PRACTICE LESS, PLAY MORE: The simple, three-step system to play songs you love on your guitar from day 1

by Steve Mastroianni

*** #1 BEST SELLER IN OVER 50 CATEGORIES! *** If you're a Self-Taught Guitarist and you want to play songs without spending all your time practicing, this book may be the most important book you ever read... But first a this book is NOT for everyone…This isn't one of those “practice until your fingers bleed“ or “cram confusing theory into your mind” type of guitar instruction books. There are plenty of those available (i.e. practice scales & exercises for hours per day and feel guilty if you don’t).When I first decided to learn to play guitar, I read all the guitar books for beginners and focused on developing a lot of areas like scales, theory, and exercises that promised me one day I’d be able to play the songs I loved.The problem is, when you approach practice like that, you have a lot of “stuff” to practice, but you usually have no REAL MUSIC to show for it, ending up with what I call Mountain Climber Syndrome. You feel like eventually, your hard work is going to pay off, everything will come together, and you’ll finally be able to play songs.Why not play songs right away instead?The simple, three-step system in this book requires a slight shift in the way you think about practicing, but leaves you with lots of songs, confidence, and a lifelong skill you can use any time you want to learn the songs you love ON DEMAND.With that said, let’s jump right in…Practice Less, Play More! is about getting immediate results from your guitar.This means ONLY focusing on the things that help you play songs (both BEFORE practice & AFTER practice). The idea is to divide your guitar practice into 3 first phase focuses on priming your mind so you have the right mindsets & techniques to learn songs quickly and all of the right materials to get the most out of your practice sessions.The second phase focuses on practice technique, showing you exactly how to break a song down and quickly program each part into your fingers. Far too few guitar practice books explain this clearly!The final phase focuses on the best mindsets & techniques to use when you switch out of Practice Mode and are actually playing songs, so you can play them as effortlessly as possible and have a blast doing it.It is called “Practice Less, Play More!", because you are constantly building momentum (and your song Playlist) without having to endure hours of mind-numbing practice. It is actually an easier, less-stressful approach to playing guitar.Not only that, this book shows How to get songs to performance-quality within days... You should practice guitar parts over & over until you master them, right? WRONG! (find out why in Chp 7) How to create a practice routine you enjoy and can actually stick to (even if you have a super busy schedule) When is the best time to practice for long-lasting results 5 ways to cut your practice time in half and virtually guarantee you make progress each time you pick up your guitar What to think about while you're playing songs (the answer may surprise you) How to reduce the amount of mistakes you make and exactly what to do when you make one (most Beginners are doing the opposite!) One practice method you should NEVER

Genres: Music

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2019

Reviews

[Greg Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a bad car accident when I was 18 and had 2 strokes(I'm 58 now). I started trying to play guitar 11 years ago for therapy. I’ve taken private lessons and was given a basic guitar method book to work through basic scales to learn. Not what a 47 year old beginner guitar player is looking for. Was not playing the songs that I really wanted to play.
I found Steve’s book Practice Less, Play More. It is an easy enjoyable read. Using the techniques in this book I was able to start playing ACTUAL MUSIC not mindless scales that I couldn’t link together. A few of my A-Ha moments: 1)pre-practice, 2)Chunk=work on small section of song at a time 3)3xWMM=play the chunk 3 times without making a mistake move on to next section.
This book has equipped me how to breakdown songs and learn to play them faster than I have ever been able to do.
If you are looking to start playing songs and making MUSIC I would definitely recommend this book!!
I think it’s cool that Steve is using 100% of the proceeds from the book to create new programs for cancer patients and their caregivers through his fundraising initiative VØID Cancer.

[Karen A Redman]

Highly Recommend!

Steve is one of the best guitar instructors and having a book like this to reference is amazing. He provides simple instructions and helpful links. His stories and sense of humor helps too.

[Dan Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blown away! With the glut of “learn guitar” books out on the market that pretty much rehash the same old tired and boring methods for learning guitar, I found PRACTICE LESS, PLAY MORE! to be such a refreshing change. This book actually makes learning guitar fun like it should be and gets you quickly up to speed to where you can begin playing your favorite songs.

I first took up the guitar several years ago and still found the instruction contained within this book to be GOLD and it’s such an easy read with the friendly, conversational tone. There’s so many gems contained within it’s pages…real, actionable “nuts and bolts” that make a huge difference where the rubber meets the road (I'm talking quantum leaps here) . For example, the “Fast Practice Formula” has helped me get so much more out of my practice sessions. That section alone is worth the price of admission…and yet it‘s just one of the many tools you'll find within this book. And knowing that the proceeds from the book are going to benefit cancer patients and their caregivers just makes it all the sweeter.

