This issue we’re going to flex our fingers and strain those steel strings in AG’s 30-day guitar workout. Of course, guitar practice can be a thorny subject for some. Most of us took up guitar because of our love for music - and ‘homework’-style practice may not be high on your wish list. So, here, we’re tackling the challenge head-on with a jam-packed set of lessons that are both fun to play and guaranteed to help you improve your technique. You can either dip into the lessons as you wish, or, alternatively, you can let our practice plan guide you through the next 30 days. It’s designed to be as flexible as possible so you can work towards your own playing goals. Grab your guitar, plug in and let’s get started, with audio courtesy of our sibling publication Total Guitar.
A DAY 1 ASSESS YOUR PLAYING SKILLS
You’ll get more out of any practice routine if you know which areas of your playing need most attention. Get started by taking an honest look…
1 CHECK YOU ARE PLAYING IN TIME
Choose a simple piece of music you know well and try playing in time with a metronome. Aim to synchronise onbeat notes with the click. If it doesn’t seem fully aligned, you may need to work on your timing. Slow down a little and try to feel the rhythmic pulse more tightly.
2 HOW CLEAN ARE YOUR CHORDS?
Put your fingers in the wrong position and you’ll end up with annoying fret buzz, so aim to play most chords using the very tips of your fingers as close to each fret as possible. Barre chords, of course, need a flat finger. Keep your thumb roughly opposite your fingers for maximum strength.
3 ARE YOU PLAYING TOO FAST?
You don’t have to be a shredder to want to play fast. We’ve all tried to play a song at full speed before we’ve fully learnt it, usually resulting in fluffed chord changes and solo lines that don’t quite link together. Play slowly to a metronome or drum beat and try to improve your speed by a small amount every day.
