My Guitar Student Learned 4 Ways to Practice This

Sometimes you play music that challenges you in multiple ways.

Maybe there are technique challenges.

Difficulties in understanding the rhythm. 

That was the case for one of my students recently.

He wanted to learn Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair by Joan Baez.

I listened to the recording carefully to identify the exact fingerstyle pattern used for each measure.

The pattern Joan Baez played for the E minor chord was like this:

This was tricky for my student.

He was not used to playing in 12/8 meter.

Also, he had not played this type of fingerstyle pattern.

So I asked him to play several different versions of the measure, isolating different elements so that he could focus on one aspect at a time.

First, I had him count in 12/8:

Second, I had him practice open strings to learn the right-hand pattern without changing bass notes on 3rd and 4th beats:

Third, I had him include the F# that happens on the first string during the 3rd beat:

Fourth, I had him go back to open strings on the trebles but add the bass notes on 3rd and 4th beats:

Then he was ready to play the measure as Joan Baez played it:

Practicing like this allows you to divide and conquer.

To focus on one element at a time before putting them together.

What ideas does this give you for practicing a piece you're learning?

Keep making music!