How to Practice Guitar Effectively

[@123xconnieb]

I was 40 years old and knew absolutely nothing about music when I started playing piano and guitar 6 years ago. Now I am able to play hundreds of songs that I love and grew up listening to on the radio! Mostly because I never gave up even when struggling. You are right that it's so much fun and rewarding!

[@xZest1]

I wish I'll be able to play guitar really fine... right now its my 4th month learning guitar... and I'm afraid that I will not learn anything and that I will just be the same clueless guy before I pick the guitar with just an idea of the notes and chords but won't be able to play pretty well..

[@44scoots]

xZest1 you are truly a newbie!! Give it time! It takes time! 4th month? Wow you are just beginning. DO NOT compare yourself to anyone. You are you and you learn at your pace. Soon you will look back and realize how far you've come.

[@xZest1]

@44scoots, thank you very much for that, maybe I'm just too excited to play pretty well.. I should remind myself that great things cost great effort and time :)

[@grimstone5144]

123xconnieb how's the best way to learn I just turned 44 lol

[@timothyh6670]

123xconnieb Who cares??!

[@nadinamedlin3432]

I deal with Complex PTSD and a pain condition called Fibromyalgia. I started guitar because I read about a PTSD program for Vets with guitars. I'm not a Vet, but the act of playing guitar is having a powerful effect on my ability to stay centered and control my pain levels. I'm alternating this with warm water therapy, crochet, and coloring. I get the same mental "buzz" or sense of peace from the guitar that I do from the other activities. Thank you for sharing this beginner's material and for making it so understandable and approachable!

[@xTwilightWolvesx]

Struggling with depression and social anxiety, here. I know exactly what you mean!

[@musiccampwithlumpyandlisa9025]

Regarding "Play a Lot", how about this - START and END every practice session, gig, rehearsal, solo, anything, with something SIMPLE that you are in complete control of, that you sound GOOD at. That reinforces you on the way IN, and leaves you feeling good on the way OUT. Don't start or end with something you haven't mastered. That will only discourage you. When I'm not playing, I want to be able to think back and say " I sounded good when I played that thing an hour ago". It takes a lot of internal honesty to decide you've "Mastered" something. Make it as simple as a big, lush Maj7 chord or similar. Not a complete song by any means. Maybe just a clean ii V I. Play Lots. Thanks for the video, mate - Lumpy

[@aryanrao9478]

I have a ritual where I start and end with stairway to heaven.

[@sontafrindt2765]

your "how to practice guitar effectively" was great. I am relearning the guitar and hope my son will follow. your advice here is spot on! thank you.

[@edzio18x1]

Only 35 minutes? When i end playing, sometimes it is 2 or 3 hours later :p It is just my own world, where i can rest, nobody interrupts me and i really cure my spirit. Thanks for another video, Mark, i can't wait for another scale shape, could you? :D Greetings from Poland!!!

[@xTwilightWolvesx]

edzio18x1 I know what you mean! Somehow, times goes by really fast when I’m playing guitar.

[@alexschebartsky274]

True! That happens to me too but now I have a job and I still want to practice everyday so 35 minutes will do (because I also go to college) even when I'll probably end up practising for longer

[@MAS1117]

Thank you! This is very helpful. Guitar practice was starting to feel like a chore and I noticed that my chord transitions and strumming patterns were not as smooth. Have to remember to incorporate playing the songs and having fun with it, instead of focusing solely on tiny pieces of songs or strictly just the technical elements.

[@dcaramia]

I'm gonna share your vids they are super and help me a lot with the guitar.

[@bigbrozak]

I've been through alot of KZbin videos about learning the guitar. You sir, are by far the best on here. Brilliant videos and methods. Thanks Mark

[@armandoexprealty6387]

great advice thank you. Some days I get frustrated because I am not learning fast enough. I only know a few basic chords but I hope I can keep going and persevere.

