How much time do you spend practicing?

I try to practice every single day, and depending on how the day goes and what I have, anywhere between 2-4 hours on average.

But that practice time goes beyond guitar playing really, into ear training, arranging, singing, that kinda stuff.
As far as guitar-related stuff, most of the stuff I practice is for my Improvisation class, which I now have to step up the practice time for because he gave us a little bigger workload for this song, and more exercises to work on. But I still work on things for my honors ensemble class as well so I guess that MIGHT get put into the practice regiment.

And Rick… that’s quite a shock to me that you only practice every other day, and that you sometimes go for that long without playing. If I went even ONE day without playing I’d go nuts. hahaha

I would have thought you would have been like some kinda Buddhist monk with your practice routine nowadays with how great you are.

Rick – with your skills you don’t need that much of a practice! 🙂 I’m amazed by how you pull off that stuff you do 🙂

My practicing really varies from day to day. Sometimes i practice 2 hours, sometimes i practice 6 hours, but when i do practice than it’s just exercises i write myself – they are more of compositions rather than just exercises and are often parts of the songs i write but usually i stick to 3-5 exercises a day. I pick a certain subject to practice and than just repeat it again and again.

Also, i often write stuff while being in a bus or waiting the class in the university, just imagining how i would play a certain lick or passage and than i come home and am able to play it straight away.

It’s really hard to make it to the level where you just practice every day and the whole day, because all of us have other things to do in life – working, studying, living with someone (like Rick said).

Awww Rick… Slide guitar. now THAT is something that I want to get into. hahaha

And I do understand about how some things take precedence over guitar. I guess for me, I am “married” to my guitar and to music, seeing as how I’ve never had myself the responsibilities of a girlfriend or anything. Plus not having very many close friends and still living at home helps as well. :p I’m your typical shut-in shredder. Only leaving my room periodically for foraging, sunlight and bathroom duties. …and school as well.

But I think that’s all about to change soon once this sax player from school Andy and I get our band going. He’s got big plans for us. We’re gonna start off just playing regular jazz and originals and branch out into Pop, R&B and Funk, which I am excited about seeing as I am a Metal player by trade.

And thanks for your kind words. I will try to do well in my Improvisation class. I’ve grown very fond of Jazz Improv these past few years.

I dont shred but I think I qualify for the ‘lone axeman’s club’;)

When im not working or at school or the occasional gig. I’ll be here in the studio trying to get that parker phrase down pat.

Practice isn’t something I do alot, Jamming is something else. Practice to me would mean scales and exercises or trying to understand a new concept. If its lazyness or just my ego im not sure, but practicing isn’t something I put alot of time into. Listening and being creative with the tools I allready have is enough to consider at this stage in my musical life.

To put a number to it. Maybe 3-4 hours a day of actual playing would be a fair call.

I try to play at least 4 hour a day. maybe more. when i wake up i go over some things i learned or have been working on. maybe play a few simple songs. then i go to work and while i work i read about music theory. then i go home and PRACTICE scales and chords and new stuff. But every other day i have band practice for 2 hours. I try to equal out the practice time with just some good old guitar playing time

When I first started out,
I practiced 4-8 hours every day.
But, for the last 10 years or so, I haven’t practiced at all.
I can’t even remember last time I actually practiced. What I these days,
is just sit down and jam. And if I hear someone play something I like,
I transcribe it. However, I do get a lot of playing time down every week,
with my students, and also doing clinics and live shows.

I pretty much peaked technically after around 3 years of playing,
and after that it’s been more about refining that skill, and putting it
to musical use. However, I can not stress enough the need to do the “dog-years”,
and really apply yourself to the point that you can pretty much play anything you want to play.
After that, it’s all about having something to say with your playing.

The second most important thing for me, has been transcribing.
If there is one tool above any other I would recommend my students,
it is to transcribe, both others playing, but also your own stuff.
I have learned more by transcribing my own improvisations,
than I have learned from all my years learning tabs and other peoples stuff put together.

Transcribing other peoples stuff, pushes your boundaries and your ears,
both technically and musically. Transcribing your own stuff, makes you analyze and
crystallize your own unique voice and style, and see what it is your really do,
and what you need to work on.

Well I started playing guitar in October of 2005
And I had work very hard to catch up with all those years of wanted to play the guitar and never doing it?

SO now i play everyday for a few hours to catch up to people like RICK GRAHAM who I may never play as well as!

But music is about having fun right? Not how good you are!

I’m having a lot of fun these days!