List your favorite "tricks" and productive ideas

[Jimi75]

Favourite trick on stage when I know that I have to fire up a burning solo is mixing fingerpicking and pick-picking to throw out some countrystyle licks.

Practicing tricks that work for me are playing "live" with for e.g. Jimi Hendrix, SRV or Joe Bonamassa on DVD. You have to get into the mood, make sure you got a nice sound, position yourself on front of the TV (with your guitar of course), make sure you got something to drink (beer works well) and some snacks for the breaks...I sometimes play entire gigs...it's like sessioning with the guys and you learn a lot! Keep that as a special, maybe once a quarter year.

Another trick that works for me is following the chords with arpeggios, I implement arps more and more in my playing and I find that they offer the opportunitiy to play very melodically. I love implementing the diminished arps in my play, man they give your solos a nice colour!

the most common trick I use is work with a practicing schedule and make sure you have a practicing log!

:

[Blaze]

Spend half an hour to 1 hour noodlin on big gage strings (11 to 12) before a gig to warm up ..Efficient..

[R_of_G]

Playing along to recorded music. It doesn't matter if I'm trying to learn to play a specific song the way the artist plays it or just playing along as an "extra player." Either way, it's immensely helpful to developing an idea of what works and what doesn't.

[Lev]

Learn songs from start to finish, not just the solo or a riff. Get used to playing songs all the way through, it helps your rhythm, timing and ability to switch between chords, riffs and solos seamlessly.

[Spudman***]

Learn songs from start to finish, not just the solo or a riff. Get used to playing songs all the way through, it helps your rhythm, timing and ability to switch between chords, riffs and solos seamlessly.

+1 That's a great thing to get into the habit of doing.

I also like to play with the lights off. It forces me to "hear" what I'm doing. It creates a different connection with the brain than the visual connection (watching your hands).

[R_of_G]

I also like to play with the lights off. It forces me to "hear" what I'm doing. It creates a different connection with the brain than the visual connection (watching your hands).

Ditto on that one. I've practiced blindfolded as well. It's completely different to play when you have to rely on your ears without getting input from your eyes.