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Steve Mastroianni
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PRACTICE LESS, PLAY MORE: The simple, three-step system to play songs you love on your guitar from day 1 Kindle Edition

by Steve Mastroianni (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 679 ratings

*** #1 BEST SELLER IN OVER 50 CATEGORIES! ***

If you're a Self-Taught Guitarist and you want to play songs without spending all your time practicing, this book may be the most important book you ever read...

But first a warning: this book is NOT for everyone…

This isn't one of those “practice until your fingers bleed“ or “cram confusing theory into your mind” type of guitar instruction books. There are plenty of those available (i.e. practice scales & exercises for hours per day and feel guilty if you don’t).

When I first decided to learn to play guitar, I read all the guitar books for beginners and focused on developing a lot of areas like scales, theory, and exercises that promised me one day I’d be able to play the songs I loved.

The problem is, when you approach practice like that, you have a lot of “stuff” to practice, but you usually have no REAL MUSIC to show for it, ending up with what I call Mountain Climber Syndrome. You feel like eventually, your hard work is going to pay off, everything will come together, and you’ll finally be able to play songs.

Why not play songs right away instead?

The simple, three-step system in this book requires a slight shift in the way you think about practicing, but leaves you with lots of songs, confidence, and a lifelong skill you can use any time you want to learn the songs you love ON DEMAND.

With that said, let’s jump right in…

Practice Less, Play More! is about getting immediate results from your guitar.

This means ONLY focusing on the things that help you play songs (both BEFORE practice & AFTER practice). The idea is to divide your guitar practice into 3 phases:

The first phase focuses on priming your mind so you have the right mindsets & techniques to learn songs quickly and all of the right materials to get the most out of your practice sessions.

The second phase focuses on practice technique, showing you exactly how to break a song down and quickly program each part into your fingers. Far too few guitar practice books explain this clearly!

The final phase focuses on the best mindsets & techniques to use when you switch out of Practice Mode and are actually playing songs, so you can play them as effortlessly as possible and have a blast doing it.

It is called “Practice Less, Play More!", because you are constantly building momentum (and your song Playlist) without having to endure hours of mind-numbing practice. It is actually an easier, less-stressful approach to playing guitar.

Not only that, this book shows you:
  • How to get songs to performance-quality within days...

  • You should practice guitar parts over & over until you master them, right? WRONG! (find out why in Chp 7)

  • How to create a practice routine you enjoy and can actually stick to (even if you have a super busy schedule)

  • When is the best time to practice for long-lasting results

  • 5 ways to cut your practice time in half and virtually guarantee you make progress each time you pick up your guitar

  • What to think about while you're playing songs (the answer may surprise you)

  • How to reduce the amount of mistakes you make and exactly what to do when you make one (most Beginners are doing the opposite!)

  • One practice method you should NEVER use if you want rapid results on guitar

  • Say goodbye to guessing what to practice next and finally build a Playlist of songs you're proud to play on guitar!
The book is an easy read and will feel like we're just chatting, as I tell you my best stories from on & off tour and show you my best strategies for learning songs.

Check out Practice Less, Play More! now

***All proceeds from this book are being used to create new programs for cancer patients & their caregivers. Thank you for your support!
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  1. Print length
    258 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 26, 2019
  4. File size
    4.7 MB
  5. Page Flip
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  6. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"VØID, you are one special guy."

- GENE SIMMONS - Co-Founder of KISS

"You are about to learn a bulletproof system for learning new songs on guitar so much faster than with the "old" way of practicing.
Steve is an incredibly deep thinker, and he's about to hand you results on a silver platter while he entertains the hell out of you with his EPIC stories from on & off tour. He's already done all of the thinking for you. All you have to do is follow his instructions and you'll be sounding great in no time!"

- CHARLIE WALLACE - Founder of Guitar Mastery Method

"Steve breaks everything down to its simplest form and then shows youhow to build it up again from playing chords to playing along inperfect time with the record.

My partner used to cringe when I practiced...now she's making song requests. It's great!"

