TESTIMONIALS
I’ve been playing guitar across a variety of styles since my first in-person lesson at age 12—over 40 years ago. Yet for much of that time, I found myself stuck. I could memorize songs and licks, but I never truly understood the fretboard. I was playing by shape and habit, not by insight.That changed two years ago when I discovered the Guitar Daily Workout – System One. Almost immediately, I began to experience genuine growth—not just in fretboard knowledge, but also in physical dexterity and confidence. The structured, thoughtful regimen helped me break out of my rut and rekindled my appreciation for the instrument.In a world full of guitar methods that promise quick fixes, the Guitar Daily Workout stands out. It doesn’t rely on gimmicks or shortcuts—just a solid, well-designed plan for building muscle memory and real understanding. Stick with it for just a few weeks and you’ll be surprised by your progress.– Ayhan from PA
I’ve purchased many guitar-related books, however, Dan Shields’s Guitar Daily Workout books are by far the most useful. While there are lots of resources on the internet that show scale shapes – major, minor, pentatonic and so forth – few come with well thought out exercises that help you practice them in an efficient way.
Working through the Guitar Daily Workout materials for a half-hour each day has helped me start absorbing this information. The process is gradual, but noticeable. Dan’s materials are a good value for the money, and I cannot recommend them enough!
-Mike from Reston, Virginia
I’ve been a self taught player for almost 11 years now. Besides dexterity work, I’d never practiced anything like what is in your books – besides maybe arpeggios.
Although the concepts were simple, they were foreign to me. It tooks a couple days to get used to the pentatonic and scale work – I’d mostly been a (metal) riff based guy, and picked up your books because I was interested in getting into lead playing and finally having some sort of structure to my “practice” routine.I really can’t overstate how much it has helped me. It’s funny because I had become pretty good at the instrument, something you would imagine a player with a decades worth of experience would be, but your books made me realize that I was only good in my own niche – a drop in the ocean with what’s possible on the instrument.The structure and simplicity of the material is something I really craved – and in my case it’s proven to work. That I really appreciate.– Tyler from South Africa
As someone who’s been a musician for 10 years already, I was getting sick of wasting time and money on practice routines and books that just taught riffs with no explanation about the technique behind them. I wanted to learn how to play the guitar, not just copy verbatim what other people have played. The Daily Guitar Workout is where I found just that.These books break down scales, arpeggios, and basic techniques that anybody who hopes to succeed on their journey will need. The videos make this a very friendly course, and the structured practice routines have been instrumental in my practice sessions.Could not recommend enough!!– Jacob from AL
The Guitar Daily Workout has been incredible for me! I’ve been a (very casually) self taught guitarist for a while, but have taken my playing more seriously for like 2 and a half years.
I started the GDW in 10th grade. I recently finished the first 4 books of the Guitar Daily Workout, and it changed my playing dramatically from when I started. With half an hour or so, five days a week, I’ve become far more articulate and precise in every respect. Both my left and right hand technique have improved substantially. The muscle memory I’ve formed has helped me break out of a rut of always playing the same songs, and has enabled me to learn new music much more quickly.
The Daily Workout is definitely somewhat challenging at points, but if you’re committed and really stick with it, you will DEFINITELY see results.
I couldn’t believe the improvement I made within just the first 8 weeks or so. If you’re looking for a highly structured, highly doable program that will really take your playing to the next level, I wouldn’t look any further than the Guitar Daily Workout.
– Luke, PA
The books have been excellent. I’m halfway through System Three. I guarantee I’ll be picking up book 4 soon.
Improvising on guitar used to seem like an unattainable dream to me. I just recently started jamming with some friends and decided to finally give it a try. The notes just flowed out, and I didn’t even really have to think about it. I could just focus on the music. It was kind of a surreal experience. The friends who I play with are shocked at how quickly I’ve improved over the last few months. I’ve already recommended these books to them.
