After analysing an interview with the amazing Josh Smith, I’ve extracted six essential elements from his approach to practicing guitar. In this article, I’ll delve into these elements, explore why they work, and provide advice on how to utilise these principles in your own practice sessions.
1. Be Excited
Josh doesn’t follow a set practice routine. He says,
“I don’t ever have a set routine.”
Instead, he emphasises the importance of excitement in choosing what to practice, stating,
“Something will just get me excited… Normally it’s only something that popped into my head, something that made me excited.”
Focusing on excitement can make your practice sessions more enjoyable and motivate you to learn. By working on techniques, songs, or styles that genuinely excite you, your enthusiasm will fuel your progress. This approach keeps you engaged and allows for a more organic learning experience.
Why it works: Being excited helps maintain interest and motivation, leading to more effective practice sessions. When you’re excited about what you’re learning, you’re more likely to commit to it and push through challenges.
How to apply it: Choose musical materials that genuinely get your juices flowing. Make the feeling of excitement a priority when deciding what to practice next.
2. Be Consistent
Consistency is crucial for developing muscle memory and maintaining your skills. Josh highlights the need to play every day, even if it’s just for a short period, saying,
“I just make sure I play every day now. That’s the most important thing, to play every day, which is never a problem. I’m always finding time to play.”
Setting aside dedicated time each day for practice helps solidify your abilities and ensures steady progress. Regular practice sessions, no matter how small, keep you connected to your instrument and maintains motivation.
Why it works: Consistency aids in building muscle memory and reinforcing learned techniques. Practicing regularly helps to develop skills, making it easier to tackle new challenges and progress.
How to apply it: Schedule dedicated practice time daily, even if it’s just a few minutes. Aim for a consistent routine, whether it’s first thing in the morning, during a lunch break, or in the evening. Hold yourself accountable and make practicing a priority.
3. Narrow Your Focus
Josh likes to hone in on learning specific elements, rather than trying to learn everything at once. He explains,
“I’m driven by wanting to learn very specific things.”
By narrowing your focus, you can improve more quickly and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Focusing on one or two specific techniques or concepts at a time allows for more effective learning and mastery. Concentrating on a single area helps you dedicate your full attention to the task at hand, leading to better results.
Why it works: A narrow focus allows for deeper understanding and faster improvement in specific areas. It helps you avoid spreading yourself too thin and ensures you make meaningful progress in the areas you’re most passionate about.
How to apply it: Choose only one or two techniques or concepts to work on at a time, and give them your full attention during practice sessions.
4. Break Out of Ruts
When stuck in a rut, Josh turns to learning new songs to rekindle his passion and inspiration. He says,
“I learn songs that help me get out of a rut… I find that that helps me get inspired… Just the joy of learning a song that you probably love already. And then there’s always going to be one little thing (that gets me inspired).”
Exploring and learning new songs that truly inspire you, helps keep your practice sessions fresh and engaging. By incorporating new, inspiring pieces into your routine, you can find renewed motivation and excitement.
Why it works: Learning new, inspiring songs that really excite you is just fun. Not only that, there are always new, fresh, and exciting things to learn and discover in songs.
How to apply it: Create a spark list of all the songs that really excite and inspire you. When you’re stuck in a rut, choose a song, jump in, and start learning to reinvigorate your practice sessions.
5. Embrace Mistakes and Focus on Growth
Josh emphasises the importance of not being afraid of making mistakes. He shares,
“So when I learn a new idea, I’ll immediately go on stage if I have a gig that night and play it 100 times and probably fail and make some mistakes, but that way I’ll quickly get it under my fingers.”
He adds,
“I’m more interested in pushing myself all the time to learn new things.”
Mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, and embracing them can lead to significant growth as a musician. In your practice sessions, don’t be afraid to take risks or tackle challenging techniques. Remember that each mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve. By focusing on growth and learning from your errors, you can make consistent progress and become a better guitarist.
Why it works: Mistakes are a natural part of learning. The quicker you accept and learn from mistakes, the quicker you’ll progress. Embracing mistakes encourages a willingness to take on new challenges (both in the practice room and on stage), which can lead to faster growth and skill development.
How to apply it: Don’t shy away from challenging techniques or songs; use mistakes as opportunities for learning and growth. When you make mistakes, analyse what went wrong and work on improving those areas.
6. Fully Commit
Josh’s dedication to his craft is undeniable. He says,
“Like, you guys, I’m totally obsessed with this. Other than my family, this is every minute of my life.”
His obsession fuels his passion and commitment to constantly improve as a guitarist. Being completely invested in your craft can lead to greater motivation and a stronger desire to excel. Embrace your passion for guitar and let it drive you to become the best musician you can be.
Why it works: Truly committing to your instrument inspires a dedication to your craft, which in turn manifests continuous improvement and enjoyment.
How to apply it: To truly commit, you’ve got to love it. To help you love it, stay inspired and stay excited.
Conclusion
To sum up, focus on what excites and inspires you, be consistent in your practice, narrow your focus, break out of ruts with new songs, embrace mistakes as opportunities for growth, and fully commit by learning to love the process.