Your Practice (Practise) Regime

Greets to all,

Ok, I'll kick Learning to Play off with a question about practicing (practising).

Do you, like I do, pick up the guitar and play the same licks you've been picking at for x years, or have you figured out a practice schedule that inspires you to learn new stuff and if so, how in Jeebus's name did you develop the discipline to achieve this wonderous ability to transend the rut that many of us fall into.

The genesis of this question is that I have been playing (using that term loosely) since my late teens, (now mid 40's) and I am not progressing past the same songs and riffs that I learned way back then.
I sometimes catch myself spending more time going through the latest catalogue dreaming of buying a new guitar etc. that I think will inspire me to play & practice (you get the idea with spelling!!) more and better, but as we all know, this is a fools errand.

So please, give up all your thoughts and ideas on how to beat this horrible malady.

ATB, Rick.

Hehe, I think you've struck a vein with this one--I was unfortunate enough to get heavily into old-school blues and R&B when I was in my '20s, and as anyone who plays the blues will tell you, once you start it's very difficult to stop.

About six years ago I found that I hadn't picked up my guitar in over a year, and after really thinking it over I came to the realization that the reason I wasn't playing anymore was that I was absolutely bored with my own abilities... every time I pulled my guitar out of its case the only thing that would come out of me was blues licks.

Now don't get me wrong, I still love to play the blues--but I sure as hell didn't want it to be the only thing I played anymore.

Anyways, to make a long story short I decided I needed to thoroughly challenge myself in a way that I hadn't in years, so I comitted myself to persuing something that I had dreamed of for a long, long time--playing Flamenco guitar.

It meant going back basically to square one, and believe me it was more than a bit humbling, but the upside is that it got me trying things I never would have considered on my previous musical path... and that really got me back into playing the electric guitar.

In fact, nowadays I seldom pick up my flamenco, but I'm all over the electric. I guess I'm lucky, too, in that I actually enjoy learning from books, so these days besides just playing for fun, or playing with a band, I do daily finger workouts and can continue to learn new stuff just by picking up another good instruction book.

Anyways, that's what's worked for me... but trust me, you're far from alone

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egr :: guitar spoken here

Well now there you go, my old dementia heading brain has never even considered such a simple idea, learn a completely new style of music.

Damn, and I listen to a wide range of music styles and apart from wondering how Django can make such beautiful noises with only three fingers, I have not gone past playing Rock and Blues (mind you, I would metaphorically sell my soul for some of Robert Johnson's chops).

So thank you for the advice, off to the music store tomorrow for some new learnin' books.
Keep the ideas coming.

As an aside, this reply has taken about two hours to write 'cause I spilled cola all over my keyboard and I had to disassemble and clean, such a clumsy bugger!!

ATB, Rick

I must confess, I am also in a rut.

I hate to admit that I have been playing for 10 years now and although I consider myself a good player, my skill level isn’t what I expected it to be at this point.

To be honest I think my interest in playing started dwindling when I moved out on my own. For the longest time I was living in close range to (and then roomed with) my best friend who also played guitar. Being around someone else who plays and who is at a relative skill level to you really helps your interest I think. It sort of sparks a bit of competition, but it is usually good spirited. Plus jamming is always fun and I think you can grow just as much through jamming as you can through a strict practice regimen. There was a time maybe 5 years ago where I was jamming for 1 - 2 hours on a daily basis. I would say that was probably the peak of my interest. These days I don’t have anyone to jam with and I think that has really contributed to my lack of interest in practicing... or playing for that matter.

So long story short, finding someone who you can jam with helps. Hearing and seeing someone else play in a situation where you can learn from them I think helps you grow. I'm not really the kind of person who can sit down for 2 hours and practice scales and picking techniques. I guess I just don’t have the discipline.

I just started a new thread up above.
To cure my rut I wanna learn all that shred technique and add it into what I do. Hopefully someone will open a door--I'm not too familiar with modern technique (that is I don't listen to purveyors of such). At the same time I'm studying Perfect Pitch from that Burge guy's CDs and gonna add chords to my study. But I do have a couple of go-to software tools everyone should know about: Roni Slow Downer and Super Guitar Chord Finder. Google them.

This is an interesting topic. To tell you the absolute truth... I seldom "practice" anymore... I did enough scales, and theory in college. I do learn a lot of new material, and I pickup my guitar everyday...if even for just a few minutes. I'll either learn something by ear, pickup the chords/distinguishing riffs online, or pickup some sheet music (generally a fakebook for jazz stuff, classical pieces, or holiday songs)....or any combination of the above. I have a flamenco course that I've started, but definitely have procrastinated on (lack of nails and due to the fact that I seldom have a nylon string handy). Sometimes I'll get obsessed with learning a particular piece, and just repeat it over and over anytime I pick up a guitar (Steely Dan's Josie was one I did that to a few months ago). I'll generally learn all the parts in case I need to teach them to someone else in the band...including the bass and other non-guitar parts.

I still play the blues...and when I improvise lead stuff, I tend to gravitate in that direction... Back at Berklee, we were taught that most jazz players have about 20 different motifs that they rehash in different situations..... I think I have my 20. But honestly, I'm enjoying playing rhythm more these days... in the pocket, adding my energy to a groove rather than being out in front of it. ...being part of the arrangement. The other guys I play are much better lead players than I am....so that's also part of it.

