How to Avoid Practice Pitfalls | Our 10 Best Tips for Practicing Guitar 

Don’t ever quit. Do whatever it takes to keep the habit of practicing. You will get better.

As a beginner the “my wife tells me I sound terrible” really resonated with me LOL. After working all day and taking care of our toddler, the last 1-2 hours in the day are my practice time. I am now focusing on barre chords and alternate/crosspicking. Needless to say it does not sound great right now but I’ll get there! Best feeling is to have your kid bop along to what your playing when you actually just sit to play what you know well. Even those 1-2 songs lol.

I am about to be 45 and picked up the guitar 8 days ago. My teenage son has inspired me to learn to play. I have no previous musical experience, other than a triangle in children’s choir, and I wasn’t very good at it. I have really enjoyed trying to learn thus far and I really appreciate your insights you shared in this video. Please keep the good content coming!

I just LOVE the chemistry between Chris and Cooper. Chris is the loud and proud super guitar geek, while Cooper is the cool smooth chill guitar dude.

Been playing since 1972. COVID shut down my 6 day a week volunteer sessions so I thought I'd take on-line lessons to keep growing in guitar. TrueFire didn't work for me but Tony's Acoustic Challenge (Acoustic Tuesday) did. I converted the spare bedroom to guitar room with 2 guitar stands, humidifier, music stand & other stuff they talk about. It's also the morning & evening prayer room (with guitar accompaniment). TAC gives me a lesson 5 days a week, things I never would have tried, techniques I can add to my existing song collection, and when I struggle, some hints and encouragement. Almost as good as Chris & Cooper. Now instead of playing at nursing homes, assisted living & memory care, I phone some of them (they don't zoom or internet). Thanks Chris & Cooper

That first tip is so good. I didn’t realize I play songs I already know all the time and don’t practice new stuff enough.

Best tip ever- practice to a backing track, click track, metronome, etc.. always practice musically.

I liked the 10 practice pitfalls And will apply them. the last comment you made about the nursing homes is great . We used to do that quite often until covid came along. We will start back when we are allowed. It is so important. They feel so forgotten. God bless all who visit them and proforms for them.

My wife asked me last night why she hasn't heard me practice in a while. I told her I've been practicing every day, but I can barely listen to it, let alone subject her to my fumbling. I also find I'm so self conscious of what others might hear that I'm way worse if someone else is in the room. If I can't see anyone, I don't grimace with every mistake, so I make fewer mistakes. At least my wife is really supportive, so I doubt she'd ever tell me I sound awful. She knows me well enough to know I'm telling myself that!

I’ve been playing for almost 50 years, several instruments and many bands and styles. I must be the exception, but to this day I love playing with.a metronome. It does really help you work with learning tunes and techniques very quickly. I also have no issue playing slow, which a lot of people have problems with, but I find that one of the best uses of a metronome is to push your playing speed far beyond what the tune calls for (I play Bluegrass mostly now). That makes playing at the normal speed much more effortless, especially when playing live, or playing in jams with people who are at a level higher than my own. I see others use a metronome and tend to chase it. Best to just treat a metronome like they are another player you are playing along with, and just groove with it.

As a personal trainer, I always adopt the same philosophy to improving my guitar playing as I do with trying to improve my fitness. That is SMARTER goal setting... Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time Evaluate Regularly

Even though I'm not a complete beginner to guitar, I like watching these kind of vids cuz they help me to not become lazy n also to break bad habits. These rules are the kick in the butt that I need every so often. Much appreciated it dudes ✌🎃🤘

This duo always makes me giggle. It must be the contrast in their hair. Anyway, I completely agree with the bit about keeping an open mind. The other day I was playing with what for me was an unusual chord shape. I accidentally hit the wrong strings, but those notes turned out to be perfect leading notes to the next chord. I now play them deliberately and they sound great. And I can pretend I knew what I was doing all the while.

The visualization of recording a piece can really help with "discipline". Just imagine the frustration of recording something that's not well rehearsed. Four years ago I never would have thought I'd be qualified to comment....nor would I have imagined any scenario where I'd be uploading videos of my playing of both piano and guitar. I suggest that if you have any doubts about your capacity to progress.....dismiss them now if you want to learn an instrument. Never compare yourself to anyone. Commit to getting good. Forget about what others think - especially your family. Steal time responsibly from other aspects of your life without guilt because - you deserve joy!

