It does not matter whether you are just starting out or you have played guitar for quite some time, but knowing how to practice guitar will only make things easier for you and will make the time that you sit down and play the guitar a lot more enjoyable. Knowing just how to do it and do it efficiently will make practicing seem more like fun than something that you feel like you have to do.
One of the first things you need to do is to find a place that will be a permanent place for you. A nice private and quite spot somewhere in your home is ideal. When practicing you do not want to be distracted by television or other music playing in the background.
The spot should be where your guitar is easily accessible by you so that if there is moment during the day that you feel the need to strum a few notes it should be right there and not somewhere that it will be difficult to get to. Remember if it is kept hidden out of sight, more than likely you are not going to pick it up and practice or play it very often. The place you conduct your practices should be quiet and free from distractions like television or even other music.
Having short practices, especially if you are a beginner is always advisable. Most people do not tolerate sitting down and practicing anything for an extended time. So, it is advisable that you try and limit your practices to no more than twenty minutes at a time. As practice becomes more enjoyable, it is up to you whether or not you would like to extend that practice time. Also it is a good idea to try and practice a couple of times a day.
If reading music is not your thing either because you find it difficult or you simply cannot read it, you can always play by ear. When doing this though you should not play any more than two measures at one time. Once you feel comfortable with one set of measures move onto the next two until you have done the entire song. After this you can then put all the measures together and play the entire song by ear.
Another important thing to remember is that you should probably keep your fingernails as short as possible, especially the nails of your left hand. It is also a good idea to use a lubricant just for the strings and wipe them down with it using a soft cloth after each practice. This removes dirt, perspiration and helps the strings last longer.
It is also advisable to practice at the same time every day. You should start off playing at different times during the day and decide which of those times worked best for you and then set that time for your regular practice time. Another helpful thing to do is to record your practices. Record when you first begin and then wait a few weeks and do it again and then compare the different sessions. You can continue to do this as long as you like. The recordings will help you discover what you need to work on the most.
When you finally feel comfortable with what you are doing, it is always a good idea to find a friend or another guitar student to try and play together with. This will help you learn how to play both lead guitar and guitar accompaniment. This will also help you to learn from others as well.
One of the first things you need to do is to find a place that will be a permanent place for you. A nice private and quite spot somewhere in your home is ideal. When practicing you do not want to be distracted by television or other music playing in the background.
The spot should be where your guitar is easily accessible by you so that if there is moment during the day that you feel the need to strum a few notes it should be right there and not somewhere that it will be difficult to get to. Remember if it is kept hidden out of sight, more than likely you are not going to pick it up and practice or play it very often. The place you conduct your practices should be quiet and free from distractions like television or even other music.
Having short practices, especially if you are a beginner is always advisable. Most people do not tolerate sitting down and practicing anything for an extended time. So, it is advisable that you try and limit your practices to no more than twenty minutes at a time. As practice becomes more enjoyable, it is up to you whether or not you would like to extend that practice time. Also it is a good idea to try and practice a couple of times a day.
If reading music is not your thing either because you find it difficult or you simply cannot read it, you can always play by ear. When doing this though you should not play any more than two measures at one time. Once you feel comfortable with one set of measures move onto the next two until you have done the entire song. After this you can then put all the measures together and play the entire song by ear.
Another important thing to remember is that you should probably keep your fingernails as short as possible, especially the nails of your left hand. It is also a good idea to use a lubricant just for the strings and wipe them down with it using a soft cloth after each practice. This removes dirt, perspiration and helps the strings last longer.
It is also advisable to practice at the same time every day. You should start off playing at different times during the day and decide which of those times worked best for you and then set that time for your regular practice time. Another helpful thing to do is to record your practices. Record when you first begin and then wait a few weeks and do it again and then compare the different sessions. You can continue to do this as long as you like. The recordings will help you discover what you need to work on the most.
When you finally feel comfortable with what you are doing, it is always a good idea to find a friend or another guitar student to try and play together with. This will help you learn how to play both lead guitar and guitar accompaniment. This will also help you to learn from others as well.
About the Author:
For the best advice on all aspects of learning to play guitar visit How To Practice Guitar for all you need to know. Alternatively, read my Jamorama Review for information on what, in my view, is the best guitar course on the web.
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