Hey all, what's going on? Dave here from Beginning Guitar Online. Welcome to this lesson. Today, we're going to talk about five tips for making guitar a regular part of your routine. Starting out in the new year, everyone wants to work out more, pursue new hobbies, and really make these activities a part of their routine.

 

Revisiting the Topic: Setting and Maintaining Goals

This is a topic we've discussed before, so we're revisiting it. You can find that video and post here: Setting and Managing Goals.

 

Tip 1: Setting Specific Goals

Whether you're an advanced player or a beginner, having specific goals for what you want to achieve is crucial.

• Is it a specific song you want to learn?

• Is it a particular chord progression that you want to work on?

• Is there a particular technique?

• Do you want to be a faster player?

• Do you want to do a deep dive into pentatonic playing?

Setting these specific goals, perhaps with a deadline, helps to stay motivated and focused.

 

Tip 2: Setting Specific Practice Times

To be successful, setting specific practice times is key. Make a commitment to dedicated practice time within your week because you have to put in the work, right?

Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts with guitar playing. You have to actually put in the work to get to where you want. This could mean playing early in the morning or late at night, depending on your schedule and family or work situation. Consistency in practice is vital.

 

Tip 3: Start Small with Your Practice

Especially if you're a beginner, start small with your practicing. This is something where a lot of people with a new workout routine, they tend to overdo it and then they get injured and then they have to pull back. Similarly with guitar playing overworking can lead to injury, setting you back. Chipping away at it day after day allows you to see progress, which is incredibly motivating.

 

Tip 4: Finding a Dedicated Space for Practice

Along with finding a committed time, having a dedicated space for practice is important. You want to go into a spot and have that headspace of, Now it's time to practice. You know, it just gets you in the right spot.

This could be anywhere from a room in your house to an outdoor rooftop patio. When I was in college there was an outdoor rooftop patio between my apartment building and one of the school buildings. That was a great spot to practice because nobody was ever out there and you could be as loud as you wanted since it was above this alley between these two buildings.

So, even some non-typical places can be fun places to practice. Just make sure that you're safe and that it actually works.

The key is to have a space that is free of distractions and conducive to focused practice.

 

Tip 5: Finding the Right Resources and Tools

Utilize resources like our channel and website, guitar magazines (like Guitar Aficionado, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Guitar World, Guitar Player, etc.), and other online platforms. There are many resources available, including lesson platforms from guitar manufacturers like Gibson, Orange, and Fender.

Note: We’ve done a couple of reviews of FenderPlay. You can find them here:

·      Fender Play Review - Initial Thoughts (Weeks 1-2)

·      Fender Tune App Review

 

Make sure that the resources that you use ladder up into those specific goals so that you can start seeing the progress that you want to make, and continue to have fun. Because if you're not having fun, it's going to be a lot harder to keep up with your playing.

 

Conclusion: Encouragement and Community Engagement

Thanks so much for paying attention to this quick video. I hope your practicing goes well and that you find these tips useful. Like, subscribe, share, and let us know any resources or practice routines that have helped you. Share your ideas to help other players progress in their own way.

 

Additional Resource: Woodshed Newsletter

The content of this video was originally in our Woodshed Newsletter, which comes out every other Monday. It provides links and resources to the best guitar lessons from around the web, so you don't have to search for them. Subscribe to the newsletter to get these lessons sent directly to your inbox. Happy playing!