General Music Chat

How much do you guys practice?

Here's a good book that will help you organize your practice routine for an entire year:
"52 weeks of Practice".

I have been using it with my students for more than 3 years and I find it very useful for keeping a consistent and productive practice routine. Organizing and reviewing your practice routine makes all the difference in the world when it comes to learning/performing music.

here's a link to the workbook:
http://www.createspace.com/3361272

Did you write it?

I don't need no stinkin' book!

Man, I'll bet there's quite a few people here who could easily write a book or three about practicing . . .
.
And for those who aren't ready to write one, they should be . . . well, practicing.

Now you went and hurt my feelings. I think I'll go practice, again, today, some more.
Actually I need to assemble my grandsons big electric F150 he got for Christmas.
That is going to be one happy little boy.

Man , I looked that up ..That things pretty big! 5 mi an HR is pretty fast in something like that. Now if the poor lil tyke can get YOU outta of it, He'll be able to enjoy it.. ..Your too big prolly , now ME , Ill bet I could get in it.

I hate sales pitches where they pretend to be the customer whose life was changed by using the product.

Just say who you are and what you are selling, anything else just screams deception and that you don't even believe enough in your own product, so why should I?

I just get out my old Mel Bay books and Im good to go!

Actually Ive amassed a pretty good seletion of videos, scale and chord books so when I get hung up on something I can ussually find a solution pretty quick.

I will say that when Im learning a new cover song these days I have gotten lazy. Most songs I can pick out in a matter of minutes but when I get hung up on that one little section I go to all these tab sites and cheat a little. Its bad cause a lot of these places have the keys all wrong and the tabs arent even close, but its good that I have enough pllaying miles under my belt to know the difference. I hate it for those new players trying to learn their favorite song and they learn it totally wrong.

In the old days we would slow down the recordings and learn licks slow then speed them up. These days as far as solos I just let it wail, unless its just some signature type riff like the solo to Crazy Train or Highway Star, Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, or whatever.

Weve decided to work up Cult Of Personality which Ive never played so that should be interesting cause Vernon just wails, but its spontaneaous sounding which never gives me trouble. Not like those old Steely Dan solos where you just have to fit every note to make it feel right.

Anyway I probably should practice more but I have learned to get right to what I want to do when I practice. I probably average an hour a day with a guitar in my hand, and although I play electric half the time the guitar is unplugged and I may be doing something else.

The key to playing live to me is to look like Im not even thinking about the guitar, Im checking out the women or carrying on with folks when I walk around the room. I have to play constantly in order to be able to do this. I also am one of those looker kind of players with my guitar slung real low aka Slash or Page. Bill stopped by and commented that he couldnt play a guitar that low. After he left I pulled the gtr up a little higher and I can play all those funky jazz chords again, but this weekend when I play the gtr will be back down to my knees where it should be for me. When I practice I dont just play the music I practice moving and how I look on stage. It must be working cause all of our fans call me a rock star and the women call me boy toy, heh heh aint life grand.

C-Ya


Oh yeah I dont think I need that practice book, its just like a diet plan you have to have some will power and give up some time to get better on the guitar. If you want to lose weight its simple. Eat less food. If you want to play guitar better or any instrument for that matter you have to practice and put the time in, there are no real easy shortcuts. Once you get your weight or playing where you want them you have to use will power to maintain them. Learning materials are no good unless you sit down and use them.

So you did write the book? I saw this somewhere else too.
Practice what you preach and practice something else too.

Etiquette.

I hate sales pitches where they pretend to be the customer whose life was changed by using the product.

Just say who you are and what you are selling, anything else just screams deception and that you don't even believe enough in your own product, so why should I?

i wish there were a type of "thumbs down" feature where a post can be removed if it were to receive 5 "thumbs downs".

by the way, Kramer-- love your "Limelight"! thats probably one of my top ten songs of all time. i was hoping to sit down and learn that and "red barchetta" over christmas. your version is very good.

I prefer the Jamie Abersold method this is for Jazzers and for anyone else that is serious about being the best they can be!

How often do I practice? By my own definition of practice (actually trying to get new stuff under my fingers) not very often... but I play most everyday....

About 2 hours a day...sometimes more, sometimes less...rarely miss a day entirely.

No less than 5 hours a day... Sometimes 7 on weekends and then I pack up for the gig!

I prefer the Jamie Abersold method this is for Jazzers and for anyone else that is serious about being the best they can be!

I am a fan of Jamie's as well. I have attended several Camps based on his teachings as well.