Legendary guitar players, such as Joe Satriani, Jimmy Hendrix, Yngwie Malmsteen, Tom Morello, and so much more, did not become legends overnight. Each of them had to practice every day and had to come up with ideas and methods to become better. Everyone has to start somewhere. The same goes for each person trying to improve with playing the guitar, including you. That is why we have come up with some tips and ideas to help you improve your guitar skills. Check them out:
Try something new each day
Playing the same thing over and over allows you to master it after quite some time. But that would not be enough to improve your skills. You can try playing something new every day. That way, your overall scope of guitar playing will expand. It also allows you to discover other means of playing such a fine musical instrument.
Play with other people
Jamming with friends and family is another means to level up your guitar prowess. Not only will you have the chance to bond with them for a fun experience. But it also lets you discover where you fall flat. Not only that, friends and family members can also teach you a thing or two, not only with your playing.
Record yourself
It is also a swell practice to record yourself via a video. Doing so is highly advantageous. Why? It allows you to record anything you play. In addition, you can see where your hands are during a specific part of the recording. The step lets you analyze if you have to make a couple of adjustments or not with that step. The best thing about recording is that you can see how far you have gone in terms of playing the guitar. You will see your progress with each video you take.
Try a different musical instrument
You might be wondering what this step has to do with guitar playing. Well, the answer is simple. You can take a different instrument and give it a swing. Why? It improves your overall sense of rhythm. You will need rhythm a lot if you want to master the guitar. Trust us. You will notice your rhythm skills once you get back to playing.
Purchase new guitar accessories
We have to be crystal clear with this tip first. Take note that purchasing the equipment alone will not improve your overall skills. It would still be up to you to level up. However, getting your hands on new guitar accessories will open up new opportunities. You will discover new riffs and techniques for you to try out.
Take a break
We cannot stress this tip enough. There will come a time when you do not feel like playing at all. It will definitely happen no matter what you do, or how motivated you may be. The answer to that is to take a break. Perhaps enjoy some video games, or take a walk around town. No one is forcing you to play the guitar. Plus, taking a break refreshes your mind and body. That means you will not feel stressed or tired once you get back to playing.
Learn from the masters
All of us have guitar heroes. No, it is not the video game you play with friends. We are talking about the masters of the craft – the people who taught Steve Vai, Slash, and other pros how to play. It is always a neat thing to learn from the masters themselves. You can find their lessons and other educational media in books and other online sources.
Play a different style
Playing in a different style might not be the most comfortable concept for most musicians. However, it is paramount that you give it a shot. Doing so will allow you to discover other techniques and ways to play the guitar. You can also find out new music and songs.
Try to cover a song
One of the most important ways to improve is to try and cover numerous songs. We are not telling you to cover more than one song each day. You can start with at least one. Once you become comfortable, you can go ahead and play as many as you want. Once you cover a song, you will get how the piece feels. You will also notice how rhythm and other aspects get along together to make a unique harmony.
To conclude things, these tips will definitely get you somewhere. But you do not have to force yourself with guitar playing. The most important thing you have to take note of is you should have fun no matter what you do.
