The 6 Guitar Areas You Should Be Practicing 

🆕 Grade 3 here! www.justinguitar.com/classes/beginner-guitar-course-grade-thre

1. 02:00 Technique - Fret Board work, bending, Hammer-ons, Pull-offs 2. 04:27 Knowledge - Theory 3. 05:30 Repetoire - Not just scales, build your own playlist 4. 06:24 Ear Training - Recog notes and intervals 5. 09:55 Timing - Rhythm, beat, groove 6. 12:00 Improv (Optional) - Noodling, Solos 7. 13:00 Extra Tips

I'M 72 AND HAVE BEEN PLAYING MY GUITAR 3 HOURS A DAY SINCE COVID STARTED AND HAVE BECOME QUITE A GOOD GUITAR PLAYER. ALL YOUR INFORMATION IN THIS VIDEO IS SPOT ON.....

I can't believe this guy is doing this quality lesson for free, I've seen A LOT paid lessons that's not near as good as this guy, they are either bad at teaching or not tell you everything you need to know and understand.

This is perfect timing for me, gave me the kick up the arse I needed. Organised a new practice regime along side your intermediate method book. Thanks for the effort you put into your work, I appreciate you mate

Thanks Justin! This is very serendipitous for me. I’ve played guitar since I was a kid but for many years now, my career has gotten in the way. I’ll be retiring soon and realized my playing needs a MAJOR tune up. I just started going thru your beginner lessons yesterday picking out stuff I need to get solid again so these tips are absolutely perfect for me right now.

Great Lesson Justin! For those who struggle with getting down to practice, you may want to try "habit stacking" which is a term I got from a book about habits. What works really well for me is practicing after I took a shower. To put it in a formula "I practice guitar after (or before) I do X".

You are amazing Justin, thank you so much for the information & motivation you share with us all 👍

This is a brilliant way to organize the effort put in. After hits and misses, this is more or less the way I approach things, but having it laid out like this brings clarity. The hard part is deciding which areas to emphasize on any given day/week/month. Thanks, Justin!

Justin, I found you back in 2013. Since then I've been doing 3 hours every day bar illness and go through the ups and downs but overall have seen massive improvement. This structure you have provided will be a great way for me to review and start the new year with renewed focus. Thank you.

Thank you so much for this. I've been learning a lot of open chords and mastering the basics of every genre. When all I wanted was to learn pop-punk and rock acoustic. I always stumbled when I met barre chord switches or power chords that played below the low E, or mixups of other genres. I felt like I was making no progress with so much needed to learn. My rhythm and pace was never consistent. This helped a lot and gave me a clear path on what to focus on.🤝🏽

You are an excellent guitar teacher and an amazing soul,you teach for pleasure ,for giving knowledge,to feed the average musicians and just for that a big thank you 🙏

Great stuff Justin, taking ownership of anything you learn is essential. I’m really enjoying your lessons, and the app!

Justin, thank you so much for the help, I'm not in a place where I can afford a tutor right now, but these tutorials have helped me make so much headway in my practice, and given me direction. Thank you so much for providing these services to us, you are such an amazing teacher. Love from florida

Pearls of wisdom as always Justin thanks so much.

You spell out so much. Especially appreciate the emphasis on variety-in high school I mapped out practice routines on 9 minute intervals (9 minutes of practice, one minute rest, on to the next exercise).

I am 54 and just discovered your channel. Have been looking into learning guitar for finger strength and dexterity as my hands are getting weaker after sitting at a desk for 30 years on a computer. I really like your teaching method and approach! I will be a frequent visitor to your channel and website!

Thanks J! I have been addressing many of these suggestions over the past 2 years, and have grown significantly! It didnt hurt that I play 9 other instruments before guitar- drums included...so internal metronome...lol. Thanks for EVERYTHING you do!!

