Guitar playing is a lot to do with finding the right technique. If you master the technique, you can conquer any style of guitar playing you want. 

When it comes to guitar technique, you will need to put in many hoursto hone your skills. It is crucial to do this, since if you learn the wrong technique, you will struggle in developing your skills further. 

That said it’s also essential to keep a balance in practicing your guitar technique. If you overdo it, you’ll end up frustrating yourself. 

Why Technique Is Crucial 

If you want to learn to play fast, then technique will be crucial for you. As you become a better guitar player, you will start to face songs and riff patterns that don’t seem very easy. 

But with some technique training, you’ll soon overcome these problems. So, it is definitely worth adding some sensible technique training to your practice. 

Downside of Too Much Practice 

But there is a downside for overdoing the technique practice. If you are spending a lot of time solving a specific problem, yet you feel there is no progress, it might be worth taking a break. 

In the end, although repetition is the key to solving most skill-related problems, it isn’t always the best way. Sometimes you need to step aside and focus on something completely different. 

Don’t let your guitar practice frustrate you! Image courtesy of Jake Davis, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

Frustration doesn’t make you a better player. In fact, you’ll most likely end up making more mistakes if you are frustrated, which will lead to worse technique. 

Solving the Equation 

What then is the perfect amount of time spent on guitar technique? 

It all depends a lot on your personal style of play. It is definitely important to add some technique practice to your playing. You also shouldn’t give up as soon as a specific practice or technique seems too difficult. 

The right amount of time isn’t about difficulty as much as it is about progress. If you’ve been practicing a guitar technique for weeks, without any kind of noticeable progress, you are simply overdoing it. 

When you encounter a tough spot, take some time off from the practice. Do things that you are already good at and just play songs that you already know well. 

Get back to the technique after a few days. Think what it is that feels too difficult? Is it simply the speed or the position of the fingers? Check guitar forums or talk to a guitar tutor and ask for tips and advice. 

Enjoyment is the key to learning fast. Image courtesy of Matt Clark, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr. 

Try also overcoming the problem by slightly tweaking the way you do it. Can you achieve the same results without using the exact correct technique? 

By analysing your playing, you can pick up the problem points and start focusing on them in your future practices. 

The right guitar technique can add a lot of depth to your playing, but it isn’t the only important part to learn. Playing the guitar should be primarily about having fun, so you should never keep at it if it doesn’t seem enjoyable. 

Mix your guitar practice, take breaks and analyse your playing – these are the keys to fast learnin