Practice time - What do you count as "time"?

Hi[br][br]I am new this year to Guitrartricks, tried Jamplay before.[br][br]Myself I´ve been playing on the guitar and playing around, mostly beeing on and off in my practice/inspiration, for maybe 3-4 years. A tennis elbow in the middle of 2018 hindering me with no playing for 7-8 months didn´t help ;)[br][br]Now after that I was really motivated, I thought ;) So decided to give Jamplay a try during 2019 (and sort of myy 3rd/4th year playing) Still, Jamplay is great in many ways, but after 3-4 months I started feeling like I needed some more help with a structure for my practice. Mostly some help with, some one to show me, what really are the fundamentals and in what steps I could work with them, learn them, practice them. [br][br]

I had read in the reviews that one of the things many liked with Guitartricks was it´s leesonplan and most of all it´s core learning system for beginners and semibeginners.

So hence, tried Guuitartricks and...[br]It´s been a huge motivational boost for me!!

The core learning system, the lesson plans etc helps me in so many ways. Easy to see, set up and follow a weekly plan. Easy to se the long term plan knowing it is structured and set up by pro teachers. And also since I can see the long term plan it´s easy to spice it up or add some variation with other hints, lessons, songs etc I´ve found on i.ex. youtube that is suitable for the level, the steps, I am at.[br]Just love the tremendous help it has been for me, i.ex. in setting structure, deciding on excercises and goals. Love it!

[br]Now, to the real point. The topic and my main question for the thread.[br]What is to be considered as practicetime?[br][br]Now beeing all motivated and really feeling like I actually have taken a few steps, really improved, last 1-2 months I try to up my practicetime. But what is considered as practice time?[br][br]Well, then as in the examples I added; If you search the web one get to read about practicetimes that are anything from 1 to 3-4 to 8 to 12 hours a day. 8 to 12 hours!![br][br]Many seems to say 1-2 hours a day (average) should get u somewherem and if u can move up to 2-3 h/day you should see some noticeable results over a year i.ex.[br]I also get that some manage 4-6 h/day if you have the time, maybe 6-8 if you are really dedicated and/or work with or study music on college etc. But 8-12 hours of real practice? Not sure if it´s impressive or insane? (like in a physical risk)[br][br]Still, I find the question about what is considered as practice really interesting as you see so many quotes, advice, blogs and so on about the topic.Like:

- We all heard the "you need 10.000 of hours" to become an expert/master etc.[br]- I've seen a few postm blogs, saying you need at least 1000 hours to be... i.ex. able to play the guitar for fun (semibegginer), like easy songs u like with some decenty smooth chordchanges.

- Also, like in the midlifeguitar-blog I posted, a few post, teachers etc saying that after maybe 2500-3000 hours you should start to be a decent to good (not as in skilled) player and be able to play many/most songs with some practice. Maybe it´s like a good campfireplayer? ;)

[br]So with that, I try to set up a reasonable goal each week for how many hours I can practice. I would say a guess is reasonable for me will be a practicetime for 60-180 min/daily on average. (depending on workload that week)[br][br]But back to my main question then, and what I would love to get some input on. [br][br]

A) About how much do you pracitce per day? (i.ex. in average)[br]B) What do you think should be, or normally is, considered as practice in that "practicetime"?[br][br]

Hope some of you will be helpfull and add your experiences and thoughts! Always appreciated [br][br]Kindly Perraz

[br]https://midlifeguitar.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar%EF%BB%BF/[br]https://www.guitartricks.com/forum/thread.php?t=11952

https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1655342

https://www.adamrafferty.com/2013/02/23/10-tips-for-healthy-guitar-practicing/

3 examples to explain some more about the "grey zone" I wonder about.

- I follow say 4 lessons here, 10 min each, that are focused on some chords, licks, whatever.

L1: I listen to some theoretics, explanation L2: Some training/explaing about the stuff learned L3: Practrice jam with teacher L4: Practice to jamtrack.[br]Do you consider this as 60 min practice with some theory and playing, or do you maybe consider the last two lessons, 30 min as it?

[br]- You do some stretch excercises (without the guitar) 10 min both as warmup and also as that helps you (especially as beginner) to develop finger-dexterity, strength. You then read/listen to some theory on i.ex. scales you try to improve on for 10 min. Aftet that you play some scales slowly 10 min and then some more advanced scalepractice with either higher speed/more challenge for 10 min. [br]Do you consider it as 40 min of excercise or maybe only 10 because only the last 10 was harder?

- You try to learn a new song. First two days you listen to it a few times, listen to the teacher as she explains and plays (say 30 min) and then you also play along, slowing the speed, with the cords and strum pattern (say 30 min) so 60 minx2 days.

- Next two days you try play it at normal speed. You play and practice the chord changes and strum pattern with focus first 30 min and then you sit an "jam" and play 30 min while watching some news on TV.[br]Do you consider that as 4 days of 60 min practice? Or do you only count some of it as practice?[br][br]Hope it helps to clarify a little ;)

I suppose some have different ideas about what pratice is. For me, there is a difference between 'practice' and 'study' and I consider practice to be soley [u]fingers on strings[/u] doing warm-ups, exercises, tutorials and song lessons. The time does not include set-up, tuning, noodling or breaks. Practice time is playing time.

I'm a firm believer in planned practice sessions and I know in advance what I'm going to pratctice and for how long. If I'm off from the planned time it's because I went long, not because I cut it short. I use a kichen timer.

I also think firm, consistent scheduling is important. I don't buy 'fifteen minutes to an hour' 'most days'. My lifestyle allows me to practice at the same time(s) virtually every day I practice. YMMV.

How much time is a personal choice. Many have the opinion that if you really want to play you'll find the time. I'm one of them. For many beginners, 30 minutes at one time is too much, others wish they could do more than two hours a day. There is so much to practice, so many songs to learn... I've never understood how players can progress with just an half-hour a day. But then, I'm a slow learner.

Whatever approch is settled upon, consistency is paramount, IMO.

Understand that learning guitar is an endless road. How far one goes is an individual choice. The key is to have fun.

Good luck,

john

Hi and welcome

Mike is giving a free lesson this Friday on how to practice. If I wasn't already booked with Dave at the same time I would be there.

https://www.guitartricks.com/forum/thread.php?f=60&t=54502

You may want to check it out.

Good luck

Originally Posted by: john of MT

I suppose some have different ideas about what pratice is. For me, there is a difference between 'practice' and 'study' and I consider practice to be soley [u]fingers on strings[/u] doing warm-ups, exercises, tutorials and song lessons. The time does not include set-up, tuning, noodling or breaks. Practice time is playing time.

I'm a firm believer in planned practice sessions and I know in advance what I'm going to pratctice and for how long. If I'm off from the planned time it's because I went long, not because I cut it short. I use a kichen timer.

I also think firm, consistent scheduling is important. I don't buy 'fifteen minutes to an hour' 'most days'. My lifestyle allows me to practice at the same time(s) virtually every day I practice. YMMV.

How much time is a personal choice. Many have the opinion that if you really want to play you'll find the time. I'm one of them. For many beginners, 30 minutes at one time is too much, others wish they could do more than two hours a day. There is so much to practice, so many songs to learn... I've never understood how players can progress with just an half-hour a day. But then, I'm a slow learner. [br]- I hate Bar-chords still, as many beginner, and can make a F-chords sound ok(barely) but not close to take it fast enough for a song.[br][br]So where do that place me? More of a rethorical question, but it´s not easy to evaluate yourself as a semibeginner ;)[br][br]

Hence I am really happy about finding the learning system and also some solid advice at Guitartricks.[br][br]Still, that means I sure do appreciate any thoughts on

- practice/study-time

- what more experienced players consider as practice/study

- how much time (daily average or so) you think could be good to aim for to have some real development as a semibeginner.[br]- And lastly any advice on good, important things to really work on as a semibeginner. (Booth playing time and theory)

But a solid plan is something I really would love to be able to build and work with as a base for my practice and playing!

Also thinking, I like to try and record myself a little now and then. Do some vids/instruction in my work, so I got the tools anyway. You know, with guitar on the other hand I like it for the fun of checking back how I played, see development etc. With this I might even find some satisfaction and fun in making my own practiceevaluation-log with small films :)

Permalink

Originally Posted by: Perraz[br]Still, that means I sure do appreciate any thoughts on

- practice/study-time

- what more experienced players consider as practice/study

- how much time (daily average or so) you think could be good to aim for to have some real development as a semibeginner.[br]- And lastly any advice on good, important things to really work on as a semibeginner. (Booth playing time and theory)

Here's the thing, it seems you are very motivated, which is awesome. What you first want to do is remember to have fun playing. Structured practice is very important, Don't over-structure your practice. That ias tosay; if you finally break through on a new skill and you're vibing on the thing you learned, talking some time to enjoy it. Remember, you're doing this to enjoy. Do not skip over that part > enjoying.

I've been playing for a good few decades and at times I've had a lot of structure and others I had none.

I noticed in your first post that you referenced the enormous number of hours some people practiced. Most of that is a lie. Don't buy it. Athletes practice. Just not all day long.

When I did have structured practices, I topped one hour of structured practice. That's not to say I didn't pick up the guitar at other times in the day if the mood struck me. The problem with the 'many, many hours' approach, diminishing returns. You can only structure so much practice. I'd rather have a very focused half hour than a long, overly planned many hours.

