Mistake #4

Mistake #4: Trying to Cram Too Much Into One Practice Session

A jack-of-all-trades is master at none.

And a guitarist that tries to cover all his bases in a single practice session is doomed to failure.

This is something that took me many years to realize, but it is such an important aspect of the game of guitar practice. If you play a lot of exercises as part of your practice session, 80-90% of them are probably a waste of time.

This was such an important point that I’m going to repeat it.

Most exercises you play are a waste of time.

I’m sorry if I’m offending anybody here. Especially fans of the Giuliani 120 Right hand exercises (that can be boiled down to about 10 exercises and the rest are just fluff) or Shearer’s Left hand development exercises, of which there are hundreds but only about 7 are worth practicing at all.

Practice time is precious, and waste must be eliminated. Unless an exercise is a strategy in meeting one of your goals in the next 2 weeks, you should not practice it.

This is really an extension on the first couple of topics in this series. If you have developed a solid daily routine, clear outcomes and clear tasks to meet those outcomes, this will be indicated by the fact that you aren’t spending excessive time on a plethora of technical exercises, unless they are part of a (very brief) warm up routine.

But won’t my technique suffer?

I know what you are thinking:

But won’t my technique suffer if I don’t play 3 hours of scale patterns daily?”

A common fear, my friend. Here’s some points to consider in that regard:

  • There are ways around playing endless boring exercises. Make sure to include in your set list tunes or arrangements that work out multiple techniques at once, and play them as part of your ‘Review’ time you have allocated in your routine.
  • Use improvisation as a technique builder, not just a creative tool. Improvisation is a very good way to get your scale practice in but in a much more interesting way that doesn’t have that boring mindless feel to it.
  • Look for ways in which you can good a well balanced musical workout by actually playing music. There will be times when exercises are crucial in meeting one of your goals, but that doesn’t justify filling all of your practice routine up with them.

Don’t multitask!

In your practice session, just commit to improving ONE thing at a time, and this is what takes place in allocated ‘Main Project’ time. It makes sense, because in a 30 minute practice session, it is unrealistic to think that you can improve your improvising AND speed AND learn a new piece AND learn right hand harmonics. Even if you had 3 hours a day to play with you should be careful not to spread your mind too thin – think of poor Mr Subconscious from Chapter 1. You won’t overload him, will you? If you juggle too many balls ultimately some will start to get dropped…

I’m a big fan of the 80/20 rule. This idea has been garnering a lot of interest lately.This rule is an observation that there is a tendency in human endeavour and in nature for 80% of the results to come from 20% of the effort.

In relation to my own playing I started to just play a few pieces that I knew worked out most aspects of my guitar technique, and did this instead of worrying about the millions of scales and exercises that are usually prescribed. My technique did not suffer when I did this. It actually improved drastically.

Your Assignment:

Watch yourself next time you practice. Think to yourself: “Am I task switching too much?”, “Is this exercise I’ve been playing for the last 6 months really necessary?” “Am I focussing on just learning this ONE tune at a time or am I trying to learn three at once?”

The last point is a bit like trying to read 3 books at once – your mind isn’t really designed to do this sort of thing, and you will take longer to read all 3 books this way then to read just one at a time. Get to know one tune really well and you can then apply the deep knowledge you have gained to many others.

There is a couple of great books I can highly recommend on developing this sort of mindset that I would consider essential reading for anyone struggling with ‘task overload’:

Onwards and upwards, my friend. Well done for getting this far! The subject of the next installment is one that even non-musicians can spot easily. Talk soon!

~ Greg from FretDojo

 

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Mistake #3

Mistake #3: Not Recording Yourself

Recording yourself is the best self assessment tool you can possibly get. It surpasses even a gifted teacher. There is no way to ignore the funny squeaks and buzzes when you are listening to yourself on a recording. This is a surefire way to make rapid progress, and lets face it: if you are planning to make a album one day best get the shock of hearing yourself out of the way early.

