Category: guitar practice

We’ve all heard it: “To get better at guitar, you need to practice!” It’s true, of course, but what does “effective” practice really look like? Especially if your goal is to play more freely, improvise, or write your own music? For many, the traditional path involves diligently learning and memorizing a vast repertoire of existing songs. This is a perfectly valid and enjoyable way to develop your playing, and it’s essential if your aim is to perform existing pieces accurately.

However, there are other powerful approaches that can be incredibly beneficial for building your musical vocabulary and technical fluency, complementing or even providing a different focus than solely memorizing songs. Think of these approaches less like memorizing lines from a script and more like learning new words and phrases in a language, or even discovering new sounds through experimentation.

Complementing Song Learning with Vocabulary Building and Free Exploration

While learning and memorizing songs is a cornerstone of guitar playing and a fulfilling goal in itself, focusing on perfect recall of as much cover versions as possible might not be the only or most efficient path for developing your improvisational skills or songwriting abilities. Imagine trying to have a conversation by only reciting pre-written speeches. You’d be limited in your ability to respond spontaneously or express your own unique thoughts. These alternative approaches offer ways to build the fundamental “words” and “grammar” that can make your playing more flexible and creative.

One powerful way to expand your musical horizons is through what is called “borrowed knowledge” – actively learning and internalizing musical ideas from other sources.

The Power of Borrowed Knowledge and Organic Discovery

Our experience suggests a focus on acquiring new musical “vocabulary” and “grammar.” This doesn’t always mean permanently storing every single lick, riff, song, or even every single scale shape in your memory bank. While knowing scales is fundamental, the idea of having to constantly run through every single mode and position can feel cumbersome and less directly applicable to making music in the moment.

Instead, consider mastering the C major scale (or any major scale you prefer) across the entire fretboard. As you shift positions and explore the notes of the C major scale up and down the neck, you are inherently accessing all of its modes – Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian (natural minor), and Locrian. You’re not just learning a shape; you’re internalizing the sound and feel of those notes in relation to different root notes. This is like learning the alphabet and how to form basic words; once you have that foundation, you can start building more complex sentences and ideas.

Similarly, we find immense value in picking up a new song, a section of a song, or even just a cool lick or riff that catches our ear. We’ll work on it, learn the movements, the feel, and the sound. And sometimes, we’ll forget the specific lick again later! And that’s okay.

Here’s why borrowing knowledge can be so effective: Even if the specific lick or song section fades from memory, the techniques you used to play it – the picking pattern, the finger stretching, the bending technique, the rhythmic feel – those things start to become internalized. You’re adding new tools to your toolbox, new “words” to your musical vocabulary. This allows you to eventually combine these elements in your own unique ways, leading to more spontaneous playing and creative ideas. Forgetting things forces one to play one’s own music.

This approach blends well with learning songs. You can learn a song, not necessarily for permanent memorization, but to extract the interesting licks, chord voicings, rhythmic patterns, or whatever sticks to you. These become the “words” you can then use in your own musical “conversations.”

However, it’s also important to acknowledge the value of simply “noodling” or free exploration. Just playing around with your guitar, trying out different rhythmic patterns, experimenting with new chord voicings, or exploring the sounds of different scales without a specific goal in mind can be incredibly fruitful. While this might take more time and feel less structured than explicitly borrowing vocabulary, the discoveries you make this way are truly yours. You’ll develop a deep understanding of the sounds and techniques because you found them yourself. This is like a child freely experimenting with sounds and words before learning formal grammar – it’s a vital part of developing a unique voice. The key is to be mindful and try to push yourself to play differently, even in these freeform sessions.

How to Implement These Approaches

So, how can you incorporate these different approaches into your practice routine?

• Focus on one scale across the neck: Pick a major scale (like C major) and work on playing it smoothly and confidently in multiple positions. Pay attention to the sound and how the notes relate to the root.
• Learn licks and riffs, not just entire songs: Find a lick you like in a song, a YouTube video, or a lesson. Break it down, practice it slowly, and try to understand why it sounds good.
• Experiment with variations: Once you can play a lick, try changing a note, altering the rhythm, or shifting it to a different part of the neck. This is where you start to make it your own.
• Dedicate time for free exploration: Set aside time to just play without a specific plan. Try different rhythms, chord changes, or melodic ideas. Pay attention to what sounds good and what feels interesting. Try to consciously vary what you’re doing.
• Record yourself: Hearing yourself play can help you identify areas for improvement and track your progress, both in structured practice and free exploration.
• Don’t be afraid to forget: The goal isn’t perfect memorization of everything. It’s about internalizing the feel, the technique, and the sounds you discover.

The Benefits

By incorporating these different approaches into your practice, you’ll find yourself:

• More confident in improvising: You’ll have a wider range of “words,” “phrases,” and personally discovered sounds to draw from.
• More creative in your songwriting: You’ll have new ideas for melodies, riffs, and chord progressions, both borrowed and organically found.
• Developing better technique: You’ll be working on practical applications of techniques found in real music and exploring new ways to use your hands and the instrument.
• Developing a unique voice: Your free exploration will lead to discoveries that are uniquely yours.
• Finding more joy in practice: These approaches can feel less like rote memorization and more like playing, exploring, and creating.

Remember, effective guitar practice is about finding what works best for your goals. While learning and performing songs is a valuable and rewarding aspect of guitar playing, exploring “borrowed knowledge” and dedicating time for free exploration can unlock new levels of creativity and freedom in your playing. Start incorporating these ideas into your routine and watch your musical vocabulary and personal style grow!