Are you wondering how often should a beginner practice guitar to make the most progress? The amount of time required to learn and master the guitar varies from person to person, but most beginners need a few days per week dedicated to consistent and focused practice on the instrument. Heavy emphasis on consistency.
Read on for tips on setting realistic goals and avoiding burnout.
Check out our other guitar basics here
Start with Short Practice Sessions Every Day
It’s important to start small and pick a realistic practice schedule.
Chances are, you won’t be able to put in long hours of practice if you have other obligations to attend to, so it’s best to keep a focuses schedule.
You can gradually increase the length and intensity of your sessions as you become more comfortable with the guitar.
Focusing on small goals like learning new chords or mastering specific strumming patterns will help you stay motivated and make progress without burning out.
The key take away is to make each session count, no matter how short it is. They can be 15 minutes here and there, upwards to an hour or maybe two.
Set Clear Goals and Take Breaks
It’s important to have clear goals when starting out on the guitar, so you know what to focus on. Set yourself small, achievable goals that you can tick off as you go.
Remember to give yourself regular breaks when practicing so your mind stays fresh and creative. This will help fuel your progress and deepen your connection with the instrument in the long run.
The breaks are important because while a long run of 2 hours+ might seems to make up for a couple of days of practice missed, it can be counterproductive.
You want to aim for short bursts of focused practice & the more consistent you are with that, the better you will be off.
Focus Most of Your Practice Time on Technique Drills rather than Songs
While playing your favorite songs is enjoyable, it can be beneficial to focus most of your practice time on developing and refining your guitar techniques.
This could include working on scales, exercises, and fingerpicking drills that all work to build a strong foundation of technical ability.
Once you have perfected the basics, then you can apply them to the songs and pieces you most want to learn.
That’s not to say you can’t practice your favorite songs daily, but first start with the technical stuff.
Related: How To Properly Hold A Guitar
Incorporate Theory-Based Learning Into Your Practice Routine
Incorporating theory-based learning into your practice routine is also a great way to make sure your progress as a beginner guitarist is consistent.
Theory-based activities like ear training, reading music, and understanding basic chords and scales can provide the foundation for successful advanced playing.
Taking the time to understand why certain techniques work can open up new possibilities in the way you play guitar.
It will also make you a more well-rounded musician even outside of the guitar.
Find a Balance Between Practicing and Listening to Your Favorite Guitarists
One of the best things about playing guitar is that it allows you to express yourself musically.
As a beginner guitarist, it can be easy to spend hours playing along to your favorite songs without gaining enough technical proficiency.
Strike a balance between exploring new techniques and simply jamming with your favorite music for the most effective practice routine.
Listening to your favorite musicians can help spark creativity and allow you to develop your own unique sound!