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Keep going... love your practice as much as you can

[@wingn3849]

Started about 5 months ago. Been doing almost 30 mins every day, but I gotta admit I’m far from efficient because I can’t play anything yet. That is discouraging but I am not the type to give up. I will learn it and once my baby grows up I will teach her 😁

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Good on you for starting and taking the leap. If you feel like your stuck or want to get further in a shorter amount of time I offer one on one skype/ zoom lessons.

[@bt6135]

Pretty similar to my routine. You make a great point of “having fun”. And it’s a great motivator. I spend 2 hrs a day usually practicing. 1 hr in the morning grinding and learning. And 1 hr in the evening completely fucking off and having fun with what I already know. If you don’t spend time having fun, it’ll become too much like a chore. And it can cause beginners to become disenchanted with the whole idea of learning guitar. Even beginners can have fun stringing together a few power chords. Or even “one string” it with some smoke on the water. Just have fun.

[@vineetsingh2317]

Thankyou sooo much friend.. Iam Vineet n i live in fiji... I hv a gitar but im Learning but ws finding it hrd to play but aftr seeing ur video it ws reli helpful n Inspiring... My dream is to play gitar in my church... I luv singing in my church.. N ur video gave me Good idea to play now... Thankyou frend God bless u bro

[@catynip]

Thank you so much. I am almost stuck in the hole of the stress cannot playing well. I think I don't have talent in music but I still want to enjoy it. I almost give up.

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Please don’t give up!! 🙏🏻😊

[@garycrossett1893]

Great vid, my kids are learning piano and sax. l have been looking at how best to structure practice, the his looks the way forward. I am learning guitar love your lessons. Keep up the good work.

[@bolaoladapo1229]

Thank you mark. I was getting fed up with my slow progress. Your video helped my confidence a ton.

[@jeffcownie9918]

thanks mate glad i stumbled on your video cheers

[@moimeme7839]

Piano is great for music learning because you play the rythm while doing the solos so your practice is very complete. Applying it to guitar is harder because you need your two hands to play every part but once you are used to think about rythm while solo it’s easier to integrate it on guitar

[@EddyRademaker]

OK so a couple of wee questions: 1. At what point does the New Song go into the Playing Songs department? You spoke in another video about chord sounds not being perfect as being ok as they will improve with practice. 2. Learning new songs is one song per practice session? (so as not to confuse strum patterns, chord changes etc?)

[@aacmsguitarensembles2759]

I teach guitar at an arts-focused middle school. Your videos are super helpful in that the kids actually listen to them. I've got to get myself an accent, I guess.

[@marcelflo2765]

Thank you for this great advice Mark !

[@jonseyboi83]

Thanks for the tips mark,trying to master basic chords is pretty frustrating and boring at times so struggle to keep motivated but your videos help keep me going

[@raphII2]

At the end of my session I'm always playing some weird composition of chords which sounds awesome and when I pick the guitar up again I'm thinking about the sound and that pushes me even further in my journey :)

[@motorsport32cw]

Thank you for this mate i must be doing it right thats what ive been doing since i started only a year and a half ago and its def working well for me.

[@sthompson022]

Thanks Mark - great video as usual. I'm going to try your method. I really like it. I was doing all of those things in separate sessions, and I really like your approach. Thanks again.

[@Chimp_No_1]

Really helpful ! Thanks !

[@lilikura]

Hey Mark, great videos! Can you please tell me what channel you're following for piano lessons? Thanks! Keep up the great work!

[@avk91]

Gr8!! Thanks.. Take a bow, Sir!

[@MoosikLover]

Thanks for this vid! I found it so valuable, I've been learning now for about two months - once a week with a tutor - the rest on my own using you tube and today was the first time, using this method that I really REALLY enjoyed myself and played music... Given it still sounds like cats sales on a chalkboard but I loved it! And I jammed hahaha! Yuuuss - so cool! So thanks again :)

[@hamedd5951]

I learned a very good point from this video about forming the fingers , thanks!

