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I list some exercises here (see the links on the left), plus some general ideas. Many of the guitar links have exercises, and you can always use those. Also, look at my general principles of guitar playing, along with the practice tips. I try to do riff exercises daily. I might do chord exercises or chord progressions a couple of times a week. First, decide why you're playing the guitar. If you're playing mainly for your own enjoyment, as I am, it doesn't make sense to spend an excessive amount of time doing exercises (unless there are some you really enjoy, such as some of the riffs or chords). That will only reduce the amount of time you can spend playing. Instead, spend most of your time playing the songs you enjoy playing. With practice, you'll get better. |
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Seven Rules Practice Tips Riff Exercises Chord Exercises Chord Progressions Bar Chords String Changes Position Changes Changing Keys Playing By Ear Reading Music |
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The way I do exercises is to intersperse them throughout my playing. I may start with a couple minutes of exercises. Then I'll play a song or two. Then I'll do a couple more minutes of exercises, another song or two, and so on. The way I improve is to mix exercises with songs, mix easy songs with hard songs, and mix familiar songs with new songs. I also start my practice session with easy material, and make it harder as I go along.
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The next rule is — DON'T OVERDO IT! Beginners, and many of us who aren't beginners, often have a lot of problems with cramps in the hands and fingers from excessive playing. Some of the exercises listed here are extremely tough on the hands and fingers. If you get sore, BE SURE you have recovered fully before trying them again. That means waiting two or three days, maybe even a week. (You should be able to play the next day, as long as you don't repeat the exercises. But if it's too hard to play, skip a session or two.) Your ambitions to improve quickly are not worth risking carpal tunnel syndrome, or some other problem. I try to play every day (don't always succeed), for at least half an hour, preferably an hour. If you have a hard time playing daily, it might be better to play for five minutes every day, without fail, with a single 30-minute or 60-minute session weekly, than to play for two hours just once a week. Try out both ways, and see which is better for you. If you're playing in a band, you're going to have to be a bit more serious and professional (unless you're just playing for fun), particularly if you're playing for money. In that case, you probably should play at least an hour a day (maybe two), without fail, with ten or fifteen minutes (maybe thirty) at the start of each session devoted to exercises. One thing I've noticed — it's good to occasionally take a few days off (such as on a business trip or vacation). Sometimes, playing every day, you pick up some bad habits — and you can often lose them just by taking a few days off once in a while. |
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