Recording
Record yourself playing guitar: the fastest way to hear your mistakes
Record one short take of what you are practising, listen back once, and rate it on two things: timing and musicality. Your ears are busy while you play; on the recording you hear what a listener hears.
What a recording shows that playing does not
- Rushing and dragging against the beat.
- Notes that stop too early or ring into the next one.
- Uneven volume between notes or strings.
- Bends that do not reach pitch.
How to record with only a phone
- Put the phone about one metre from the amp or guitar, not touching anything.
- Play once to check the level: loud parts should not distort.
- Record 30–60 seconds. Short takes get listened to; long ones do not.
- Say or write the tempo so you can compare takes later.
How to listen and rate
Listen once without the guitar in your hands. Rate timing from 1 to 5 (did you stay with the beat?) and musicality from 1 to 5 (did it sound like music, with dynamics and feel?).
Pick one thing to fix tomorrow. Not five: one.
Compare month to month
Keep one take per month of the same piece. Listening to this month next to three months ago is the clearest proof of progress, and the best cure for feeling stuck.
Practise it in Fretster
Each exercise comes with a metronome and timer, and saves your clean BPM so you can see the trend.
- Record yourselfPlay, then listen back. One minute of recording, no pressure.Open exercise →
- Record and reviewListen to your recording with a clear purpose. Celebrate your progress.Open exercise →
- ImprovisationLeave space between phrases and vary your dynamics. Listen to the backing track.Open exercise →
Questions
- Why does my guitar playing sound worse on a recording?
- While playing, your brain fills gaps and focuses on your hands. The recording shows exactly what a listener hears, which is why it is so useful.
- How often should I record my practice?
- A short take in most sessions is ideal, plus one take of the same piece each month for comparison.