Playing Guitar As Meditation

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There are many breathing exercises that can be of benefit to your guitar playing and focus. An entire course can be put together on breathwork exercises relating to guitar playing. This simple exercise shown here is but one of many beneficial practices.

If I had one simple breathing exercise to share that has the greatest benefit it would be simply this, develop the habit of slow deep breathing before attempting anything new on the guitar. I would even say develop this habit of slow deep breathing as soon as you pick up your guitar to practice or play. The act of taking several conscious, focused breaths before playing will help calm your nervous system and focus your mind. This habit alone will help you play better, learn better and bring your presence to your playing in a way that will make a difference for yourself and those listening to you play. As simple as this sounds, it will make a huge difference if developed. I can't state that enough.

Exercise 1: The Breath-Metronome Practice

Purpose: Align internal rhythm with breath to build organic time awareness.
Duration: 5–10 minutes

Steps:

1. Sit comfortably with your guitar in a quiet space.

2. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.

3. Begin to inhale for 4 counts and exhale for 4 counts. Tap your foot gently to this rhythm at 52 BPM.

4. After a few cycles, start softly strumming or plucking a single open string only on the exhale.

5. Continue for several minutes, letting your breath guide the tempo.

6. Gradually introduce a slow, repeating chord pattern (like Em – Am), still timed with your exhale.

Mindful Focus:
Notice how your body feels with each breath. Let go of the idea of "keeping time" and instead feel time as breath.

Exercise 2: Walking the Pulse

Purpose: Deepen body-based rhythmic awareness through movement.
Duration: 10 minutes

Steps:

1. Set a slow metronome (e.g., 52 bpm) or a soft drum loop.

2. Stand up and slowly walk in place, one step per beat.

3. As you walk, speak or whisper a rhythmic syllable (e.g., "ta" or "dum") with each step.

4. After a few minutes, pick up your guitar and play a single rhythmic pattern—such as a steady downstroke—matching the internal pulse established by your walking.

5. Continue alternating between walking and playing.

Mindful Focus:
Feel rhythm as something lived in your whole body, not just played with your hands.

Exercise 3: Sacred Repetition with Rhythm

Purpose: Use repetition to create trance-like meditative focus.
Duration: 10–15 minutes

Steps:

1. Choose a simple, looping rhythm (e.g., down – down – up – down).

2. Play it with a calm chord (like Dm or Am) for 108 repetitions, use a metronome or timer to track.

3. With each cycle, let your mind settle into the repetition. If thoughts arise, return to the rhythm.

4. Optionally, hum a soft tone on top of the rhythm or integrate a breath (inhale on upstroke, exhale on down).

Mindful Focus:
Let the rhythm become a mantra. Over time, it should feel less like "playing" and more like being played through.

1. Listening for the Difference Between Major and Minor Chords

Purpose: Develop awareness of emotional color and sound quality.
Exercise: Play an open-position A Major chord. Listen fully to the sound. Notice its emotional feel — bright, open, happy.
Now play A Minor. Listen again. Notice somber, darker, introspective feelings.
Mindfulness focus: Pause between each chord, take 3 deep breaths, and allow the emotional character of the chord to sink in. Practice strumming the chord three times before moving major to minor and minor to major.
Repeat with different keys in open positions and up the neck.