The books aren’t magic. The real catalyst for the improvement is disciplined, consistent, and systematic practice. But these books are a scaffold that takes all the guesswork out of it. They’re a clear and efficient path for those who are willing to commit.
–John from CA
I’m almost finished with System One, and this program has been a massive help for me as a self-taught beginner. It’s not something you can breeze through—it’s intense, and the first few sessions were slow for me. The exercises took way longer than 30 minutes at the start. Finding octaves, for example, felt painfully slow and awkward at first, but now it’s second nature. It’s wild how much progress you can make when you just grind through it.What stands out is how well-structured the system is. The exercises build on each other, so as you improve in one area, the others start to feel more natural. I’ve gotten way better at jamming along to backing tracks because I can easily find positions and connect scale shapes across octaves. The system really helps you get comfortable navigating the fretboard, which is something I struggled with before.The constant arpeggio practice has been a game-changer too. My chords sound cleaner, and I’ve built up way more finger strength. I was learning a song recently that had this weird D diminished arpeggio, and even though I’d never played it before, I picked it up quickly because of all the similar shapes I’ve been drilling in the program.What makes this program stand out to me is that it’s a coherent system. There’s so much piece-by-piece style info out there, but you rarely see something that’s this connected and logical. I actually started with Justin Guitar and then tried reading parts of the Berklee method. Justin Guitar was decent, but it always felt oversimplified, like one of those coloring books where you only learn one isolated skill but don’t actually understand the instrument as a whole. On the other hand, the Berklee stuff felt too complex and theory-heavy, or like I was playing random classical pieces with no relevance to what I actually wanted to play. This system hits the sweet spot. It’s structured, practical, and actually makes you feel like you’re learning the guitar as a whole, not just one small piece at a time.The key to making this work is putting in the time. I’ve been sticking to it almost every day, with the occasional day off, and after a couple of weeks, everything started to click. Even my wife noticed—she mentioned how much faster and smoother my playing has gotten. That’s the kind of progress that keeps you motivated to keep going.The video lessons are also killer. Dan’s technique is inspiring, and his explanations are clear and to the point. He throws in some great tips for hand positioning and finger movement that I’ve found really useful.This program isn’t for people looking for shortcuts. It’s a grind, but I think Dan’s onto something here. If you’re into rock or metal and want to take your playing to the next level, this is 100% worth it.– Arne from Bamberg, Germany
I’ve been teaching guitar in public education, collegiate level, and private studio for many years. Last year, I was introduced to the Guitar Daily Workout, by Dan Shields.
Soon after, I began integrating the Guitar Daily Workout into my courses and lessons and was instantly amazed at my students’ weekly results. The exploration of the fretboard, locating notes, utilizing the CAGED system, the organization of the material and the daily discipline all played a positive role each week. There has been more experimenting and performing in positions across the fretboard, than what I have observed in the past. The students really seem to have fun practicing the material.
My decision to include the Guitar Daily Workout as a resource for my guitar curriculum, came as soon after I started using it. If you are looking for a great method/system that saves you time as the educator in creating material, so you can present, coach, and see your students progress on making sense of the fretboard, along with technique, then the Guitar Daily Workout system is for you.
– Gregory Janicki, BM, M.Mus., Professor of Music, Liberty University
I was a percussionist in high school band and taught myself guitar so that I could play in bands with my friends. I got good enough to be serviceable as a rhythm guitarist but never progressed much beyond that. I fell out of playing during college. 20 years later, I decided to take back up the guitar and progressed to about the same point I had been before.Then I picked up Dan’s first volume of daily exercises. I made more progress in than 12 weeks than in all the years I had spent going it alone.Learning the fret board and how the chord shapes work across it really opened up my playing, both as a rhythm guitarist and lead. My favorite thing is with daily exercises, I don’t have to hunt for new songs each day that will help me grow my skill set, the exercises get me started and open plenty of doors.If you want to be a better guitarist and are willing to put in the work, Dan’s workouts will show you the way.– Reggie from Birmingham, AL
As a guitarist that has been playing since 7 years old (now mid-60’s and recently retired), I trained privately in my youth using the Berklee method, studied for 2 semesters at Berklee and was on the road for 4 years in the 1970’s. I’ve found System One to be excellent. The ability to increase tempos with the play along exercises adds to the enjoyment and increases the challenge.
