Like the last motivation blog, this post is inspired by John Petrucci’s Wild Stringdom articles in Guitar World Magazine. The article I’m referencing can be found on the Guitar World website.

The last blog on motivation touched on breaking up the massive amount of materials available to you into manageable chunks. This follows along the same lines.

Petrucci, in his article, talks of how he went about organizing the material that came into his possession. He goes much further than I would, or have, but his example could work for some people.

3 Categories to Practice

When most guitarists think about playing guitar they get stuck on only one of the three categories that should be practiced. The technical side of playing guitar is the easiest to focus on because there is always another challenge to be had around the corner. 

The technical, physical, side of guitar playing like learning scales, moving around the neck, arpeggios, synchronizing your hands, etc., provides the quickest gratification of the three categories to practice as well.

The musical side of guitar is extremely important if you’re interested in becoming a musician and not just a guitarist. This aspect of guitar is a life long process and is similar to studying the theories of science in order to be a chemist.

Aspects on the musical side are the music theory, chord construction, ear training, and composition. These things are the most frustrating, but the most rewarding aspects of music. 

By practicing these things that are away from the guitar, your approach to the instrument will drastically change. You’ll be able to think as a musician and not just a guitarist. The difference in this regard is like that of an auto mechanic versus the engineer who designs and builds the car in the first place.

Finally, the creative side of guitar playing shows itself through free association between the other two categories. After developing your own voice on your instrument that voice has to be let out. Music is an act of expression, and in order to be a musician your unique voice has to be let out. 

This can happen through a multitude of ways, whether you write your own songs or your own lesson exercises, nurturing and developing your creativity is part of being a musician and guitarist.

Once you have a firm handle on the three categories of guitar playing cycle back through them on a routine basis. Even the most experienced and gifted players have to “return to basics” every so often.

Take some time to develop your own practicing routine and make sure you’re practicing from the three categories to better develop into a well rounded guitarist and musician.

Header Image Attribution: Flickr Creative Commons: Rob Bixby