Yes. Challenging, so we can reach the feeling of accomplishment. It takes commitment and I must admit (5 years of playing, I'm 60, so late start) accepting dull days can occur and frustration too, it's part of the deal! Thanks Chris and Cooper 👍🎶🎶🎶

Larry Greenberg in NYC (no relationship to Cooper). In NYC and surviving COVID with you two. Great inspiration to practice. Cant wait to visit one day!

The last thing you said about playing for nursing homes,, sparked something in me to set a goal,, thanks that was a golden nugget for me..

Seen your channel only recently, first I thought a music shop, advice on guitars, then I found your Top 10 tips to get better player: it was awsome! I'm 70 and just retired, I've been playing for over 50 years, just from time to time, now I'm gonna start from the beginning like a student, gathering all I've learnt and trying and improve step by step the way you show. Thank you for your lesson so useful and so well given, and specially for your conclusion which I deeply share: music is made to be shared, not only technique but the soul in it. Great job guys! It would be nice a video with you playing as a duo. See you next time. Cheers

Thank you for this! I am 63 years old and am just starting my guitar journey. I have never played an instrument of any kind. I have been very confused on the best way to practice. This will be a big help.

I needed this video so bad right now. I get in a rut not feeling like practicing or playing, waiting for a blast of inspiration like a surfer waiting for a wave. When I do get motivated, it's from hearing a song or watching a video performance, go to a subscription website I belong to and work on it. Learning is funny. A year ago my right hand could only strum and flat-pick out a few chord notes. I thought I'd never learn to finger-pick. I tried from several videos, then give up. Maybe watching 5 different people show you how they do it isn't good? Then one day I'm just doing it, like the info finally went from my brain to my fingers. Please do more videos like these. The improvs from the store were hilarious.

I'm an older campfire strummer. I was practicing the other day and my 10 year old told me " dad you're getting better, you sound like a professional. " My heart melted, I was so happy. Then you tell me when I'm practicing I should sound bad. My heart turned to puppyshit.

Hello from Canada! Love your videos! I've been playing for a little over a year and allways feel im way behind where I should be. I'm 40, not a musical bone in my body so its been a labor of discipline. I laughed when you mentioned watching these 10 y/o kids that play amazingly. This is like golf, your playing against yourself, and I love it! Thanks for all the great videos, I bought a K24ce because I'd seen it here and its amazing. Keep up the great work!

Thanks for your advices, I’ll try to practice from many of your suggestions. Now, I’m realized that practicing while watching TV is not a good habit.🎶🎸

I’m only 62 but when I grow up I want to play as well as Cooper.

You two are awesome. I’m watching with my first cup of coffee and laughing out loud at Cooper’s skits. What a wonderful way to start my day. OBTW, great tips for a beginning guitarist.

Great talk, terrific tips. Love the work you guys put into this - you’re really one of the best channels out there 🙌

I was gonna practice then I ended up watching you guys on the internet. D'oh! But seriously, I enjoy them. Good job.

Such a fantastic video! This has so much applicability beyond guitar playing/practicing. Thank you!

THANK YOU so much for the videos you guys put out! just bought my first acoustic ever...A Taylor 214ce Grand Auditorium. And I’ve been learning so much from your videos! Keep those videos coming guys!...I’m really enjoying them! 👍😎👍

Thanks 🙏🏼 for the great advice

These are all fantastic tips. Some of which was nice to be reminded of

You guys are The Best.!! Thanks for everything and your advice.

Very enjoyable and useful- well done fellas.

I love Cooper’s video examples!

Great list! After reading the replies, at 62, I can see I am not alone in taking up the guitar late in life. I try to practice 5-10 minutes before going to work and love watching sports on tv while I practice. I know I am making progress when I can play a song or chord progression while watching golf! I see golf and playing guitar the same. Once in a while I will sink a 30 foot putt just like Tiger, and once in a while I will play a G cord just like Jimmy Hendrix.

