Guitar for the Absolute Beginner, # 1: Make a practice plan to ensure your success
Skip to Guitar for the Absolute Beginner #2 >>
There are many, many people out there who play guitar “a little”. I’m convinced that this is the case because they started their journey haphazardly. They aren’t interested in learning guitar - they just want to learn a couple of songs. So they learn a few chords so they can play a couple of songs. On the outside it may look like they’re progressing more than somebody going about it the “right” way. But then months or even years go by without them learning anything else.
Then, when somebody asks if they play guitar, they answer “a little”.
Make a commitment to “practice”, and you will “play” a lot better. Trust me on this one…
Put it this way. When I first started to take lessons, my teacher asked me if I wanted to learn songs or if I wanted to learn the fundamentals of guitar so that I could teach myself songs. I chose the second route and never looked back. I encourage you to do the same!
OK, let me climb down off of my soapbox. There, that’s better. Here’s what I suggest as a good practice plan for you, the “absolute beginner”. Now, if you get past this (you will, won’t you?) and start to play more seriously, you will practice a LOT more. But for now, stick with this and see where it takes you:
- Practice 30 minutes a day to start with.
- At the beginning, you will be reviewing. A LOT. Especially chord changes. If you can swing it, split your practice into two sessions of 15-20 minutes apiece, or even three sessions of 10 minutes or so. It will keep you fresh, you will retain more, and your fingertips will thank you.
- Minutes 1-5: Start each session by tuning your guitar, then reviewing your fretboard knowledge. Start learning the names of the strings, then learn note names at the fifth fret, etc.
- Minutes 6-10: work on scales. Start with what I call the “guitar chromatic scale” to work on clean alternate picking, then work on major scale, etc.
- Minutes 10-20: work on chords. The key here is muscle memory, first memorizing how to quickly plant a chord, then working on switching between chords smoothly. Also work on a steady strum pattern.
- Minutes 20-30: Work on theory, learn songs, review. Notice I put theory first. If you learn theory first, the songs will take care of themselves. You will thank me.
- If you do two sessions a day, work on scales during one and music theory or learning songs during the other. If you do three, work on scales during one, theory during the second, and songs during the third. Make sure to work on chords during every practice session. This is arguably the most important hurdle for a new guitarist to clear.
Please let me know what you think! If you are an “absolute beginner”, feel free to give me some feedback. If you’ve been playing for awhile, I’d love to hear your thoughts as well. What kind of practice plan do you have?
If you enjoyed this post you might like these:
- Guitar for the Absolute Beginner: How to play guitar in 30 days
- Learn these five songs to improve your guitar technique
- Can you learn to play guitar by playing Guitar Hero?
- The absolute worst thing you can do
- How I practice