Even if you don’t have a recording setup yet, a simple exercise is to play a piece and check if you are really listening to what sounds are coming out of your instrument. Is what you think coming out of that box with strings is actually what is coming out? If you haven’t done this before, this simple listening practice will benefit your playing profoundly.

I would recommend that you try to record sometimes audio only and sometimes with a video. I actually think video can be a more encouraging start as errors can sound much more exposed on an audio-only track. Also, a video recording can give you feedback on perhaps the most fundamental aspect of live musical performance, how you are visually communicating to the audience as you play.

Recording Gear and Tips

These days you don’t need thousands of dollars worth of gear and a dedicated studio to get a high enough recording for self assessment purposes. Here are some options to consider:

  • Any modern smartphone gives a good video quality and reasonable audio quality, and is simple and fast to setup. However, unless you have a ledge or desk the right height they can be a bit annoying to try to setup so the video shot is framed correctly. I use a small Joby tripod I got from Amazon with my phone, and I place this small tripod on a desk to record – it works really well. To frame the shot I use the front facing camera so I can see the shot on the iphone screen as I’m recording.
  • For audio, a budget option for an microphone is the Blue Yeti USB microphone. It sounds amazing and has a lot of ‘depth’ to the sound. Being a USB microphone it simply plugs into your computer, and can be used with any recording software. It comes with it’s own stand so you can simply put it on your desk in front of you and away you go. Another handy feature is that it is iOS compatible, so you can use it with several recording apps for iPhone/iPad.
  • Another quality alternative is the Zoom h4n Handy Recorder. This is even a simpler setup it has some pretty good microphones on the unit and it records straight to SD cards without the need for a computer. You can also get recorders by Zoom that can record high quality video and audio simultaneously.
  • My personal setup for recording is my Katana amp connected directly via the headphone out into my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface, and using software like Adobe Audition. For simple recordings though something like Garageband for Mac or Audacity for PC does the same job as Adobe Audition – there is no need to buy pro software unless you are planning to release the next platinum album.

Your Assignment:

Start recording yourself. You don’t need to have anyone else listen to it. One tip is to not listen back on the same day, sometimes you can get a totally different perception on what a recording sounds like if you listen to the recording after a few days. I find my perceptions are much more positive if I leave it for a while.

Ok that’s it for Mistake #3. In the next installment we are going to talk about why guitarists who are making regular time AND establishing clear outcomes STILL aren’t making progress. See you in the next one!

~ Greg from FretDojo

 

 

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Mistake #2

Mistake #2: Not Having Clear Outcomes

It is difficult with an artistic pursuit to have clear outcomes. After all, music has infinite possibilities, which means infinite directions that you could go in in each practice session.

The problem when you are trying to learn a skill though is by walking in many different directions at once, do you think that you reach your destination?

Or perhaps the outcomes one desires are too fuzzy, like ‘I want to get better at guitar’. Often when I ask students how they are going to get better at a tune, they just say ‘practice it more’. This is too vague an understanding and will reflect in the results they get or, should I say, don’t get.

There is a technique that I use that really helps set clear outcomes in practice sessions. I call this ‘fortnightly outcome goals”.

The Solution: Fortnightly Outcome Goals

At the start of every 2 weeks of practice, I write down in my dedicated practice diary the 3 or 4 things that I want to accomplish in my practice sessions over the next 2 weeks. This would look something like:

Goals for 28/8 – 11/9:

  • Able to play transcription of Lenny Breau’s solo on Green Dolphin Street without any errors at 110 beats per minute
  • Able to play a 2 octave Db Major scale  at 130 beats per minute.
  • Able to improvise with the 2 Joe Pass licks I learnt on the tune ‘Angel Eyes’.

These statements are clear goals of what I want to achieve for the next 2 weeks. Notice how there is little ambiguity here. Each statement needs to have some sort of benchmark that would designate the goal complete.

The rule is: You are not allowed to add anything else to this list until the next 2 weeks is up.

