Hey Lykkers! Ever found yourself stuck in your guitar practice, not knowing what to focus on? We've all been there at some point, where you're motivated to improve but feel lost about what to practice.

If you've ever felt like your practice isn't getting you anywhere, you're likely missing one key thing: goals. Setting clear and specific goals is crucial for progress. It's easy to get overwhelmed with big, vague ambitions like “I want to be a great guitarist.” While this sounds inspiring, it's far too broad and abstract.

Instead, your goals should be concrete and achievable. For example, you could say, “I want to learn this song,” or “I want to master the 12-bar blues progression.” Break it down even further if needed. If your goal is the 12-bar blues, you can set smaller targets like:

• Mastering your left and right hand techniques

• Getting familiar with the blues scale

• Practicing blues phrases

• Trying out improvisation

Think of it like eating a pizza—no one tries to eat it all in one bite. Instead, we cut it into smaller, more manageable pieces to enjoy it and avoid choking. Setting goals will prevent you from falling into the trap of aimless practice.

Avoid Wasting Time on Repetition

We've all been there: playing the same song over and over because it's fun, familiar, and feels easy. But here's the thing—this is playing, not practicing. Sure, playing songs you already know is enjoyable, but it doesn't challenge you to improve. Practice is about pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, and let's be honest, that can feel uncomfortable or even frustrating at times. It's the kind of discomfort that leads to growth.

So, make sure to separate your time between playing and practicing. Playing is for enjoyment, while practicing is for leveling up your skills. Both are important, but you need to make sure your practice time is focused on improving your weaknesses and breaking through your limits.

Don't Use Your Elbow When Strumming

Strumming is an area where many beginners make a common mistake: using the elbow to force the motion. It's natural for new guitarists to lean on their elbow strength because it feels powerful, but this creates a stiff, unnatural movement. Not to mention, it makes the sound less fluid and harder to control.

Instead, focus on relaxing your wrist while strumming. A loose wrist allows for more natural movement and will give you a smoother, more consistent sound. Plus, it reduces the risk of muscle strain, especially when you're strumming fast or doing picking techniques. Relaxing your wrist makes a world of difference.

Don't Let Unwanted Notes Ring Out

Another mistake many guitarists make is not muting unwanted notes. If you don't learn to silence certain strings, your playing will sound messy and unprofessional. Muting unnecessary strings is a key technique that makes your performance sound cleaner and more precise.

To mute notes, use your fingers and palms strategically. For instance, when you're playing single notes, let your middle and ring fingers rest gently on the strings you're not using. Similarly, your left-hand fingers can mute the lower strings that aren't involved in the current chord. The right-hand palm can also be used to mute strings as you strum. Practicing this technique will make your playing sound much cleaner.

Using the Tips of Your Fingers When Pressing Chords

If you've ever wondered why your chords sound off or noisy, the answer often lies in how you press down the strings. Many beginners make the mistake of pressing the strings with their finger pads instead of the tips. This results in muffled, unclear sounds or buzzing.

The key to clean chords is pressing the strings with the pads of your fingertips, with the first knuckle “standing up” as you press down. This may feel like a small adjustment, but it's the difference between a muddy chord and a clear, bright sound. Pay attention to this detail—it's crucial for good sound production!

Always Tune Your Guitar

Before you start playing, always tune your guitar. A well-tuned guitar is essential to any practice session, and it's the most basic yet vital part of playing. Today, tuning your guitar is easier than ever, with tuning apps and devices at your disposal. Even if you're a beginner and don't know how to tune by ear, these tools can help you get your guitar in perfect shape for your practice.

But what if you're in a noisy environment and can't hear your tuner properly, or you don't have a tuner on hand? In that case, you'll need to rely on your ear. Learning to tune by ear is an important skill, and while it takes time, it's definitely worth mastering. Practice this skill when you have the chance!

Applying What You Learn

A big mistake many guitarists make is learning new techniques or theory and not applying them in real songs. It's tempting to keep learning more, but unless you actually use what you've learned, it won't stick. For example, once you've learned the G major scale, try using it for improvisation. When you learn a new chord, find songs that use it and experiment with it in different contexts.

Don't be afraid to dive into more advanced concepts just because you're not perfect at them yet. No one starts out as a guitar master—everyone has to put in the work and be okay with making mistakes along the way. The key is to accept where you are right now and take small, consistent steps toward improvement.

We hope these tips help you become a better guitarist! Remember, practice is all about making small improvements every day. Don't get discouraged if things don't sound perfect right away—it's all part of the journey. Keep practicing and stay motivated, Lykkers! Let us know what technique you're working on right now or any struggles you're facing in your guitar journey. We'd love to hear from you!