Guthrie Govan Practice Routine: The Modern Virtuoso's Approach

Guthrie Govan is widely regarded as one of the most technically accomplished and musically versatile guitarists of the modern era. From his work with The Aristocrats to his fusion projects with Steven Wilson and Asia, Govan seamlessly blends jaw-dropping technique with genuine musical expression.

But what sets Govan apart isn't just his ability—it's his philosophy: technique serves music, not the other way around. As he famously says, "Sound should come first."

In this article, you'll discover:

• Guthrie Govan's practice philosophy (quality over quantity)
• His approach to technique as a tool, not a goal
• Specific practice methods: legato, improvisation, phrasing
• A sample practice routine inspired by Govan's teachings

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Guthrie Govan's Practice Philosophy

"You Become the Player You Deserve to Be"

In a revealing interview with Guitar.com, Govan shared his belief about practice:

"Everyone eventually becomes the player they deserve to be based on how they chose to spend their time practicing. It's what they chose to prioritise… that's what informs the end result."

Key Insight: Your priorities in the practice room directly shape who you become as a player. If you only practice shredding, you'll become a shredder—but maybe not a musician.

"If It Sounds Good, You're Not Really Practicing"

One of Govan's most counterintuitive insights, documented by Guitar World:

"If you sound really good when you're practicing, that means you're practicing things you can already do, which isn't really benefiting you fully. Some of what you practice should sound shit, because then you know you are working on something that needs to be worked on."

Application: Don't just practice your party tricks. Spend time on the ugly stuff—the passages you can't nail, the techniques that feel awkward, the concepts that confuse you. That's where growth happens.

"Sound Should Come First"

According to Sweetwater's analysis of Govan's philosophy:

"Guthrie Govan emphasizes that 'Technique should not come first. Sound should come first,' and 'If it doesn't sound good, I don't want to play it' sums up his approach."

The Distinction:

• Technical focus: "How fast can I play this scale?"
• Musical focus: "Does this scale sound good in this context?"

Govan always chooses the second question first.

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How Guthrie Govan Practices

Focus on Musicality, Not Marathon Sessions

From Brogan Woodburn's research on Govan:

"While Govan has put in his 10,000+ hours in the practice room, he stresses that it is more important for musicians to focus on the process of making actual music as opposed to marathon practice sessions. 'Successfully writing a song is much more important than woodshedding.'"

Key Lesson: You don't need 8-hour practice sessions. You need purposeful, musical practice—and time spent actually creating music.

Practice with "Headroom"

According to Guitar World's practice tips, Govan emphasizes practicing beyond just "barely good enough":

"The trick is probably to incorporate the right kind of mindset into your practice routine, and to work on being able to play things effortlessly while feeling relatively relaxed. This is very different from knowing that you're capable of doing something, but only if you try extra-hard and apply your maximum level of concentration: in a real gig environment, there will always be a million other distractions, so it's good to have a little 'headroom'."

What This Means:

• If you can play something at 140 BPM with maximum concentration, practice it until you can play it at 140 BPM while having a conversation
• Build comfort beyond just capability
• Practice until it's effortless, not just possible

Apply Everything You Learn

From reviews of Govan's instructional materials:

"Guthrie has a very logical and pragmatic approach to learning and playing guitar. One thing that Guthrie is extremely consistent about throughout the book is the importance to 'apply' whatever you learn, whether it's a new scale, a lick, or even a whole new technique."

Practice Method:

1. Learn a new scale (e.g., Dorian mode)
2. Immediately improvise with it over a backing track
3. Write a short musical phrase using it
4. Use it in a real musical context

Don't just collect scales like Pokémon—use them musically.

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Guthrie Govan's Teaching Philosophy

Scales Aren't Enough—Create Melodies

According to Sweetwater's insights:

"He emphasizes musicality over rote mechanics. For example, he teaches that simply learning scales by memorizing shapes is not enough; one must actively experiment with those notes to create appealing melodies."

How to Practice This:

1. Learn a scale pattern
2. Spend 5 minutes improvising melodically with it
3. Record yourself and listen back
4. Ask: "Does this sound like music or just scales?"

Develop Your Ear

From Life in 12 Keys' interview with pro guitarists, Govan emphasizes:

"Anything you hear is fair game and material you can use to work on your ear. Listen to everything that's going on around you and try to replicate it on the instrument."