Great presentation! Good advice and hilarious little vignettes peppered throughout! Love it!

Really informative and wise. Thank you 👍

What a great session guys. I completely enjoyed this video and came away with great knowledge and a roadmap for my guitar practice. Thank you.

Great video!! Thanks guys!

Wow! You guys hit the nail on the head! Picked up a Cigar Box Guitar 5 weeks ago. The headstock is the same width as the fretboard to no way to easily hang it. My wife kept putting it on the fireplace mantle which was only 10 feet from my desk - but when I began resting it in the trash can next my desk to keep it from falling over, I find myself picking it up 15 times a day practicing new licks... compared to every other day playing it. Last week I moved my Martin martin to a floor stand on the other side of my desk, and now I'm grabbing that once or twice a day instead of once or twice a week! 😀

I love this video - good mix of real info and some humor to keep it engaging

I just discovered your channel recently. I could watch you guys all day! Great info with humor.

You guys are just exceptional! I hope they pay you enough! Cheers

Thanks guys, some great ideas for sure.

Great, insightful stuff!

I’m going to start practicing once my 224ce arrives. 🤪 For now, I’m just going to binge watch your videos.

I normally don't comment amd I know this is an "old" video, but! I love the encouragement to play for an old folks home. Y'all got me right there. Have been an Alamo music center RU-vid fan for a while. Love all your videos but this one gets a pin to the tip of my list. I'll watch this every time I get in a rut! Thanks guys!!!

thx dudes for everything u do, u guys rock

Love the vibe. Make more contents like this pls.

Great video, loved it, and as a longtime guitar player, so much resonated, including things and thoughts that happened today while playing. Took away a lot, thanks!

Hey man love your content keep it up!!

thanks for your help

Thank you so much, best tips and encouraging. Appreciate that, greetings from Germany.

Love them together they are funny and at the same time very informative. When one starts giggly the other is serious especially I call him sneezy. He called himself that because of his allergies. Great channel.

Thank you so much! A lot of good tips in this video. I am struggling but enjoying it! I don’t think I ever said that before. I play for myself. The fingers stiffen and other issues, but I see improvement, maybe almost imperceptible, but it’s there. I have guitars out on stands and my wife bought me a music stand. My time, believe it or not, is 11 p.m. The metronome and foot tapping are still beyond me, but maybe I’ll get there. Best, Barry

Great video and creative ideas on practicing. You two go well together. I plan on visiting the store in my next SA trip. Looking forward to this 👍

Nice to meet you & Thank you

Love the music.

Very informative video about practice tips. I began a guitar class four months ago. I was impressed with Lauren Bateman here on RU-vid. I had been watching music videos-primarily people playing guitar…I thought to myself maybe playing guitar would keep my mind active-I will be 78 in October. Lauren mentioned she had a 90 year old in her guitar classes and was patient with older folks and that caught my attention. Anyway, I bought her seven step program. I am really pleased with my progress…incidentally she highly stresses using a metronome. I use mine all the time. I have my guitar out and practice daily…thanks to you I will start recording myself. Oh by the way I’m getting a new Taylor from your store for my birthday 🎂. Happy birthday to me!

Thanks for valuable video gentlemens! Great job. I'm looking forward to start learning guitar. I have some piano experience.

On the subject of recording yourself: I do it once a month with a video. It's hard to see how much progress you are making because it's so incremental. But if you record yourself once a month you can go back to see how far you've come which is really great for confidence to show that you ARE progressing even if you don't feel it on any given day. I also find that it shows me how I'm playing so I can improve my technique and also makes me realise I didn't sound as bad as I thought when I was playing it at the time!

GREAT job, guys! We need a poster to hang on the wall in our practice space to remind us constantly of these sterling principles. My buddy, Elvis, who grew up just around the corner here in Tupelo, MS would say "Thank ya. Thank ya vurry much!" Y'all come!

Thank you...watching you listening to you both really makes me realize I don’t practice enough. I’m at the discouraged point and I’m trying to move past that.

Enjoyed the video. I was surprised at how much of this I am doing and how much I need to change to make practice better. Starting tomorrow I will set a practice time every day for the same time. Laundry and other chores can wait. I appreciate my teacher even more after this video.

