• From: Wales
  • Registered: 2009-01-09
  • Posts: 220

Topic: Practice/routine advice?

Hello all,

Just after a bit of practice/routine advice really.

I’ve been playing acoustic for a while and personally I’m well chuffed with my progress, I can play 20 or 30 songs right the way through (not from memory tho), I can basically play any song as long as the chords are mostly open and reasonably easy.

About a month ago I bought an electric Fender and an amp, mainly to practice barre chords but I also want to play both electric and acoustic, eventually.

I’m just struggling with a constructive routine for the electric tho, most beginner routines I find are based around open chords and not barre chords or picking.  So I’ve been practicing playing songs just using barre chords or power chords and that’s improving but it’s the picking that’s the problem.  I can pick up and down the minor pentonic scale pretty well, in rhythm, cleanly but as soon as I try to learn a lick it’s like I’ve just picked up a guitar for the first time.  I’m also struggling to incorporate a lick in between a series of chords.

Can anyone suggest a basic routine so at least I’ll feel like I’m following something constructive, or suggest a few easy songs ideally suited for an electric?

Cheers

Epiphone EJ200  -  Epiphone SG400  -  Fender Strat Blacktop.
Blackstar HT 40 Club  -  Vox VT30 - Behringer ACX ultracoustic 1000

crevs.1972's Website

  • From: Central Flatland
  • Registered: 2007-05-30
  • Posts: 223

Re: Practice/routine advice?

1) Practice slowly.  I mean really slowly.  Get a metronome if you don't have one, and use it. 

2) Since you know the minor pentatonic, start there, and use alternate picking (first note down, second up, third down, etc.).  Use the metronome, set to 60 bpm (or LESS!).  When I was starting out, I used to spend about five minutes each practice session just alternate picking without fretting any notes, eight or sixteen beats per string.  It gets boring fast, but it helps down the road.  As you get more confident, gradually speed up the metronome.  This will help with speed, accuracy, and above all TIMING.

3) Spend five or ten minutes at the end of each session (just until your hand starts to cramp) working the changes on your barre chords.  Don't sweat the metronome for this, just pick a tune and play through it slowly using only barre chords.  As you get more confident, work in different forms and positions for the chords.  This will help you build strength and endurance quickly.  You might throw a few open forms in there, to give your thumb a chance to relax.  Part of this is figuring out when you can take that pressure off the ball of your thumb, which will massively help with endurance, too.

Good luck, and don't forget to have fun.

"There's such a fine line between genius and stupidity."
                              --David St. Hubbins
  • Registered: 2007-01-29
  • Posts: 533

Re: Practice/routine advice?

Metronome...Metronome...Metronome!  I know it can be boring but it's amazing what will start coming out of those scales if you consistantly practice. For stress relief I often will find a chord progression...like Am-G-F-G-Am and play it over and over with the metronome...

Middleaged Redneck sorta guy who refuses to grow up...passion for music, especially Southern Rock but like bout everything cept Gangsta/Hip Hop. Collect guitars, mandolins, and love to ride Harleys.