We've explored the basics of music reading and it's time to practice your new knowledge.
How to Practice
Do It Every Day
The ultimate goal of practice is to increase fluidity and make playing skills second nature. Application of new skills and knowledge should be immediate and repetitive, otherwise you lose what you just learned. Thus, successful music making begins with a daily practice schedule: first thing in the morning, late at night, etc.
How much time should beginners practice? I recommend thirty minutes each day. If you wish to practice longer, divide practice into two or three short sessions. Long sessions may result in sore fingers and reduced concentration.
Practice Plan
Once committed to daily practice, you need a practice plan and goals. Nothing elaborate, just specific things to work on in each session. For example, we have five things to work on at this point:
Memorizing new music symbols and chords
Forming correct sitting and hand positions
Exercise 1, Plucking Strings
Exercise 2, Thumb Strum
Exercise 3, G Major Scale (TAB)
Exercise 4, Strumming Chords
Da Beat Thing exercises (see below)
Here are a few practice goal suggestions: play the scale, strum and rhythm exercises smoothly, and know the symbols, chords and technique by heart.
Avoid Distractions
Set aside enough time to work through your practice routine without interruption. Don't do other things like gaming or scrolling through Instagram. Devote your full attention to playing guitar.
Be Critical and Spot Practice
Listen critically to your playing and make adjustments to improve. For example, if chord transitions are not smooth, ask yourself why. Spending too much time deciphering chord diagrams because you didn't memorize them? Staggering finger placement instead of placing all the fingers down at the same time? Once you understand the problem, spot practice the trouble area slowly. Gradually increase tempo after technical issues are resolved. This type of approach accelerates improvement and, ultimately, enjoyment of playing.
Review Old Pieces
Finally, a good practice session includes practice of both new material and prior lessons. Besides providing a good warm-up, older pieces continue to improve for weeks, sometimes months, after your initially learn them.
Patience is a Virtue
It takes time to learn to play guitar: musical skill and knowledge develop gradually across months and years of practice and study. A technique or piece may not work today but, with due diligence, will come around. The ability to work towards a goal without crippling frustration or giving up is a key aspect of musical success. Indeed, learning to play guitar is a course in patience and persistence.
Da Beat Thing Study Tips
Practice your new rhythm skills by clapping and counting aloud Da Beat Thing below. Focus on keeping a steady beat as you clap out the rhythm. Once you can clap the rhythms smoothly, practice the same exercises on the open first string of the guitar. Maintain the meter’s accent pattern and alternate the right hand fingers between the middle and index fingers (m-i-m-i).
Using the Audio Player
You may listen to or play along with each exercise by clicking on the audio player below each staff. After clicking the play button, you'll hear a metronome countdown to clue the downbeat. Each exercise repeats three times.
Repeat Symbol
A double bar with two dots indicates repetition of a musical section. All of the Da Beat Thing exercises have a repeat symbol at the end of the line.
And, in case you forgot the note durations, here they are again:
Da Beat Thing
The note E, used in Da Beat Thing, is the open first string of the guitar.
Your main focus should be on playing the note rhythms. However, you're welcome to play the chords after you've mastered the note rhythms. Keep it simple—one strum per measure—and count out the beats for each measure.
Da Beat Thing "How to" Video | Peter Kun Frary
Exercise A
Exercise B
Exercise C
Exercise D | Sing "eat" for quarter notes and "su-shi" for eighth notes
Exercise E
Need Help?
Do you need help? Don't be shy about asking questions. For guitar issues, make an office or Zoom appointment and we'll help you figure it out.
•••
How to Practice
Practice Plan
Avoid Distractions
Review Old Pieces 
Patience is a Virtue
Da Beat Thing Study Tips
Using the Audio Player
Da Beat Thing
