Practice Time

I need to practice like mad, but I just get way way to bored doing it. I rehearse or record for about 4-5 hours a week with the band that's it for me. Once in a while I'll play guitar or bass (not plugged in) while watching tv, but that's usually how i write.

Jam10 wrote:

How much time does everybody here put into practice time? How do you split up your practice time to get the most out of it?

I practise more or less depending upon what's coming up.

Anywhere from 2-5 hours a day. I prefer two and a half. I start with scales and arpeggios and a few etudes and Bach and then get to work on whatever I need to finish for what's coming up.

So, short answer would be: 45 minutes of technique, 2 hours or more on your pieces.

Usually, an hour or so of just jamming along to CDs.

Drew263 wrote:

I have a practice routine that I start with everyday. Chords, scales, arpeggios, etc etc. Takes about 20 minutes. Then I use different chord progressions that my instructor and I have recorded to practice voicing chords in a solo and addressing chord changes.

Then I wake up the neighborhood with PJ stuff. It's rare if I miss a day.

Does anyone else HAVE to warmup like I do?

I warmup with jamming... But, I'm best about 20 minutes in. I SHOULD get to practicing technique more, but I find I learn more just jamming, and then if I need to learn a certain technique to learn the part, then I'll learn it.

I'm gonna be gone for 10 days, and it'll be the longest I've ever gone without playing. My speed is gonna go down the tubes.

Drew263 wrote:

I've only been playing 2 years now but I've become an addict. I've probably only missed 8 or so days and I pretty much wig out when I do. My fiance thinks I'm insane but I have to play some everyday.

I have issues.. :eek:

I've been playing seriously for about 4 years, and ya, it's an addicition.

If i'm working, then i only get to pick up my guitar about half hour to an hour a day. I work days and nights and have days off, so on the days i'm not working, i can play for hours. If i averaged it out over a week or so, it would probably equate to a couple hours a day.

Does anyone else sleep near one of their guitars? I've had my favorite old acoustic propped up by the side of my bed for as long as i can remember. When i'm working the night shift, i have to sleep in the day, and that can sometimes get tricky, so if i wake up or can't sleep i pick it up and just play. It's very soothing.

I play for a couple of hours most days. That's divided pretty much between pracrice and playing.

Yes, I really need to warm up, one of the reasons I hate playing guitars in stores. That and I feel I am intruding on everyone else's personal space too much. I don't play scales to warm up though much, I tend to play the intro to Metallica's "Seek and Destroy" cos it combines a pedal, string skipping, hammer'pull-off combinations and a complex little riff at the end that has your pick hand and fretting fingers going in opposite directions. I just find it a littel tricky to play, so I have to concentrate, and it warms me up nicely.
When I was younger, I would have my guitar near me at all times.
I thought I would miss it badly on my recent trip, but I got to drop into a few stores, and i was so knackerd after ski-ing every day, I was not too bothered. I had a TON of new Opeth CD's with me too, which kept withdrawal at bay. I often take one to work so I can practice during lunch. I ahevn't done that for a bit, has been too hot but the weather is coolingnow, so I'll probably get back to it.
Often when I am playing late at night I sit in a big leather chair, practically laying down and I often fall asleep there, then wake up and can't get up cos I have a heavy guitar in my lap.
It is an addiaciton, but a really nice one.
I just signed up to Soundclick too, so I might be able to post some tone clips soon. They are pretty heavy on copyright, so unless I do the paperwork, the clips will be "informed by" rather than correct riffs.

Any new added suggestions? I'd love to know what everyone else is up to.

Nice! Metronome I haven't used yet as its intimidating. I have a DVD set I'm practicing, was and will resume with once I get my strings replaced. Super psyched to get back at it!

I started on an acoustic, and had to work on not gripping the electric so tightly once I got one.