Special thanks to Josh over at the Guitar Lifestyle Blog for a simple yet profound post.

For most of my guitar-playing life, I’ve been trying to find the secret to becoming a better guitarist. I’ve spent countless hours reading magazines and books, scouring the Internet, and searching for teachers. What I’ve learned is this: There is no secret.

Becoming a better guitarist takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance. There are no shortcuts. This is a lesson that has taken me many years to learn. Actually, I’m still learning this lesson. The way all the guitarists I admire got better was by playing, listening, and learning. That’s what it’ll take for me and you to get better, too.
-Josh, Guitar Lifestyle

If you have never visited his blog, you are missing out on a great read. Check it out!

Yesterday, my guitar teacher suddenly stopped in the middle of our lesson and asked me to play a chromatic scale in the key of A. I sat there with the all-to-familiar “deer in headlights” look… That was a lesson in itself.

If we want to become better at anything, we must practice. You have heard it said before that you’d never forget how to ride a bike. Well, playing guitar is not like riding a bike! You can forget how to play!

Obviously there is a difference between practice and memorization. Having a scale memorized is different than playing the scale perfectly. But memorization cannot occur without practice.

Here are some tips for creating an ideal atmosphere to practice the guitar:

1.) Set aside a certain amount of practice time every day. At a minimum, it should be 20 minutes. Longer is better, if your day allows. 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening is another option.

2.) Select a location that will be comfortable and totally free from distractions. Turn the TV off and if possible (without offending anyone) ask others to not disturb you during practice time except for emergencies. You do not want to become a hermit, but you need to focus and stay focused on your practice efforts.

3.) Commit to practicing every day. Make it a part of your daily routine. If you miss a day, it’s not the end of the world. Just don’t miss the next day! Remember, the result of continued practice is that you will become a better player. Isn’t that what you really want?

4.) Choose specific things you will practice each week. Memorize a new chord shape, work on a new strumming pattern, develop faster chord changes, learn a new lick, etc…

5.) Use a metronome! A great guitar player with poor timing and rhythm is not a great guitar player. If you do not own a metronome, buy one! If you cannot buy one, then search Google.com for the words “Free Metronome”. There are many options available. No excuses!

6.) Record yourself playing the guitar. This is the best way to monitor your progress. You do not need to invest in elaborate recording equipment; you can use a simple little cassette tape recorder. Keep a history of tapes, at least 1 per month. Go back and listen to recordings from 6 months ago. Your improvement will inspire you to keep practicing as you realize how much better you have become!

7.) Take breaks. Never practice for over 1 hour without taking a break. Your fingers (and your mind) need a rest! Go visit the folks that agreed not to disturb your practice time…

8.) Finally, end each practice by playing your favorite song. It does not matter if you play alone or play along with your favorite backing track. Just play… and smile… because you are getting better every day!