Practice Exercise:

• Hear a bird chirp? Try to play it on guitar
• TV theme song playing? Figure it out by ear
• Someone talking? Try to match the pitch contour

Why It Matters: Training your ear to capture sounds instantly makes you a more intuitive, musical player.

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Guthrie Govan's Key Techniques

1. Legato: Fluid and Effortless

Govan's legato technique is legendary. According to Lick Library's instruction series:

"Guthrie Govan's legato instruction covers hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and advanced exercises to develop seamless legato phrasing and speed. He teaches trilling on each finger set to develop finger strength and independence."

Govan's Legato Practice Method:

Exercise 1: Trills for Finger Independence

• Trill between index and middle fingers (hammer-pull-hammer-pull)
• Move to middle and ring fingers
• Then ring and pinky
• Practice on each string
• Goal: Even volume and timing

Exercise 2: Three-Note-Per-String Legato

• Pick only the first note of each string
• Use hammer-ons for the next two notes
• Start at 60 BPM, increase gradually
• Focus on even volume across all notes

Exercise 3: String Skipping Legato

• Practice legato lines that skip strings
• Forces you to control dynamics
• Builds independence

2. Phrasing: Think in Sentences, Not Words

From Guitar.com's 10 improvisation tips, Govan explains his phrasing philosophy:

"Guthrie emphasizes thinking in phrases, where melodic ideas work by grouping several notes together and then leaving a gap—a pause for breath—and it's often easier to make musical sense when dealing with a smaller quantity of bigger ideas rather than thinking on a note-by-note basis."

Application:

• Play a 3-5 note phrase
• Pause (this is crucial)
• Play another phrase in response
• Pause again
• Continue the "conversation"

Common Mistake: Filling every moment with notes. Silence is part of music.

3. Motivic Development

According to Chasing Sound's masterclass analysis:

"Motivic development is a vital part of Guthrie's playing style, and analyzing his solos reveals masterful control over motivic development."

What Is Motivic Development?

• Start with a simple melodic idea (motif)
• Repeat it with variations:
  • Different rhythms
  • Higher or lower on the neck
  • Different note values (half the speed, double the speed)
  • Inverted (upside down)

Practice Exercise:

1. Create a 4-note phrase
2. Play it in one position
3. Play the same phrase 5 frets higher
4. Play it with different rhythm
5. Play it backwards
6. Mix and match variations

4. Chromatic Approach Notes

Guitar World's lick breakdown notes:

"His style involves using chromatic notes in his licks."

What Are Chromatic Approach Notes?

• Notes played a half-step above or below your target note
• Add tension and resolution
• Make lines sound more sophisticated

Example:

• Instead of playing C → E (boring)
• Play C → D♯ → E (chromatic approach from below)
• Or C → F → E (chromatic approach from above)

5. Tapped Arpeggios

According to The Gear Forum's lesson analysis:

"He commonly uses tapped string skipped arpeggios."

How It Works:

• Play arpeggios (chord tones) with tapping
• Skip strings for wider intervals
• Creates harp-like, cascading sounds

Famous Examples:

• "Wonderful Slippery Thing" – Extended tapping passages
• "Waves" – Melodic tapped arpeggios

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Sample 90-Minute Guthrie Govan-Inspired Routine

Phase 1: Technical Foundation (20 minutes)

Legato Development (10 min)

• 3 min: Finger trills (all combinations)
• 4 min: Three-note-per-string legato patterns
• 3 min: String-skipping legato

Chromatic Approaches (10 min)

• 5 min: Practice adding chromatic approach notes to major scale
• 5 min: Apply to a simple melody or lick

Key Rule: Use a metronome, start slow (60 BPM), increase only when perfect

Phase 2: Musical Application (40 minutes)

Ear Training (10 min)

• Listen to a melody (TV, birds, someone humming)
• Try to play it by ear immediately
• No looking up tabs or notes
• Goal: Train instant ear-to-fingers connection

Improvisation with Phrasing (15 min)

• Put on a backing track (any key)
• Improvise using phrases, not constant notes
• Play a phrase → Pause → Respond
• Focus on conversation, not showing off

Motivic Development Exercise (15 min)

• Create a 4-note motif
• Play it 10 different ways:
  • Different positions
  • Different rhythms
  • Different dynamics
  • Backwards
  • Mixed with rests

Phase 3: Learning and Creating (30 minutes)

Learn a Guthrie Lick (15 min)

• Pick ONE lick from a Guthrie song
• Learn it slowly by ear or tab
• Focus on phrasing and dynamics, not just notes
• Apply it over a backing track in different keys

Creative Composition (15 min)

• Write a short 16-bar instrumental piece
• Use techniques you just practiced
• Record it on your phone
• Listen back: Does it sound musical?

