Don’t just grab your instrument, pick it up with care, with purpose…"I’m going to play some chords and focus on my fingering.” Sometimes before I play I simply take a moment to look at it.
Get in tune with your instrument by strumming it first to hear if the instrument is in tune. I like doing this because to me I feel like I’m developing my ear...which is something I know I need to improve. If I hear something funny I’ll tune my instrument.
Getting in tune with your instrument also means getting in a comfortable position, and feeling comfortable holding the instrument. I always wash my hands before playing, because it just feels better to me, plus washing my hands puts me in the mind set of “I'm gonna play my guitar.”
Play your guitar with feeling. I’m talking about playing a note with feeling and intention. The note will ring clear and loud. I’ve been struggling with barre chords, and was becoming frustrated. What has been working for me is to just feel comfortable holding the barre, and slowly strumming and listening to the sound. I make the finger adjustments until the notes ring true. It’s a slow process, but I feel my hands are getting stronger, and I’m becoming more confident playing barre chords.
Feeling also comes by playing without thinking. Sometimes I’ll play with my eyes closed, or looking away from the fret board. I let my fingers go to where they belong…sometimes they make it there sometimes they don’t. I believe that I accomplish a couple of things by doing this. My ear hears the notes better because my eyes are not “in the way.” I also feel I’m testing my muscle memory, by letting my fingers go. After the exercise, I go back and focus on what I was having trouble with.
Pickup, tune and play is what I keep in mind before I play my guitar.
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