How To Practice Guitar Effectively Even With A Busy Schedule

By Joshua LeBlanc

Between being a professional musician and working with hundreds of students in my hometown over the past decade, if there’s one thing I’ve learned that affects everyone across the board, it’s this: finding time for the things you love.

That said, practice is a love for some of us—and occasionally, it can feel like a dread too. Finding the time on top of everything else you have to do can feel like a burden, but it shouldn’t. In this article, I’m going to share some of the strategies I’ve learned over the years and use in my own life (as well as teach to my students) to help you practice guitar effectively even with a busy schedule.

Strategy 1: Plan Ahead

Sounds simple, right? It is—but we don’t do it often enough. And you need to plan in the right order.

First, what are your current goals with guitar? Don’t just say, “I want to play a gig.” That’s cool, but what songs do you need to learn? Are there specific techniques you need to refine? Break it down into objective, actionable goals.

For example, in one of the bands I’m in, I’m the lead vocalist and second guitarist. If I need to learn a song on guitar, I don’t just put “learn X song.” Instead, I’ll write “learn the verse of X song by [date].” Then, I schedule specific time to work on it.

Same with technique: instead of “practice sweep picking,” I’ll write “practice sweep picking using arpeggios from the key of C minor with a metronome at 80 BPM using eighth notes.” The more specific you are with your goals, the easier it is to track your progress—and the less thinking you’ll have to do later.

Make a list of what’s a priority for you right now.

Strategy 2: You Can Practice Less But More

Sounds contradictory, right? Here’s what I mean:

Most of us like to practice for a set amount of time all at once. Makes sense—blocked time is easy to organize mentally. But do you really need to practice that way?

For example, if I’m learning songs, do I need to warm up for 20 minutes before starting? Honestly, it depends on the song. But chances are if I’m just working on memorization or refining a specific section, I don’t need a full warm-up.

Instead, maybe I spend:

  • 15 minutes in the morning learning a tricky section
  • 10 minutes on my lunch break reviewing new chord voicings
  • 10 minutes after work experimenting with improvisation ideas
  • 20 minutes before bed practicing sweep picking

That’s 55 minutes of focused practice spread throughout the day without having to carve out an entire hour at once. Combine this with pre-planning, and you’re making serious progress without burning yourself out.

Strategy 3: You Can Work On Things Without Your Guitar

I'm not saying you should do this the way I did—but when I was in high school, I would sit in class drawing fretboard diagrams in my notebook. I got really good at visualizing chords that way. (Turns out, a decade later, I was actually onto something.)

There’s a lot you can practice away from your instrument:

  • Draw fretboard diagrams of scales, chords, or arpeggios
  • Make flashcards and quiz yourself
  • Listen to music and hum along with the melodies
  • Air guitar your favorite solos—but actually aim to play the right notes
  • Study theory topics you’ve been putting off

The best part? You can do these pretty much anywhere. No guitar required—and don’t tell me you can’t find a notebook and pen!

Strategy 4: Combine What You Know

Have you really put all your skills to the test?

When you play a lick, can you name the notes? The key? The chords you’re playing over? The harmonic function of the line? Anything else? (Trust me, there’s a lot more.)

When you're a beginner, you focus on surface-level issues like making things sound good—which is normal. But as you advance, it’s crucial to understand the why behind what you’re playing.

This approach is a massive time-saver because you don’t have to learn something new every time you practice. You just need to apply what you already know—and continue stacking new concepts onto that foundation over time.

Joshua LeBlanc is the owner and instructor of Lafayette School of Guitar which specializes in guitar lessons in Lafayette, LA.