You then write what you need to do in order to reach each of these goals. For example, let’s take the first goal on the list:

Goal #1: Lenny Breau’s Green Dolphin St solo, 110bpm:

Tasks To Complete Goal #1:

  • Gradually increase speed of the whole section until reaching 110 beats per minute
  • Revise voicings in b43
  • Work on accuracy in bars 23 and 27
  • Work on the altered scale licks in bar 67

Now that I have my goals for the next 2 weeks and the tasks needed to attain these goals, I then devise a routine that will allow time to work on them.

If I only have a 30 minute session though, it is unlikely I will have enough time to work on all the tasks for all of my goals. So it’s time to prioritise the above list:

Tasks To Complete Goal #1 (Prioritised):

  • Work on the altered scale licks in bar 67
  • Work on accuracy in bars 23 and 27
  • Revise voicings in b43
  • Gradually increase speed of the whole section until reaching 110 beats per minute

I then choose the top one from the list and then work it into my practice routine. As mentioned in the Part 1, here are how my practice sessions are structured:

Structure for a 30 minute practice session:

  • Warm up: 5 mins
  • Main Project: 20 mins
  • Review Previous Tunes: 5 minutes

So if I take the first task off the top of my prioritised list, my initial first few practice sessions for the 2 week block would look something like this: Practice session 28/8:

  • Warm Up: a scale or two – 5 mins
  • Main Project – Work on the altered scale licks in bar 67: 20 mins
  • Review – Take the A Train – 5 minutes

Your Assignment:

Next time you practice have a think about your session and what it comprises. Have you got clear goals? Have you got clear tasks listed to meet these goals? Have you prioritised these tasks? Are you actioning them in the Main Project time of your practice session?

In the next chapter we will address a topic that makes most guitarists cringe.

Can you guess what it is? I’ll see you in the next installment…

 

 

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Mistake #1

Part 1: An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

We all know that feeling.

You know, that itchy feeling you get in your fingers. That restless corner of your mind knowing that something isn’t quite right.

You know what I’m talking about. It’s something all guitarists are familiar with.

What am I alluding to?

Not practicing guitar for days of days of course!

Guitar withdrawal is the medical term – or to use the formal term Fretingus Devoidilicus.

Futile attempts at humour aside, I now introduce to you Number 1 of The Top 10 Mistakes Guitarists Make In Their Practice Session:

Mistake #1: Not Having A Regular Routine

Having a routine is the core skill of any musician. It is from a routine that our effort we put into something has the highest leverage. It makes difficult things easy by turning something impossible into manageable chunks.

So why do so many guitarists ignore this point?

Life gets in the way of course. Life will conspire against you to thwart any attempts to create a worthwhile routine at anything. However as an aspiring musician this is the first thing that you need to ensure is firmly put in place.

No time spent on scales, coordination exercises, improvising, speed development, or anything else will bear any result any time soon in your playing without having a regular routine, by which you make time for your guitar practice and then have a well thought out structure in the session itself.

In the first installment of this ten-part Guide, you will learn the benefits of creating a daily routine to your guitar practice, and how to create and stick to a routine.

The Benefit of a Regular Routine

There is no way that one can improve a skill without a routine of some sort, especially for a complex skill like guitar playing.

Why?

To answer this question I want to introduce to you one of the best helping hands you will ever have on your musical journey. His name is…

Your very own subconscious mind.

The subconscious mind is your friend. It is your humble assistant, working on your guitar skills for you all those times throughout the day you aren’t practicing. Just like mixing up some bread dough and then leaving it to rise on the bench while you have a cup of tea, the subconscious mind works while you don’t.

In your practice session you basically have a handover meeting with your subconscious mind and outline its work for the day while afterwards you metaphorically go and play golf.

Have you ever noticed when you have practiced regularly, and pick up your guitar after a good night’s sleep to try that tricky chord melody solo of Green Dolphin Street that you were struggling with the day before – all of a sudden it becomes easier?

That’s because all through the day and night, Mr. Subconscious has been working his booty off. And you (well the conscious you) didn’t have to do anything! It’s not actually in the practice session you get better at that riff. It’s in between your practice sessions!

