Anyone Can Practice Guitar
Guitar Noises #34: September 1, 2023
With school back in full swing for many let’s take a look at how to make time for practice. If you’re new to Guitar Noises be sure to check the archives for more guitar tips and tricks.
Motivation alone won’t turn you into a good musician. Doing your homework is by far the most important thing you can do to get better at guitar. You have to put in the effort.
One problem with music is we say things like “play guitar.” As if it’s all fun and easy. The words don’t do it justice. The amount of time and effort that goes into learning an instrument is enormously underestimated.
Plenty of people tell me they can only find 20 minutes a day to practice. While that’s better than nothing, you really need to spend closer to an hour each day practicing. That may sound like a heavy demand on your time, but there are ways to gradually build up to an hour a day.
First, let’s do away with the idea of finding time. You need frame things so that you’re making time. An hour a day is the bare minimum you need to see real change in your abilities. Be prepared to negotiate with others in your life and set some boundaries. You should expect more from yourself too, but a perfect week doesn’t exist. Be kind to yourself when things don’t go according to plan.
60 Minute Workouts
Treat guitar practice like you’re going to the gym. People committed to working out make the necessary sacrifices. They wake up an hour earlier if they need to. They cut down on reading newsletters like this and scrolling through apps until they’ve achieved their daily goal. Every minute spent looking at a screen is a minute spent not working at your goals.
Working out at the gym is like a ritual. Getting there is the hardest part. Once you’re wearing the right clothes and have driven there you’re almost certainly going to exercise. No one walks through the door, says “hi”, then turns around and leaves.
The guitar player version of going to the gym starts with closing your door, tuning your guitar and starting a timer. If you can do that, you’ve done the hard part. Let the timer do it‘s thing. Now it’s a matter of staying on task without getting distracted. Once you’ve started you might as well see it through to the end.
I believe that most people can set aside an hour a day to practice. Over the years I’ve put the guitar down for extended periods more than once, and this is how I get back into guitar shape.
First, I start with a 20 minute practice every day. I make that session as early as possible, preferably before anyone else wakes up. I’ll set an alarm really early if I have to. When that practice session is set in stone and I’m doing it everyday without fail, I’ll add a second practice later in the day. My aim is to wind up with two twenty minute practices every day that are carved in stone.
Practicing at the same time everyday lets family know you want to be left alone. If you have young kids they’ll appreciate you letting them watch TV or play on iPads while you do your thing. They’re less likely to bug you if it’s part of an established routine.
I find that over time the 20 minute practice grows to 30 minutes. I don’t even have to work at that part, the practice expands on its own. Doing this twice a day grows to an hour of practice every day. That hour can stretch even longer too without even noticing.
When you aim to improve by 1% a day you are practicing with a body builder’s mindset. Everyone knows a body builder when they see one. And everyone will recognize a musician when they hear one.
Every journey begins with a single step. Take that step today, and then another one tomorrow. Let’s see how far you can get.
Start the week strong. End the week happy.
Just a quick afterword here. Consider building a solid practice routine before you buy another guitar course. It’s always tempting to get another bag of awesome licks, but you don’t need a really large library of materials. Instead of gathering information you might not get time to use, focus your energy on building unshakable habits. Set yourself up for success by consistently practicing at a level that won’t burn you out. When you feel like you can’t fall off the wagon - buy that course, the one you’re sure is right for you.
As always, I love reading and replying to your comments.
One way to deal with the brain or fingers not cooperating is to not overdo it. With chop building exercises or scales it's good idea to do a certain number of reps and stop. Five times through with clean sound and no big mistakes is good enough. If you're practicing with regularity those reps will get the job done over time. There are no perfect workouts, the consistency is what counts.
Paul, this article created something of an epiphany for me. I play acoustic and I keep telling myself “Self, I really wish you were better at this.” Your comparison to the gym is what made it click. I go to the gym like clockwork, and I enjoy it. Even the days that suck (leg day thank you very much). If I can do that for the gym, I can do it for guitar. Thanks!!