[rapter]

I was just wondering if anybody knows the practice regiment of popular guitar heroes. Those guitarist who make it look easy, do they study music theory, harmony, improvisation i.e. scale tones, leading notes, etc.. Instead of the polished end result of a guitar video, I would like to see the reality of a popular, or any band for that matter, video, actually in practice.

Does anybody have reference to this sort of thing, thanks for your time. It would be interesting how others spend their time playing the guitar. Happy Holidays.

[coldethyl]

That's a good question! I think I'd be interested to know that too.
Don't you just wish you could be a fly on the wall when someone like Tommy Emmanuel, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck or the like is practicing?

To learn their tricks and licks of the trade would be fascinating to say the least.

[rapter]

I don't play in a band, and would like to be that fly on the wall. Just hearing how the professionals sacrificed their everyday living to play the guitar effortlessly would be interesting.

[allthumbs]

With Tommy. Practicing is his life. He plays on his way to gigs, he plays on his way home from gigs. At least he did when Kirk gigged with him. After a certain point pros just play. Their playing includes everything they the rest of us would practice.JMO

[tomg123]

I heard ringo starr say once (i know he's a drummer) he never practices, in the sense of by himself, that he only jamms. Of course
they live in a different world since its not just a hobby for them

[coldethyl]

Buddy Guy once said that he never practised a day in his life. Yet he has inspired so many other great guitarists with his style etc.

I've also read that Joe Satriani doesn't practise anywhere below three hours a day.

Others just about live with the guitar in their hands. Steve Gaines (Lynyrd Skynyrd) used to sleep with his guitar in his bed and if an idea came to him through the night, he'd grab his guitar next to him and off he'd go. He also used to walk around his house with it strapped on etc. Just a shame he's no longer with us.

[tim171]

I read in a guitar magazine, that Mark Tremonti (from Alter Bridge and Creed) plays non-stop. It was saying how he often plays upto 6 hours before gigs.

I would say that unfotunatley i dont practice enough. I do generally play an hour day, but due to work and other stuff dont have time for much more.

It would be interesting to know if there were many pro guitarists that actually study music - theory and everything.

[solidwalnut]

There's no one-size-fits-all. Some just jam while others constantly practice. One thing's for sure, now that this is their full-time job, they have more time to jam and practice than you and me!!

But there's one quote I'll never forget that comes from Steve Sabel, NFL films (who knows where HE got the quote) when talking about professional athletes (and it's going to apply to professional anything):

Amateurs practice 'till they get it right. Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

[coldethyl]

Originally Posted by solidwalnut

Amateurs practice 'till they get it right. Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

That's a great quote Steve!