Category: Practice and Musicianship

Practice & Warm-Up Tips from Julian Lage

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These lessons explore what it means to be a more musical guitar player—including how to practice, learn, and have a healthy relationship with the guitar. You’ll find tips for developing your ear, playing with others, warming up, reading music, performing, and more of the foundational skills that will help you become a better and more confident musician.

Juliian lage, seated with guitar, performs in the Acoustic Guitar studio

5-Minute Lesson: Practice & Warm-Up Tips from Visionary Jazz Guitarist Julian Lage

In this 5-Minute lesson, guitarist Julian Lage explains the benefits of practicing quietly on the acoustic guitar.

Greg Cahill
January 1, 2022

A Simple but Effective Plan to Make the Most of Your Guitar Practice Time

Here's how you can set yourself up to illuminate your progress on practicing guitar as you make it—and have more fun as you do it.

Judy Minot
December 8, 2021

Learn How to Play Guitar Online

If you’re interested in the self-taught method, finding the right resource might be a bit of a challenge with number of options to choose from. But we’re here to help!

Kate Koenig
July 9, 2021

Learn How to Practice and Solo with Scales on Acoustic Guitar

Working on your scales can lead to greater fluidity on your guitar and more.

Acoustic Guitar Editors
March 3, 2021

a person sitting down playing acoustic guitar

Song Builder: How to Put Together a Repertoire—and Use it Wisely

Whether you’re a solo singer-songwriter or instrumentalist, or you play with a group, as you develop plans to play shows, you’ll need to carefully consider your repertoire. If you’ve performed in bars and restaurants, then you understand the value of having a few choice standards at your fingertips. Or if…

Jane Miller
February 9, 2021

someone playing guitar in black and white

Stuck in a Rut With Your Guitar? Try These Practice Techniques

It’s not uncommon for even the most accomplished guitarists to hit walls when practicing—whether caused by difficulties in learning to play challenging passages cleanly, or uncertainty about how to diagnose and troubleshoot certain problematic areas in their playing. Sometimes a creative solution is in order. In this lesson, part of…

Adam Perlmutter
August 31, 2020

Quick Tip: All Practice and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Guitarist

Writers have a saying to describe the process of practicing their craft: B.I.C. or Butt in Chair. That’s a good starting place for guitar players, too. If you’re dreaming of being a better guitar player, then have a seat. Here’s your guitar. Play something. You just got a little…

Jane Miller
August 31, 2020

Double the Effectiveness of your Precious Practice Time by Recording It

When looking for the right device to capture your practice sessions, feel free to save your money for recording your first album—hi-fi audio isn’t the ultimate goal. You can use your smartphone, a handheld digital recorder, or even an old-school cassette setup.

Dan Apczysnki
August 31, 2020

How to Sharpen Your Time-Keeping Skills on Guitar

Developing a solid sense of time is essential for all musicians

Acoustic Guitar Editors
August 21, 2020

Perfect Your Practice: 3 Approaches to Warming Up on Guitar

It's a bad idea to practice without warming up both hands first

Acoustic Guitar Editors
August 17, 2020

How Do Guitarists Practice?

Practicing is one of the most important things you can do as a guitarist, whether you’re an absolute beginner or seasoned professional. Yet, to the detriment of their musicianship, many players have poor practicing habits—for instance, running through things that they already know, reinforcing mistakes, or just noodling around—or choose…

Adam Perlmutter
August 11, 2020

how to develop a guitar warm-up routine video still

Stay Loose and Avoid Injury by Developing a Guitar Warm-Up Routine

Just like any sport or exercise, it can take a bit of playing time before you reach your “zone"

Adam Perlmutter and Adam Perlmutter
August 11, 2020

four acoustic guitarists are pictured playing their instruments

A Guitarist’s Guide to Managing Aging and Overuse Injuries

Playing guitar is a pain. At first, we suffer through blistered fingertips, overstretched tendons, fatigued muscles, and limited range of movement. With practice, those hindrances pass and we play easily. Until we can’t. Acoustic guitarists, like everyone, must manage physiological changes due to aging, often including hearing loss, arthritis, and…

David McCarty
June 25, 2020

a boy sits on a bench playing his guitar in a park

Eliminate Barriers to Practicing Guitar

Everyone knows that practice makes perfect, but do we really take this to heart? In my many years as a teacher, I’ve heard every excuse for not practicing: There’s not enough time; it’s not fun; it hurts too much; I’m not making progress; I’m stuck; or I’m just not inspired…

Paul Mehling
June 22, 2020

Video Lesson: How to Warm Up Smartly

You don’t just jump out of bed and run a marathon, right?

Paul Mehling
September 4, 2019

Lesson: How to Make Sense of Lead Sheets

If you have a solid foundation but want to learn more about reading charts, then this lesson, based on an actual lead sheet, is for you.

Adam Perlmutter and Adam Perlmutter
June 18, 2019

Learn to Play Faster by Slowing Down

Call it a plateau; call it being stuck in a rut. We’ve all been at that place where time in the woodshed feels so unproductive that it’s driving us crazy! If you spend any time practicing, you’ve probably had the feeling that you’re not getting anywhere and that you either…

Paul Mehling
November 18, 2018

illustration showing a person laying down in a field playing the guitar

Seeing the Big Picture: How to Build a Solid Foundation for Creating Wonderful Music

Prominent guitarists and educators offer advice on what it takes to become a more musical guitar player and improve your musicianship.

Adam Perlmutter
June 28, 2018

How to Find the Right Guitar Teacher

While having options is a good thing, it’s still important to take your time selecting a guitar teacher. Here's how to find the right guitar teacher.

Jeff Gunn
June 24, 2018

artists rendering of a person playing guitar while wearing headphones

Ear Training Will Make You a Better Guitarist and Musician

Set aside just a few minutes a day to work on these steps, and you can make noticeable progress within weeks.

Adam Perlmutter
June 23, 2018

Pass It On: Five Ways to Share Music with Individuals and Groups

Think about your earliest musical memory. Was it your mother singing to you? Was it you singing along with your friends? For me it was my father playing saxophone in wedding bands and dabbling in guitar and banjo. I learned from him that music has the power to move people…

David Hodge
April 19, 2018

Video Lesson: Cultivate Your Standalone Guitar Skills

Here you’ll learn a few fundamental solo-guitar concepts that will get you started and leave you with enough tools to continue developing at your own pace.