more importantly, I need REAL information that will help me to understand the guitar more. If you apply this concept to your practice, YOU WILL move forward with more tenacity and drive.
The Looping and Chunking Techniques - Ninja Methods For Getting Massive Results25:32
In this video I show you a couple of the most important techniques for dominating any goal on the guitar. It takes some practice, but once you get it, the sky is the limit!
Slow it Down, Break it Down16:32
In this video I show you the two methods that I use for EVERY and ANY new and/or difficult task on the guitar. This is an EXTREMELY important philosophy that you MUST practice in order to NOT be stopped and to continue to get better at guitar. Embrace this one!
How To Learn & Practice a Song Step-By-Step - Amazing Grace22:55
In this video, I show you the steps to properly learn a song AND limit the frustration. Practice all songs like this in the begining and you CAN'T go wrong.
Repertoire6:42
This lesson covers what songs you know already and why it is so important to keep them fresh.

Requirements

A basic knowledge of the guitar.
Applications of the techniques is required.

Description

Welcome to "How to Practice Guitar," a comprehensive course designed to transform your guitar practice routine and elevate your playing. This course is not just about learning guitar techniques but mastering the art of practice itself. Understanding the psychology of practice, the steps involved, and how to break down complex concepts into manageable parts is crucial for any guitarist.

Why This Course is Essential:

Knowing how to practice effectively is the key to progressing as a guitarist. This course will guide you through a precise, step-by-step method to ensure you get the most out of your practice sessions. By understanding the science behind practice, you'll be able to achieve your goals faster and with more enjoyment.

Game-changers:

The Looping and Chunking Techniques - Ninja Methods For Getting Massive Results.
Slow it Down, Break it Down: ANY daunting song or solo can be conquered with this method alone.
Inventory Breakdown Method: Learn to practice effectively by first “taking inventory of the assets”.

What You'll Learn:

- Psychology of Practice: Dive into the mental aspects of practice, understanding how your brain works and how to make training more effective.

- Step-by-Step Practice Methods: Learn the steps to take during practice sessions to maximize your progress.

- Breaking Down Complex Concepts: Use the Inventory Breakdown Method to simplify scales, chords, and other guitar techniques, making them more palatable and digestible.

- Real-World Scenarios: Apply what you learn to real-world practice situations, ensuring you can use these techniques in your daily routine.

Course Highlights:

- “Perfect Practice” make perfect: This course covers multiple aspects of guitar practice, making it a comprehensive guide for any guitarist.

- Practical Exercises: Hands-on exercises that reinforce learning and help you build muscle memory.

- Forward Momentum: Feel the progress as you practice, with each lesson designed to build on the previous one.

- Expert Instruction: Taught by a professional guitarist and teacher with decades of teaching experience dedicated to helping you succeed.

Why This Course Works:

I've taught this concept to thousands of students, both one-on-one and online. The methods in this course have been refined over years of teaching and are designed to make practice enjoyable and effective. By breaking down complex concepts and focusing on the psychology of practice, you'll progress faster than ever.

Jump into this course today and discover how to practice guitar most efficiently and enjoyably. Click the link below to start, and let's embark on this journey together!

Who this course is for:

Beginner Guitarists Seeking Structured Practice
Intermediate Players Aiming to Break Through Plateaus
Self-Taught Musicians Wanting Professional Guidance
Experienced Guitarists Looking to Master Practice Techniques
Aspiring Guitarists Preparing for Performances
Music Students Seeking Academic Excellence
Guitar Enthusiasts Looking to Enhance Their Hobby
Parents of Young Guitar Learners

How to Practice Guitar: Ensure Faster Progress and Enjoyment

What you'll learn

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Course content

Section 17 lectures • 59min

Section 2 - Inventory Breakdown Method5 lectures • 27min

Section 35 lectures • 1hr 25min

Section 412 lectures • 2hr 23min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: