You can try to learn guitar using any number of random internet methods, or you could go through a local instructor. But, there is another approach...

The truth is that music instruction can be a gamble. Especially if the teacher of method you choose either has no plan, or even worse - an unproven plan...

If you’re unsure of what to look for in a guitar program, and then how to organize your practice approach - you're in luck!

My "9 Steps to Guitar Success - The Wheel of Guitar Fortune," is a proven way to help any musician break through to the next levels of playing. This system is a positive step-by-step cycle that works in a very logical way to maintain your focus and your organization across the weeks and months of practice ahead.

Below are the nine steps to follow that will build long term guitar success. However, keep in mind that you'll still require a good study routine.


Step 1). MAP OUT YOUR GUITAR REPERTOIRE
It can be difficult to make rapid progress studying guitar if you have no plan. Once you've selected your study material, (of course, I highly recommend the Creative Guitar Studio Program), organize the material into a map of what the most important elements are that you want to study. Separate what you know from what you don't and focus laser energy on what you do not have skills for.

Step 2). DESIGN A STUDY ROUTINE
Set up a log of what you will do on a daily basis. Organize it all in a planner or in a log book. And, keep a Practice Schedule. If you do not understand how to properly practice, spend some time learning this with my "How to Practice Guitar Guide." Once you implement my systems, you'll begin to notice rapid progress.

Step 3). PRACTICE (PHASE ONE)
Practice begins from this point of the Guitar Wheel of Fortune, and for it to work properly, it needs to follow some type of a structured time frame system. So, be sure to follow my "Time Frames" practice concept. Using this approach will yield the very best results for you in the shortest time possible.




Step 4). ASSESS PROGRESS (PHASE ONE)
As your practice begins and you start work through your routine, you'll need to be on watch for possible corrections to your plan. assess where you are by asking a lot of questions... Are you feeling like progress is taking hold? Are you noticing good results? Are there problems? Do you experience any hand-pain or discomfort? How is your mental perspective, are you having fun - are you learning? Assessment is critical to your success. If something isn't working - try something else.

Step 5). CHANGE REPERTOIRE
Once you've determined what works for you and what doesn't, begin examining what you can do to alter the order and sequence of your material so that you can find new practice approaches that will work better.

Having great material is one thing, but you could still go about practicing the material in a way that is simply not good for the place you are at - within a specific point in time. How you approach your repertoires study material is just as important as what you're studying. And, in order for rapid progress to occur, you'll need to continuously alter your repertoire's order and sequence. Doing so will yield incredibly fast results for you.

Step 6). MODIFY YOUR PRACTICE SYSTEM
Are you practicing warm-ups for too long? Are you not putting enough time into your rhythm guitar? How much skill are you feeling from your scale layout on the neck? Is what you're doing in need of time frame modifications? These are vital questions that need to happen along the way for rapid progress to occur. And, any change to your repertoire will play a role on how you're using your personal practice system. These areas need to maintain constant balance. When they do you'll start to notice changes for the better, start happening much faster.




Step 7). PRACTICE (PHASE TWO)
Practice began (back in step 3) from a point at which you were still learning "where" you needed to address your guitar study focus. Now, that you are much further along in the "Wheel of Guitar Fortune" you've likley begun to notice what has worked for you, and what hasn't worked. And, (I hope) that you've started to make modifications.That is the key to this entire "Wheel of Guitar Fortune" process. In this step, "Practice - Phase Two," work out the new time frames that you want to apply to each subject area. Once you've created an updated practice schedule, start applying it and notice what benefits occur.

Step 8). ASSESS PROGRESS (PHASE TWO)
Just as we did back in step four, assess progress once again and notice where you're at. Ask yourself a series of questions regarding how you feel about the work you're doing, where you're skills are going, and how the level of ability is developing on the whole. If progress is occurring, then take stock of where it is developing with the most success. And, if certain areas are not developing, ask yourself what you could be doing differently to change that. Think of this step as another layer of refinement. Polishing things at this stage will really perfect how you're time is being maximized during practice.



Step 9). INCREASE REPERTOIRE
The trick to getting really good - really fast is, has and will always be, exposure to new material that you have never tried playing before. Anything new will always push you higher in your overall skill set. So, in step nine you'll want to add more items on you practice list.

If you're studying a progressive course, (like the material found in the Creative Guitar Studio Program), you'll be flowing along in a very step-by-step manner. Adding new ideas will continue to help expand your guitar playing and it will build your footing as a musician rather than just being a "Guitar Player." Musicians know and understand music, even when the guitar is locked in the case at the back of the room.

Adding more techniques, more scales, chords, arpeggios and music theory will continue to help you grow as a player. And, as you get better, you'll be able to play more styles and you'll be able to function within any type of musical setting. Over time, nothing will feel foreign to you. The skill for playing in all types of styles and situations will become easier and easier. And, the key to expanding your horizons like this is exposure. This only occurs through an increase in your repertoire.

NOTE: If you need help setting up your own personal practice routine, book a Skype session with me and I'll help you get started!