 - TONY C. - Beginner Guitarist from Wales

From the Author

Interview with the Author Steve Mastroianni (aka VØID)
If you had to explain this book in one sentence, what would you say?
PRACTICE LESS, PLAY MORE! is the definitive guide for guitarists of all levels who want to learn songs in less time.
Today's self-taught guitarist typically doesn't have time to research every nook and cranny on the internet and practice for 45-60 minutes per day. They want result now. And with conflicting advice and confusing video lessons around every corner, it's often difficult to get any musical result out of the guitar.
In fact, that's why many times, guitarists just put off practicing altogether. What they need instead is an easy-to-follow system to practicing that is both fast, fun, and leads them to play a long list of their favourite songs on guitar.
In PRACTICE LESS, PLAY MORE! (and my flagship course Play From Day 1), I give them that speed, system, and perspective.

Who are the major influencers on your playing and teaching philosophy?
There are so many people to name for their insights on learning & teaching: Michel Thomas, Jamie Vendera, Jamie Andreas, Victor L. Wooten, Kenny Werner, Stephen Nachmanovitch, Barrett Tagliarino, Paul Gilbert, Guthrie Govan, Troy Stetina, Tomo Fujita, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Charles Duhigg, Daniel J. Levitin, Oliver Sacks, Bruce E. Arnold, Ryan Levesque, James Schramko, Kevin Rogers, Brian Tracy, Dan Sullivan, Eben Pagan, Grant Cardone, Russell Brunson, Stephen R. Covey, Eckhart Tolle, Greg McKeown, and Timothy Ferriss.
Specific musical influences over the years include John Mayer, Matt Bellamy from Muse, Edge from U2, Coldplay, Bon Iver, David Gilmour and Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Eagles, Tom Petty, Rush, Metallica, and Nirvana.

What other books influenced you to write this one?
These books played a major part in my development as a Guitarist & Coach: The Music Lesson, Effortless Mastery, Free Play, The Inner Game of Music, Zen Guitar, Pumping Nylon, Raise Your Voice, Creative Guitar 1 and 2, Guitar Fretboard Workbook, The Advancing Guitarist, The Future Of Learning, Accelerated Learning Techniques, The Power Of Habit, Essentialism, One Small Step Can Change Your Life, The 10X Rule.

What are some of the major ideas that you integrate into this book or your life in general?
The K.I.S.S. Principle, Minimum Effective Dose, accelerated learning, learning guitar technique through songs, done is better than perfect, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, quick wins, and Seinfeld's Chain Theory.

If you could not use your current book title, what would be another choice?
If I couldn't call the book PRACTICE LESS, PLAY MORE!, I would call the book "The Fast Practice Formula: How to play songs on guitar in as little as 30 minutes".

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NBPR726
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 26, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.7 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 679 ratings

About the author

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Steve Mastroianni

Steve Mastroianni

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Steve Mastroianni (aka VØID) is based in Toronto, Canada and has coached hundreds of guitarists while touring the world opening for bands such as KISS, Hinder, and Finger Eleven.

A passionate father, husband, hit songwriter, coach, multi-instrumentalist, and philanthropist, Steve is an expert at making the complex world of guitar simple so you can gain the confidence of a Rockstar while you play the songs you love on your guitar.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
679 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book helpful for learning guitar on their own. It provides structure and helps develop a positive mindset. The insights and strategies in the book help them practice less and improve their playing. Readers say it's worth more than the ticket price.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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Learning styleInsightPractice timeValue for money
46 customers mention "Learning style"37 positive9 negative

Customers find the book helpful for learning guitar on their own. They mention it gives structure to practice and improve playing. It helps develop a good mindset and form lasting habits. The book provides an alternative to theory-based instruction, focusing on scales and practice rather than repetition.

"...I've read the book 3 times and have been instituting his instruction EXACTLY as he outlines...." Read more

"...His methods broke down what to focus on, and what to incorporate into my sessions...." Read more

"There are many different philosophies of musical education. However, if music is not fun there is really no reason play any instrument...." Read more

"...best thing to come from the book so far is that I now know what to play during my practice rather then drifting between chord changes, scales, or..." Read more

14 customers mention "Insight"11 positive3 negative

Customers find the book provides useful insights and strategies for practicing guitar. They appreciate the unique approach and that it works well in almost any scenario.

