![]() Intermediate: Follow the changes: treat each chord change as an opportunity to practice something unique to that change The following applies to playing over backing tracks:īeginner: Play over the backing track in the key of the song Study chord tones and learn how to target notes to create better licks If you are not in the position to play with others, practicing to a backing track is the next best option. This is some of the best advice I have found on the subject of playing with other musicians. In my opinion, its the most fun a group of people can have while keeping their clothes on. If practicing alone is like reading a love poem, then playing music with other musicians is like being in love. The most important thing you can ever do to grow as a musician is to play with other musicians. ![]() Play with other people (or backing tracks) Intermediate Plus: Learn to recognize the meta-patterns within different arpeggio shapes Practice combining arpeggios with (seemingly) unrelated chords to create extended harmonies Intermediate: Study in the context of chord harmonization by staying on one part of the guitar and going through all triad arpeggios in the key Practice connecting arpeggios across the guitar Learn extended arpeggios: 7th’s, 9th’s, etc… Arpeggio practice also reinforces your knowledge of target notes, which are essential in lead playing.īeginner: Learn some basic arpeggios for major and minor triad chords Study how they fit into the larger scale patterns Relate them to your chords and the scales that surround each chord. Intermediate Plus: Look for meta-patterns that make intervals easier to locate Study modal playing Practice new scales that explore intervals larger than a whole-step Relearn the scales you already know using new equations like a different # of notes per stringĪrpeggios are one of the best things to know on the guitar. ![]() Intermediate: Play through scales in non-traditonal ways like “Triplet Style” and “Stutter Style” Switch between the scales of different keys without moving position on the fretboard Learn target notes to bring out major and minor from within a single set of notes Turn every part of your routine into something that multi-tasks your learning.īeginner: Learn how to see a pentatonic and/or diatonic scale as one key that goes across your entire fretboard, don’t half-learn it, practice the entire thing in at least one key, this cannot be stressed enough Focusing on different picking techniques while you run though your notes is the kind of smart practice you should make into a habit. You do not learn them only for the notes. Intermediate Plus: Work out the song to fit a new genre: metal, bluegrass, jazz, reggae Arrange an instrumental version of the song where you simultaneously play chords, bass, and a melody to emulate the voice and/or other melodic elementsīe wary of anyone who tells you not to practice scales. Intermediate: Learn the subtle rhythmic and melodic elements that help define the spirit of the song Look up live performances to see exactly what chord forms are played Learn where the progression fits into chord harmonization Transpose the song into new keys So don’t just emulate the solos of your guitar heroes, learn the chord progressions of their songs as well.īeginner: Learn the chords and practice smoothly transitioning between them Play the entire song in time from beginning to end with friends, a metronome, or drum track You will learn plenty of things that will cross-over and make your solos better. Intermediate Plus: Learn how to play the same solo in the same key but using different string-sets and combinations Transpose the solo into different keysĭon’t neglect rhythm guitar because you want to be a lead player. Intermediate: Know your notes, understand what the rhythm section is doing and how it relates to the solo Listen to the elements beyond the notes being played The soul of guitar playing is the touch, timing, and phrasing elements that magically transform a group of sounds into a emotion.īeginner: Work on memorizing the notes and making it sound natural instead of mechanical Practice the solo to a rhythm section or backing tracks to master the timing Be sure to realize that every time you pick up the instrument!Įmulating your guitar heroes will teach you all of the things that scales and theory never will. No matter your skill level, the first and foremost thing to remember is to have fun. I am not saying to do all of these things in one practice session, rather, vary your sessions with different combinations of the list, which is in no particular order besides the first point: I made this list because a lot of people ask about what to practice and this is my best shot at an answer.
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