For the player that wants to invest the time and is looking to accurately master the fretboard, the Guitar Daily Workout gives you the foundational practice material that will launch every player a higher skill level allowing you to play with more accuracy. I am looking forward to diving into System Two.
– Tom from FL
I spent the first 30+ years of my guitar-playing life as a self-taught guitar player. I have a degree in music but upright bass was the instrument that put me through college. Guitar was always a “figure it out on my own” kind of thing though. But every time I picked up the guitar I felt like an imposter. I knew there were gaps in my knowledge and understanding. So I didn’t feel competent or confident and never played with any real conviction. I was always second-guessing what I was playing.
I needed a system in order to know that I had covered all the bases and hadn’t missed anything vital. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
How I wish the Guitar Daily Workout existed when I first started playing. It would have saved me years of frustration.
– H.G. from PA
I started the Guitar Daily Workout after I graduated from music school. It really helped solidify concepts I already knew and took many ideas that were previously head-knowledge and made them muscle memory. Dan teaches these ideas in a very clear and understandable way, which makes the Guitar Daily Workout great for both first-time learners and those needing a little brush-up on their technique.
I would highly recommend the Guitar Daily Workout for anyone looking for a simple practice routine that will provide consistency and growth, no matter what stage of musicianship you are at!
– Sam from AZ
I want to sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for the Guitar Workout series. It has been a game changer for me. I purchased the first four systems and have been practicing them. I’m amazed at how you came up with this method, and I can’t tell you enough how perfectly designed your workout book is. It’s fun to play, never boring, and teaches so much at the same time.I’ve been playing for 8 years and never had anything this useful. Forever grateful.– Rashad from YouTube
I’m a self taught metal style musician and I have played in many small venue to large national act live shows. I have also recorded my fair share of albums and I consider my ability to play as decently well over the last 20 years however, I would like to correct some habits and fill the gaps of knowledge that I have with my instrument.
I am currently into the 8th week of System One of the Guitar Daily Workout and I’m really enjoying the challenge. The Guitar Daily Workout has helped me with quickly locating roots and forms all across the neck. I am noticing strong and tighter playing already and I plan on moving on to System Two once I have completed this one.
I would recommend this system to anyone who would like to get to know their instrument and strengthen their playing.
– Justin from PA
I found the Guitar Daily Workout very inspirational and motivating. I have the System One and it is exactly what I needed – it means I don’t need to think about what to practice, it is all laid out for me to just knuckle down and put in the work. Even though I’m pretty dedicated, some days I would sit down to practice but ended up playing what I already knew – this would happen more when I only had a short amount of time.
I think this extensive course will put structure into every practise session and really develop my foundational playing. On the days I have more time, I can then spend time on chords, technique, songs etc but it ensures that the critical first half hour is never wasted.
Thoroughly recommended.
– Almba1on from YouTube
I had been playing the guitar for over 30 years and had at least some familiarity with all the concepts (CAGED, modes, pentatonics, 7th arpeggios, harmonic and melodic minor keys, etc.) but I felt like I was lacking automatic, instant access to all these concepts on the fretboard.
By working diligently through the first 10 books of the Guitar Daily Workout I have greatly improved my ability to instantly and automatically access all these concepts across the fretboard and as a result have greatly improved my playing and knowledge of the instrument. Looking forward to continuing the journey with Book 11!
– Scott from NYC
I have been teaching guitar for 25 years. I specialize in classical guitar. I find that playing the music we want to play requires that we take our technique to the next level. I have a specific system for teaching technique on classical guitar. I also teach rock and popular guitar, and it is hard to find a well-organized system for teaching technique for rock and jazz.