So whether you’re a total beginner or have already begun your guitar journey, get this book and you’ll be sure to go far.

[Charles Demain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sat down and started to read this book and finished it in one sitting. Steve writes in such an easy style that reading this book is like sitting down and chatting with a friend.

As to the content well….Wow! Practice Less, Play More is the most influential book that I have read in a long, long time. The methods are stupidly simple but at the same time incredibly powerful.

My playing and the effectiveness of my learning have improved so much in such a short time that I am still catching my breath.

What is also really cool is that Steve is using 100% of the proceeds from the book to create new programs for cancer patients and their caregivers through his fundraising initiative VØID Cancer.

Warning: Do not buy this book if you are happy to sit in a rut doing the same boring things day, after week, after month, because it will blow you clean out of that rut and into musical outer space.

[John Warda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE this book. Here’s why…

I've been trying to learn guitar since my 20's (I'm in my 50's now) and have always struggled. I've taken guitar lessons in music stores and purchased many, MANY "learn to play guitar" dvd's and online programs over the decades. And even though I've learned things from those resources, I was never able to do the thing that was the main reason for wanting to learn guitar in the first place. And no it's not to get girls - even though that doesn't hurt :)

The main reason I wanted to learn guitar in the first place was to be able to play my favorite songs. And this book will show you exactly that. With this book you will learn how to play your favorite songs on the guitar. Easily. Period.

I love it and I wish I had access to this book 30 years ago!

[Laurence Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a guitar instruction manual but a guide to do what you're doing...but better

I found myself agreeing with so much that Steve says but had not realised after years of practicing where I had been going wrong...and in fact unknowingly right a lot of the time. This book helped me realise exactly what I wanted to do...play and jam real songs with real other guitarists of all sorts of capabilities. Now have a programme that will lead me to playing at my local club in a few weeks with one of the best local, professional guitarists in the area plus alongside a couple of like-minded amateurs who just want to play music...and with a set list that both performers and audience (albeit a very small, but supportive one) will appreciate.

[Enrique Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a MustRead!

I’ve been playing for a little over four years now. I was always trying to learn new songs but going about it the wrong way. I would take months learning one song looking for perfection.

The biggest thing holding me back was not having the correct approach at learning a new song. I would lose interest and give up. This process kept repeating itself with each song I would try to learn. Until now!

Practice Less, PLAY MORE! Gives me all the tools I need to play songs within minutes. When that happens, playing becomes more fun. It becomes more gratifying. This is a MUST READ!!! Look no further and buy this book. You won’t regret it.

[Fay Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Antidote to Frustration

I enjoyed this book immensely, it's written in an encouraging conversational style. More importantly though, the methods outlined in here really do work, and as you are basically putting together your own programme by choosing the songs you love and learning to play them in an organised manner, there's no room for frustration or feeling defeated.

No Tab, chord diagrams, theory or scales in sight.

This book is a valuable lesson on progressing by working on what you know you need to work on (and how to know what you need to work on).

Lovely.

[Tony Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Steve and this book, I can finally enjoy playing instead of struggling at practice. His methods broke down what to focus on, and what to incorporate into my sessions. His methods helped me advance much faster than watching videos, reading articles and books this past year. Kudos to you Steve!!

[Carlos Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seems like a good system. I have just begun using it, but this seems to work, and I am starting to feel confident, event with songs I thought I would never be able to play (of course, I am playing them at 1/3 the speed, but that is better than frustration).
I would totally recommend this book and system to a beginner in guitar!

[DENNIS HALSTEAD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lives up to it's title PRACTICE LESS, PLAY MORE! After struggling for years trying to play guitar and getting frustrated with chord progression and trying to find my rhythm it all finally made sense after reading this book I can now play songs.

[Vincent P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve has a great laid back and positive style. The section on the equipment itself helped me realise what could be holding me back from progressing in my practice. (check the action!)

Love his friendly and helpful style.

[Kmanderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to spend your music practice time

Very specific instructions re effective use of practice time. Very good re mindset and especially re mistakes. Emphasizes playing along with recordings.

[Ayegboyin Habeeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

[Sue Maddox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am just beginning my guitar journey and found this book a great learning tool. I only haven't given it 5 stars as it is, in my view a bit padded out.

[Pete Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am fairly new to the Guitar and after reading Steve's book, I have learned so much in a short space of time. Brilliant.

[James Larranaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice about how to see the big picture as you pursue guitar.