[@mnr146]

Thanks Mark. This was very helpful, the way you break it down into three areas.

[@mikelewis2707]

Hey Matt, You speak of using backing tracks, I'm guessing of you tube, but where would one get the tabulature for the songs? Thanks, Mike

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Do you mean TABS in general? Or TABS for the backing tracks. I tend to use Ultimate Guitar for students TABS and as far as the BT's go...you make the melodies on the fly..so no tabs required:)

[@mikelewis2707]

@@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel Thanks Mark... Love your stuff

[@ranabirroychoudhury388]

very inspiring Mark ! Keep going like this on KZbin

[@petermorgan2068]

The right idea! Thanks.

[@raOne5]

hi mark your videos helping me so much i know how i play the chords and all the thanks for u now i learn how play the fingers style its so hard but i will try and try and i will update u

[@jeffreycoe7444]

Thanks for your videos and motivational help , I feel I am now progressing in my learning , and doing it at my speed whilst juggling life , mery xmas mate

[@DJRevan]

Thank you Mark for your inspiring videos!

[@isaacdeepakvishal6755]

Awesome man...keep the good work going on....

[@TheYellowjeff]

Love your lessons, so inspiring!

[@qingli2165]

What a simple and great point, thank you

[@johnnering8415]

Thank you so much for doing this for everyone.

[@tomlilley9433]

Great job Mark

[@Jack-ii6iv]

Could I also add improvisation and riff writing to this

[@exposez]

thanks for the tips and reminding me to have fun while I practice :)

[@345kobi]

Mark, I play rhythm guitar. Do I need to learn scales and if so which ones? Much of what I play is from the 60's although when it comes to scales, not sure that that matters.

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Not at all mate! No need for a Phillips screwdriver if all your screws are flat heads

[@345kobi]

@@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel I shouldn't have added the last statement. I confused the question. My real question was "Mark, I play rhythm guitar. Do I need to learn scales and if so which ones?"

[@amardoyan92]

hey brother, in that second phase of practice where we're learning new things and working, what would suggest is a good course of action to start learning the basics of soloing?

[@alampo1]

Trans for your job, I m learning more with You than ever 😀

[@stevenkuhlman]

Sounds good!

[@stephenkater9621]

Man, this is awesome, thank you !!!

[@NovakGoran]

You definitely have next to nothing subscribers compared to the quality of your videos. Keep them up Mark ! :)

[@d12zrk]

Hi Mark, I'm new to guitar playing. Should I do the press cord thing you were talking about more than anything? because I find it hard to go from one cord to the next.

[@sidsm3978]

Thank you, Mark, for making guitar fun for me.

[@marrzeus6205]

Can't wait till I can incorporate that last part. Being on my first week I can't play really play anything other than muted strings so I can get that tick tock rythm and maybe a chord or two... I guess in a month or so I'll be able to play something simple =)

[@JTB312]

Great video I really needed that! By the way I have some advice for the piano. (I'm sure you probably don't need it but I'll say it anyway). Assuming you're not just playing the piano as an accompaniment, once you reach even an intermediate level, you should stop worrying about chords. The piano is not an instrument that can be simplified into chords and melody, since you might be playing up to 4+ different voices. Most of what you hear in "modern" (by which I mean not classical) music is really basic piano. If you want to move beyond that, I suggest that you don't think of it as the same as the guitar. Then again, I've only been playing for 8 years which is way less than you've been playing guitar so do take my advice with a grain of salt.

[@Madsz_]

thanks man!

[@moimeme7839]

Learn something new and include it in your playin’ at least each week if you have objectives in playin’ your guitar and also try new effects or amps regularly until you find and feel inspired by your tone😀 sometimes very simple changes like rolling the tone on your guitar or playin’ the other pickup changes everything in motivation

[@sohel959]

What is the brand name of this guitar??

