Odds are that before you are out the door or turn off the computer after your first country guitar lesson, you will be “encouraged” to make time for regular practice before your next session. Throughout this site, you will see that I am a big supporter of practice as well. In fact, I don’t really understand why anyone would take guitar unless they were planning to practice often, as practice is where you can really put those skills to work. It doesn’t matter if you want to play rock guitar on the electric guitar, blues guitar on the acoustic, or merge some country guitar and the classical feel. Practice is what is really going to make you an expert.
That said, I understand that practice can be more than a little tedious. It gets frustrating playing the same songs over and over, listening to your imperfections amplified by the fact that you are all by yourself. It’s likely you’re not even going to be singing, so it’s just you and your guitar, alone, trying to build a relationship. Those living with you may also find these sessions tedious.
There are different ways for those taking beginner’s guitar lessons to liven up practice sessions a bit, and keep them fun. Here are a few suggestions.
Jam with someone better!
No one will be able to help you learn better than someone who is more experienced than you are. See if a friend or even your instructor will jam with you a little bit. They can complement what you know and allow you to get a better feel, and at the same time push you a bit.
Throw in a CD
Actually, you don’t even need a CD. A lot of web based guitar lessons include basic music you can play along to. Failing that, look for a few popular songs which use the simple chords you learn in most beginner’s guitar lessons. You will be surprised at how many there are, and playing along can help you get the formations right and switch faster.
Form a band!
I don’t care if you haven’t taken your first country guitar lesson yet or are onto your 50th, you can’t deny that playing with a band is the Big Dream. So form one up, and you’ll find yourself making great strides in your skills.
All practice can help you become a better guitar player. If you’ve started to get bored, liven up your sessions a bit.
photo credit: MarksandSparks