Your Guitar Playing Isn’t Expressive. Now What?

One of my students said his dynamics disappeared in performance.

He wasn’t sure why. But I knew.

I used to do the same thing.

I played expressively in practice. But in front of an audience, my playing was boring.

So frustrating!

Then Matt Hinsley told me something that changed my playing ever since.

To play with dynamics, practice them from day one.

At first, I questioned this advice, but then I realized I was spending 100 repetitions learning to play a piece flatly. Then I spent a few repetitions learning dynamics. It’s no wonder the expressive elements didn’t stick in performance.

By contrast, when dynamics are implemented early, they become part of how you play the piece.

You may object, “I can’t think about everything at once!” I get it. There are so many details of notes and rhythms and fingerings. It doesn’t feel like your brain has room for dynamics.

Three strategies help:

1. Start Small – Practice only a few measures at a time. Play at a slow tempo. This makes it easier to master all elements of music, including dynamics.

2. Rotate Focus – As you play a passage, put your attention on note accuracy. Then play the same passage again, focusing on rhythmic accuracy. Then fingerings. Then dynamics.

Focusing on one specific element allows you to improve it. By rotating focus, you address all needed aspects.

3. Plan – Map out the dynamics you’ll play.

Start with the expressive markings in the score. As needed, change markings or add your own.

Expressive markings work best when they logically fit the structure of the music, allowing you to partner with the composer in expressing the piece.

As you practice, repeat the same dynamics until they’re automatic.

This may feel difficult at first. But if you practice this way consistently, your performances will be more expressive.

Keep making music!