"...Steve has some great insights. He wants to get you playing songs that you like as quickly as possible and that is the basis of this book..." Read more

"...using the methods in this book, I can see how they would work in almost any scenario...." Read more

"The approach taught in this book works well. It helps give structure to people learning guitar on their own...." Read more

"...to bypass traditional methods, the book ultimately oversimplifies the learning process, glossing over critical skills necessary for real musical..." Read more

7 customers mention "Practice time"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's practice methods helpful. They say it helps them focus on what matters and save time, allowing them to play more often. The book provides insights that can save a lot of time for beginners and frustrated amateurs.

"...His methods broke down what to focus on, and what to incorporate into my sessions...." Read more

"...never thought about how/why I'm practicing what I am working on... Practice Less, Play More showed me a new way to practice and it is showing on a..." Read more

"...Practice Less, Play More brings back the joy of making music by introducing new ways to learn the guitar that focus on actual playing and..." Read more

"This is a great book to help learn to play. No long practice sessions going over cords, picking ect...." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money. They say it's worth more than the ticket price.

"...This book is money well spent and Steve keeps you up-to-date with emails Etc." Read more

"...you read this, please go back and buy this book, it is worth a lot more than the ticket price." Read more

"...A quality book for a great price." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Robert Phillips
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent system for learning.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    At 64 years of age, even I came to believe and understand I needed a better system of learning to help me over the hump of internalizing some of my favorite music. My guitar was silent for 30 years, I decided to re-pursue this long forgotten love of my life, which I abandoned in the late 80's because I could not find teachers who could teach me the blues. I discovered the wonderful world of guitar instruction on Youtube but I inherently knew something was missing. Charlie Wallace sent me an email intro'ing this book to me, on a leap of faith and a gut hunch I went and purchased it. Very glad I did. Steve's, aka VOID, instruction has been extremely helpful. I've read the book 3 times and have been instituting his instruction EXACTLY as he outlines. Making great progress now and not feeling burned out as I did by this last December which caused me to set my guitar down again, which I did not touch for 90 days - and then Steve's book arrived. It is important to read this book carefully, taking note of the nuances, and instituting (with self discipline) his instruction exactly - it will make all of the difference. In fact, the online resources that come with the purchase are a must as well - they're FREE with the book purchase. Thank you Steve, aka VOID, for sharing this remarkable system with the world!
    48 people found this helpful
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  • Anthony Butler
    4.0 out of 5 stars Playing is finally fun!!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Thanks to Steve and this book, I can finally enjoy playing instead of struggling at practice. His methods broke down what to focus on, and what to incorporate into my sessions. His methods helped me advance much faster than watching videos, reading articles and books this past year. Kudos to you Steve!!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Joseph Michelotti
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for learning any musical instrument
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    There are many different philosophies of musical education. However, if music is not fun there is really no reason play any instrument. Steve has some great insights. He wants to get you playing songs that you like as quickly as possible and that is the basis of this book

    This is a book about playing guitar, but you can apply it to banjo or mandolin or base or any other instrument as well. This book is money well spent and Steve keeps you up-to-date with emails Etc.
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  • Mike R
    5.0 out of 5 stars What do I play when I sit down to practice?
    Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve read through chapter 8 and I’m already seeing results. I used the “no tempo/slow tempo/ fast practice” program to learn the intro to “Fortunate Son” and the intro and bridge to “Bad Moon Rising”. One of my favorite new tricks is the “Play after you practice”. I have my songs loaded into my Amazing Slow Downer app and either loop the section I’m working on or play the whole song as fast as I can or up to speed. By far the best thing to come from the book so far is that I now know what to play during my practice rather then drifting between chord changes, scales, or song pieces. I’ve played violin for almost 20 years but couldn’t take it out of the case and play a song without music to read in front of me. I want to be able to pick up my guitar and play songs for myself and others without having to read it off paper and I think this method will get me there.
    31 people found this helpful
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  • Nygil
    3.0 out of 5 stars No real lessons
    Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    It's a theory book
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  • MGBPLT
    5.0 out of 5 stars just what I needed....
    Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    The concept of prime practice and play is so much better than the practice practice practice. Theory scales and modes Fascinate Me and I still study them they are not the main reason I want to play. I just want to play songs. I'm not into being the big lead guy. I play a lot of bluesy songs from Clapton BB Some SRV. But in general this is not what people want to hear even though they enjoy it. They like to hear pop type music. I am implementing in my own Guitar Playing life your action Items which I summarize as Why am I playing what am I playing and when to my playing it. Initial focus will be on playing Brown eyed girl by Van Morrison in honor of my wife. And I've always going to learn how to play Mood for A-day. I also love sleepwalk so II I'm focusing on these songs or my initial Restart.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • RicWellesley
    1.0 out of 5 stars Overhyped and Oversimplified: Why Practice Less, Play More Falls Flat for Aspiring Guitarists
    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Steve Mastroianni’s Practice Less, Play More promises a groundbreaking, simplified approach to learning guitar, but unfortunately, it falls short of delivering meaningful or actionable insights for aspiring guitarists. While the title and premise may appeal to beginners hoping to bypass traditional methods, the book ultimately oversimplifies the learning process, glossing over critical skills necessary for real musical growth.