Best points i heard here was Dont put your instruments away . also play with a timer of some kind . metronomes and drum machines are great but also play along with a radio station because you have to play random songs instead of your faves .

Love your channel

That great bit at the end was extremely funny. Love it!

The secret to getting good is to practice every single day wether its 5 minutes or 6 hours

I love this channel.

Great, insightful, practical video! Thank you for sharing. I currently take guitar lessons. The focus seems to be strictly learning songs which I’m okay with because I’ve grown as a player as a result. Some songs, that have been beyond my skill level, I’ve wrestled with time and time again (for weeks and months), and unfortunately, I abandoned them because I just couldn’t get them. In fact, I can’t even listen to one particular song because the associated memories are more of failure than joy. I realize that this is 100% counterproductive and counterintuitive. I wanted to take guitar lessons so that I could learn the guitar. Understanding the guitar, for me, is elusive. I’d like to understand the fretboard. I’d like to learn “techniques” and skills that you’ve talked about in this video. I might kinda know a few more songs, but I’m still in the dark when it comes to understanding the incredible instrument that I enjoy playing. I love music, but I’m facing a big dilemma about fulfilling my goal of “learning to play the guitar”. Thanks again for the excellent tips on practising.

Thanks Fellas for the tips

Been playing for 58 years (go figure). I really enjoyed your video, I know all those pitfalls haha (and never got discouraged).Now this is something I believe: Rise to the occasion. I mean, if the talent is there (IF THE TALENT !!!) it will show fast, and gets even better when challenged.If the Stones would have stayed a blues band with their regular Sunday night at the Richmond Hotel or something, they would have been a very nice , very tight blues band but not the greatest rock'nroll band in history.I believe in before, and beyond the magic point, after which it has become music.

Great tips! I've been playing for 30+ years and feel I'm still only knee-deep in the pond. When I get cocky I just watch guys like Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Jeff Beck or Eddie V (or that 10 year old kid). SO much to learn and then enough practice to transfer control from the head to the hands. Wish the internet were ubiquitous in 1987 when I started (at least in some ways). Thanks for all the work, guys.

Leaving the guitar out and on a stand I do.. I sound terrible so that's great also... struggling with bowies space odditiefor years now... bunch of great advice... thanks !

Very nice video, thanks for sharing

You guys really make excellent videos, I've watched a lot of your reviews, great stuff; informative and fun to watch. Chris, love your playing. Great tips in this video, all of which should be obvious but putting them all together and illustrating them as you did ... lightbulbs going on in my head. Almost a damn shame that I don't live in the US so I can't buy a guitar from you! :)

About keeping instruments out. I do that in seasons where the humidity is appropriate, but I really don’t like the sound of cheap or mini guitars. Your point about creating a time and space for practice is good, and I find that when my expensive Martins are in a case, that my reserved time gets used well as pulling the instrument out of the case puts me in focus mindset. It’s like a switch that says, the guitar is out, it’s now time to be serious about playing. Once I put it back, my session is done, and I’m back to my other routines. I also find that it’s good to have some sessions where you don’t practice, and just enjoy playing tunes well.

Alamo and Acoustic Tuesday

Thank you

Great discusion!

Are these two twins with a very different hirsuteness? Really enjoyed this video. A lot of real truths gently put. The last few minutes are golden advice

Meant to add two of the best on YT for music my humble opinion!!!

PlAying in a nursing home, best message I learned thank you 🙏 both inspiring keep up the great work

A really valuable video for me. The “white bellbottoms” segment was hilarious, too! Thanks, fellows.

Hi guys, instead of using a metronome, I use garageband to put a percussion track down for timing while practicing, it's more fun and a real backing sound.

Also I try and learn by watching favorite artist play and sound it out by ear

Such good advice. I catch myself getting distracted when trying to practice all the time.

I’m really glad I watched this one. Sometimes we need to be reminded of the basics and structure as I did with eight of these tips. Three were sort of new to me, so I picked up additional benefit from those. And then there was mention of a hygrometer! A lot of us fail to think about the humidity levels around us as they relate to an instrument, so thanks for that. Lastly, I haven’t seen any videos or thoughts from you guys on the Tonewood Amp devices. Gimmick or useful?