This is where Dan’s workouts are so useful. They have helped my students make meaningful progress in taking their guitar technique to the next level.
– Sean Beavers, Associate Dean in the Liberty University School of Music
As a senior studying electric guitar in college, the Guitar Daily Workout: System One book really helped me build familiarity with the guitar neck. The exercises are easy to follow and help you envision the fretboard fluidly, all while building picking speed. The exercises have helped link my hands together and play faster passages.I would definitely recommend the program to anyone wanting to become more familiar with the fretboard and increase their playing speed.– Mason from CA
The Guitar Daily Workout does what it says on the tin, and it does it well. After years of trying to cobble together guitar workout routines from YouTube, the Guitar Daily Workout provided me just the right level of structure for a daily routine.
As a result I’ve seen a steady improvement in speed and accuracy, while also subconsciously internalising the fretboard shapes and patterns. This is a process that happens over weeks and months – not days! So there’s no immediate payoff, but it’s been a great long-term investment in my playing.
– Oscar from Devin, UK
I have had the privilege to play and study with several of the finest musicians and guitar players in my city, but my time spent with the Guitar Daily Workout has improved my technique and understanding faster and more effectively than any other method I have tried. Many great teachers have presented parts of these fundamentals to me in lessons, but the translation into a systematic and effective practice routine was never there until now.
The Guitar Daily Workout will engrave arpeggios, pentatonics, major scales, and dexterity into your fingers permanently in a simple and easy-to-follow regiment that you can’t find anywhere else.
– Isaac from PA
I’m on week 8 of the System 1 and loving how effortless and systematic the entire process is. As a guitar player of 15 years, I’ve been messing around with learning things here and there. But having committed to mastering the theory & improv side of the instrument recently,I couldn’t have imagined a better system for learning the theory and the scales (they were so damn overwhelming before).– Daniel from CT
Never underestimate the power of a good routine! I have worked through the two first books of The Guitar Daily Workout. It provides you with a systematic approach to some of the most useful guitar techniques like arpeggios, octaves and scales.
Every time I take my guitar in my hands I know what to practice. That’s exactly why I definitely have improved in my guitar playing over the last months. Recommended!
– Joachim from Germany
I’ve been playing guitar for a few years now and I wanted to learn how to improvise, so I looked for courses and happened to stumble upon Dan’s Guitar Daily Workout.Reading through the Systems and following along Dan’s YouTube videos has taught me more than I’ve learned in years of lessons. Even though I’m only through the majority of System 1, I have started to come up with licks and jam to his pre-recorded tracks.Highly recommend at least trying System 1!!– Bryan from TX
The Guitar Daily Workout really helped me see the fretboard like I never saw it before. It must be how it was organized and the approach. I was aware of the topics like octaves, scales, and arpeggios, but it was never presented to me in the way that the Guitar Daily Workout did.
It’s like it was all connecting like a puzzle. I’m now able to see where each scale is around the fretboard.
– Sydney, College Music Student
I play mostly rock and Texas blues/country. The Guitar Daily Workout S1 has been extremely helpful! This system really has been exactly what I was looking for. A practice routine I can do everyday to improve my physical skills and expand my fretboard knowledge. It’s perfect really for where I was at as a guitarist.
It’s exciting to see everything improve again after twenty years of essentially noodling around! I’ve noticed a big jump in my playing and proficiency. Everything is clicking better, speed and accuracy has increased substantially. I’m enjoying your courses! I wanna get through all of System 3 and maybe 4. Thanks Dan!
– Johnny from Gatesville, TX
The Guitar Daily Workout has completely changed how I play, think about the guitar and music in general.Before I started the exercises I felt pretty competent but very much used to play “safe” around the neck as my understanding was limited to the songs I learnt and stuff I made sense of from other guitarists and social media.
I’m now on Book Three and really appreciate being able to incorporate the lessons into my everyday schedule and after putting the grind in I’ve had more than one lightbulb moment about how things come together both musically and with regards to my technique.
