This year, skip the couch and the remote control and pick up your guitar instead! Here are 14 ways to practice guitar while you watch Shark Week. From beginner to advanced, there’s something for everyone.
So grab your guitar and get ready to learn something new!
How Can I Practice Guitar By Myself?
Practicing by yourself can also be boring and it can be hard to stay motivated. Here are a few tips for how to make the most of your solo practice sessions, even when you’re watching TV:
- Set aside some dedicated practice time each day or week. Block out at least 30 minutes so that you have enough time to warm up and really get into it.
- Create a specific goal for each practice session. Whether it’s learning a new song, practicing a difficult passage, or working on your timing, having a focus will help you make the most of your time.
- Mix up your routine. If you find yourself getting bored, try practicing in a different location or with different kinds of material. For example, if you’re always working on scales, try throwing in some chords or vice versa.
- Get a metronome or drum machine to help keep time. This is especially helpful if you’re working on developing your sense of rhythm.
- Recording yourself can be a great way to assess your progress and identify areas that need improvement. Plus, it’s always satisfying to listen back and hear how far you’ve come.
With a little effort, solo guitar practice can be enjoyable and productive. By following these tips, you can make the most of your time and improve your playing in the process.
And if you’re still not sure how to make the most of your guitar practice routine, be sure to sign up for guitar lessons! Your guitar teacher will be able to show you how to structure your independent practice schedule as well as other topics, like what you see below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfZ64yEGPok
How Many Hours of Guitar Should You Practice a Day?
Though there’s no set answer to this question, the general consensus among guitarists is that you should practice for at least an hour a day.
This may seem like a lot of time, but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to practice for hours at a time. You can break up your practice sessions into shorter segments throughout the day.
Even just 15 minutes of practice can be beneficial. The important thing is to be consistent with your practice.
Don’t try to cram all of your practice into one day and then take several days off. If you can find the time to practice every day, you’ll see the biggest improvement in your playing.
The Benefits of Watching TV While Playing Guitar
You know the best way to practice guitar is with deep concentration, carefully chosen music, and commitment to reaching your guitar goals. But this Shark Week, I have a confession to make.
Sometimes I love to make a deep dent in the couch, play guitar, and watch TV for hours.
This practice doesn’t suit every guitarist, and it drives my family crazy, but I find playing guitar with the TV on incredibly relaxing and I think it’s actually helped me become a better player in three distinct ways.
When I first started learning to play guitar, I stared too much at my hands which really slowed down my ability to read tabs or chord charts while I played. Playing with the TV on pulled my eyes away from my hands and forced me to learn to rely on my muscle memory to form chords, scales, and riffs.
I also used to get bored easily while practicing technical exercises such as scales and arpeggios. With the TV on in the background and my metronome clicking happily away, I can run through technical exercises for a whole episode of Shark Planet.
Finally, watching TV distracts the nervous, busy parts of my brain that are mainly responsible for criticizing me constantly and wondering if I left the oven on. With my focus split and my busy-brain occupied, I can improvise in a freer, less-inhibited way. I find I feel less self-conscious and much more relaxed.
Plus, it’s great to just spend more time with a guitar in my hands. If I’m sitting around at home anyway, I might as well be playing!
How to Practice Guitar While Watching TV
For best results, I play an unplugged electric or hollow body electric guitar while watching TV. It’s a little less annoying to the other members of my household, but I can still hear myself well enough to get the job done.
When I’m alone, I bust out my metronome for TV practice sessions as well.
What Are You Supposed to Practice on Guitar?
When it comes to practicing guitar, there are a few things that you should focus on. First, you need to develop a strong sense of rhythm. This can be done by practicing with a metronome or by playing along with songs that you know well.
Once you have a solid foundation in rhythm, you can start working on your technique. This includes practicing scales and learning how to play cleanly and smoothly.
In addition, it is important to work on your ear training. This involves learning to identify intervals, chord progressions, and other melodic elements. By focusing on these areas, you can develop the skills you need to become a better guitar player.
14 Ways to Practice Guitar While You Watch TV
Ready to give it a shot? I’ve selected 11 shark-approved things you can practice while you enjoy Shark Week, your next Netflix binge, or a week long Harry Potter movie marathon.
1. Play Chromatic Scales
Chromatic scales involve all the fingers of your left hand and they’re a great way to refine your right hand skills with your pick. Just like any other exercise, start with your metronome on a slow speed and work up to a faster tempo.
2. Play Pentatonic Scales
Pentatonic scales are at the root of many of your favorite rock, pop, and blues songs. Plus, they are a great tool to have at your disposal when it comes time to improvise a solo. Practice them in many positions on the neck to get the pentatonic patterns locked in your muscle memory.
