Rob Luft on how to practice exercises

Practicing at a Slow Tempo

One thing I've always thought about practicing is that if you do the slower tempo, practice first with a metronome, really nail it, and be accurate.

You will develop the faster tempos without hesitation.

That is to say, practice things slowly and accurately, and the faster tempos will take care of themselves.

Example: The C Major Scale

Let me give you an example.

C Ionian

This is the most simple scale on an instrument like the piano.

Here we are.

So what I want you to do is:

• Take a metronome (maybe you've got an app for a metronome on your phone)
• Set it at a slow tempo (let's say 60 beats per minute)

Now, we're going to practice playing the C major scale.

Try playing this scale now with:

• Two strokes per note
• Three notes per stroke
• Four notes per stroke
• Double it up
• Five notes per stroke, etc.

If you take care of these slower tempos and work on things at the base tempo, when it comes to playing fast, these things will take care of themselves.

Relationship to Grades and Songs

That's what I've got to say for you here.

In relation to these grades and the songs on this course, I really have to say that if you work on these at a slower tempo, the faster tempos that are on the records and recordings are going to be so much easier for you.

If I were at an earlier stage in my development and I was looking at a piece such as Dark Matter, I would be working on each phrase extremely slowly and methodically.

A metronome allows me now, at my stage of development, to just look at the piece and play it straight away.

This is really helpful.

Importance for Professional Guitarists

When you're a professional guitarist, faced with new music all the time, it's extremely important to have developed this skill.

So just take it slow, enjoy yourselves, and develop at your own pace.