I made the mistake of practicing while sitting on the floor-actually a Japanese sort of recliner with no legs-while playing guitar for a couple of months. My fingers started going numb and I had ulnar nerve damage. As soon as I went back to sitting in a proper chair, the problem went away. Total agreement about having my instrument out all the time and deciding when I’m actually going to practice. My routine is that I sit where I’m going to practice, everything is set up, so I might pick up the guitar any time at all and just noodle or test myself on a technique or tune I’m working on to see if I’ve got it while, for example, a commercial is on or I’m watching the news; but then I plan the remainder of the day, including meals, exercise, errands, and from what time to what time I am exclusively practicing guitar. What you said about making mistakes in practice versus performing, when I was a student at Berklee-on sax-one of the things even the absolute top musicians would do is go to open jam nights at bars and clubs. I used to go to a little place in the South End where there would be about twenty horn players lined up to play bebop. A good number of the players in that line were already Grammy winners, and part of the reason they were so great was because this is what they did for practice. Not only is the audience nose to nose with you, but they’re other musicians, so you have hundreds of reasons to be nervous in that situation. Back then I had terrible anxiety about performing live. I was mostly a studio musician. But now on guitar-only two years and three months so far-what I’ve been doing is live performances on social media and very often taking my guitar or ukulele in a gig bag with a mini amp and playing in a public area like a park or more often the shopping area near me. Just sit on a bench and practice or play. I’ve actually become locally famous for this; people actually applaud sometimes or bring me beer. Especially during the pandemic, when everything was cancelled, people were so starved for entertainment that they became desperate enough to enjoy my playing. The first time was really hilarious though. I was playing in a park, nobody around I thought, did my thing and then behind me, applause! A group of people had formed an audience as they were just walking by. Justin Guitar made a great comment about learning techniques, scales, and so forth. He says a big mistake a lot of people make is memorizing scales and techniques they don’t actually need yet, and so they never really master that material and typically forget it, so when they actually do need it then they have to relearn it again. That is easily the biggest mistake I made on sax. So yeah, again, total agreement about how it goes hand in hand to learn tunes and the techniques required to play them. When I struggled to learn how to play barre chords for example, someone had a great suggestion that I used to learn a song with one bar chord in it to just get used to it. I did ‘Wild Horses’ by the Rolling Stones, and ever since I’ve had no problem with barre chords.

Omg!! Practice!!??? Chris your the best brother!!

You guys are awesome

i'm just starting after starting 4 times before in my life, I'm working on memorizing the fret board, and my first couple chords. i downloaded a fret and chord pdf to look at, and spending 15 minutes a day on that till i move on

Thank you for the tips. What I have been doing is trying to figure out practice. I have owned a guitar for 10+ years and dabbled. But now I got a new guitar but felt like I didn’t know what to do. So I use SimplyGuitar and just started taking in person lessons just over a month and half ago. I enjoy it but been struggling on how to practice as basically a beginner. Thank you for the helpful tips.

Thanks for tips I'm 50 years old work a lot and just picked up the guitar about a year ago still suck,and can't play a song I know chords but get frustrated because not learning quickly, so I move on to another then another another, but I will use your advice and learn at least 1 dam song

Thank you, Great video. I would add - Slow Down. It helps keep you from becoming sloppy and it actually speeds up the learning process.

I’ve really grown to enjoy these vids, especially bc I never feel as if they’re only here to sell us something. Here are two genuine musicians who seem to enjoy sharing instruments, ideas, and music with us. Also, what are the details on those lights behind you?

Guys, I love the video inserts of Cooper! Hilarious 😆

In my very limited experience the most important thing is to finish a practice task by doing it correctly… maybe I have to do it super painfully slow, but I find that finishing by doing it right I tend to come back to the next session being able to do it better. It’s a weird thing and I cannot explain it, but it works for me.

Chris, how do you balance keeping a guitar out for accessibility versus keeping it in the case to control humidity?

I used to think players closed their eyes while playing, because they were really into the groove, and just vibing. Now I realize it is to keep your eyes from drying out, while the fan blows on them. Another musical mystery solved.