Govan's Philosophy: Writing music is more important than endless woodshedding.

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Essential Guthrie Govan Songs to Learn

Intermediate

1. "Waves" – Beautiful phrasing and melodic sense
2. "Sevens" – Odd time signatures and rhythmic ideas
3. "Fives" – Melodic improvisation showcase

Advanced

1. "Wonderful Slippery Thing" – Ultimate technique showcase
2. "Ner Ner" – Jazz fusion and improvisation
3. "Erotic Cakes" – Comprehensive Govan style study

The Aristocrats

1. "Get It Like That" – Funk fusion
2. "Blues Fuckers" – Blues with attitude
3. "Bad Asteroid" – Rock fusion

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Guthrie Govan's Gear

Guitars

• Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature (HSH configuration)
• Suhr Modern (custom specs)
• Light gauge strings for easier bending and legato

Amps & Effects

• Victory V30 The Countess (signature amp)
• Suhr Riot distortion (overdrive sounds)
• TC Electronic Flashback (delay)
• Strymon Timeline (advanced delay)
• Various modulation (chorus, flanger, phaser)

Why His Gear Matters

Govan's setup emphasizes clarity and touch sensitivity—every note rings clearly, which is essential for his legato and phrasing work.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours does Guthrie Govan practice?

Govan has stated that marathon practice sessions are less important than purposeful, musical practice. He focuses on quality over quantity, emphasizing that successfully writing music is more valuable than endless technical drills.

Did Guthrie Govan go to music school?

Yes, Govan studied at Oxford University's music program but is largely self-taught on guitar. He later became one of the most respected instructors at the Guitar Institute in London.

What makes Guthrie Govan's style unique?

Govan combines virtuoso technique with deep musicality. Unlike many shredders, he focuses on phrasing, motivic development, and making everything sound musical—even at blazing speeds. His improvisation sounds composed, and his compositions sound improvised.

What's the best way to learn Guthrie Govan's style?

Start with his "Creative Guitar" books (volumes 1 & 2), which teach technique through musical application. Then learn songs like "Waves" to understand his phrasing philosophy. Most importantly: improvise constantly and make everything musical.

Can beginners learn from Guthrie Govan?

Absolutely. While his playing is advanced, his teaching philosophy applies to all levels: sound comes first, practice musically, and apply everything you learn immediately. Even beginners benefit from thinking in phrases and focusing on musicality over speed.

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The Takeaway: Technique Serves Music

Guthrie Govan's approach can be summed up simply: Develop incredible technique, but only to serve musical expression.

Key Lessons from Govan:

1. Sound comes first—if it's not musical, it doesn't matter how fast you play it
2. Practice what you can't do—if it sounds good in practice, you're not challenging yourself
3. Build "headroom"—practice until it's effortless, not just possible
4. Apply immediately—every new scale or technique should be used musically right away
5. Think in phrases—group notes into musical sentences with pauses
6. Develop your ear—try to replicate any sound you hear
7. Write music—composition is more important than endless exercises

Even 1 hour of thoughtful, musical practice beats 10 hours of mindless shredding.

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Practice with Purpose on RiffRoutine

Want to develop both technical mastery and musical expression? RiffRoutine offers:

• Technique-focused routines balanced with musical application
• Improvisation exercises with backing tracks
• Progress tracking across multiple skills
• Creative practice prompts to encourage composition

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Sources

This article is based on verified information from:

• Guitar.com: Guthrie Govan Talks Perfect Practice
• Guitar World: Guthrie Govan's Tips for Guitar Practice and Soloing
• Guitar World: Guthrie Govan on How to Optimize Your Guitar Practice
• Sweetwater: 5 Ways Guthrie Govan Inspires Us
• Lick Library: Guthrie Govan Technique Modules - Legato
• Guitar.com: Guthrie Govan's 10 Top Improvisation Tips
• Life in 12 Keys: Guitar Practice Routines Interview with Pro Guitarists
• Chasing Sound: 4 Things I Learned From Guthrie Govan's Masterclass