[randomaire]

Would like to start a thread to see how people actually practice when they are learning. In an hours time what are the things you would normally work on.

For example: My hour consists of:

(5min Stretch)
15min Fingerstyle Warmup
15min Chord progression for a finger picking song i.e. Stairway to Heaven Am, AmM9, Am7, D/F#, FM7, G/B, Am (I just strum these chords to get used to putting the chords down so that I can move into Fingerpicking those chords)
15min Fingerpicking i.e. Stairway to Heaven note picking.
15min Freetime
(5min Stretch)

Free Time after that if you're hand isn't sore yet.

Just curious of different ways people practice, this may also help others to find a pattern that they may like, more of a guided approach.

[coldethyl]

Originally Posted by randomaire

(5min Stretch)

Actually that's a wise thing to do before doing anything. I must remember to limber up before getting into it.

I used to start with a few scales etc, but I don't do that so much now. Firstly I noodle around the fretboard to warm up for about 10 mins, then I go through stuff that I know and that I'm comfortable with. I do that for about 15 min, then I start practicing (a bar at a time) other stuff that I'm trying to learn. That I do for about 20 mins. Then I go for a coffee break for 15 min. Then I'm back into it again, providing that I haven't got other things that need to be done around the place. (washing, cooking, etc)

[Justapicker]

I start with 20 minutes of Giuliani's 120 Exercises For The Right Hand. I do four a day for five minutes each so at the end of a month I've cycled through them all. It's good warm-up for the right hand and the left hand part is simple enough that it allows the fingers to stretch.
20 minutes of scales. One key a day including all it's modes.
20 minutes of arpeggios using chords derived from that days scale.
20 minutes of various interval exercises based on that days scale.
30 minutes on new material.
A bunch of time playing old material and improvising.

[derson]

what are the giuliani's exercises? this is derson

[lorispencer]

when i first started and was playing only classical guitar, i started with segovia scales for all keys starting at the first fret and playing through the 12th. i would do these for at least 20 minutes. Great exercise and they help you know the neck either by sound or reading. then i would start actual practice by playing a piece all the way through. next, break out the parts that were trouble and do them over multiple times to bring them up to speed, then play entire piece again. I practiced 3 to 4 hours every day but that is not the usual at all and i would not suggest that for most people.

Currently, i still average 4 to 6 hours of music a day (includes practice, fun solo play, playing with others most days, creating arrangments for bands, and performing) but i am not so formal with the scales. I do work on those styles that i like and don't play more like actual practice. Blues soloing is an example of this. I pick a key and go over blues scales for 10 minutes or so and either create a backing track using band in the box or pick a mp3 that i want to play with and i will do this until i feel like i have made progress. progress means that i am playing more by feel and ear than i was at the beginning of the session.

progress is made in very small increments. as long as you expose yourself to opportunities for progress (guitar in hands and playing) you will be surprised how guickly those small increments add up. remember to work on something for a short amount of time and then incorporate it into something that you want to play quickly. this will make your practice more enjoyable and allow you to use what you are learning.

Giuliani's exercises are excellent as well.

[Justapicker]

Originally Posted by derson

what are the giuliani's exercises? this is derson

They're a set of 120 exercises that put the right hand through just about every possible fingerpicking pattern. The left hand part is kept very simple which allows you to focus on the right hand.

They're pretty much THE standard for classical guitarists but work for any type of music.

[guttertrashsingalong]

i start out with a few scale run throughs, major scale and b pentatonic minor is my fav.then run through a couple of riffs like intros to crazy train.sometime warm up wth those with a acoustic for finger pressure reasons seems like when i switch from acoustic to electric just makes things way easier for me n a warm up.

[bamagirl]

I take a few minutes playing through the single notes with a pick to limber my fingers and keep them in memory. Then a few scales. Then I practice whatever I'm currently learning - right now I'm really working on the chords and just starting to do some chord changes. Usually my left hand gets sore after doing this for 30 minutes or so, and then I get out some of my music that I've already learned to play the melody lines on, and enjoy actually getting a song to come out of the instrument. After that I practice sight reading. I took that for granted until my teacher gave me the tip to look ahead a measure in my music to be ready so there won't be pauses in my playing. I am doing more and more of that, so that it is becoming second nature and my beats aren't delayed.

I think the coffee break is an excellent idea. I might have to incorporate that into my practice sessions; it would be a great time to get online and catch up with this forum!!

[Horndogrob88766]

Wow. I hadn't even really thought about having a warm up routine. I'm going on 2 weeks now, but it's probably better to start out with good habits. I usually just jump right in and start trying different chords. What are some good finger stretches?

[randomaire]

That was the other reason I wanted to see how everyone practices, because at least for me anyway, when I first started I had no clue how to actually practice, and I think it made my learining a lot tougher in the long run.

You see people on here that have only been playing a few months and sound really good, maybe natural talent, or maybe they have a good practice style. Either way, maybe this will help some of us newly starting people to see what is or isn't a good way to practice when starting out and help us form or improve our own practice sessions so that we get maximum effect out of the time we spend.

Thank you guys for all the comments.

[Lcjones]

Plug it up and go.

I think the whole practice thing depends on what you want out of guitar playing. Of course, if you're a classical player, then you will probably spend more practice time than play time. If you're looking to be a searing riff player then scales and stretch time on the fretboard will be a point of study. But if you're wanting to play music, hook up with a few folks, sit down and jam. That will be more practice and inspiration than you can imagine. The jam will accomplish a couple of things. It will get you used to playing with other people. You will learn from them, as they will learn from you. You get "real-time" practice and "play-time" practice. It's interesting. And above all, it's ahelluva lot more fun. In all of this though, be honest with yourself in where you want to go with your guitar and build a practice/play program that is comfortable for you and that you enjoy!

While practice, in the literal sense, is no doubt a good and worthy cause and it certainly builds and expands your abilities, spending too much time in practice will become a bore. Learn new songs. As you learn new songs, you will learn new technique and style just as if you sat down and ran scales for 10 or 15 minutes. Don't hang up on any one particular "riff" or "chord progression". Don't lock yourself into a regimen that detracts from actually playing your guitar. Listen and play along with music from your CD, iPod or what ever digital device you might have. It doesn't matter how good or bad you are, no one is listening except you!

You can sit and practice your whole life and be technically proficient in any manner of guitar style and technique. But if the music, the blood stirring music, isn't in your heart, what was accomplished? Get out and play.

**

[randomaire]

Excellent point.