That is the main reason for why routines are so powerful (and getting enough sleep as well for that matter :-). In fact, there are many other benefits to a strong routine:

  • Routines in a way are an arbitrary way to ensure that you actually do make time to play your instrument. Especially if you have family members – it gives an expectation that you will be unavailable for those 20-30 minutes daily so that you can work on your craft without being interrupted.
  • Routines give you a framework by which to organise your life and to measure your progress. Professional musicians and other creative types are often terrible at self-organising. I think this could be due to the fact they spend considerable time working from home and don’t have any routines or expectations imposed on them externally, e.g. by a 9 to 5 job.
  • Routines encourage self-discipline, which can positively impact all sorts of areas in your life, not just your guitar playing.

Are you convinced?

Good!

So let’s now talk about how to get a routine happening for your practice.

How to Develop a Routine

  • Talk to your family (if you have one) or your housemates and collectively decide on a time that would be workable for everyone. A routine will only be successful if you garner support from those it affects.
  • Decide clearly on the duration for your daily effort, and be realistic initially. Start small if you are a beginner and just do say 10 to 15 minutes. For a pro guitarist you will need around an hour at least, however if you are very well organised in your session you may need only 30 minutes.
  • A lot of time can be wasted if you are not organised in advance to practice. Make sure you have a dedicated corner of a room (or a whole room if you house is so endowed) and that all your gadgets and doodads are out ready to go. Your precious 20 minutes may be 90% wasted if you are running around looking for your guitar tuner, a pencil and so on – you would be surprised how fast time moves when you are in your practice session time.

Finding a Regular Time To Practice

This is one of the hallmarks of a sustainable routine. Here are some tips to help find a workable time:

  • Make it ideally at the same time each day, this will essentially meet the expectations of those your routine effects.
  • If you need to, get up early to practice (preferable) or stay up a bit later.
  • Use headphones and an electric guitar if you practice at time that disturbs other family members. For those times my practice needs to be quiet I plug my guitar into the audio interface on my computer with headphones. What is great about this setup is that all you need to do is turn your computer on, plug your guitar in and everything is ready to go – perfect for a late night practice session and no complaints from the neighbors! Added bonus: you can easily record yourself through this setup to assess your progress.
  • Decide on the duration to practice – at least 20 minutes daily is still sufficient to make some progress (30 minutes at least is ideal to aim for though).

How To Structure a Practice Session

Well done my apprentice! You have created a regular routine. But that leads us to another routine to implement: the sequence of things you actually do in a practice session.

This doesn’t need to be very complicated. This is my tried and tested routine that I have in each practice session:

  • Warm Up: e.g. play 1 scale or arpeggio a couple of times
  • Main Project: the main thing I’m currently working on at the moment, e.g learning a series of Joe Pass licks, learning a new tune etc
  • Review: I play a tune or a couple of tunes that I already know
  • If my schedule is allowing a longer practice session (1 or more hours) I ensure that regular breaks are factored into the daily routine as well. This is a high leverage technique as putting short breaks periodically throughout a long session refreshes your mind, and means you can assimilate more information compared to if you are brain dead from overdoing it.

Your Assignment:

Ok aspiring guitar Jedi – over to you. Think about your guitar practice routine. Do you have one? If you do, how could it be improved?

I really believe this is something overlooked by so many guitarists, I can’t emphasise enough how much implementing these strategies could improve your guitar playing.

I can highly recommend a book on the subject of creating and maintaining routines for creative types by Jocelyn K. Glei and the team at 99U.com:

This is the best resource on the topic I have come across.

In the next instalment of the Guide, we are going to touch on a mistake I see guitarists making all the time, which is crippling their abilities and causing any time they are making in their practice to be wasted. Talk soon!

~ Greg from FretDojo

 

Join The FretDojo 30 Day Jazz Guitar Challenge

Instant access:

•  A step-by-step guide on building core improvisation skills

• Fundamental comping techniques to be a hero on the bandstand

• Make cool sounding improvised solos straight away WITHOUT confusing music theory

• The ultimate fast path for establishing a foundation in jazz guitar

• Instant access – find out more and sign up by clicking the button below:

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