PRESENCE - Volume 12
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.
What You Don’t Practice Matters Just as Much
I watch a lot of YouTube—news, philosophy, comedy, and of course, a ton of guitar content. I’m guessing you do too.
This week, I came across a great video from guitarist Adam Levy. If you’re not familiar, he played on Norah Jones’ breakout album and toured with her early on. He’s not flashy—he plays for the song, and his YouTube channel leans more philosophical than practical. Definitely worth checking out.
In this video, Adam shares an exercise:
Take 5 minutes to write down what kind of guitarist you want to be. Then, write down the specific things you should practice to get there. The point? If you’re clear on what to practice, you’ll also know what not to practice.
This is huge. Most guitarists I work with are overwhelmed—they’re practicing too many things at once, often pulled in different directions by random YouTube videos or even questionable advice from well-meaning teachers.
Things like:
Being told to learn 3-note-per-string scales when they want to play blues
Diving into modes before knowing which chords are in a key
Trying to play changes before learning the CAGED system
That’s why I emphasize 3 universal skills that every guitarist should master—no matter the style:
Know what chords are in each key (a.k.a. The Number System)
Play those chords all over the neck (my simplified AED version of CAGED)
Solo across the fretboard with confidence (The Landmark Pentatonic System)
Once you’re solid in those, then you can start layering on the stuff specific to your ideal guitarist.
So ask yourself:
Am I spreading myself too thin?
Would the guitarist I want to be be practicing this?
Do I actually know what to work on—or do I need help?
It’s okay to get distracted—believe me, I do too. I’ll chase a cool Billy Strings lick, a blazing Bonamassa run, a Derek Trucks slide trick, or a spicy gypsy jazz turnaround. And that’s great! Those things add flavor and uniqueness to your playing.
But the majority of your practice time should go toward building the foundation that moves you toward your goals.
If you’re not sure what that foundation is—or need help identifying your next step—I’d love to help.
Work with me → www.dustinhofsess.com
Happy playing,
Dustin
P.S. If you found this helpful, forward it to a fellow guitarist! 🎸🔥