How to progress
So I am a 61 year old pediatric oncologist with a three year old son at home who works every other weekend and is on call two nights per week when not covering the weekend. I've been fooling around with the guitar for 38 years and still feel like i play the way I did when i first was learning back in college. I've purchased programs and books but realize that without concerted practice time there is little progress. How should i practice( scales, progressions, songs, etc) when there is so little time. I really am impressed with the TARGET program and hope this will get things going. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
cselsky1 wrote:
Hi cselsky1
That's a bit mean sending your 3year old son out to work and at nights too.
Check out the latest TG live where Neil gives advice about practice, It was in response partly to someone asking how not to get bored whilst practicing.
Basically start with something you know well to loosen up then practice something hard and then with something intermediate on your learning curve, finish with something easier and enjoyable.
Thats a rough guide of what he said as i remember it.
RicksPick
So I am a 61 year old pediatric oncologist with a three year old son at home who works every other weekend and is on call two nights per week when not covering the weekend. I've been fooling around with the guitar for 38 years and still feel like i play the way I did when i first was learning back in college. I've purchased programs and books but realize that without concerted practice time there is little progress. How should i practice( scales, progressions, songs, etc) when there is so little time. I really am impressed with the TARGET program and hope this will get things going. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Hi cselsky1
That's a bit mean sending your 3year old son out to work and at nights too.
Check out the latest TG live where Neil gives advice about practice, It was in response partly to someone asking how not to get bored whilst practicing.
Basically start with something you know well to loosen up then practice something hard and then with something intermediate on your learning curve, finish with something easier and enjoyable.
Thats a rough guide of what he said as i remember it.
RicksPick
cselsky1- First of all welcome to the forum and Totally Guitars! This is a great place to get better with a lot of really nice people.
I'm almost with you age wise so I think you have to examine why you play the guitar. Is it a serious hobby, or a diversion or just a way to relax? And what do you want to play?
For me, the guitar is a way to completely take my mind off my daily troubles and stresses. I know that at my age there simply may not be enough time left (not trying to be macabre but more practical) to really master this instrument so I have to set realistic goals. And that sets my practice routine. Your motivations for playing should drive how you practice.
I practice the guitar with a clear plan, whatever time I can devote one-half goes to scales and various embellishments like bends, hammer-ons and pull-offs, etc.
The other half I practice songs I already know and one or two songs ONLY that are new. These come primarily from the TARGET program. If I try to learn too many songs all at once I dilute my practice time and I never master anything.
I am the classic intermediate guitarist that Neil describes who can play parts of a million songs and never plays anything all the way through. So my new goal is when I have mastered a song that I wouldn't be embarrassed to play in front of someone I don't know, then I reward myself with a new song.
I don't know if this helps but it works for me.
Good luck and happy playin'
I'm almost with you age wise so I think you have to examine why you play the guitar. Is it a serious hobby, or a diversion or just a way to relax? And what do you want to play?
For me, the guitar is a way to completely take my mind off my daily troubles and stresses. I know that at my age there simply may not be enough time left (not trying to be macabre but more practical) to really master this instrument so I have to set realistic goals. And that sets my practice routine. Your motivations for playing should drive how you practice.
I practice the guitar with a clear plan, whatever time I can devote one-half goes to scales and various embellishments like bends, hammer-ons and pull-offs, etc.
The other half I practice songs I already know and one or two songs ONLY that are new. These come primarily from the TARGET program. If I try to learn too many songs all at once I dilute my practice time and I never master anything.
I am the classic intermediate guitarist that Neil describes who can play parts of a million songs and never plays anything all the way through. So my new goal is when I have mastered a song that I wouldn't be embarrassed to play in front of someone I don't know, then I reward myself with a new song.
I don't know if this helps but it works for me.
Good luck and happy playin'
Organise your time. First you've got to look at what time you can get free in the next week or two.
Half hour here an hour there and try to schedule it in. Then know what you want to practice.
I use the song order/difficulty topic Neil posted
http://www.totallyguitars.com/forum?fun ... 74&id=1625
Start at the start read the notes on the song your working on take note of the key your in if you want to practice
scales why not use the key of the song your working on and in the position your playing chords. Know what's available under
your chords, well really your chord shapes are just derived from the scales underneath anyway. Play the piece slow and deliberate
using a metronome and over time work it up to its original speed same with the scales. Keep note of your progress if you get time
to work on the verse or chorus or what tempo your working at this means when you walk away from your session you know
you've done something and you'll always know what you want to do for your next session and this builds your confidence and your skill will follow.
Half hour here an hour there and try to schedule it in. Then know what you want to practice.
I use the song order/difficulty topic Neil posted
http://www.totallyguitars.com/forum?fun ... 74&id=1625
Start at the start read the notes on the song your working on take note of the key your in if you want to practice
scales why not use the key of the song your working on and in the position your playing chords. Know what's available under
your chords, well really your chord shapes are just derived from the scales underneath anyway. Play the piece slow and deliberate
using a metronome and over time work it up to its original speed same with the scales. Keep note of your progress if you get time
to work on the verse or chorus or what tempo your working at this means when you walk away from your session you know
you've done something and you'll always know what you want to do for your next session and this builds your confidence and your skill will follow.