Guitar practice routine for total guitar mastery. Schedule it.

It doesn't happen by itself. You have to schedule your practice time.

Practice does not make perfect. I can practice slamming my foot in a door. This will not make me a better guitarist. Seems pretty obvious doesn't it?

In the same way practicing the wrong thing or the same thing that you already know over and over will not make you a better guitarist. That does not lead to progress in your guitar playing abilities.

In order to make progress you need a effective, synergistic routine schedule leading to your next goal as a guitarist.

Guitar practice routine schedule - How to practice guitar effectively.

The perfect guitar practice routine schedule should contain the proper ratio of:

1. Exercises for hand strength and flexibility

2. General knowledge of and building of skills in fundamentals,

3. Review of fundamentals

4. Learning of new techniques and practice of those new skills so that they become second nature.

5. Building of your song repertoire.

6. Jamming.

7. Performance.

Guitar Practice Routine Schedule - suggested areas of concentration explained.

Guitar practice tips.

This should be scheduled as part of your warm up routine.

Playing guitar has been described as being a finger acrobat. The finger flexibility and strength of a great guitar like Steve Vai is truly remarkable.

For every other activity that takes that much dexterity there is usually a very vigorous workout routine that goes along with the activity or sport.

What is usually recommended for guitarists? Fretboard exercises.

While that is helpful there are several ways to get the hands in addition to those to get your hands in top condition.

I own and highly recommend several very helpful pieces of hand workout equipment and several courses on the subject.

Have they made a difference? Yes I am very satisfied with the results.

Quicker fingers,faster playing, more endurance, more accuracy, less pain. Ya It's worth it.

I have a webpage on this site that covers that area. I highly recommend having a regular hand workout routine. Here is the link to that page.

2. General knowledge of and building of skills in fundamentals

Any guitar practice routine should include not only learning but practicing those fundamentals till you are unconsciously competent in those skills.

Chuck Berry knew what he was talking about. Johnny B. Goode could play a guitar like ringing a bell So can Chuck. So should you.

The sign of a true master is effortless performance.

1. Correct Posture and Technique

2. Basic knowledge of the guitar and how it works and how to tune it.

3. Chords - Basic chord shapes and how they work up and down the neck.

4. Fretboard knowledge. Know where the notes are on any string location on the guitar. Within seconds so you can use the knowledge on the spot.

5. Scales and modes - These you learn as you go on. The pentatonic and blues scales are the easiest place to start.

3. Review of fundamentals

Schedule review time every day.

You have probably seen at least one movie where the coach gets totally digusted with his team and has them out on the field or the ice practicing fundamentals till they lose their lunch.

Don't let it get to that point. Just review them enough to stay sharp.

Its not unusual for jazz players that are really good to practice scales for 4 hours a day. Now that's dedication

Fretboard knowledge is very important to keep sharp too.

I'm not saying that is how much to practice scales but it wouldn't hurt in the beginning.

Once you get them down just do a review every once in awhile and stay sharp.

4. Learning of new techniques and practice of those new skills so that they become second nature.

Alternate Picking

Bending

Double Stops

Finger Picking

Hammer-ons

Harmonics - Pinch

Harmonics - Natural

Hybrid Picking

Legato

Palm Muting

Pull-offs

Strumming

Sweep Picking

Tapping

Vibrato

5. Building of your song repertoire.

That means the complete song. A riff or two is not enough.Lots of people do that.

The way Paul McCartney joined the Beatles is that he knew Twenty Flight Rock all the way through - the complete song. Check out this video.

So if it worked for him - it could work for you. Right?

Shoot for a nice round number of songs - how about 60?

6. Jamming

What do you need to jam? Well there is a couple of ways to go.

1. Backing tracks - rhythm, drums and backing music.

2. Record your own rhythm and chord changes.

3. Use a drum machine.

7. Performance

Yes, you need to practice in front of a audience of some kind.

Time to take it to the world.

Now the World might just be your cat. Just don't count on the cat to hang around if it's a electric guitar.

Seriously you need to get in front of people. No substitute. Your family is a good place to start, maybe.

Ya, you can start there but they will probably be too nice. You need to get in front of somebody that is going to give some feedback.

Just don't put your pearls before swine too fast. Try for some constructive feedback from someone who has done this before.

You could go see the guys or gals at the music store and ask for their opinion. It's good to make friends with them.

Find some guitar players that are better than you and ask their opinion.

Finally find yourself a band and go for it. Yes, that is still part of a guitar practice routine.

Actually guitar is a lifestyle. You have to live it.

Take it to the world.