Late Beginner Guitar Practice Routine – Build Skills That Stick

Hey, it’s James here from GoodGuitarist.com, and if you’re just moving beyond the basics on guitar, this lesson is for you. In this video (and here on the page), I’m going to walk you through a complete 30-minute practice routine designed specifically for late beginners – those of you who can already play basic chords and strum along, but want to go further.

If you’re ready to move beyond just switching between G, C, and D, and start adding more technique, theory, and real songs into your practice – I’ve got you covered.

Start With a 5-Minute Warmup

Warmups aren’t just for beginners – they’re for anyone who wants to sound their best. Plus, if you ever play in front of people (at open mics, jam sessions, or even just friends and family), warming up helps calm nerves and gets your fingers ready.

Try this:

• Use simple, repetitive exercises that don’t require much thinking. Something like placing your fingers down in a straight line (e.g., frets 5-6-7-8).
• Focus on form, consistency, and control – not speed or complexity.
• Keep your fingers close to the fretboard, use efficient pick motion, and aim for an even tone.

Want more warmup ideas? I have a page with 10+ warmup finger exercises here – find one that speaks to you!

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Divide Your Practice into 3 Core Areas

After your warmup, use the remaining time (25+ minutes) to focus on technique, knowledge, and repertoire.

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1. Technique

This is where you sharpen your skills. Examples:

• Chord transitions: If you just learned D minor, practice switching to and from it (e.g., C to Dm, or G to Dm).
• Strumming upgrades: Add dynamics, smaller motions, single-note emphasis, or percussive hits to your strumming.
• Walking bass lines: Start with simple ones like G to C, break them down, and loop them with a metronome.

▶ If you need help with these, I have free lessons on all of it on my site and YouTube channel.

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2. Knowledge

This includes:

• Music theory – especially practical stuff that helps you understand why songs work the way they do.
• Ear training – the most useful exercise is figuring out the melody of a simple song (like Twinkle Twinkle) by ear on your guitar.

Just poke around, sing the melody while trying to play it. This helps connect your ear to your fingers – which is huge for learning to play by ear and eventually improvise.

Want help with theory? My Practical Music Theory Course is part of the All-Access Pass.

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3. Repertoire

This is where you:

• Learn new songs from start to finish
• Maintain old songs by playing them regularly
• Keep a repertoire list with notes like:
  • Chords used
  • Strumming pattern
  • Special techniques (like a walk-up or fingerpicking)

Pro tip: Don’t always start from the beginning of a song. Break it down into verse, chorus, bridge and work on the parts that give you the most trouble. I even rate each section out of 10 so I know where to focus my energy.

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Make Your Practice Time Count

This routine isn’t rigid. Feel free to adjust it based on your goals. Add more time, explore different songs, and let your musical interests shape what you focus on.

But no matter what, always:

• Warm up
• Let the songs guide your practice
• Break down the tough spots
• Repetition is key!

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Want a Step-by-Step Plan?

If you’d rather not plan everything yourself and want a guided experience that takes you from absolute beginner to confidently playing songs for friends and family, check out my course:

🎸 Learn Guitar Once and For All
It’s part of The All-Access Pass – your membership includes:

• Full access to all my structured courses
• Exclusive song play-alongs and printable resources
• A private community where you can ask questions and get feedback

No more guessing what to practice – we’ll go through it together.

Have a fun time practicing and I’ll see you soon!
-James