playing/lesson structure help....

[bigdawg]

Ok some days I have an hour to play, some days its 2 hours, but I get a bit overwhelmed with what IVe got to do...

I start off with a few scales, running through chords as a warm up and then always try and push myself onto new stuff.... Only problem is theres an awful lot of new stuff to get through.

Should I be looking to get a little bit of everything done (new chords/scales, theory, new songs, rhythm work, improvisation....), or assign each one its own night, which by the way feels like I never get anything done and I tend to repeat what Ive done last week in order to get it right...

If any of the teachers out there can thow some pointers out Id appreciate it....

[erictheweary]

My approach was always join a band and then try to learn stuff the night before in a mad panic. However, I have posted the David Mead answer on here before and people found that usefull:

Split your practice routine roughly in 3:

-warm ups and technical exercises ( eg working on a string bending technique)
-learning new material
-playing through your repetoire.

[clare_bear]

Bigdawg, I feel exactly the same way as you - there's just sooooo much to learn! Am I right in thinking you've been playing for about 18 months? I spent a lot of time (and still do!) trying to decide what I should be playing next, but only started getting better when I started practicing what I wanted to play.

For me, learning songs all the way through has been the best method of learning. You pick up new chords, you get swifter at changing chords, you get better at playing single note riffs as well as chords, it improves your timing and sense of rhythm and I think it improves your ears too. Of course, the next problem is picking songs that are within your capabilities and not going to be soul destroying to learn. I started learning older Foo Fighter songs, Nirvana, Green Day and songs that were relatively quick to learn. That in itself builds confidence and gives you a good foundation to start looking at harder stuff. I've just started learning a few Beatles songs too and they are great for improving your single note playing.

I'm only just getting better at playing and it seems to me that time spent learning new songs, no matter what they are, eventually pays off by helping with loads of skills you need to improve on the guitar. Since I've been in a band (about 6 months) and had to learn new songs regualrly, I think my timing, dexterity, ability to remember songs (sometimes!), rhythm playing, and being able to pick things out by ear better have all improved. I'm still working on the fretboard knowledge!

I know you'd like to practice with other people from your other threads, and it definitely does help, but learning some songs and playing along to backing tracks will also help. And I found my bandmates via http://www.formingbands.co.uk/site/index.php - and I'm 33, so not all aimed at really young players.

Good luck.

[BlindLemonAde]

Originally Posted by erictheweary

My approach was always join a band and then try to learn stuff the night before in a mad panic. However, I have posted the David Mead answer on here before and people found that usefull:

Split your practice routine roughly in 3:

-warm ups and technical exercises ( eg working on a string bending technique)
-learning new material
-playing through your repetoire.

That's what I tell all my students - I wish I could apply it to myself...

[bigdawg]

Originally Posted by erictheweary

My approach was always join a band and then try to learn stuff the night before in a mad panic. However, I have posted the David Mead answer on here before and people found that usefull:

Split your practice routine roughly in 3:

-warm ups and technical exercises ( eg working on a string bending technique)
-learning new material
-playing through your repetoire.

Ive been using this to get me to where I am but now Im getting overwhelmed with how much there is to learn, even in every section.

A couple of weeks back I was learning new chords, the chord structure and the individual notes on the fretboard, but going back to it yesterday Ive pretty much forgotten everything. This week Im getting my rhythm playing vack up to scratch (thanks in no small part to the new Guitar techniques magazine), but I know when I go bakc to it in a week or so itll be like starting again.

Originally Posted by clare_bear

Bigdawg, I feel exactly the same way as you - there's just sooooo much to learn! Am I right in thinking you've been playing for about 18 months? I spent a lot of time (and still do!) trying to decide what I should be playing next, but only started getting better when I started practicing what I wanted to play.

For me, learning songs all the way through has been the best method of learning. You pick up new chords, you get swifter at changing chords, you get better at playing single note riffs as well as chords, it improves your timing and sense of rhythm and I think it improves your ears too. Of course, the next problem is picking songs that are within your capabilities and not going to be soul destroying to learn. I started learning older Foo Fighter songs, Nirvana, Green Day and songs that were relatively quick to learn. That in itself builds confidence and gives you a good foundation to start looking at harder stuff. I've just started learning a few Beatles songs too and they are great for improving your single note playing.

I'm only just getting better at playing and it seems to me that time spent learning new songs, no matter what they are, eventually pays off by helping with loads of skills you need to improve on the guitar. Since I've been in a band (about 6 months) and had to learn new songs regualrly, I think my timing, dexterity, ability to remember songs (sometimes!), rhythm playing, and being able to pick things out by ear better have all improved. I'm still working on the fretboard knowledge!

I know you'd like to practice with other people from your other threads, and it definitely does help, but learning some songs and playing along to backing tracks will also help. And I found my bandmates via http://www.formingbands.co.uk/site/index.php - and I'm 33, so not all aimed at really young players.

Good luck.

Claire, yes about 18 months. Some weeks I feel like I can jump on a stage and play anything and two days later Im struggling to remember chord names and wondering why I bother!!

I actually had a whole afternoon yesterday, the house to myself and my adoring fans (ok my three cats!) without my little boy and other half and I pretty much learnt exactly what I set out to, just because I had the time to do it. Tonight however Ive got to wait till littluns in bed, the washing ups done, everythigs ready for tomorrow, Ill be lucky to pick up a guitar before 9.30.

I agree with palying what you want but again Ive got such a huge knowledge and love of music thats like saying right this your first climbing lesson - that big chunk of rock over there is everest... we'll start at the bottom...!! I think this is also the main problem that there are so many songs I want to learn Im currently working on Foos, fleetwood mac, motown, stax, buddy holly, sheryl crow, the who, johnny cash, george harrison and eric clapton... I get a stage where Im stuck on something I think ill just start this and come back to that and I never get anything finished! I can play the intros to loads of songs!

Id love to be in a position (ie a band, mike night or jamming) where I have to learn something to focus my mind...

thanks for the replys though guys

[erictheweary]

Guess you have answered your own question - need for a focus. If jams/gigs are definitely an impossibility what about home recording? getting a peice to a point where you would feel happy for others to listen and sharing it over t'internet on Myspace/ Music Radar/etc?

[clare_bear]

I get bogged down with all the songs I want to learn too, and it is kind of nice to be told what I need to learn!

How about pick 3 of the songs you want to learn (preferably the easiest, so that you can get them sorted quickly), learn them, and add them to your repertoire...then move on to the next 3. That should give you some variety and give you some focus as well. Focus seems to be the issue, and I know it's the same with me (I have a couple of weeks off from band practice, and I'm flitting from learning one thing to the next!)

[martynq]

Originally Posted by erictheweary

Split your practice routine roughly in 3:

-warm ups and technical exercises ( eg working on a string bending technique)
-learning new material
-playing through your repetoire.

I've not seen that before... sounds good... I must try to see if I can implement something like that more often.

[bigdawg]

Originally Posted by erictheweary

Guess you have answered your own question - need for a focus. If jams/gigs are definitely an impossibility what about home recording? getting a peice to a point where you would feel happy for others to listen and sharing it over t'internet on Myspace/ Music Radar/etc?

funny you should say that I noticed I had an output on my ht dual pedal yesterday that I can plug straight into my computer for recording - will be having aply with that again tonight hopefully...

[frankus]

http://www.guitar-techniques.com/res...0.practice.pdf