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Position:Home>Performing Arts> Practicing guitar?Question: Practicing guitar!? I have been playing guitar for about two years!. I have tried to practice four hours a day, but in reality, I rarely meet that goal!. Lately I've not felt like practicing, but I certainly don't want to quit!. Should I force myself to do my scales and exercises, or just take the day off!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: it depends on how serious you are about it!. If you feel guitar playing should be a way to enjoy yourself, then take the day off and come back later when you are feeling up to it!. If you are more serious about it, and you realize that only hard work begets good things (like being good at guitar) then force yourself to practice, despite not being in the mood!. Its up to you!.!.!.we can't tell you how ambitious to be within yourself when it comes to learning guitar!.Www@QuestionHome@Com What I do is for an hour per day I practice specific things: finger exercises, scales & arpeggios, sight reading, chord playing, specific songs!. Then whenever I play during the rest of the day, I just play songs I like!. I practice the same material everyday for one week (ie the same scales, arpeggios, sight reaidng material, and song)!. A week is usually enought for me to show inprovement in the smoothness, speed and perhaps work on a specifice methodology or attack!. Then, the following week, I move on to new material!. In this way, I'm constantly learning new things!.!.!.over a period of time, say a year, what I've learned adds up!. And I never get bored!. Eventually, I cycle back to where I began, but then I address the old material with much greater skill!. I teach my students this way and I learned this methodology from my teacher!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I always find it fun to play along with a band I like!. That might get your juices flowing a bit!. !. !. and, presumably, they are better than you so that'll give you a goal!. It can be a drag just practicing the same way all the time!. Another thing is to find someone else to play/practice with!. Practicing is kind of like dieting, if you are too strict about it, you will probably lose initiative!. Music's supposed to be fun and I would go sofar as to say if it's not fun, it's not music, at least good music!Www@QuestionHome@Com The most important thing for any musician is to practice at least 20 minutes a day and every day!. Don't skip a day!. It's not by practicing 4 hours a day and then skipping practice that you will discipline yourself!. Practice less, but on a daily basis!. Put on your favorite CD and play with them!. That is a sure fire way of developing ear training, putch control, and having fun doing it!. Don't copy the solo but try playing what you can sing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Music is simple!.!.!.either I play from my heart willingly at any time or I don't!. Hey, do you enjoy it with all of your heart when you do it and is your instrument "in" your body and soul!? Don't sweat a down time unless it develops into a pattern!. And forget those scales!.!.!.rock it out from inside you!! Play on!Www@QuestionHome@Com That's the wrong way to practice!. That's the way they teach you at guitar lessons!. That's not the way the pros practice!. You need to jam, improvise, and practice phrases!.!.!.!.licks!. Scales will make you sound too scalar!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Keep it FUN!. If it isn't fun you will stop!. Not a chore, fun time BIG DIFFERENCE!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |