Guitar Training Routine For Intermediate Players

I’d like to note this lesson is dedicated for intermediate players, the program won’t fit for beginner guitar players or advanced musicians.

I’ll break up the whole program based on your spared time. There are six groups: A, B, C, D, G and E. Every group has a different training time because not everyone is able to practice eight hours a day, right? Try to fit yourself in one of the groups below:

• A Group: 15 minutes
• B Group: 30 minutes
• C Group: 1 hour
• D Group: 3 hours
• G Group: 5 hours
• E Group: 8 hours

Hopefully, you were able to pick one of them, since for a while you might have to stick with it, depending on your personal life. Alright, let’s get started!

Group A: 15 Minutes

1. 3 minutes warm-up (stretching, chromatic playing and alternative picking)
2. 5 minutes scale and chord learning (try to learn at least one new scale and chord) – it’s ok to exercise the memorization of previously learned scales as well
3. 3 minutes technical exercises (phrasing, legato: pull-offs/hammer-ons, bendings etc..)
4. 2 minutes music theory (chord construction, musical keys)
5. 2 minutes improvising over one backing track (the style is of your choice)

This is “the worst” group to be in, since you really don’t have enough enough time to cover everything you have to practice, especially ear training. This routine is more just to maintain yourself musically and physically.

Group B: 30 Minutes

1. 5 minutes warm-up (stretching, chromatic playing and alternative picking)
2. 5 minutes scale and chord learning (just as with group A, try to learn at least one new scale or chord and practice them)
3. 5 minutes of technical exercises (phrasing, legato: pull-offs/hammer-ons, bendings etc..)
4. 5 minutes ear training (ear training is very important, try to transcribe your favorite songs or solos)
5. 5 minutes of music theory (chord construction, musical keys)
6. 5 minutes improvising or writing music (both of them are important since you have to find yourself in music)

If you’re in this group you can become better since ear training and writing music is integrated. Both of these are very crucial for your success.

Group C: 1 Hour

1. 5 minutes warm-up
2. 10 minutes scale and chord learning (with this group you have time to learn one scale and two chords, try to practice and improvise with the scale as much as you can)
3. 10 minutes of technical exercises (phrasing, legato: pull-offs/hammer-ons, bendings etc..)
4. 10 minutes of ear training
5. 5 minutes watching your favorite guitarists or band on youtube(it might sound dumb, but it’s not, because it can motivate you to continue on… it can also be considered as a resting time)
6. 5 minutes of music theory (chord construction, musical keys)
7. 15 minutes writing music and improvising

Most people will choose this group. If you’ve been reading the other ones as well, you can see I’m progressively increasing the training time for improvising and writing music. Those two basically cover all other exercises.

Group D: 3 Hours

1. 10 minutes warm-up
2. 20 minutes scale and chord learning 
3. 30 minutes techincal exercises
4. 30 minutes ear training
5. 5 minutes watching your favourite guitarists or band on youtube
6. 25 minutes music theory (chord construction, musical modes, circle of fifths)
7. 1 hour writing music and improvising

In my opinion, this group is the best one since you have enough time to exercise and cover most of the essential skills you need to know. It won’t tire you as much as the next two will, that’s why personally I prefer this one.

Group G: 5 Hours

1. 10 minutes warm-up
2. 30 minutes scale and chord learning 
3. 1-hour techincal exercises
4. 1-hour ear training
5. 5 minutes watching your favorite guitarists or band on youtube
6. 1-hour music theory
7. 1 hour and 25 minutes improvising and writing music 

A few months back I used to exercise at least 5 hours and I became a lot better since. If you have the time to spare, I highly recommend you at least this one, if not the last group.

Group E: 8 Hours

1. 10 minutes warm-up
2. 1-hour scale and chord learning 
3. 1-hour technical exercises
4. 1-hour ear training
5. 5 minutes watching your favorite guitarists or band on youtube
6. 25 minutes learning to read/write sheet music (it’s actually important, it can help you to become an official musician, every guitarist should know to read or write sheet music)
7. 20 minutes improvising (try to lay back and free yourself from thinking)
8. 2 hours of music theory
9. 2 hours improvising and writing music 

If you really want to become a guitar virtuoso, you must choose this. Sticking to the training, you’ll become a really great guitarist not only by technique but musically as well.

All groups are made to be exercised every day. If you want, you can take a one day break of your choice. Also, try not to overdo the training, since we are humans and not robots, you must take some rest as well.

Lastly, I’d like to note that everything depends on you, you are responsible for your own success. Good luck and rock on!