Its easy to get lost on an instrument but the books allow you defer to something everyday that builds up ability in the background which slowly (and rapidly) comes out in your everyday playing. And by the way if you want to get that pinky feeling like a natural part of your playing this will bring it into the game big time!! I will 100% complete the series and then see what else Dan has to offer.
– Nick from Hove, United Kingdom
System 1 has been a game changer for me.I’ve been playing guitar for about four years, starting rather late in life, and I thought I was making great progress — but I realized I was missing a consistent daily practice routine. I’d usually just work on whatever songs I felt like learning.This system gives me exactly what I was looking for: a structured daily program that keeps me focused, helps me learn new techniques, and reinforces the skills I’ve already developed. It’s made a huge difference in how I approach practice and how quickly I’m improving. 1 down and ready to move onto S2.– Sharn from Queensland, Australia
I’m a high school senior who started the Guitar Daily Workout as a beginner guitarist. I knew some chord shapes and a few songs, but I had never put time into learning the actual theory behind what I was playing.
Just by going through System 1 I felt that I made huge progress in visualizing the guitar neck, and my technique vastly improved. I am now working my way through System 2 and I am still seeing continuous progress.
The Daily Workout is incredible for building the skills that you need to learn how to play guitar at a higher level. It’s formatted very well, and it’s easy to start even as a complete beginner.
I can’t recommend it enough.
– Micah from PA
I just started up your program after years of putting off improving my guitar skills. Already feeling improvement and confidence after a couple of days. Thank you for putting this out into the world.
– Spencer from YouTube
Two years ago I started learning electric guitar to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine. I started with lessons from a teacher and stayed with him for over a year. I learned some useful things from him, but I felt stuck. I learned on my own via Youtube, but my progress was limited to chance discoveries.After stumbling upon your course, I purchased it and started practicing regularly for the past two and half months.My improvement has skyrocketed, and I can see clearly now how the pieces I knew were only parts of a greater whole to unlocking the complete fretboard and being able to improvise using CAGED as a foundation.I am now able to “see” how chord shapes, scales, and arpeggios fit into the chord progressions that are commonly used in worship music (I, IV, IV, vi, etc.).Through your materials, I can now find roots to chords, see triads/diads over chords/keys, and move around the pentatonic shapes and scales up and down the fretboard.– Joe from CA
The Guitar Daily Workout System 1 is a great resource as it taught me guitar notes, essential techniques and enabled me to connect the guitar neck in a meaningful way using the CAGED chord forms.Dan has created a well organized and focused book for anyone looking to improve their guitar musicianship.– Neil From PA
I have heard of the CAGED system before, but only thought of that when I worked with chords. The Guitar Daily Workout opened my eyes to that system that it was beyond just chords. The patterns helped me see more clearly the fretboard and how patterns and shapes repeat.
I realized after a few weeks I pushed the tempo, and I was flying around the fretboard like I was doing this for many years. I liked how each week it was very well put together and they built upon each week. I am looking forward to System Two.
– Brandon Lee Johnson, Music Major
I’ve played guitar off and on since I was 13. I wish these books and YouTube existed when I was younger. I own System One and System Two and I loved how it helped me bridge the basics of chords, pentatonic and major scales, and the theory I’ve learned over the years.It really does what Dan says, gives the basics, builds that muscle and brain memory that’s needed for practice, live play, and let’s not forget learning new songs. It is much easier to learn song when you have seen the content before.Highly recommend.– Cole from PA
I searched through many online feeds and guitar forums and I found many positive reviews of your books, so I decided to give it a try. I’ve really enjoyed your methodical approach and with only about 30 minutes per day warming-up with your daily exercises,I was finally able to get off of a VERY long plateaux. The second book has been fantastic as well, and I fully plan to continue with the series.As someone who already had a strong musical foundation, however not on the guitar; your materials helped me tie together the missing pieces. I really have enjoyed it so far!I plan to go ahead and purchase Systems 3 and 4 in the coming weeks!– Robert from Charleston, SC
I stumbled on Dan’s Guitar Daily Workout books while looking for a structured warm-up routine. I’d been playing for decades, knew the theory, knew the CAGED system intellectually, but had fallen into the trap of noodling around the same shapes and keys without really progressing.
