How to get better at playing guitar....without playing one

Mailman86

Mailman86

Mailman86

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Bear with me while I explain the nonsensical subject title. :p

I've had my electric guitar a few years now, but I've only really started to learn play it properly the last month or two so I am still very much a beginner. I have a one to one tutor which is all well and good and when I am at home I practise as much as I can.

Now the point of this thread. I have a lot of quiet time at work and a lot of free time sat on the train to and from work where I can't actually practise on my guitar. What's the best way to spend this spare time to help me improve, but without actually playing? As I learn mostly from material from my tutor, I don't really have a lot of stuff to read through. I bought a guitar magazine today, but that's not going to keep me entertained for long. I already listen to a lot of music as well.
 
You could draw a fretboard on a piece of card and then practise your scales/chords from memory. I knew a guy who used one of these to strengthen his fingers:

gripmaster.jpg


I think they're designed for use by rock climbers but he thought it'd help his fingering, no idea if it worked.
 
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There's nothing you can really do. I suppose you could use the time to learn the theory side of things, but that's about it.

The Gripmaster shown above will increase the strength in your fingers - But playing guitar requires a lot more than pure strength, so it won't really help that much.
 
You could use this time to train your ear. Get hold of diffferent notes and learn to recognise them by ear.
 
Learning music theory sounds like it would be a good idea. Can anyone recommend me any books that I could get that wouldn't bore me to tears? Any websites as well so I can get started today?

Also is there a good way I could train my ear instead of endlessly listening to different random notes and trying to guess them?
 
KidCanary said:
Tapping your fingers doesn't really replicate guitar playing, so although it may make you better at tapping your fingers, it's not going to make you better at guitar.
Click to expand...

Nay sir, its a mind **** which aides you to gain greater mental control over the flexation of your fingers in un-natural combinations by shifting the emphasis of the beat between different fingers. You can also do it anywhere, at all times, in any situation :p
 
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Maybe so, but it won't help with guitar playing.

If it even benefits the fretting hand, which I'm skeptical of, it still leaves the picking hand completely unused, and synchronisation of the two is very important in most aspects of guitar playing.

It also does nothing for actual fretting technique, such as where to place the finger, and how much pressure to use. Simply being able to move your fingers quickly counts for very little when playing guitar, as there's a lot more to it.
 
personally sometimes sit squeezing the hell out of a tennis ball, though i have very strong fingers as it is! but on a serious note what someone said further up, guitar pro is brilliant program, tons of songs i have learnt by simply remembering in that way. also seriously agree with the dude who was on about tapping fingers in alternating patterns, this really really helped me personally break the whole mental brick wall, almost like your programmed to move your fingers in a certain sequence. mixing it up a bit can help train your psyche to get used to moving your fingers in a way thats not shall we say 'pre-programmed'. :)
 
Best advice for learning guitar is understanding theory (as with any musical instrument).

Chord construction is a great place to start. Understanding this can really help you out with finger positioning, scales and actually figuring out what this 'cool sounding chord' is that you just stumbled across.

My old guitar teacher used to tell me that typically your ring finger is the weakest so stretching it by resting your hand flat on a flat surface and tucking your ring finger under your hand as far as you can stretch without raising your wrist (not palm) off the surface - and importantly try not to allow your index/pinkie move too much. This not only strengthens your finger but also useful if/when you come to scales as I have found it helped with 'muscle memory'.

Stretching and strengthening your thumb as well - useful for depressing Low-E and A strings (if you have the technique and reach).

Also I find calluses are important to build up - not sure how you do that without a guitar but something to think about.
 
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