Learning guitar was hard for me. Not because I didn’t “know” music, or didn’t follow the right path of instruction. I didn’t have a good routine.
Fortunately, I have found a more perfect routine for learning to play music. Over the past few months I have been learning to play piano, and let me tell you, it has been a hell of a lot easier than it was for me to learn guitar. I expected it to be easier, but not this easy. Granted, I did have prior musical experience. And honestly, the piano makes way more sense in terms of physical design than any other instrument. But there has been something else that has made it even easier. My routine!
When I learned to play guitar, I would practice whenever I wanted for however long I wanted to. I would practice everyday for two weeks straight. Then I wouldn’t practice for two months straight. Sometimes I would practice for 2-3 hours at a time. Other times I would practice for 2-3 minutes. My brain had no learning rhythm.
The practice routine that I have been using on piano has helped me on guitar as well.
A more perfect routine to learn guitar
- Practice guitar four days a week. Play Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Or any variant that works for you. Even if you have all the time in the world, your brain needs recovery time.
- Play guitar for 15 minute intervals, taking breaks in between.
- Consistency over quantity. Everything I read says that to learn guitar you should practice, practice, practice. Honestly, though, I stop enjoying it when I do that. After so long I lose touch with what I’m playing and what I liked about it in the first place. Get some quality practice time in on a consistent but conservative basis.
This is my method. What is yours?
My dad used to make me play out in the barn. I would listen to guitar solos on CD in my room then run out to the barn and try to play what i had memorized for hours on end. I spend one entire summer doing this and over that summer I progressed more than I had in the first three years. Since then I don’t practice as much as I just jam for fun.
Thanks for the comment Ryan. I sort of had the same experience. I got really motivated one summer and spent all of my time playing guitar. That was the most serious I have ever been about it. But it sounds like you were more successful with your practice.
Nice tips! When it comes to practicing something you want to learn, proper routines really matters. It builds up the discipline of the person learning what he is practicing. And besides, doing it always will greatly help, thus your routine becomes your habit and eventually, character. IMO, learning the guitar was never that easy, that is, if you’re not serious about it and is not committed to your practice schedules. But if you are really into it, it’s a piece of cake because you are learning at the same time enjoying what you do!