Are you ready to rock your guitar world and laugh while doing it?
These seven thrilling guitar challenges promise to elevate your music skills to new heights. Who knew that tackling guitar challenges could make you a virtuoso while keeping the mood light-hearted?
Challenge of Non-Dominant Hand Solo Playing
Playing a solo electric guitar with your non-dominant hand can be challenging and frustrating, especially for those who are accustomed to using their dominant hand for intricate tasks.
The lack of dexterity and muscle memory in the non-dominant hand can make it difficult to execute complex fingering patterns, precise picking techniques, and fluid movements along the fretboard.
However, with dedicated practice and patience, you can develop the necessary skills and coordination to play the electric guitar proficiently with your non-dominant hand.
Incorporating exercises that focus on strengthening the non-dominant hand, such as fingerpicking drills and chord changes, can help build the foundation for successful solo playing.
Blindfolded Guitar Solo Challenge
The blindfolded guitar solo challenge is a unique and entertaining way for guitarists to test their skills and push their boundaries.
In this challenge, guitarists are required to play a solo while wearing a blindfold, relying solely on their muscle memory, ear, and intuition to navigate the fretboard.
This challenge showcases a guitarist’s technical proficiency and ability to connect with their instrument on a deeper level. By removing the visual aspect of playing, guitarists are forced to focus on the feel and sound of their playing, often leading to more expressive and creative solos.
The blindfolded guitar solo challenge has gained popularity on social media platforms. Many guitarists share their attempts and inspire others to take on the challenge themselves.
The One-minute Riff Challenge
The one-minute riff challenge is an exciting and creative exercise for guitarists looking to test their improvisational skills and ability to craft memorable musical phrases under pressure.
In this challenge, guitarists are tasked with creating an original and captivating riff within a strict one-minute time limit. This constraint forces guitarists to think quickly, rely on their instincts, and make bold musical choices to create a riff that stands out and leaves a lasting impression.
The one-minute riff challenge showcases a guitarist’s technical abilities and creativity, musicality, and ability to compose under tight deadlines.
Engaging in this challenge can help guitarists develop their improvisational skills, expand their musical vocabulary, and gain confidence in their ability to create compelling music on the spot.
"No pick" Fingerstyle Challenge
The “No Pick” Fingerstyle Challenge is an engaging and creative way for guitarists to explore the world of fingerstyle playing.
In this challenge, guitarists are tasked with playing a piece of music or a solo using only their fingers, without the aid of a pick. This technique requires a different approach to playing, as guitarists must rely on their fingertips and nails to pluck the strings, resulting in a softer, more intimate sound.
Fingerstyle playing allows for greater control over the dynamics and tone of each note, enabling guitarists to create intricate and expressive arrangements.
The “No Pick” Fingerstyle Challenge encourages guitarists to step out of their comfort zone and develop new skills while also fostering a deeper appreciation for the versatility of the guitar as an instrument.
The "play upside down" Challenge
The “play upside down” challenge is a quirky and entertaining way for guitarists to push the boundaries of their skills and explore new perspectives on their instrument.
Guitarists must flip their guitars upside down and attempt to play a piece of music, forcing them to adapt to an unfamiliar orientation and rethink their approach to fingering and strumming.
While playing upside down can be disorienting and challenging, it also encourages guitarists to break out of their comfort zones, think creatively, and develop new techniques to overcome the unique obstacles presented by this unconventional playing position.
Engaging in the “play upside down” challenge can help guitarists build their adaptability, problem-solving skills, and mental flexibility, all while injecting a dose of humor and fun into their practice routine.
The "one string only" Challenge
The “one string only” challenge is deceptively simple yet highly demanding for guitarists who want to test their creativity and musical prowess.
Guitarists must compose and perform a complete piece of music using only a single string on their guitar. By limiting themselves to just one string, guitarists are forced to think outside the box, exploring unconventional techniques such as sliding, bending, and tapping to create melodic and rhythmic interest.
This challenge not only showcases a guitarist’s technical skill and precision but also highlights their ability to create compelling musical ideas within strict limitations, demonstrating the power of creativity and innovation in the face of constraints.
The "no looking at the fretboard" Challenge
The “No Looking at the Fretboard” Challenge is a demanding exercise that tests a guitarist’s muscle memory, ear, and spatial awareness.
In this challenge, guitarists must play a piece of music or a solo without looking at the fretboard, relying solely on their fingers’ positions and the sound they produce.
This challenge requires guitarists to have a deep familiarity with the fretboard and to trust their instincts when navigating the neck.
By removing the visual reference of the fretboard, guitarists are forced to focus on the physical sensation of playing and the auditory feedback they receive, leading to a more intuitive and connected playing style.
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When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
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When you click ‘Check Price’, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Sweetwater for the US, and Thomann and Gear4Music for the UK & Europe.
They are the largest music retailers, with excellent customer service, competitive prices, really fast shipping, and the longest guarantees.
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Conquering the Fretboard:
7 Guitar Challenges to Elevate Your Mastery
These seven guitar challenges are designed to test your limits and help you grow as a musician.
By tackling these technical hurdles head-on, you’ll not only improve your skills but also gain a newfound confidence in your ability to conquer even the most demanding musical obstacles.
So grab your guitar, embrace the challenge, and watch your playing soar to new heights!
Squier Mini Strat’s are awesome for beginners like me. Not too pricy and feels right. Found it easier to learn on somethin’ that fits my hands.
Tried the upside down challenge and almost broke my neck along with my ego. Rock on, but maybe not like that for me again.
Tried the no pick challenge and my fingers are officially quitting on me. Who needs picks anyway?
While the ‘No Looking at the Fretboard’ Challenge is lauded as a crucial skill booster, I argue that there is a diminishing return for players who’ve already achieved a level of comfort and intuition with their instrument. Spatial awareness and muscle memory are indeed important, but beyond a certain point, I believe the focus should shift towards more musically meaningful endeavors such as composition and theory. Interested to hear others’ thoughts on this.
Agreed. Understanding the ‘why’ behind what we play is as crucial as the ‘how’.
lol, good luck getting shredders to study theory instead of playing blindfolded.
Regarding the ‘No Pick’ Fingerstyle Challenge, it’s interesting to note how adopting fingerstyle can not only challenge a guitarist’s traditional pick-centric techniques but also potentially unlock new dimensions in their playing. The tactile feedback and nuanced control offered by direct string contact can deeply influence phrasing, dynamics, and expression, leading to a more intimate connection with the instrument. For those unaccustomed to this approach, it might initially feel like a step back in terms of speed and accuracy, but the rewards in musicality and versatility are worth the effort.
has anyone actually tried playing guitar upside down? sounds insanely hard but kinda curious how it would change the sound or if it just messes you up lol
hey Lewis , got a question. for the blindfolded challenge, any tips on not losing my place?
Yeah, muscle memory is key. Keep practicing, you’ll get it!
but practicing scales helped me. Also, trusting your ear makes a big difference!
Really digging the idea of the one-string challenge! Always thought that limiting yourself can actually boost creativity in unexpected ways. Not sure if I’ve got the chops for it yet, but definitely adding this to my practice routine. Kudos to Lewis for putting these challenges together, feels like exactly what I needed to break out of my playing rut.