What I wanted was something specific: a short daily workout to improve speed, accuracy and fretboard fluency without replacing actual music practice. System 2 turned out to be exactly the right level for me. It didn’t teach me much new material, but it forced me to properly internalise what I already knew.
The exercises are repetitive, and the payoff is slow, so you have to treat it as a long-term thing rather than instant gratification. But as a 15–20 minute daily warm-up alongside normal practice, it works really well. Logging BPMs with a metronome also helps make the progress tangible.
The biggest benefit for me has been subconscious familiarity with the fretboard. I’ve watched endless YouTube videos on CAGED over the years and could explain it all verbally, but drilling scales and arpeggios like this is what finally started making it feel instinctive.
– PartyTotal9282 from Reddit
What I like the most is the structure of the system. Every day I have a five exercises laid out for me that I know I can get through in 30 minutes or so, and I can see that progress that I am making. I’m not just noodling around on stuff I already know or working on one thing for a week or two and then moving on to something completely different without building on the work I did previously.
There’s information overload on the internet and YouTube, with everything being “the one thing you MUST do every day!”
I definitely have the major scale and major pentatonic under my fingers, but I had never really done any work with arpeggios so that was a good addition. But by the end of System 2, I’m definitely ready to move on from just running them back and forth in order. I’m looking forward to playing more musical things as well as being introduced to 3-notes-per-string scales.
– Larry from Walkersville, MD
I started playing the guitar in August of 2025 with zero musical skill whatsoever. Having a full time job and other hobbies, but still wanting to be able to have fun with guitar is pretty difficult when you don’t have a lot of free time.But I saw a recommendation for the Guitar Daily Workout online and saw the practice play along videos on YouTube by Dan Shields and felt it would help me follow a structured path towards improvement.I have finished System 1 and am currently on System 2 and it has been amazing so far. I’m still far away from where I want to be but am miles away from where I started.I would highly recommend the series!– Ashwin from Winnipeg, Canada
Well, that’s the end of Year 1 for me!!! What an incredible ride. I hope you’re doing well, because I’ve enrolled for another year in the intermediate series!Honestly, I’ve made so much progress that I don’t even know where to begin. I guess S4 was a little more “boring” than the others, in the sense that I wasn’t learning something entirely new, but it really solidified my skills in one position and my use of modes.I can’t wait to continue this journey with you, thanks again 🙂– @LuminousNocturne from YouTube
I’m on System 3 now after having almost religiously played every day through Systems 1 and 2. Just a heads-up: after many years of struggling with the Berklee system, various YouTube teachers, and so on, The Guitar Daily Workout is really what made the guitar reveal itself to me. Some weeks were harder than others, but overall it was quite manageable. It really helped me see where the holes in my playing were.
I’m halfway through System 3 now, and honestly, it has drastically changed the way I sound and play, it’s not even funny.
I feel like I can fly on the fretboard instead of fighting with the instrument. Every note feels so much more relaxed and natural. The guitar also feels far more stable in my hands now, since my focus and strength are deliberate and controlled.
I want to thank Dan Shields for creating such a clear path to understanding and mastering the instrument. I can’t wait to see the progress I’ll make in the years to come!
– Wooden_Report_9377 from Reddit
Here’s my experience with the GDW after three months. About two years ago, I started learning electric guitar to chase a lifelong dream. I took private lessons for over a year and picked up some solid technique and theory (modes, chord progressions, etc.). I was trying to connect what I was learning to songs but progress was slow.
I jumped into YouTube tutorials and they helped, but I didn’t know what I was missing so I would chase whatever I thought would be relevant to whatever I was working on.
