Let's talk about the 5 minute miracle. I mean, sure you can practice for hours. That would be amazing. You would excel. There is no question about it.
But what if you can't or you simply don't want to? It's one thing when you've got something really juicy to work on, but when you are right at the beginning, practicing can be pretty tedious.
---------------------------------- Miracle Strategy ----------------------------------
That's why I'm all for the 5 minute miracle. You just make sure to practice for 5 minutes a day. That is all there is to it.
It is the simplest strategy on the face of the Earth and maybe the most powerful.
Sounds like nothing, right? How can you really get anywhere with just a 5 minute investment?
This Works!
That's why I like to call it a miracle. You will be absolutely amazed at the power of the 5 minute practice session. And since you will only be practicing for 5 minutes, you want to make sure you use that time wisely. So follow these simple instructions and your fingers will be flying very soon.
---------------------------------- How to Do It ----------------------------------
Simply take two chords and set a timer for 5 minutes.
Pick two chords and learn them if you don't already know them. If you already know two chords, you can work with those. (Change chords each session.)
Go back and forth between the two chords, over and over again, until the 5 minutes is up. When the timer beeps you can do more if you want, but you don't have to.
At that point you can pat yourself on the back. You've done your minimum. You will be playing simple guitar songs, even more complex songs, like a pro very soon. I promise. (In time you can graduate to three chords, but keep it very simple.)
---------------------------------- Tap Them Toes! ----------------------------------
You would be amazed at how much a steady rhythm contributes to the quality of your playing. You can play lots of fancy notes and chords, but if your rhythm is off, you will sound like a beginner. It is so strange how this works.
Even an advanced player can learn something new, something very complex, but as she stumbles in her rhythm, she sounds like a beginner all over again.
On the other hand, a beginner, playing very simple chords with excellent rhythm, can sound advanced. The energy and confidence in your strum speaks volumes.
So, as you practice going back and forth from C to G7 (for example) you can maximize your practice time by paying close attention to your rhythm while strumming.
It is best to use a metronome so that you have a reference point.
---------------------------------- Let Your Imagination Fly ----------------------------------
Now, as you play the simplest two chord phrase over and over, and as you do that with excellent rhythmic regularity, add the dimension of imagination. See yourself on a stadium stage or anywhere else you might like to perform.
As you strum your chords, do it with style, charisma, and heart. Communicate with your music. Even though you are only playing two chords, play them like you mean them. Speak to your audience with your music.
Do all this for 5 minutes a day and watch your playing blossom into something amazing.
In fact, by doing this every day, you probably will want to do more, but 5 minutes is all it takes.
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