Art of perfect practice.

[Paragons7]

First Lesson Posture


When you play do you just sit down and jam away? Well that's fine but it'll cause some problems in several aspects of your playing say for example when you play do you sit down in a chair with arms on it? They will get in the way of both your right and left hands so the best thing is to go through the house find a chair or stool without any arms on the side and also you'll need it to be the right height you want it to be level with your knees. Next find a foot stool or some old mags or books to raise your right foot so your guitar is level with you. You want to be sitting right too sit straight in the chair no slouching or leaning it is ok to look at your hands and lean a bit when you go up past the 12th frets if you have to.

Next part of practice Metronome

Practicing with a metronome is an essential it'll give you a good idea of timing. Guitarist today don't seem to worry to much about this little tool but it can and if used properly will greatly change your playing.

Get a metronome out here's one if you don't already have one http://www.metronomeonline.com/
set at 60bpm now count along with the clicks 1 2 3 4 these are the quarter notes. Get used to counting along with the metronome it'll help out in the long run.

Great now it's time for some excercises pick a chord to warm up with any chord at all and hit it each time you hear the click. If you are doing it correctly than you are playing all straight quarter notes. Now hit the chord two times for each beat when picking your'e picking hand will go down on 1 click and up on and keep this motion going it could help keep you in time. If you are doing this correctly you are playing eighth notes. Next we will look into sixteenth notes the count for sixteenth notes is 1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a so get the chord you chose to warm up with You'll hit down on "1", up on "e", down on "and", and up on "a", and so on

There are alot of better lessons that go into more detail about it on Wholenote.com I suggest you check them out just type in rhthym in the lesson search directory and it'll take you right to some great lessons. Well thats it for me hope you've learned something about this.

[trickymanssx]

That's great and all but where's the fun?

[Paragons7]

That's great and all but where's the fun?
When you start to play haha :p I don't know how much more fun I can make a short posture and rhythm lesson.

[bo0m]

Yes, i'd agree that it build up mechanics but it's not entertaining at all.

[GnRockGod79]

nice tips man, not enough people do those things. and to the entertainment thing...i dont think that practice should be "entertaining" like a performance should be...but if you really love guitar and music, sitting down for 2 hours just trying to get a lick down should be enjoyable. thats my favorite thing to do. and all this practicing will really help in the long run. dedication is the key man.
smitty:mad2:

[xsureshotpunkx]

practice makes progress.i find progress very entertaining.

[Paragons7]

practice makes progress.i find progress very entertaining.

Practice does make progress but is it the right progress? Alot of people tackle differnt situations differntly and have differnt styles but it's how you over come the problem you're having in you're playing. You can't just do it and say I practiced if you're practicing and you keep doing the same mistakes over and over they become bad habits.

[GnRockGod79]

Practice does make progress but is it the right progress? Alot of people tackle differnt situations differntly and have differnt styles but it's how you over come the problem you're having in you're playing. You can't just do it and say I practiced if you're practicing and you keep doing the same mistakes over and over they become bad habits.
enter the world of the metronome, (good!) teachers, and self-discipline. if you make a small mistake, correct it with a metronome, then start the song over...run over it 3 times so youve got it, then move on. it takes about 15 minutes, but people are just too impatient. i admit i am sometimes too...but hey no ones perfect...except steve vai:p 12 hours a day...good god...or shall i say..."for the love of god..."
smitty:mad2:

[Paragons7]

enter the world of the metronome, (good!) teachers, and self-discipline. if you make a small mistake, correct it with a metronome, then start the song over...run over it 3 times so youve got it, then move on. it takes about 15 minutes, but people are just too impatient. i admit i am sometimes too...but hey no ones perfect...except steve vai:p 12 hours a day...good god...or shall i say..."for the love of god..."
smitty:mad2:


I'm a twelve hour guy myself haha. It might make me sound like I have no life but five days a week twelve hours a day practicing and playing I can't find anything better to do.

[GnRockGod79]

I'm a twelve hour guy myself haha. It might make me sound like I have no life but five days a week twelve hours a day practicing and playing I can't find anything better to do.
dude, my guitar is my girlfriend. if i could have sex with her 12 hours everyday, that would be THE life. i envy you dude.
smitty:mad2:

[Nerbus911]

I just don't know where to turn exactly. I know cyberfret has great lessons and such. I just need direction! lol

[GnRockGod79]

I just don't know where to turn exactly. I know cyberfret has great lessons and such. I just need direction! lol
if you wanna develop killer chops, create a practice schedual that covers everything. Dont develop just one or two techniques...thats great and all, but to be truly amazing, cover em all. Heres my usual 2 hour a day practice:
15min-Stretch, warm up, review of songs/excersizes, scales
25min-alternate picking/speed picking
10min-straight legato for as long as i can
25min-sweeping
5min-tricks (haha...squeaks, squeels. you get the idea. doesnt need much time there)
25min-new songs, writing originals, practice covers for bands, doin more excersizes...basiclly miscellaneous
15min-whatever else i need to do. this usually goes on for about 2 more hours, where i go back over the entire lesson.
Now you see, most of those things dont take that long, but even 5min a day will help. ALWAYS stretch and warm up, and maybe dip your hands in hot water. And this is just the manditory for me...I usually do longer. this is just something i MUST do everyday. nowadays, i dont do the 5min tricks section, and i spend that on my worst technique. Always use a metronome, start out slow and never be sloppy. relax your muscles. use good technique. this pays off after a while man, and it doesnt take long. so instead of watching TV or being on guitarlodge even:D , practice this. youll be surprised that it flies by and the results are great. all the best and rock on man!
smitty:mad2:

[GnRockGod79]

Oh yeah...shredaholic.com is my bible. I dont think its working now, but its got so many excersizes...its insane. just practice those, whatever you need, with a metronome. that place is great. after a while you can make up your excersizes and youll be well on your way.
smitty:mad2:

[freedog]

I'm a twelve hour guy myself haha. It might make me sound like I have no life but five days a week twelve hours a day practicing and playing I can't find anything better to do.


I'd like to sign up for that lifestyle. Who pays your bills?

[6_string_master]

Remember guys, its not all about how long you play, but how focused your practice is. Also remember to take BREAKS.

[TheMerryLobster]

Do you feel it's right to regard practise and casual playing of your repetoire as 2 seperate entities?

:) I mean playing without review or particular focus on technique in contrast to playing with review and focus.

[trickymanssx]

That's great and all but where's the fun?

ehh I can't believe I said this, that was before I knew how to practice and realized how I can improve much faster, anyways nice lesson.

[Kalum]

Do you feel it's right to regard practise and casual playing of your repetoire as 2 seperate entities?

:) I mean playing without review or particular focus on technique in contrast to playing with review and focus.

~I think they are seperate entities I mean shredding through you're known tunes is productive as it warms you up and helps you get to the point where you can happily bash out you're favourite tunes blindfolded, but practicing new techniques, theory etc is really what makes you a better player and helps you to advance as a musician.

[TheMerryLobster]

~I think they are seperate entities I mean shredding through you're known tunes is productive as it warms you up and helps you get to the point where you can happily bash out you're favourite tunes blindfolded, but practicing new techniques, theory etc is really what makes you a better player and helps you to advance as a musician.

OK, thank you.