| Developing a good practice routine is essential to | | | | metronome set at for that practice. In this case it |
| becoming a better guitarist. Many whose progress is | | | | would be 60. Because of the difficulty you had you |
| either slow or non existent may be linked to their | | | | would stay at 60 until you could do the entire |
| practice routine, or lack of one. While practice can | | | | chromatic scale without any mistakes. Now lets work |
| make perfect, it's better to say that practicing perfectly | | | | on scales. |
| will make you perfect. I want to introduce you to a | | | | When first starting with scales learn the fingerings of |
| daily routine that will speed up your progress. | | | | each pattern of the scale. For instance. To practice |
| You will need four things: | | | | the first pattern of the minor pentatonic scale you |
| 1. Metronome | | | | would do the following. Set your metronome at 60 |
| 2. Book of scales | | | | bpm. Put your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 6th string. |
| 3. Easy level songbook (of your style of music) | | | | Play the note, then use your 4th finger on the 4th fret |
| 4. A notebook | | | | of the 6th string. Then 1st finger, 1st fret 5th string. |
| The metronome gives off intermittent beeps at | | | | Then 3rd finger, 3rd fret, 5th string. Continue this until |
| different intervals depending on what tempo it is set at. | | | | your 4th finger lands on the 4th fret, 1st string. At this |
| If you set it at 60 beats per minute, it will beep 60 | | | | point play that note again then head back the way you |
| times in one minute. It can also be set to different | | | | came until you end up with your 1st finger back on the |
| notes such as single or whole notes, eighth notes, | | | | 1st fret, 6th string. Do this over several times at 60 |
| triplets....etc. It will help you to develop a perfect tempo. | | | | bpm until you perfect it. |
| A book of scales or at least learn the fingerings of the | | | | Then take the next pattern of the scale staying in the |
| scales in the style of music you wish to play. For me | | | | same position and do the same thing with that pattern |
| it's blues and flamenco. So for the blues I would | | | | as you did with the one before. Go through all scale |
| practice the minor pentatonic and blues scales up and | | | | patterns several times or until you perfect them. |
| down the neck. This is just not overall good practice, | | | | Document the results in your notebook. If you had |
| but it will also prepare you for when you want to begin | | | | some difficulties, state what those difficulties were and |
| to improvise your own music. So when your good | | | | for your next practice routine you would focus on |
| you'll be ready. That's why I say, make it in the scales | | | | those difficult areas. But once you successfully perfect |
| of the music of your choice. | | | | all scale patterns in the first position at 60 bpm move |
| I suggest a easy level song or instruction book for two | | | | your 1st finger down to the 4th fret and do the same |
| reasons. One. It gets boring spending all your time | | | | in this position as you did at the first. Do this all the way |
| practicing. And two, you'll want to see the benefits of | | | | down to the 12th fret. Then start over at the first fret |
| your practice routine. As for the easy level, the songs | | | | moving your bpm to at least 70 or 80 whichever you |
| are easy to finish, easy to perfect and will also help | | | | can handle. These scale exercises will develop the |
| give you a sense of accomplishment rather then to | | | | fingerings for the type of music you will play. Now get |
| choose a more advanced music book where you | | | | out your songbook. |
| may become frustrated at your progression. | | | | If you are a beginner and like the blues you should |
| A notebook is essential in documenting your practice | | | | have a blues beginner level instruction manual or an |
| routine. With it you will log what scale, song or some | | | | easy blues songbook. The instruction manual is what I |
| form of practice you are working on and at what | | | | suggest for the beginner, as it has various exercises |
| tempo. Also, outline where you are having problems | | | | with introductions to music theory. Again. Go through |
| which will allow for you to focus on trouble spots | | | | the book documenting in your notebook your |
| rather then spend time on things that you are proficient | | | | successes and failures. When you get to a song, go |
| at. Now lets put all this together into a daily practice | | | | through that song working one measure at a time until |
| routine in the order in which they should be performed. | | | | you can play through the entire song at tempo and |
| To help you become familiar with the fretboard and to | | | | without stopping. Even as you progress through the |
| get your hand used to fretting in different positions, I | | | | book come back to those songs you first learned and |
| suggest you start with the chromatic scale. The | | | | play through them at least once. This will not only help |
| chromatic scale basically covers the entire fretboard | | | | you to perfect the song but will also help you to |
| going up and down the strings in order. Set your | | | | perfect your technique. Perfect everything that you do. |
| metronome at 60 bpm. Put your 1st finger on the 1st | | | | Once you have completed all of these exercises |
| string on the 1st fret. Pick the note then 2nd finger 2nd | | | | which should take no more then 15 to 20 minutes, you |
| fret picking that note then 3rd, then 4th. Then move | | | | will have in your hands a good practice routine. |
| your 1st finger to the 2nd fret, pick that note and your | | | | In closing, to get the most from your practice time be |
| 2nd finger will then be on the 3d fret. Continue doing | | | | consistent with the manner in which you practice. If |
| this until your 1st finger is on the 12th fret. Then start | | | | you find the perfect way to fret a note, do it that way |
| moving back up to the 1st fret. Then do the same with | | | | from now on. If moving your hand a certain way |
| all other strings. If you do well at 60 bpm move up to | | | | produces good results, practice that movement over |
| 70, then 80 and so forth. But only move up to a higher | | | | and over again. And do not move forward with any |
| BPM if you are doing good without error. Record the | | | | concept or exercise until you have adequately learned |
| results in your notebook so you will know what to do | | | | it. Otherwise, as you advance, you will not have |
| for your next practice session. | | | | learned some basic principal that will be necessary for |
| For instance. If you had various problems such as | | | | you to move forward. You'll continue to be stuck in a |
| missing notes or not fretting the note properly where it | | | | beginners level until you do learn it. But if you continue |
| rings out clearly. Or maybe difficulty with the 5th and | | | | with a serious practice routine, you will in no time |
| 6th strings or 11th and 12th frets. You would document | | | | develop your skills beyond the typical guitarist. One last |
| this stating exactly what the problems were so you | | | | bit of advice. Enjoy what you're doing, and have fun |
| could focus your next practice routine on those areas. | | | | with it! |
| Then you would log at what BPM you had the | | | | |