Choose a cue you already have
Attach practice to an event that already happens: after making coffee, before dinner or when you finish work. Set the minimum small enough to fit an ordinary day. “Play Em and Am for two minutes” is easier to start than “get better at guitar.”
Reduce the setup
Keep a pick, tuner and short practice note near the instrument. Use a safe stand or case location suitable for your room. Decide what you will play before the next session so the first minutes are not spent choosing between videos.
Track the action, not a perfect streak
Write what you practised and one observation. Missed days happen. Resume with a familiar exercise instead of trying to repay every minute you missed. A notebook or the browser checklist on our practice page is enough to begin.
Keep room for enjoyment
A routine should include something you like hearing. End with a chord progression, a tiny riff or a song section within your reach. The aim of One Riff One Day is a manageable next step, not an obligation to complete a new piece every calendar day.
One Riff One Day editorial guide · Updated 31 October 2026