What to Focus on to Improve Your Technique

Improving your technique is one of the most effective ways to elevate your playing, whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years. It’s all about identifying and correcting habits that may be holding you back. Some of these steps will be hard for beginner and intermediate players to do on their own. They will achieve better results and see faster improvement if they work with a trained teacher who can give them the feedback they need. Here’s a step-by-step guide to focus on refining your technique and making real progress:

Step 1: Get Clear on What a Bad Habit Is

The first step to improving your technique is understanding what constitutes a bad habit. Technique, at its core, is about the motions that produce the sound you want. A bad habit is the gap between the correct motions required to achieve that sound and what you are currently doing. For example, excessive tension in your fretting hand or improper pick angles might be preventing you from achieving clean and consistent notes.

Take a moment to analyze your current playing. Are there areas where your sound doesn’t match your intention? Pinpointing these issues is the foundation for improvement.

Step 2: Get Clear on the Opposite of the Bad Habit

Once you’ve identified a bad habit, you need to define its opposite—the correct technique you want to develop. Sometimes, exaggerating the bad habit can help you feel how detrimental it is, making the proper technique feel much more natural and effective.

For example, if your bad habit is pressing too hard on the strings, exaggerate that tension to notice how it feels. Then contrast it with a lighter touch, focusing on the ease and fluidity it brings to your playing. This process creates a clearer sense of the “good habit” you want to internalize.

Step 3: Make a List of 5 to 10 Places Where the Bad Habit Can Show Up

Why is this important? Because practicing the correct habit in a variety of contexts ensures you’re ready for real-life playing situations. By identifying multiple scenarios where the bad habit might occur, you’ll create opportunities to reinforce the proper technique in diverse ways. This keeps your brain engaged and prevents it from going on autopilot.

For example, if you’re working on proper picking technique, list different exercises or songs where it’s essential:

  • Directional picking in scales

  • Strumming patterns in rhythm playing

  • Single-note riffs

  • String skipping exercises

  • Arpeggios

When you practice these different scenarios, you’re training your brain to recognize and apply the proper technique consistently.

Remember, as soon as you start to feel comfortable with a technique, your focus might waver. Having multiple ways to practice ensures you’re always paying attention and making deliberate improvements.

Step 4: Find the Fastest Tempo You Can Perform the New Habit Perfectly

Speed is often seen as a goal in itself, but technique should always come first. Find the fastest tempo at which you can perform the corrected habit or motion flawlessly. This means no tension, no mistakes, and total control.

Start slow and gradually increase the tempo, always prioritizing accuracy over speed. Using a metronome can help you stay consistent and track your progress over time. By focusing on precision at slower speeds, you’ll build a strong foundation for clean and effortless playing at faster tempos. Once you install the correct motions there are other ways to practice that will help add speed.

Step 5: Rotate Your Focus Every 30 Seconds to 3 Minutes

Attention is a limited resource, and practicing for extended periods on one aspect can lead to diminishing returns. Instead, rotate your focus between different elements every 30 seconds to 3 minutes, depending on your ability to concentrate.

Use the items from Step 3 to guide your focus. For instance:

  • Spend 30 seconds on your pick motions in a scale pattern.

  • Switch to focusing on your fret hand finger efficiency.

  • Spend another minute focusing on the clean articulation of each note.

Rotating your focus keeps your practice sessions dynamic and engaging. To enhance this process, use a mirror to watch yourself as you practice. This visual feedback can help you identify excess tension, improper hand placement, or unnecessary movements.

Get Expert Feedback

While a mirror is your second-best friend, your best friend is a trained and qualified teacher. A skilled instructor can spot subtle issues in your technique and provide tailored advice to help you improve. They can also offer exercises and tips you might not think of on your own.

What to Watch For

As you practice, pay close attention to:

  • Excess Tension: Ensure your hands, arms, and shoulders are relaxed.

  • Articulation: Make sure every note is clear and intentional.

  • Two-Hand Synchronization: Align your picking and fretting hands for clean execution.

  • Excess String Noise: Minimize unwanted sounds by using proper muting techniques.

  • Timing: Stay consistent and in sync with the beat.

Final Thoughts

Improving your technique is a gradual process that requires focus, patience, and consistency. By identifying bad habits, defining their opposites, practicing in diverse scenarios, and staying mindful of your form, you’ll develop a stronger, more refined playing style. Remember, the goal is not just to play the right notes but to play them with confidence, precision, and musicality. Stick with these steps, and you’ll see steady progress in your playing.

About The Author

Brian Fish is a professional guitarist who has been teaching in Northeast Ohio since 1994. He serves as the head guitar instructor, trainer, and coach at Guitar Lessons Geauga. Brian also developed the fantastic rhythm course, “Ultimate Rhythm Mastery,” which is available at MusicTheoryForGuitar.com.