0:00–2:00 · Set up and listen
Tune, sit comfortably and play a few open strings. Check that your shoulders are not lifted. Pick one fretted note with just enough pressure for it to ring. Decide on one small goal before the timer starts: a clean Am, a continuous chord change or four even notes.
2:00–5:00 · Work on one movement
Choose the difficult part of the goal and make it smaller. Instead of playing an entire progression, alternate two chords. Instead of a long melody, practise the two notes around a string change. Leave enough silence to listen to the sound you just made.
5:00–8:00 · Put it in time
Use a slow metronome or tap your foot. Repeat your small exercise for a few bars, then rest for a bar. Keep the pulse during the silence. When it feels comfortable, change one variable: add a strum, add a note or increase the tempo slightly.
8:00–10:00 · Play and leave a note
Spend a minute on something you enjoy. Then write one sentence: “Em to Am, steady at 55 BPM; tomorrow keep high e clear.” That sentence makes the next session easier to begin. You can use our practice timer without giving us an email address.
What if ten minutes is too much?
Do two. Tune one string and play one clean chord. Keeping the task small helps you return, especially on busy days. Longer practice can be useful, but it is not a requirement for using this routine. Rest your hands when they need it.
One Riff One Day editorial guide · Updated 31 October 2026