Sir, you sound as good as your musical lessons ; your information suggestions & instructions leave a lasting impression of your expression, everyone loves it I am sure. Thank you for the motivation❗️

Straight from the heart, out of his soul presented. Thank You Sir!

Your advise is amazing thanks for helping us newbies you give me power to ove on a d practice thanks

Hello Justin and crew, really love your courses. Downloaded your app. Justin, I'm sure you've been hearing this your entire career, but you're a terrific teacher. So easy to listen and connect to. Thanks!

Super helpful lesson here. Thank you Justin! I've been working on Barre chords. But I also spend time playing songs from my reptoire. It has to be fun too!

I've been playing guitar just casually for years now and I had gained quite a bit of skill by watching RU-vid videos and picking up a bunch of licks but couldn't seem to progress after a certain point. I found your website and I just started taking off and I am having the most fun I have had in a long time with guitar. My problem was I wanted to be an amazing guitar player but I lacked any knowledge of basic guitar (theory, scales, imrpov, etc.). So even though I had the ability to do a lot on guitar I wasn't able to just freely play and write my own stuff which made me almost quit. Thank you so much for putting all of this together especially for free, I can't seem to stop practicing now and I love it.

Really great advice, Justin, & a great lesson. Thanks for helping guitarists from all ages and skill levels. Merry Christmas, my brother and God bless you throughout the New Year.

I practice Angie's intro these days (with your lesson and I stumble exactly on the fsus to csus part). Now, I've been keen on "Ode to Billie Joe" Bobbie Gentry and I was wondering if you could post a lesson of it. Very complex syncopated rhythm...Thank you Justin for all your dedication to struggling guitar players. Wish you a beautiful Christmas. 🎶🎶🎶

Thank you Justin. You have a great, beautiful heart for what you offer to us. Merry Christmas, and stay safe!

Comme d habitude juste parfait! Bravo ! Thanks for everything from France

Yes..needful tips there thank you for sharing Justin 💯👌🤘🤘

Hi Justin great words of wisdom. I would love to see you do a lesson on new guitarists starting to play with others new or intermediate guitarists. Merry Christmas from Canada 🎄🇨🇦

Justin thank you for putting all this together. I take lessons and have a award winning artist teaching me however your explanations and tips are priceless Brother.

Thank you for another great video Justin!!

Thank you for all you do, Justin! I’ve been playing guitar since September 2023 and at 47 years old I’ve found myself struggling with some things more than others, and your videos have helped me improve so much! Your enthusiasm and passion for music comes out as you teach and I’m very grateful for your lessons!

Thank you Justin, thats a real nice Video to think about at the end of the year to sort things up and start with structured Training in the next year. I think dynamics are also realy important. Maybe the Feeling Section on the Area #5 is the best place for it.

Thanks, Justin.

Great lesson again. Thank you always, BEST AND PEACE

Justin you are one of the best guitar teacher out there. No wonder you gained so much popularity. Respect

I gave in to the idea and started a chord book! It's kinda nice seeing them stack up :)

That is so true about just getting yourself to sit down with the guitar for 5 minutes. How many times I've lost an hour or two when all I planned to do was one little exercise, or try to figure out one little lick. Sometimes, I just pick the one tune I'm currently having the most fun with, intending only to mess with that for a while, and then find I've gone through most of my repertoire and various parts of my body have gone stiff from sitting for so long! I'm the same with working out. If you can just get yourself to start, you often find you really get into the swing of it. Sometimes not, but oh well, not every day is perfect, but more often than not it's what I find.

Thanks for giving me hope about my guitar skills potentially improving :')

Hi Justin - Your channel is great and I appreciate all the work you do. Great points here with the 6 points

I should get back on your course. Thank you for the practice session video

Great input you did on building 1 self up I enjoy it all ty

❤ you Justin!!! Thank you for guidance on this!!! 🤗

Fantastic video. Thanks from a long time subscriber.

