Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: gwEm on January 28, 2008, 01:52:22 PM

Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: gwEm on January 28, 2008, 01:52:22 PM
i had a conversation with a cello player over the weekend, and it was quite interesting.

in normal circumstances i probably practise guitar for 1-2 hours a week. probably 30 minutes of that is technique based and the other time is purely improvisational.

i probably spend 5-10 hours a week working on other musical things, like producing and so on.

if i have a gig schedueled in the next week i'll spend my 5-10 hours practising my set. if the gig is two weeks ahead, i'll spend the 5-10 practising pure technique.

i must admit technique-wise i'm the first to say i'm pretty below par, but slowly improving. i'm not sure i want to spend much time improving it though, since i get more pleasure from practising different improvisations or writing new material.

i rarely play other artists' material, unless a cover version is planned.

was wondering about other peoples scheduals?
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: indysmith on January 28, 2008, 01:54:55 PM
I've given up practising. i don't care if i don't get better. I just pick up the guitar if and when i want to nowadays, and play random notes til it sounds good, lol :D
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Jonny on January 28, 2008, 02:07:56 PM
Varies to be honest, I have folk at home so when they're out I can probably (and have done) noodle at anything like sweep picking (the same sweep) for about 1 hour+ trying to get it right.

But if they're at home I don't usually practise 'annoying' techniques as they put it. I just play songs. Can't really put a time range to it.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: _tom_ on January 28, 2008, 02:19:36 PM
I never really practise much in terms of scales, metronome etc. I usually just jam around playing my own riffs and boring pentatonic solos :lol: Though I did learn the fast end bit of Crazy Train solo which I'm a bit proud of (not quite up to speed yet though) :)
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Stevepage on January 28, 2008, 02:24:10 PM
i used to spend up to 5 hours a session just sitting in my room playing. But that was when I was at college and didn't have to work.

Now I work full time and I'm in a band so I spend about 3 hours a week with the band, writing songs.

Any other time on the guitar is usually spent jamming along to covers my band wants to play, writing ideas or improving old songs.

I want to get back into a routine again, but working and having a girlfriend as well as a social life kinda limits any time I have free.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: ilÿti on January 28, 2008, 02:34:47 PM
For my last two years of high-school, I practiced a rather strict 6 hours a day. Now I've slacked it off a bit (having other responsibilities) but I do take the time off for a guitar marathon when time allows it. On a good weekend day I can get 12 hours in, and I love that. If i'm at the computer or in front of the tele without a guitar in my lap, I feel I'm wasting time. I mostly work on my own music, in fact, I haven't learned a song in ages. When no creative juices are flowing I just practice technique and I even have fun doing that.
My teacher told me that when he has a record on the works, he'd practice 12 hours a day, every day. From 8am to 10pm (when you include breaks)
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Scotty477 on January 28, 2008, 02:44:35 PM
I practise only if I have a space between gigs.

For new songs I tend to cram it in and nail the parts I have to play. The rest of the time it's just improvisation for enjoyment.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on January 28, 2008, 02:57:29 PM
I didn't 'practice' for a long time (unless I felt my chops were slipping) while I was teaching, since that reinforces the basics over and over again.

Most recently I've started practicing again for the pure pleasure of it and am really enjoying it!

I try to play guitar for an average of 1 hr/day, minimum. Yesterday I probably played for 3-4 hrs, plus spent another 4hrs mixing the new clip in the Players Room. (Subtle hint lol ;)  )
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Twinfan on January 28, 2008, 03:26:13 PM
I play most days, for at least an hour.  Just keeping my fingers up to speed, mainly playing along with CDs.  Other times I'll learn new 'DC tracks for the band, or I'll be fiddling with my tone in some way - trying out different pedals on my board etc.

It's not really "practice" to me, it's just "playing"  :)
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: samoth2 on January 28, 2008, 03:36:59 PM
I'm trying to practice at least 1 hour a day. Working on many different things, writing and a bit of each.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Elliot on January 28, 2008, 03:39:10 PM
I practise about an 1hr to 2hrs per day - but a mixture of electric, classical and acoustic guitar.   I normally run through a scale in one key in all positions on the neck, some licks from a DVD and a bit of whatever song i'm learning.

Don't seem to get any better, though  :D
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Will on January 28, 2008, 04:35:15 PM
Every day really, a lot of improvisation, do a few Zakk / Jake style licks with my middle and little finger to keep them strong (well the Jake licks usually take up all fingers, but I try to use the weaker ones primarily).
Try to spend time thinking about the music theory though, its way more interesting, and I am happy with my technique.
GCSE study leave, I did no revision, but woke up and played guitar until I slept, cured a broken heart alright! However I gained very little during that time :?
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Johnny Mac on January 28, 2008, 05:18:07 PM
Not as much as I used to. But when I pick a guitar up it's usually a 1.5 hours. I work on technique first then try and apply it in a musical context. Sometimes it's ok sometimes it's not so I fallback into a pentatonic comfort zone and just play around and enjoy it.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: 38thBeatle on January 28, 2008, 05:33:58 PM
I play at least an hour a day.If I have something specific to learn then I work at it but I generally try to improve fluency. I also work a lot on my bass playing though much of my practice is just playing and I also work on writing songs.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: dave_mc on January 28, 2008, 08:51:06 PM
most days. not every day, and not always all that long, depends how i feel etc.

though i'd say i generally "play" rather than "practice".
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Transcend on January 29, 2008, 11:22:40 AM
id say everyday for a minimum of two hours when im working.

