Imagination

Ever wish you had more time to practise? Is everyday life always getting in the way? Common logic dictates that less practise time = less development, this is completely true, so it's in our best interests to practise as much as possible.

Time spent out of the house or away from the guitar doesn't have to go to waste, because there's something more important that you bring with you wherever you go, it's your imagination.

Whenever you find yourself doing a task that doesn't require your full attention (walking/getting a train/listening to your girlfriend(I'm joking, ladies)) just imagine that you're playing guitar. Doing this won't be so easy at first but will become easier and more rewarding with time. One of the best things about doing this is that in your head, you can be as good as you want to be, if you become good at imagining that you're good, you'll become more comfortable with the idea of you being a good player and it will reflect in your real playing. Don't believe me? Hear it from the gods:

Paul Gilbert:
"The high points are playing music and playing in big venues. The low points are the hours spent in airports and minivans. This kind of rock n roll cliche. It's not hard to survive - I just bring some books. I also just visualise playing guitar and I can actually practise in my mind."

Steve Vai (skip to 04:28):


There are all sorts of ways you can use this approach, you can:

- Practise specific techniques (legato, sweeping, chords)

- Practise theory, visualising chords, scales, patterns

- Practise actual music, running through it note by note (if you can do a whole piece in your head this way it'll be a piece of cake on an actual guitar)

- Pretend you're someone else, imagine that you're your favourite guitar player, you're literally in their shoes (except they're now YOUR shoes because you're them). Picture yourself playing their songs the way they would play them, having that look on your face that says "I'm the best thing that ever happened to the world" or "I wonder what's for dinner tonight", depending on the player.

- Practise being on stage, performing all your favourite moves without needing to worry about getting the parts right.

- If you're listening to music, imagine yourself playing it as you hear it.

There's endless amounts of fun you can have with this and the best part is that it'll reflect in your actual playing, you may even feel physical sensations in your fingers/arms/shoulders as you imagine that you're playing which will give you insights as to what you need to work on when you next sit down with the guitar.