practice time

[slofingers]

I assume most of you are professional musicians based on the number of guitars most of you have. I'm just curious how much practice time you devote to your craft. Do you need practice or just rehearse songs? I am just a bedroom guitar player and a crummy one at that and I envy the hell out of those that can play. After being a member of this forum for just a short time, I have learned a lot about Music Man guitars that I didn't know before. I realize I am going to have to get my priorities straight and get myself one. One thing I do have over most of you is that I work on the same hallowed grounds where these beautiful guitars are made. Whenever I see the back of a headstock with the "MADE IN SAN LUIS OBISPO" mark, I get this tingling sensation.

 

[TNT]

I know that "feeling"!!

As far as the practice goes, try and enjoy the "journey", not necessarily the destination.

However, it is like anything else that humans can get good at. e.g., to play fast you have to practice your fastest (on the cutting edge). Then you will tend to get faster; as you build on that the same way.

The guitar is an instrument that "requires" unlimited hours of practice to achieve levels of improvement, however, it is fun to practice as well.

Look at the guitar players you like, and then you can determine how long they have played to achieve their (plateau) level.

 

[yesfan1953]

Practice

I've been playing bass for more that 30 years. I still play/practice/learn stretch music, 1 - 2 hours most days. Usually 4 - 5 days per week. Sometimes, I lose track of time and play for several hours.

The point is not to think of it as work. For me it's a great way to spend time.

 

[JayDawg]

I use to practice several hours each day but the way my work schedule has been lately and with my wife going through chemotherapy for breast cancer, I am lucky if I play on my days off. But when I do, I have the time of my life. I am working on a few projects right now that may open up the doors to more playing and more gigs but right now it is in the discussion stages.

 

[Neances]

Just remember that playin' is not practicin. A guitarist should do regular exercises to develop and keep it that way.

 

[straycat113]

Well every new technique needs a good deal of practice until you can do it effortlessly. I do not know where you are as a player or what style of music you play. But for arguments sake if you are into the Blues you should know the minor pentatonic and Blues scale in all five positions on the neck until it is burned into your brain and you can do it on auto pilot. I would say the C.A.G.E.D system would be the best way to learn as you are playing off the five main shapes of the same chord up the neck. From their you would take the same approach with the major pentatonic and the key to being a good Blues/Rock player is when you can combine the major and minor together effortlessly over a progression.

This style can cary you a really long ways and is the backbone of players like Hendrix-Red House being a great example and Clapton -Crossroads being another great example, as the mixing of both scales keeps things exciting and separates guys who use the minor pentatonic exclusively and sound repetitive.

Then techniques like tapping, sweeping, string skipping and scales from the modes are other things you can delve into as the guitar is infinite and has no end. But it takes a lot of time to build the dexterity and to soak it all in. If you hear a technique that appeals to you learn as much as you can about it and work it into your playing. Also really spend the most time on things you find difficult as it makes no sense to keep going over things you know. Also remember why you want to play guitar=to have fun and make music. So take an hour and just jam on the fun stuff or songs you can play all the way through.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Get into a band or even just a group who jams. I joined my church band a couple years ago and have to learn 5 new songs between Monday and a Wednesday rehersal and finally the Sunday services. It really helped me to understand how to work with others and not to overpower the rest of the group. Heck....there are songs that I just stand there and do nothing.....literally. I learned very early (was told, actually) that if I'm playing in the same sound range as the acoustic guitarist (whose also the leader) that the sound guy is going to turn me down.....so I always make sure my sound and/or place on the neck is far from the acoustic guy. I've also learned to not be afraid to copy leads rather than make up my own. It's faster and easier to get down. You can also take an existing lead and simplify it by playing less notes, but keeping the overall melody of the lead in tact.

I am not a pro guitar player by any means and I don't really think most people on this forum are. Some (like me) just happen to be old enough to be able to afford guitars that are above our actual need. (there...I said it!)

 

[vTach120J]

Straycat,

Great suggestions!!!

 

[EBM-Woman]

Agreed. Get into a local band that doesn't take themselves too seriously, but does enough to play a few weeks/practice regularly.