Where's my guitar when I need it most?

So there you are, stuck at work, or perhaps on a blind date that is just going horribly wrong. Dinner with the in-laws, waiting in line at the DMV, stuck on the can after a particularly grueling (and losing) battle with the hot wings you had for dinner… there are lots of things that can keep you away from your guitar. Though we often have obligations and real life that gets in the way of doing the things we really want to do, there is no reason why these moments have to be a death sentence to our creativity.

Here are five ways that you can practice guitar while you don’t have one readily available to get your hands on.

1.Visualize

Close your eyes and picture yourself playing the guitar. I don’t mean pretend that you’re on stage playing with Jimmy Page in front of 100,000 people, I mean visualize yourself playing through the things you are working on. Whether it’s a solo you’re trying to learn, scales you’re trying to memorize, or a particular chord voicing with a tricky fingering, letting your mind work through any issues that are hanging you up. Most importantly, visualize slowly! If you picture yourself playing the solo you are learning at full speed, your brain isn’t internalizing the pieces you need to work on as when you slow it down.

2. Sing It!

I’m a big advocate of singing lines as a part of guitar practice. My personal practice sessions has a sight singing component to them, which helps to connect my ear and my brain. So, sing (out loud, in case you were wondering) what you’re working on and concentrate on your pitch and the rhythms. Don’t worry so much about your singing tone; I’m not trying to turn you into David Coverdale, after all.

You should also combine this step with step #1 and visualize on the fingerboard what you are singing.

3. Notate It/Write It Down

I always have a notebook with me wherever I go. I’m a big fan of Moleskine notebooks in case you care, though having some staff paper handy is obviously better. Anyway, if you’re looking for a challenge, try writing out a solo, line, or even some chords that you know and see how accurate you are when you get in front of your guitar. This is an especially interesting exercise when you are memorizing jazz heads or improvised solos by players you like. If you found mistakes when you check your work, figure out why. If there were interval problems (you have trouble hearing fourths, for example) or rhythmic trouble (those 5:4 runs get you every time) work them out. Do more sight singing, or try practicing 5-over-4 with a metronome until it’s internalized.

4. Watch the Masters at Work

I have an iPod Touch and, luckily, a train commute to and from work every day. I put a bunch of videos on my iPod (instructional and performance) and watch them every day. Although it’s certainly no substitute for physically picking up the guitar and shedding, having my mind actively engaged in music and trying to make visual and auditory connections even away from the guitar definitely helps. Inspiration notwithstanding, if I see or hear a particular lick or phrase that I like, I make a note of it (in my Moleskine, thank you) and go back to it later and learn it on the guitar.

5. Test Yourself

Can you name all of the flatted notes in the key of Ab Major? Can you recite the fingering for playing a C melodic minor scale in the 7th position? Do you know the note names of a F#Maj7#11 chord? At any point of the day you can take a few minutes to give yourself a little quiz and try to identify your weak spots. The goal is not to prove how much you know and pat yourself on the back, but rather to identify what you don’t know and set up a plan to eliminate the blind spots.

Get Practicing!

So, the next time you have a few spare minutes, try a few of the steps mentioned and see if they help you. I know they have helped me!