Day 3: Make a “safe version” you can already play cleanly

What you’ll accomplish today

By the end of Day 3, you’ll have:

• At least one simplified version of your spot
• A metronome tempo where it’s truly clean
• 10 clean reps in a row (your first real “I’ve got this” feeling)

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Step 1: Choose ONE “safe version”

Pick the option that matches your diagnosis from Day 2:

• If it’s a shift problem: choose Recipe A (see below)
• If it’s too extraneous movements: choose Recipe B
• If it’s coordination/timing: choose Recipe C

Don’t do all three. Just pick one and try it out – you can always pick a different recipe another day!

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Step 2: Build your safe version

Recipe A: Walk the shift closer (best for tricky LH shifts)

For this, you want to keep the musical idea, but make the landing easier:

• Replace the destination with a lower-fret version first
• Then move up fret-by-fret until you reach the real shift destination
• Put your eyes on the destination before you arrive

This teaches your hand a confident, calm arrival and remove the "leap of faith" feeling.

Recipe B: Put it in a box (best for “extraneous movements”)

Reduce the spot to a tiny group:

• reduce the spot down to 3 "things" (note + shift + note)
• focus on making your finger movements as efficient as possible
• when that feels controlled, add a 4th "thing," then a 5th, etc.

This is all about control – speed doesn't matter right now.

Recipe C: Practice hands independently, then together (best for coordination)

For example, if the right hand is the issue:

• remove the left hand
• drill the right-hand pattern cleanly on it's own
• drill the left-hand pattern to make sure that's secure as well
• then bring them both together

This tells you whether the breakdown is really coordination and gives you a reusable practice trick.

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Step 3: Test with 10 clean reps

Set a metronome tempo where your safe version is actually clean, then go for 10 clean reps in a row.

If you mess up a rep, don’t panic. Slow the metronome down one notch and aim for 10 again. Today isn’t about speed yet. It’s about building confidence and trust.

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Watch today’s clip (1 minute)

Carlos Bonell: “Make variations from repertoire”

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Before you go

Record your progress!‍

My clean tempo today is: ____________________

Tomorrow we’ll choose the most natural mechanics (fingering + movement plan) so your “safe version” starts turning into the real thing.

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