The Perfect Warm-Up Routine!

​​Today I want to talk about one of the most important parts of YOUR practice session...

THE WARM-UP ROUTINE! 

If there is a part of my practice sessions that I am likely to skip, it's this one. and that's a shame... It is literally like skipping that little bit of cardio before lifting weights. Not only does the warm-up routine get your fingers moving, it gets you mentally prepped for the session ahead. 

So what's the perfect warm-up routine and how long should it last? 

For a 30-minute practice session, I would say that a 5-minute warm-up routine is perfect! I would even set a timer. That way you don't have to think about the time and you won't be distracted by looking at the clock (your phone) all the time. 

Now what to practice? 

I wouldn't recommend doing scales or arpeggios right of the bat. Save that for later in your sessions. When you are warming up, the goal is to just get the muscles moving. It should be fairly simple and it does not have to sound musical at all. 

Here are a couple of exercises that I use all the time:

Click HERE for a PDF! 

Keep in mind that even though the exercises are written in 16th-notes, you don't have to play them that fast at all. You can play them at whatever tempo you prefer! 

I would recommend keeping the tempo slow and steady though! Use a metronome as much as you can. If you have a hard time playing with a metronome you can find drum samples or loops online for FREE. I find that it is much easier for me/my students to play along to a drumbeat than it is to play to a metronome. However, in the long run a metronome is a crucial step to taking your playing to the next level! 

Practice Tips: 
- Focus on a steady beat
- Don't play too fast (slow and steady wins the raise) 
- Gradually increase the tempo
- Focus on alternate picking

Now go play some guitar! 

- Jonathan

p.s. If you are interested in learning more, check out my course Guitar Solos Made Easy...

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