Here’s a quick way to figure out what you actually need to work on.
Pay attention to what’s running through your head while you’re playing.
If you’re thinking about your picking hand — that’s what needs work. If you’re thinking about chord transitions — that’s what needs work. If you’re thinking about staying in time — that’s what needs work.
Whatever demands your conscious attention while you play is exactly where your technique breaks down. The things that are truly solid disappear from your awareness.
You don’t think about breathing when you’re walking. You only think about it when something’s wrong.
Your practice time should go toward the things that are still loud in your head, screaming at you like Gilbert Gottfried doing your GPS voice commands (MAKE A U-TURN!)
That alone can make a huge difference in your playing.
Want more practical guitar practice tips like this? Grab my free guide — 5 Mistakes That Keep Guitar Players Stuck — and I’ll send you weekly tips straight to your inbox.