PRESENCE - Volume 9
Inspiration For Guitarists
Welcome to my newsletter, Presence! My aim is simple: to share insights and techniques that have helped me grow as a musician, offering something valuable for players at every stage of their journey.
Is Your Practice Setup Helping or Hurting Your Progress?
One of the biggest things that can make or break your guitar progress isn’t what you practice—it’s how easily you can start practicing.
If your guitar is packed away in its case, your gear is scattered, or you have to spend five minutes setting things up, you’re less likely to practice consistently. That’s why I believe every guitarist should optimize their practice space for simplicity and efficiency. Ideally, you should be playing in under a minute.
Here are the essential components of a great practice setup:
1. A Guitar Stand
One of the biggest obstacles to practicing? Simply getting the guitar in your hands. If your guitar is stored in its case, that extra step of pulling it out can be enough to stop you from playing.
Yes, some luthiers recommend storing guitars in their cases—but what’s best for the guitar isn’t always best for you. Keep your guitar on a stand where it’s always within reach.
2. A Comfortable, Armless Chair
You don’t need anything fancy, but an armless chair makes a huge difference. While the couch may be comfortable, it tends to encourage slouching, which can lead to bad posture and poor technique over time.
3. A Music Stand (or Alternative)
A music stand keeps your lesson notes, tabs, or sheet music visible and accessible. If you work digitally, consider a tablet holder clipped to a mic stand—I use both! One stand for paper music, and another for my iPad, which holds all my PDFs.
4. A Device
Most of us use a phone or tablet for playing backing tracks, watching YouTube lessons, or reading PDFs. Keeping it nearby and ready to go makes practice more efficient.
5. Speakers for Playing Music
Your phone or tablet speaker isn’t great for critical listening. If you’re playing along with backing tracks or transcribing songs, you’ll want better sound. Even a small Bluetooth speaker can make a huge difference.
6. An Amp & Looper Pedal (For Electric Players)
If you play electric guitar, having your amp ready to go is key. And if you’re an intermediate or advanced player, a looper pedal is hands-down one of the best practice tools you can use. It helps with timing, phrasing, and creativity—all without needing a full band.
Simplicity & Efficiency Are Key
Your practice space doesn’t need to be complicated—just easy to access. My setup may seem complex because I use the same setup for practice, teaching, and recording, but in practice, I can grab my guitar, flip two switches, and be playing with my looper, backing tracks, or YouTube in under a minute.
I encourage you to take a look at your own practice space. Is it helping you play more? Or is it getting in the way?
Let me know—what’s one thing you could change to make practicing easier?
Talk soon,
Dustin
P.S. If you found this helpful, forward it to a fellow guitarist! 🎸🔥