I'm only a learner and get bored just doing exercises so i pick songs that I like that have difficult (for me) chord changes....esp including C. I'm gradually getting better but need to train my hand/fingers to stretch better.

Great video, have recommended this to others for some time.

thank you J! u rock man;)

I need everything justin!

My daughter appreciates the shout out to girls!

Thanks so much Justin. I've spent many years just noodling after learning basic chords. So really good to think about practice (something I've never really done!)

i truly appreciate your effort brother, thanks.

Honestly I chose you as the person I'm going to learn guitar from mostly because I like the way you recorded your audio. idk what it is, but it's really satisfying.

Amazing lesson. Thank you

Ear training, transcribing and using Jam tracks really helped me level up big-time! And of course you Justin have helped me a unbelievable amount with your technique's and inspiring demeanor 💯😎

Fabulous teacher!!!

Looking to your video's is great motivation.

Love your site and your lessons and can't wait to join you on a holiday workshop one day. A few months ago while (over) practicing i seemed to damage the middle joint in my left thumb, which is now very sore when using it to create pressure while barring. To the extent that I've now not played for about 6 weeks because its too painful. I was hoping it would heal and go away, but it's still as bad now. Have you come across this before, any advice on resources I could find to help fix it?

Wow Justin, are you a mind reader? I was just whining this morning about not being able to play from memory after so much time. Two songs and that is it!! I decided that I really need to spend time with your ear training and transcribing courses. I practice two hours every night and technical skills are OK, could always be better of course. But discouraged that I am so reliant on tabs. Thank you for this video as it drove home what I felt I needed to focus more time on. 💜

Merry Christmas to all and have a happy 2022

Well said.

Thats what I want!!Im beginner practice 5-6 hours a day,I always looking for new things to practice

Thanks

🔥 Thank you, Justin 😉 Oh ! yeaaaaaaaaah....

How cool is this? You should do a TED talk fella! I was watching a vid on a particular lick... went out of the room for whatever and when I came back there you were. Brilliant! So glad I got to see/hear you.

Hey Justin! I play my guitar since 2008 with your help (BIG THANK YOU!). First I played on a low/middle level on an Acoustic Guitar but since Covid Crisis began I try to learn more about scales and pentatonics to get a higher level with an E-Guitar. It works and I watch your videos to get more skills and informations. You are such a good teacher and my english skills gettin' better, too. Stay healthy and rock on! :-)

Justin - when I started playing in high school (early 70s) I used to play along with records. Nowadays I jam along to my looper pedal progressions. What do you think of the playing along method of ear training? ALso helps my rhythm as well I think.

Big time great video here.

aaaaah need to get 'my bum on the seat'.... thanks needed that! :)

dude thanks

Need a structured practice routine...all my motivation is being wasted! Thanks Justin....for everything!

All good stuff And worth keeping in mind But at the end of the day Just have a good time

alot of people dont understand how important time/feel is. just look how amazing the simple little bass line for another one bites the dust.

Great video coming from someone who's about 18 months into the long and winding road of becoming an actual musician.

Technique? LOL I'm a drummer first and use guitar and mainly keyboards for songwriting.Been told I'm a good songwriter but my guitar technique is really lacking so Thank You Justin for this,your cool channel and of course inspiration!

Maybe this helps other people that are in a similar situation. I really only have one hour per day to play guitar in order to not compromise the responsibility I have on my job and family. Once I start getting into theory I don't let go until I fully understand. The hours fly by. I become super unsatisfied when I have to cut a learning session short before really getting to the bottom of things. This then turns into associating negative feelings with every practice session I have. Here's how I currently adapt to this I'm currently rolling with spending the one hour per day that I have from MON - THU on learning new songs, improvisation and applying what I learnt during the weekend. Sometimes its 25 mins on songs and the rest on improv, or when I'm really learning a new song and not just try to get it into muscle memory it can also be 50 mins on songs and just 10 mins to go through CAGED, Triads, etc.. The important part is to have everything ready to go. The songs I want to play, the backing tracks that I want to improvise over and apply the theory I learnt to. Justin's practice tool is also great for this if you're struggling with structure. The weekends can be FRI - SUN spending 3 hours per day on theory, plus sitting on the couch and just playing some stuff unplugged and I like to make sure to make it theory-heavy in order to set new boundaries. Overall it still feels like this amount of time is still limiting me in becoming the guitarist I would like to be, but at least I'm making the best of my available time and I enjoy every session I get to get hold of my guitar - while not feeling guilty in front of my family.