When im not about 5-6 hours a day
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Sailor Charon on January 29, 2008, 11:29:34 AM
Well, 10 mins when I get up, 10 mins when I go to bed, and 40 mins to an hour in the evening.
But more playing than practise...
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: indysmith on January 29, 2008, 11:45:01 AM
Quote from: hate_growth
id say everyday for a minimum of two hours when im working.

When im not about 5-6 hours a day

holy hell - that's dedication to the cause! your fingertips must be like rock
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Mr Ed on January 29, 2008, 11:55:17 AM
I rarely practise anymore, if I'm writing a song then I'll work on it maybe 30 minutes a night but anymore and I tend to get stagnant. My best stuff tends to be more off the cuff.

As for technique, I'm kinda comfortable with where I am - it suits me and my band to a tee. I have no intent to become a shredder.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: indysmith on January 29, 2008, 11:59:38 AM
Quote from: Mr Ed
My best stuff tends to be more off the cuff.

i know exactly what you mean. I had a jam session with my flat-mate last night, after listening to guns'n'roses for about an hour, I hadn't played for ages but this awesome solo just flew out of me, and kept coming for a good 15 minutes, and it wasn't one of those horrid self-indulgent ones either. There was an actual consistant tune that you could hum. All my best stuff comes by accident.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Mr Ed on January 29, 2008, 12:02:08 PM
Quote from: indysmith
Quote from: Mr Ed
My best stuff tends to be more off the cuff.

i know exactly what you mean. I had a jam session with my flat-mate last night, after listening to guns'n'roses for about an hour, I hadn't played for ages but this awesome solo just flew out of me, and kept coming for a good 15 minutes, and it wasn't one of those horrid self-indulgent ones either. There was an actual consistant tune that you could hum. All my best stuff comes by accident.


Ace!

I'm trying to do a Guns-inspired song... trying, ha!

My band tends to have these moments... we turn the lights off, I lie on my back on the floor and we just have a Pink Floyd moment - delay pedals on, slow and groovey. Love it. Random songs appearing out of nothing is the best.
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: prozacbear on February 04, 2008, 04:13:02 PM
I probably practice for about 10 mins to half an hour on full work days. On Fridays I finish work at lunch time so I will practice most of the afternoon if I can, usually 3 - 4 hours. Then I have my guitar lesson at 6:30. Over Sat and Sun it varies a lot, anything from 2 hours a day to 8 hours. It depends on how into what I'm learning I am, what else is happening that weekend, and the weather.
As I only started 6 months ago I need all the practice I can get.
I'm not always practicing full on for all that time, sometimes I will just be tinkling away while watching DVD’s, listening to radio 4, or an audio book.
Actually I wish I was doing that now rather than killing time at work
 :wink:
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: PeteyG on February 04, 2008, 04:27:11 PM
I'm never strict about it, but if I'm not in lesson, at the pub, or out somewhere, then I usually have the guitar strapped around my shoulders, even if I'm just playing a few chords, but actual practice is about 4 hours minimum, thats practice of techniques songs, production, its all practice to me, and to be honest, I can't imagine wanting to do it any other way :)
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: PoshCollins on February 04, 2008, 05:52:40 PM
When I had summer holidays Improving my playing I spent 12 hours on some days.

Now I have my GCSE's approaching fast I can only get about an hour a day :(
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: Jonny on February 04, 2008, 06:04:46 PM
Quote from: PoshCollins
When I had summer holidays Improving my playing I spent 12 hours on some days.

Now I have my GCSE's approaching fast I can only get about an hour a day :(

Try A2 exams. :( They're even closer than GCSEs! And I'm reduced to just LOOKING at my guitar and imagine me playing.

 PDT_041
Title: how often do people practise / work on music?
Post by: PoshCollins on February 04, 2008, 06:26:40 PM
Quote from: Jonny
Quote from: PoshCollins
When I had summer holidays Improving my playing I spent 12 hours on some days.

Now I have my GCSE's approaching fast I can only get about an hour a day :(

Try A2 exams. :( They're even closer than GCSEs! And I'm reduced to just LOOKING at my guitar and imagine me playing.

 PDT_041


Ouch.

I have to do sixth form too  PDT_013 .

Thank goodness to just listening to music. May not seem like practise but wherever I go I have my I-pod with me and it always keeps me on track.

Even listening to music constantly helps a lot more than one may consciously think. PDT_019