    1. Oversimplification of Guitar Learning

    The author positions the book as an alternative to traditional, theory-based instruction, arguing that scales, exercises, and foundational practice are unnecessary. However, this perspective undermines the importance of building muscle memory, developing technical proficiency, and understanding music theory, all of which are essential for long-term success. While playing songs right away might offer instant gratification, it risks fostering shallow skill development. Readers are left unprepared for more complex music or versatile playing.

    2. Repetitive and Vague Advice

    The “three-step system” at the heart of the book is padded with repetitive anecdotes and superficial advice. The phases of the system lack depth, often relying on motivational platitudes rather than concrete methods. For example, breaking a song into parts and “programming” them into your fingers is hardly a revolutionary concept—it’s a standard practice already taught in most beginner methods, and this book adds little innovation to that process.

    3. Misleading Claims About Practice

    Mastroianni’s insistence that practicing less is a shortcut to mastery is misleading. The claim that traditional methods waste time overlooks the fact that diligent practice is how musicians build fluency and confidence. The book’s promises of achieving “performance-quality within days” feel unrealistic, and while such claims may sell copies, they set beginners up for frustration when quick progress doesn’t materialize.

    4. Focus on Marketing Over Substance

    The book’s heavy reliance on buzzwords, such as “easy,” “rapid results,” and “guarantee,” creates an infomercial-like tone that detracts from its credibility. The self-promotion is relentless, and the focus on the book being a “#1 bestseller in 50 categories” feels more like a sales pitch than a testament to quality. Instead of delivering valuable tools for guitarists, the content often circles back to promoting its own supposed genius.

    5. Lack of Long-Term Value

    For beginners, this book might offer a quick confidence boost by prioritizing song-based learning, but it doesn’t equip readers with the skills to progress beyond playing a handful of tunes. Its dismissal of music theory, technique, and disciplined practice leaves gaps that will eventually hinder a player’s ability to grow.

    Conclusion: Not Recommended

    While Practice Less, Play More might appeal to those looking for shortcuts, it fails to provide the depth or structure necessary to truly learn guitar. Its oversimplified methods and marketing-heavy tone make it more frustrating than helpful. For those serious about learning to play, there are far better instructional books and resources available that strike a balance between fun and foundational skills. This book does not live up to its promises, and I cannot recommend it.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ruben Gustavo Lopez Aburto
    1.0 out of 5 stars Basura !!!
    Reviewed in Mexico on October 30, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Basura !!!!
    Report
  • Sergio
    5.0 out of 5 stars A book about building habits
    Reviewed in Brazil on May 26, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is not only a book about playing guitar, it's about building a habit, and learning a way to progress in your guitar journey. Highly recommended and easy to read. Congratulations Steve for your book
    Report
  • harald collmann
    5.0 out of 5 stars Empfehlenswert
    Reviewed in Germany on February 1, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Gut zum Üben
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  • charry_red_wine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Passatempo
    Reviewed in Italy on May 29, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Completamente inutile.. gli do il massimo perché leggere , anche cose inutili , non fa male
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  • francis almeida
    3.0 out of 5 stars Some play along videos needed
    Reviewed in India on November 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Videos along with the book would have been wonderful. Anyway very Nice and inspiring book. Keep up the good work.
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