Last year I got to jam with one of my all time favorite guitarist, Tuck Andres, and what I noticed about his playing was that he is "supports" the songs he's playing...even when he's playing solo guitar or jamming with someone. I saw him do a solo guitar rendition of Santana's Europa were he played ALL THE PARTS simultaneously on a cheap nylon string guitar.... it was breathtaking. He is constantly "arranging" and thinking of what his is doing as opposed to being unconsciously comping a "part." He really feeds off the energy around him (particular from his wife's incredible vocals)...he is really in the "present" even physically. Contrast that to someone like Pat Metheny or Mike Stern who know exactly what they are going to play, many bars before they play it. I feel like I am more of the Tuck Andres type kind of player rather than someone who's looking to go to the next level....learning the stuff I like to listen to is how I tend to get better.

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I guess I'm the newbie here since I've only been playing for about 3 years and
have gone the self-taught method using books and magazines (I actually started with the guitar for dummies series!) . I know there are holes in my education but I strive to learn something new each day. Here's what I've been doing...

Practice Schedule

Visualization Exercise: Relax and evoke the spirit of the great guitarists, Hendrix, Page, Dime...(whoever you want of course) – think positively -this comes naturally to you – fingers flow across the strings – clearly, smoothly and accurately with conviction and ease. Become receptive to learning and try to get into a state of flow...

Break these up into 3’s with one standing exercise (like scales for warm up)

• Warm Up Exercises - Stretching, various warm up methods
• Scales – Type and Key – Variations (Guitar Port Grooves!)
• Songs – Practice Covers for the Band
• Lead Work – Currently using Speed Mechanics Workbook (Stetina)
• Rhythm Work – Currently using Metal Rhythm Series (Stetina)
• Chord Progressions – use multiple resources
• Riffs – Rock, Blues, Metal - Currently using Wolf Marshall Books / Riffer Madness
• Strumming / Chord changes – Acoustic Work – Currently using Beatles Fake Book - I can't play my acoustic as well as my electrics - not a fingerstyle guy yet
• Songs – learn my selection of favorites – rhythm & lead parts
• Songwriting
• Creating Original Riffs and Melodies
• Recording – new to this and want to learn more
• Music Theory - to include memorizing notes on the fretboard
• Alternate Tunings
• Slide Guitar

Additional Study to help me communicate with my band mates:
• Bass -
• Drums –
• Keyboard –
• Live Sound Reinforcement
Books: Chapter by Chapter, Exercise by Exercise.

Rock Guitar
Metal Rhythm
Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar
Videos

This seems to work for me - If I feel bogged down or bored, I change the exercise or drill and then come back to it. I also work in only 30-45 min blocks unless I get caught up (happens a lot).

I use Guitar Port by line 6 to loop sections and exercises and to try to mimic guitar tones. This tool for me, is indispensable.

I also think that if the people you live with can take you watching tv and noodling at the same time - it's a fun way to play by ear. I'll try to find the key of a commercial jingle / music program and play over or along with it.

Hope this inspires you!

-G

Welcome to the forum. That's a heck of a practice plan you've put together...I find myself doing a lot of "freestyle" when I play, but I like the structure you've put together. Great food for thought.

Wow... Gibzenerfender you are a true glutton for punishment––or perhaps a mad guitar genius?

If you've got three years of that kind of practice under your belt you may well be doing better than many of us who've been playing for decades!

Seriously though, I do tend to start my practices with a basic run through the various chord positions all the way up the neck, and then I practice whichever scales I'm trying to freshen up on. After these exercises (about ten minutes worth,) I just play whatever comes to mind, or start working on some new progressions, etc.

Right now I'm trying to learn every note as it appears acroos the entire fretboard, and though it sounds like a daunting task it's really not that hard if you break it up into digestable chunks––heck, I;ve managed to put it off for twenty years!

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egr :: guitar spoken here

Learn all of the triad chord voicings for all the major and minor chords (then move to stacking them to build 7th, 9ths, 11ths, 13th, etc.). That is the best way to learn all of the notes on the instrument in a much more useful way than simply memorizing the notes based on position.

I find myself thinking more "in context" than the actual note name (that note is the 3rd of the chord or 5th is on the bottom). When you work with legit composers & arrangers, they will really appreciate that rather than simply "Play an F#." It has the added benefit of helping you transpose stuff for singers' vocal ranges and "fake" your way through jazz standards and Christmas songs. I've been hired for countless gigs just because I could do this.

I would also recommend learning modes, rather than just scales...both horizontally and vertically around the neck. This will train your ears to hear what other guys are doing and how to react when comping and trading 4s, etc.

Don't worry, it may seem difficult at first, but you'll soon be doing it unconsciously and not even thinking about it any more.....if you spend a year working on this kind of stuff, you'll be set for life to play the instrument in professional settings with all kinds of musicians in just about every style of music.

As I've said in other threads about advancing your skills, I highly recommend Mick Goodrick's book The Advancing Guitarist as well as my old college prof, Jon Damin's book The Guitarist Guide to Composing and Improvising

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