Just remember, play to have fun.

You'd also asked the question about good important things to work on. I want mention that guitar playing is a creative endeavor. It is not a math equation. Yes, there is technical information to learn but remember that it is in support of a creative endeavor.

Why use a major pentatonic versus a minor pentatonic? No one ever told me why. Back in the day, I had only what a teacher could tell me in a half hour and really, I only ever took but a few lessons (mostly self taught).

You can learn a scale but not know what to do with it.

Learn songs. Lots and lots of songs. The technical and theory side of playing is very important but songs are where the rubber meets the road. You'll start seeing patterns and structures and commonalities of those things that you are learning.

Music is a language you learn to communicate and best served practiced when in the actual process of communicating. You can learn vocabulary and grammar rules but it doesn't make you a good conversationalist. You only learn thatwhen you use it.

Follow the Guitar Tricks structure and that will take you far but learn all kinds of songs for many different genres, it will expands and grow the heck out of your playing.

JeffS65 gets an A+...

'...follow the Guitar Tricks structure...have fun'

Ok, I would say that the only amount of time you can count as practice is the amount of time you are physically playing the instrument. All the time you spend preparing the guitar or watching videos or studying notation or listening to music is not considered practice IMO.

It seems guitartricks teachers, at least at the beginners level, seem to know that in order to advance you have to know what you are trying to advance to; and they strongly make recomendations on how to help you advance. I've been playing for a few years but am going way back to some beginners material to help build a better foundation.

2 hours a day really good practice, where I am physically playing the guitar is enough for me. If I am crunched for time even 30 minutes will still keep me going forward if the time is spent well.

Maybe not in theme but how book FREE lesson with Mike Olekshy. this 24 April. And where those lessons are available???

Originally Posted by: JeffS65

Originally Posted by: Perraz[br]Still, that means I sure do appreciate any thoughts on

- practice/study-time

- what more experienced players consider as practice/study

- how much time (daily average or so) you think could be good to aim for to have some real development as a semibeginner.[br]- And lastly any advice on good, important things to really work on as a semibeginner. (Booth playing time and theory)

Here's the thing, it seems you are very motivated, which is awesome. What you first want to do is remember to have fun playing. Structured practice is very important, Don't over-structure your practice. That ias tosay; if you finally break through on a new skill and you're vibing on the thing you learned, talking some time to enjoy it. Remember, you're doing this to enjoy. Do not skip over that part > enjoying.

I've been playing for a good few decades and at times I've had a lot of structure and others I had none.

I noticed in your first post that you referenced the enormous number of hours some people practiced. Most of that is a lie. Don't buy it. Athletes practice. Just not all day long.

When I did have structured practices, I topped one hour of structured practice. That's not to say I didn't pick up the guitar at other times in the day if the mood struck me. The problem with the 'many, many hours' approach, diminishing returns. You can only structure so much practice. I'd rather have a very focused half hour than a long, overly planned many hours.

Just remember, play to have fun.

You'd also asked the question about good important things to work on. I want mention that guitar playing is a creative endeavor. It is not a math equation. Yes, there is technical information to learn but remember that it is in support of a creative endeavor.

Why use a major pentatonic versus a minor pentatonic? No one ever told me why. Back in the day, I had only what a teacher could tell me in a half hour and really, I only ever took but a few lessons (mostly self taught).

You can learn a scale but not know what to do with it.

Learn songs. Lots and lots of songs. The technical and theory side of playing is very important but songs are where the rubber meets the road. You'll start seeing patterns and structures and commonalities of those things that you are learning.

Music is a language you learn to communicate and best served practiced when in the actual process of communicating. You can learn vocabulary and grammar rules but it doesn't make you a good conversationalist. You only learn thatwhen you use it.

Follow the Guitar Tricks structure and that will take you far but learn all kinds of songs for many different genres, it will expands and grow the heck out of your playing.

First:[br]jschroni, thanx for the input. Interesting and helpfull sInce you seem to be (looking at years playing) a few years ahead of me, but still close enough to make it something easy to relate to.

When you explain your view on practive and also say trying to get to 2 hours a day of good, quality practice most days do work well enough for you to get some nice development, that is great to hear! Booth because I got some feedback on what may bee seen,counted, as practice,and most of all that those 2 hours definitely feels as a reachable and possible practicegoal for me! [br]Surely adds some to my motivation, thanks!!

Originally Posted by: Mayo Mayone

Maybe not in theme but how book FREE lesson with Mike Olekshy. this 24 April. And where those lessons are available???

You told Mike you already had it. ?

https://www.guitartricks.com/forum/thread.php?f=60&t=54502