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Maton ... it’s an Australian made delicious guitar

[@sohel959]

@@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel wow.i need that.i will search for it.liked the sound.i am from dhaka,bangladesh

[@aritradutta5679]

i am having problems in scales & notes..... how much i should practice daily for getting hold to scales........ and i am much interested in playing songs than scales what should i do..?????? plz tell....

[@musicaddict1.020]

learn 1 position of a scale at a time and practice with a backing track :) when you mastered it, go to position 2,... And never give up :D

[@clenjones5748]

Finally a KZbin video where you give suggestions and not say, “practice is different for everyone,... this is what I did, might be different for you” bullshit ... us newbies need structure!!! I do the following daily: 15 minutes of alternate picking up and down the neck at my pattern I specify 15 minutes of scales (learn 1 scale per week, and alternate pick it) 15 minutes of power chords (have fun here and transition between two or three different power chords, slides too... whatever) 15 minutes minimum of learning the song you’re focused on 5 minutes of stretching ... especially string hand lol I guess another good routine could be specific daily. Like... 30mins of one technical aspects and the other 30mins for a song you’re learning? Idk. I’m going to try and wake up an hour earlier now to bust out the technical stuff and spend 30min-1hr learning the song in the evening lol! What do you fellas think? Any pros out there think it’s stupid/effective? Any novices getting results with something similar?

[@siiixten]

love your videos man! :))

[@xZest1]

Hi sir, I appreciate your advices, but there is one thing that is bugging me... Is it really fine to learn songs thru tablatures?... btw im a beginner, and I'm afraid of using tablatures 'coz im might develop dependence on it...

[@butforthegraceofgod3770]

xZest1 u just need to b careful cuz there r a lot of bad tab out there specially online, there are a lot of crappy badly translated backwards stuff out there so if your ear aint too developed, it could cost uou an awful lot of wasted time in bad tab. Tab as a whole is just another tool for us, who do not read music, to learn and process the music faster. My opinion, jus sayin....

[@xZest1]

Yeah, thank you for the reminder, just for now I use tab for some beginner friendly songs, for me to play along so I can keep up and to keep on wanting to play the guitar.. Im hoping one day I can also play songs thru my ears if not very close to the original, atleast I can play closely to some songs...

[@Andy-pq3kx]

What is that first song with D chord ?

[@Hnchmchl85]

Thanks for this lesson, Mark. It's very interesting. I shall try it.

[@dexter8225]

Me: *finally was shown a guitar 1 year ago* Also me: *doesn't have the guitar with me but still watches*

[@lynnblossom2258]

What am I supposed to do in the last 15 minutes if I am a beginner and don't know how to play any songs yet?

[@lillilyjordan]

you ar sooooooooooooooooooooo great

[@moustafamortada]

Legend

[@moonwalk2997]

Great help thanks, can you also teach online? haha

[@Alex-ec1lu]

“Just to make sure I’m not a fraud” jejejejeje

[@InspirationalVideos3945]

My father is a guiterest..but i want to learned how play a guitar...

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Do it!!! No one ever regrets learning guitar🎸😎🙌🏼

[@rumpelstillkills8036]

There was quick intro...

[@prashantkumarsikandar5176]

Make me your student

[@Saitanix666]

gitaa

[@ShotsOfInsight]

: )

[@russ_the_racecar2915]

I don't think I will ever be able to play

[@123xconnieb]

You will be able to play! Everyone learns at a differn't pace. Find satisfaction in the process of learning. Most of all...don't give up.

[@malihaaa9534]

So did u learn to play or naah ?

[@caseystrand7476]

hi my name is lorrie can you play a song

[@mr.anonymous5501]

Using KZbin to learn how to play the piano isn't teaching yourself! Just like if you followed a book, or watched a guitar player at a gig, you're not self taught.

[@alanduncan1980]

An Aussie Bogan. Am I saying that right? You're not one, I'm just saying it cause you're an Aussie. 😅 Fair dinkum?