The Secret to Learning Guitar Fast & Easy - Top 10 Keys to Developing Effective Practice Habits





Many students learning guitar practice many hours with little progress, leading to frustration and often to failure. Learning guitar can be fast, easy and fun. The secret is to apply these top ten keys and keep working them.
1.Learning Guitar requires a personal, dedicated space.  A personal practice space is essential. Pulling the guitar out from under a bed, or hauling a music stand from who knows where and where is the music? This is extremely ineffective. 
So the secret is, even if it's a corner in the basement, a renovated closet or a space in the attic -- create a little spot all your own, reserved for learning guitar. The key to this secret is to make sure it's always there; ready for you to dive in quickly and easily.
2.Learning Guitar requires a certain mind set. Many put it on a to do list; just one more thing to do. Many well meaning parents knock the wind right out of their child's sails before they even get started. Learning guitar should be fun and easy!
So the key to this secret is to learn how to get into a fantastic mood, each and every time before practice. This secret will not only make learning easier and quicker, but more fun. Listen to your hero, watch a video, go to a concert. Find whatever inspires you. Make playing guitar something you can't wait to get to.
3.Learning Guitar requires good atmosphere. Make it pleasant, inspiring, fun, cool and funky. Find posters of your heroes, some flowers, even a crazy hat, personalized items or a favorite chair.  Make it fun and inviting.
The secret is, your space must shout "YOU" and say "FUN!" and "WELCOME".  Get a shot  of yourself playing  your instrument.  Enlarge it or frame it.  The key to this secret is that great atmosphere equals great inspiration.
4.Learning Guitar requires good instruments. This includes your main instrument and proper tools. Many unfortunately start out with poor instruments. Admittedly we can't always get the best, but buy the best you can afford. Buying second-hand from a pawn shop, with the guidance of an experienced person like a music teacher, can be a good option.
The secret here is quality. Include a good, comfortable, armless chair (maybe a footstool), a sturdy music stand and a proper light. A tuner and metronome are good friends. New strings are a breath of fresh air. Keep a cd player and/or a computer handy. For electric instruments, make sure everything's working properly! The key to this secret is that an instrument of quality is a wonderful inspiration.
5.Learning Guitar requires a good teacher. Whether  you're choosing a live teacher you visit weekly, or some on-line program -- don't go for the cheapest.  Never ever choose by the cheapest!
The secret here is that the best just don't come the cheapest.  It's that simple! A teacher or system that's recommended, is an excellent method of choice. Another key to this secret is that an experienced and encouraging teacher is a great ongoing source of inspiration.
6.Learning Guitar requires getting to know yourself. Sounds funny, but many of us don't know ourselves very well. Learn how you work best.  When is best and how long is best. It means a tremendous difference to your progress. No one can figure it out for you.
The secret is to spend time observing yourself. Is morning better? Or afternoon? How do you feel when a break would bring you back to your peak? Endless hours of practice are not necessarily fruitful. The key to this secret is getting to know what brings your "best" results, the fastest, easiest way!
7.Learning Guitar requires finding the smallest piece and working it. This is something the pros know.  Once you find a "sticky spot" in your song, whittle it down to the smallest possible piece and work it.
Playing an entire song endlessly, tripping again and again, is not effective practice time. Besides, you are learning guitar with mistakes built in. The secret here is to get the most "value" from your time.
8.Learning Guitar requires finding the right speed. The metronome is your greatest asset. Pick the fastest speed that you can play your "sticky spot" without "one single" mistake. This is so important!
The secret is that too slow is boring and kills enthusiasm; too fast just makes a mess. You'll know you've got it right when things begin snapping together, progress picks up and you're having fun again. 
9.Learning Guitar requires you to "Slow down and go faster". Once you've worked out all your sticky spots, then it's time to work your entire song. Choose the fastest speed at which you can play flawlessly, without hesitation, with clean perfect technique and without "one single" mistake. Gradually increase speed.
The key to this secret is that by doing it perfectly each time you build the strongest possible foundation, see improvement and competence grow with each single pass of the song. Remember this secret, "slow down and go faster."
10. Learning Guitar requires consistency. It's worth nothing if it's not consistent. All the great players know this and practice everyday! I'm not kidding!  So, it's obviously important when you're just beginning.
Some days you won't have much time, but the secret here is to get that guitar in your hands, every single day and make it a priority.  A few minutes can magically turn into hours of fun practice. Just pick it up!  So that's it, the secret to effective practice. These 10 keys to learning guitar will pay off  for you again and again. And the final secret is that you can continue becoming even more efficient all the time. Keep refining these keys. Make it an on-going process. It's so inspiring to see yourself learning more quickly and easily all the time.
Gail Karen (G.K.) Eckert has been teaching guitar to adults and children since 1971 and founded Musikhaus Studio of Creativity in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada in 1987 .She believes that anyone can learn to play guitar with the proper guidance and encouragement. Learn more tips on how to be more effective in your playing.





For a free 6 week Guitar course visit her site: http://www.YourMusicYourWay.com.
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