I Can’t Find Enough Time For Practice!
Every guitarist has this problem. With all the things we must do just to meet our obligations, it seems that practice time is always last on the list of things to get done. I wanted to share some of the ways that I have found to create time for practice as well as some tips to make that valuable time produce the maximum benefit.
Clear the decks.
Get the important, must-do things done. These are the basics like school, a job, chores and such. If you can do this, you will have a clear head for practice. Other wise it may be difficult to concentrate and experience what you are doing on the guitar in a meaningful way.
Create a space where you practice.
This would be a place where you can be alone and work uninterrupted. Always practice here. Have your metronome, CD player for Jam CDs, music stand, a comfortable chair and a clock in clear view. Use a headphone amp setup if you must.
Plan your practice sessions.
In Yellow Guitar Books Volume I,
there is a nice chapter on Practice Session Plans, as well as many sample plans. Learn to incorporate these into you practicing. You can download free Practice Session Plan blank forms from the Yellow Guitar Books website under the Practicing Guitarist Tab. If you don’t yet have a copy of the book, this chapter alone is worth the price of the book. It works like magic!
21 consecutive days and you own it.
If you are having problems remembering scale or chord fingerings, you might try a simple, proven way to get them all off the paper and into your head. If you will work on any scale or chord fingerings for 21 consecutive days you will find that they become part of your playing permanently. I have used the 21-day method dozens of times with students and my own playing and have never been disappointed.
Apply what you are working on right away.
Chord and scale fingerings are a necessary part of any guitarist’s knowledge, but it is very important to apply the new stuff you are working on as soon as possible to your playing. Use Jam Along CDs or Loops. Try these Band-in-a-Box jam tunes or a recorded backing track(s) to create a way to try out your new skills.
Practice fingerboard exercises while watching TV.
Anything you want to learn to play really boils down to training your hands to remember where things go. Scales and chords played on guitar are executed as a result of muscle memory. This means that you can practice all kinds of things on the guitar while watching TV. You don’t have to play loud while doing this. An electric guitar unplugged is fine. Just make sure you are playing things clean and in time. So you can watch a ball game and practice at the same time!
With a little effort and discipline you will learn how to practice effectively. As you do, you will be amazed at how quickly and efficiently you can learn new things on guitar.
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