[Hilch]

What is a good structured practice session ?

My current routine always ends up with me playing the same tune mind you I am getting better at playing it BUT ........


Practice session consists of :

Pent scales all the way along the fret board and back again ...about 1/2 hour in time

Chord changes using a open A chord as my home and going to another chord then back to A until I have played all chords that I can finger ...This usually takes me about 3/4 of an hour using the "Hilch Strum "


I then try and finger pick I use my index finger and thumb mainly but have been trying to incorporate other fingers in a

T...R...I... M = Thumb ...Ring ...Index ...Middle... Fingers method .
And repeating my chord changes as mentioned before but this time picking the strings ...

I feel I should be better than I currently am and I am asking the more experienced players here ...

Is there anything else I should be doing ?

Is there a drill I should learn or something like that ??

Any ideas or thoughts would be appreciated

Trev...

[SkyNet]

Spend some quality time with a metronome. I really do feel this is the key to playing well and is (at least for me) the hardest aspect.

Use it throughout your practice regime. Just do it man.

[__tsidewinder__]

"I am asking the more experienced players here ..."

Oh, well, that ain't me. So feel free to ignore this. Even so, I'll try to help.

Practicing the pent is good. Even better is learning a solo that uses the pent, which is practically any rock solo. I would continue doing what you are doing, for the same amount of time, (maybe to a metronome) and give yourself some time to learn a solo. I'm not sure where you are skill-wise, so I can't recommend much, but listen to music you like and try to pick a solo out by ear, one within your abilities of course.

what you do when practicing chords is a good routine, but I would say you should play all the chords you know in one key, then move on to another key, and so on like that. Maybe fool around with progressions, find some you like (from all the songs you make, you probably do this already).

Another thing I would recommend is learning some fingerstyle songs as well as the fingerpicking exercises you do.

I find it always more fun and useful to learn technique through learning songs, it develops a good ear, good technique, and repertoire all at the same time. Plus its a whole lot more fun.

To add to your practice list, I would say do some improvisation as well. And be sure to post it, I and I'm sure others would like to hear it.

Theres plenty more you can do, I'm sure, like music theory, other scales, connecting the pent scales, expanding your chord vocabulary, interval studies, barre chords, chord melody, arranging, learning about chord substitution, different strumming patterns, standard notation reading, and any number of other things. But choose from these depending on your tastes and goals.

[coldethyl]

One of the best bits of advice that was given me was to do what many of the worlds most talented guitarists have done and that is simply to put some music on your stereo and play along to it.

You don't necessarily have to know the chords of the song (if you do then it's a bonus, but it's not essential), and try not to put on something that is very technical. Some slow blues may be the best and what you can do is when you hear the guitarist play some lead lick or riff, practice copying it.

For example, I used to put on "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream and I just practiced the riff to it until I got it down. Sometimes I paused it and just practiced until I was comfortable with it and could play it smoothly, then I'd play along to the song.

If you start practicing the riff or lick slowly then as you get more comfortable you can increase the speed. This is probably where a metronome comes in handy.

Again though, it must be emphasized not to try to play along to a piece of music that is too technical and hard. Choose something you like but has some easy riffs etc within.

Above all, have fun with it. If you feel you're getting too frustrated or you don't feel like you're getting anywhere, either change the music or turn it off and practise something else.

Anyway Trev, I hope this helps!

[ijh]

Yes try practising some songs. Playing along or trying to play songs is just as valid a way to practice in general. Vary it up a bit, different things on different nights, concentrate on things you struggle at. And set yourself some realistic goals you can reach. That way you're always moving forward rather than just floating along.

[allthumbs]

There is a bad habit that can be developed if you don't play pents and scales with some thought. You tend to play what you practice. If you practice your scales and pents in a linear movement through the notes, you will burn that pattern into your muscle memory. When you jam, chances are these will come into play. Since the notes are held for an equal amount of time and done at speed, that means they don't emphasize the melody. I am not saying don't practice pents and scales if that is your thing. Just don't run through them like a machine. Break them up. Start in the middle and go one note up the next one down from where you started. Play them in as many different ways and combinations as possible. Add character to some of the notes. Add non scale notes. Most importantly think your way through your playing so you don't fall into mindless noodling. Always try and choose your notes so they fit the melody. To a certain extent, muscle memory is the enemy of finger independence. Just my two cents worth.

