I’ve played guitar for 40 years, and let me tell you: some of my biggest breakthroughs didn’t come from marathon practice sessions. They came from lazy hacks; tiny things I started doing when I was tired, short on time, or just didn’t feel like “practicing.”
This isn’t about being a slacker. It’s about being efficient. If you’ve got a full-time job, a family, or just a short attention span (like me sometimes), these tricks will help you make real progress with minimal effort.
Let’s look at some surprisingly simple techniques, shortcuts, and tools that helped me and my students get better, faster.
Why It Works:
This sounds ridiculously obvious, but just seeing your guitar makes you more likely to play it. I’ve kept one of mine on a stand next to my desk for years. That visual cue turns idle scrolling time into impromptu riff time.
Try This:
Anywhere, Anytime
I swear by the Valeton Rushead Max ($40-ish). It’s a tiny headphone amp that plugs straight into your guitar. I’ve used it in hotel rooms, during lunch breaks in my car, and even outside on the porch at night.
My Recommendation:
(I earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you)
Pros:
Cons:
Why It’s Lazy but Smart:
You don’t need to fire up all of the pedals on your pedalboard and wake up your neighbors. Just plug in, jam a bit, and unplug. No excuses.
How It Works:
Instead of long practice sessions, pick one riff per day. That’s it. Even five minutes will cement it. I do this when I feel uninspired. I’ll noodle a Nirvana riff, revisit a Van Halen lick, or make up a blues shuffle.
My Tip:
This trick helped me slowly build a mental “vocabulary” of over 300 riffs, without ever sitting down for a “practice session.”
It’s fun to create your own riffs too! Don’t be afraid to experiment, I mean, what’s the worst thing that might happen? You uncover a diamond from the coal? Go for it!
When I first got into looper pedals, it felt like cheating. I’d lay down a simple E minor chord and solo over it for 10 minutes. No backing track, no metronome, just me jamming.
It didn’t feel like practice, but I got way better at phrasing, scales, and timing.
My Recommendation:
(I earn a small commission if you buy)
Pros:
Cons:
Scenario:
I once showed a student how to lay down a G-D-Em-C loop and noodle over it. He spent hours on it that weekend and came back sounding like a whole new guitarist.
Why It Works:
Apps like Ultimate Guitar or Songsterr let you learn tabs in short bursts. Waiting at the doctor’s office? Learn the intro to “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Stuck in traffic (as a passenger)? Learn a chord progression.
I use Songsterr Premium because it shows actual notation + rhythm, and I can slow it down or loop sections.
Lazy Practice Tips:
| Tool | Best For | Price | Why It Works | Downside |
| Valeton Rushead Max | Quiet, portable practice | ~$40 | Zero setup time, plug & play | No tone customization |
| Donner Circle Looper | Practicing phrasing/jamming | ~$75 | Feels like playing, not practicing | Some learning curve |
| Songsterr Premium App | Quick tab-based learning | ~$5/month | On-the-go tab learning with playback | Subscription needed |
No joke—visualizing finger movements without playing can build muscle memory. I used to air-play solos during my commute or trace scale patterns on my thigh. It felt silly, but it helped me memorize fretboard positions faster.
Try It:
It’s free. It works. And it makes you feel like you’re in a guitar-based Matrix.
Look, I’m all for structured practice when you have time. But if you’re like most people—busy, distracted, and pulled in a dozen directions—lazy tricks are lifelines.
These hacks helped me keep playing when I was burned out, overworked, or just didn’t feel like being a “serious” guitarist. They work because they’re simple, repeatable, and fun.
If you do just one of these tricks consistently, you’ll be a better player by this time next month. I promise.
💬 Your Turn
Got your own lazy guitar trick? Drop it in the comments, I’d love to steal it (I mean, try it). 😄
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**Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend stuff I actually use or would buy myself.
I’ve been playing guitar 40 years now; writing, recording, and rocking in bands. Randy Rhoads, Warren DiMartini, and of course, Jimi Hendrix all lit the fire for me, and I’ve been chasing that passion ever since.