3. Play Major Scales
Practicing major scales is a must for all musicians, no matter what instrument you play. There are five patterns you can learn to play major scales all over the fretboard.
4. Play Minor Scales
Minor scales give you a sadder, moodier sound. The melancholy vibe of these scales will help you express your grief when Shark Week is over. While minor scales aren’t the only guitar scales to practice, they’re important during this season for sure!
5. Play Scales in Different Modes
Each scale can be played in a different order, known as a mode, for even more variety in sound and feeling. This guide from Guitar Habits can help you learn all seven modes in seven days.
6. Practice Chord Changes
Keep your eyes on the TV as you practice switching from one chord to another. You can work through the chord changes in your favorite songs, or make up chord drills to give yourself a little extra challenge.
7. Play Arpeggios
Arpeggio is a fancy word for “broken chord”, and they’re extremely versatile piece of your guitar-skills arsenal. Arpeggios are great for picking an accompaniment to a singer or for improvising solos.
8. Practice Fingerpicking
It can take a lot of time to master the coordination that fingerpicking requires, so why not practice this technique while you’re vegging out in front of the TV?
9. Practice Something That Challenges You
Sometimes when you’re playing something hard, the biggest obstacle to mastering it could actually be your own mind. Get a little bit distracted with some TV while you play through challenging pieces (or parts of pieces) and you might break through your mental block.
10. Practice Something Easy
Unwind by playing through your favorite, easy, fun pieces. After all, the best thing about playing guitar is the pleasure you get from making music. Enjoy yourself!
11. Get Creative
You might like to improvise along with your TV, perhaps playing along to music in the show you’re watching, or writing riffs inspired by what you see on the screen. Find what you enjoy and what makes sense for you to play.
12. Guitar Chord Practice
Guitar chord practice can be a great way to improve your guitar playing skills. By watching TV and playing the guitar at the same time, you can learn new chords and techniques while also keeping up with your favorite shows.
It can be tough to find the time to practice guitar, but if you can multitask by watching TV and practicing at the same time, you’ll be able to make the most of your practice time. Start by finding a show that you enjoy and that has a good rhythm.
Once you’ve found the right show, sit in a comfortable position and place your guitar so that you can reach all of the strings easily. As you watch the show, pay attention to the rhythm and start picking out simple chords.
You can gradually increase the complexity of the chords as you get more comfortable with the rhythm. With a little practice, you’ll be able to play along with your favorite TV show while also improving your guitar skills.
13. Work On Other Guitar Practice Exercises
If you’re like most guitarists, you probably enjoy watching TV. And if you’re like most guitarists, you probably wish you could practice while doing so. The good news is that there are actually a number of guitar practice exercises you can do while watching TV. For example, you can use commercial breaks to work on your picking speed or accuracy.
You can also use them to work on fretting hand dexterity by doing some simple scale patterns or chord changes. Additionally, you can use the dialogue and sound effects in a show to help you keep time and develop a solid sense of rhythm
If you really want to get creative, you can even use the sharks as inspiration for your improvisation. So next time you’re glued to the TV during Shark Week, make sure to take advantage of the opportunity to practice your guitar skills. Who knows, you might even come up with a new riff inspired by a great white shark.
14. Take Time to Plan Out Your New Guitar Practice Routine
When it comes to guitar practice, there’s no such thing as “winging it.” You need to have a plan in place so that you can make the most of your time and effort. That’s why it’s important to take a few minutes to plan out your new guitar practice routine before you get started.
This is a great way to make the most of your TV/guitar practice time without getting too distracted.
First, decide how much time you want to spend practicing each day. Then, break that down into shorter practice sessions so that you don’t get overwhelmed or burnt out.
Next, come up with a list of goals for each practice session. What do you want to achieve? What songs or techniques do you want to work on? Having a clear plan will help you stay focused and motivated while you’re practicing.
Finally, make sure to schedule some time for warm-ups and cool-downs. A proper warm-up will help prevent injuries and help you get the most out of your practice session.
And cooling down afterwards will help your muscles recover so that you’re ready to go for your next practice session. So take some time to plan things out before you start playing – it’ll make a world of difference in your guitar practice routine!
How Should a Beginner Practice Guitar?
When it comes to learning how to play guitar, practice makes perfect. But for a beginner, it can be tough to know where to start. The best way to practice is to break down the task into smaller goals. For instance, start by learning how to hold the pick and how to make basic chords. Once you feel comfortable with those basics, you can begin working on more difficult techniques, such as strumming patterns and speed picking.
Remember, though playing in front of the TV can be fun and relaxing, it’s no substitute for focused and dedicated practice time. Your guitar teacher can help you make a plan for great guitar practice that helps you meet your musical goals.
Practice every week like it’s Shark Week!
Do you like to play guitar while you watch TV? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Megan L.