[Andy S]

Originally Posted by SkyNet

Spend some quality time with a metronome. I really do feel this is the key to playing well and is (at least for me) the hardest aspect..........

Amen to that. Or possibly a drum machine with a simple rhythm pattern. Whatever you do, if you don't have a metronome and are going to get one, DO NOT GET ONE THAT BEEPS!! Get one that clicks. Someone gave me one that beeps and it drives me nuts. Especially when the beep tone is close to the note I'm playing.

But yeh, one has to develop discipline timing wise. If you do not and then try to work in a group setting, it can get off time pretty easy.

Also, I believe Kirk mentions this either in his book, or he has mentioned it on Plane Talk and here......Listen, listen , listen to what is being played. It's amazing what you will hear on the 2nd and 3rd times listening through a song. And then you will develop the ability to pick that part out and play it.

Example: There are songs our worship team has played over the last
year. I've listened to them and played along with the chord chart provided. On the first or second time, I'll note a minor change or correction in what was played versus what the chord chart has. But recently, I've listened to the piece without a chord chart and really listened to any lead or fill parts. It's amazing what I didn't notice being played the first and second times about 8 months ago.

When I play that little fill part now, at rehearsal, the rest of the band looks at me and makes comment about the neat fill I added. I just tell them that it's been there all along but I just heard it and now added it. Then they go and listen to the recording and say, 'yep, it was there alright. Why didn't you play it to begin with?' Then they laugh and change the subject and pick on me about something else. They know I'll find something to rag on them about!

So, timing, and listening. That's my story and I'm sticking with it!

[Hilch]

Thanks guys for the info ...

Really appreciate all the responses ....

So if I was to sum the responses up to this post it would be ..

Put guitar down for a few days

Buy some Jack

Use a metronome

Play with feeling / reason for chosing a certain note / chord

Experiment with other notes

Make up little tunes

Play along to C D collection when possible

Thanks guys

[fireblade]

I lay in bed on a sunday morning and play along with the radio. It's amazing how (after a while) you can pick up the chords being played and strum along.
I also try to play a song how I want to play it. For example if it's a strummed song, try fingerpicking it to your own arrangement, or vice versa. When your playing it how you want it's also easier to remember how the tune goes. LOL

[__tsidewinder__]

That about sums it up Hilch, but also be sure to learn songs. I think its really important to learn from the greats, and learning the greats' songs helps a lot.

Keep it fun.

good luck

[PepticDust]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

There is a bad habit that can be developed if you don't play pents and scales with some thought. You tend to play what you practice. If you practice your scales and pents in a linear movement through the notes, you will burn that pattern into your muscle memory. When you jam, chances are these will come into play. Since the notes are held for an equal amount of time and done at speed, that means they don't emphasize the melody. I am not saying don't practice pents and scales if that is your thing. Just don't run through them like a machine. Break them up. Start in the middle and go one note up the next one down from where you started. Play them in as many different ways and combinations as possible. Add character to some of the notes. Add non scale notes. Most importantly think your way through your playing so you don't fall into mindless noodling. Always try and choose your notes so they fit the melody. To a certain extent, muscle memory is the enemy of finger independence. Just my two cents worth.

To add to allthumbs advice, when playing scales, make sure all your fingers are close to the fretboard. I'm not sure if this is an issue for you but I have a habit of keeping fingers I don't need right away far from the fret board.

[Hilch]

Thanks Peptic

I do that with my fingers , I'll try and put my fingers closer to the fret board ...

Trev..

[SkyNet]

I agree with Peptic, try and minimize the movement of your fingers.

I also agree with playing with recordings. That'll help develop your timing. You can start using recordings as a crutch. You follow the guitar on the recording and are lost without it. Also play with a metronome or a backing track, it should sound good too.


Cheers