Then I saw someone mention Guitar Daily Workout and decided to give it a shot. After sticking with it consistently for the past 3 months, my progress has taken off. What used to feel like isolated bits of knowledge now fit together. I finally understand how chord shapes, triads, scales, and arpeggios all relate across the neck.
I’m finally starting to see how everything connects. I’m actually able to move up and down the fretboard with intention and improvise without getting lost.
If you’re a complete beginner, GDW is probably going to be very difficult for you. If you have the basics down and know some fundamental theory, this can really help you fill in the missing pieces of the CAGED system as well as develop muscle memory.
– bddy4 from Reddit
I just started up your program after years of putting off improving my guitar skills. Already feeling improvement and confidence after a couple of days. Thank you for putting this out into the world.– @spenceretchechoury3207 from YouTube
The Guitar Daily Workout has brought the structure to my practice that I needed. I finished System 1 and am progressing through System 2.I have seen my speed and playing chops improve dramatically. It has helped me unlock the neck through the application of the CAGED system while cementing the major/minor and pentatonic scales into my head.– Ed from Pittsburgh, PA
I’m doing System 3, week 4 right now and it’s going great!I’ve been playing guitar for about 22 years now (mostly self taught), mostly covering songs I like.I always wanted to improve my improvisation skills. I’ve studied scales and music theory in general, but never quite managed to make it work.The “Guitar Daily Workout” provides me with the skills and tools to finally do so. The repetition-aspect seems to cause me to develop some kind of intuition that makes improvisation a lot easier.I also really enjoy your “Common Progressions” series on YouTube. They’re a very useful addition to the daily exercises.I’ve followed them though System 1 and I’m looking forward to seeing new material for System 2 and 3.I’ll definitely be buying the next systems as well!Kind regards– Gert from Brussels, Belgium
I began playing guitar a little over a year and a half, mostly cowboy chords and some easy solos. I watched pretty much all the Absolutely Understand Guitar videos on YouTube prior to starting your series so I had a theoretical understanding of the concepts your book was trying to reinforce. I also knew all the 7 regular notes all throughout the fretboard from prior practice.I completed System 1 in about 5 months and it helped me glue together a few pentatonic and major scale shapes I already knew along with arpeggios (new for me). Your book is about the physical practice which takes much more time to learn that the theoretical part and I feel like I’m starting to confidently jump from shape to shape.Your series shines in that it’s straight to the point. I don’t have to waste time opening up websites or navigating through videos and ads. I just open up the PDF with a metronome next to it and run through the exercises. After a couple days I memorize the patterns so I don’t even need the PDF after that and I can focus more on precision and speed for the rest of the week.At the end of System 1 I’ve noted an improvement in my finger dexterity and I can more confidently play notes and changing shapes when trying to improvise. One unexpected benefit is that while doing the repetitions I also got some ear training and I can sometimes tell when a note doesn’t fit in the scale I’m trying to play.– Ivo from Thornton, CO
I only picked the guitar around 9 weeks ago and started with the self-learning route because I didn’t know how long I would commit to learning the instrument. I enjoy metal music but I always thought it’s the most fun when you can just play whatever you like without pigeonholing yourself to a genre, and so I wanted to build a good base more than play a type of music. Through my research on finding resources, I found a post on Reddit recommending your systems for developing the building blocks to get to where I want to be.I immediately purchased the set of 4 and just started going through them. The goal wasn’t to stick to 30 minutes or do it as quickly as possible, but just repetition of playing the notes correctly. The structure of the exercises makes it so easy to see progress. Initially I would have to look at my fingers while fretting all the time. Now, using the book I don’t feel like it’s something I need to constantly focus on.All-in-all, I think the book does a great job of paving a path to improvement and as long as someone does the exercises while trying to do them to the best of their ability (no sloppy notes, skipping steps, etc), they will become a better player than before.– Ash from Winnipeg, Canada