Best guitar instructor in the world, been watching your videos and playing guitar for almost 4 years now Cheers

Jason! Have you ever thought of a cost-effective way to provide feedback to your students?

Great lesson, got all the octaves wrong ..thought they were P5's...so I'll go back on that

What guitar are you using in this video Justin?? It's beautifulllll

Thanks for this awesome video, I am struggling with playing/ strumming chords along with songs, what do you suggest I should do to improv that. Thanks

Thanks for refocusing my practices… joet

Hey Justin I've been using your App and it has helped so much better than other RU-vidrs. Great job and thank you.

Well Im in a conundrum. Sir says narrow down the music you like and focus on techniques that will help for that particular style of music but I seem to enjoy anything with a guitar in it. I like stuff from different styles like Blues, funk, metal, classical etc. I'm 32 and just started and feel like there are multiple mountains between me and where I want to be. Any tips on what i should actually focus on would really be appreciated.

Hey Justin! Good talk on holistic practice routines. But I have another question, maybe too personal, if so then I understand ... so, what's with the broken arrow on your left forearm? I'm sure it's an interesting story. Thanks

Hey Justin. I'm considering signing up for your app. Do you take song requests? I love some reggae! The dirty heads!

Are there videos of Justin teaching barre chords like B,Bm,Gm,Cm.. ? Coz I couldn't find any. Can someone pls share them?

I struggle extremely hard with ear training - its ridiculously difficult to figure out stuff on the guitar, even easier lines are tough to figure out ...

Glad to start 3rd grade🎉🎉

This is very helpful, especially the reminder to spend time playing the fun stuff, which I have abandoned being so intent on learning all this new stuff I didn’t know before. The other pointer that struck a note (pun intended) with me is to know why you are practicing something and to focus on what is most relevant to your musical style, e.g., singer/songwriter vs. lead guitarist. Thanks, Justin!

I try to stay away from tablature unless I get stuck. Learning by ear and playing it on the guitar allows you to do it your way rather than how others might play it. Of course when I started playing we didn't have the internet as a resource so we were forced to learn by listening unless a friend or another guitarist showed us how to do something. But even though you might be playing someone else's song, when you learn it by ear and without tablature you are taking a song and making it your own style.

I was paying for pvt lessons $36 hr. This is better. A lot better.😮

When I find myself noodling a lot , I take lessons for a few months to get me back on track

I have huge problems with synching left and right and I've been playing for 30 years. I just can't seem to play accurately or for any length of time at anything above 8ths at 120bpm. Really frustrating. I have no interest in shredding or mental technique but just getting up to speed and constancy at 16ths.

at 9:25 couldn't agree more.

With ear-training, I've started to do it by attempting to transcribe simple tunes (The Shadows for example), and spending a lot of time trying to work out the interval between successive notes in my head before hitting the guitar - i.e.without doing the trial and error thing: try a 3rd, try a 4th .... etc :)

What techniques would you recommend for someone composing fingerstyle guitar music.

Justin, you’ve kindly let us into your home to learn guitar, not have to deal with PC palava. Those having a bloody sook over being called guy need to go find their priorities elsewhere. Thanks for all that you do.

"It's really important knowing stuff!" lol

Wow you went down some rabbit holes that went right over my head. I think your awesome and I love watching you but this is way scary what your saying😞