I haven't practiced in a while

[TBman]

Just playing tunes. No scales, banjo roll drills, Barre chords and worse no stretching exercises.

Playing is more fun than practicing, but then the slow spiral down begins, lol.

[Wrighty]

I only practice tunes - no scales or drills. I find that I get what I need from the tunes I am trying to learn, in terms of nuance, technique, right hand etc..

[Mr. Jelly]

I go back and forth and around. I play, I write, I finger pick, I cross pick, I study and learn. Oh yea I quit, start again, sell a guitar, buy a guitar and you know what? It doesn't matter because time you enjoy wasting isn't wasted time.

[rick-slo]

Very little guitar the last couple of years - mainly for fun and relaxation so no biggie.

[DukeX]

Originally Posted by Wrighty

I only practice tunes - no scales or drills. I find that I get what I need from the tunes I am trying to learn, in terms of nuance, technique, right hand etc..

Exactly the same here, I practice playing my stuff and keep improving. When I learn new licks or techniques I will practice them as well. I already have more stuff than I can play as well as I wish.

[steve223]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

I go back and forth and around. I play, I write, I finger pick, I cross pick, I study and learn. Oh yea I quit, start again, sell a guitar, buy a guitar and you know what? It doesn't matter because time you enjoy wasting isn't wasted time.

Yup that sounds like me!

[Budman1]

I’ve been practicing in my mind for the last few years, a lot...I think I’m getting better

[dkstott]

Now that I'm retired, my daily guitar routine is to play through 6-10 fingerstyle instrumental songs completely every day. If I encounter issues, I'll work on that particular section.

Then take a break for other chores around the house.

When I return to the guitar, I do some exercises for left and right hand or work on some new chord voicings for the songs I [played earlier.

In the evening, I'll work on new songs or ones that I haven't played in a while to get them back under my fingers.

In all, I'd guess that I'm playing / practicing about 2 1/2 hours a day... Plus a weekly jazz oriented guitar lesson and a 2 hour gathering every Tuesday night.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by dkstott

Now that I'm retired, my daily guitar routine is to play through 6-10 fingerstyle instrumental songs completely every day. If I encounter issues, I'll work on that particular section.

Then take a break for other chores around the house.

When I return to the guitar, I do some exercises for left and right hand or work on some new chord voicings for the songs I [played earlier.

In the evening, I'll work on new songs or ones that I haven't played in a while to get them back under my fingers.

In all, I'd guess that I'm playing / practicing about 2 1/2 hours a day... Plus a weekly jazz oriented guitar lesson and a 2 hour gathering every Tuesday night.

I'm looking forward to retirement in about 3 years or so. I'll just have to get my wife involved in a hobby (that doesn't require me attending) so I don't hear the dreaded "All you do is play your guitars" rant,

[Earwitness]

Originally Posted by DukeX

Exactly the same here, I practice playing my stuff and keep improving. When I learn new licks or techniques I will practice them as well. I already have more stuff than I can play as well as I wish.

Yes, that’s me, too! I still love all my older songs, and they, plus new ones, are plenty to work on everything. Family may be tired of them ....

[815C]

I spoke with Tommy Emmanuel once and he told me he NEVER practices scales and such. Instead he practices only songs.

I also have met Steve Morse a couple times who on the other hand spent years practicing 12-16 hours a day, and 4 of those hours were spent on scales and arpeggios.

Both are amazing guitarists.

In music the end justifies the means. Whatever works for you is what you should do.

[DukeX]

Originally Posted by TBman

I'm looking forward to retirement in about 3 years or so. I'll just have to get my wife involved in a hobby (that doesn't require me attending) so I don't hear the dreaded "All you do is play your guitars" rant,

And if you don't play them often enough, she might complain: "Why do you have those guitars if you don't play them?"

My wife goes back and forth, depending on how much I play.

[reeve21]

I've been doing a lot more practicing than playing tunes the past several months. Teacher gives me short tunes that I work on for 1-3 weeks until I get them right (or nearly so), but there are 2 or 3 new exercises every week. Scales, arpeggios, rolls, barre chords, theory.....

Last night I went back to some John Hurt tunes that I hadn't played in a long time. I was amazed at how much better I was on them...or it could have been that IPA at dinner, but it works for me

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by TBman

Just playing tunes. No scales, banjo roll drills, Barre chords and worse no stretching exercises.

Playing is more fun than practicing, but then the slow spiral down begins, lol.

I've never practiced any of those drills as dedicated events. I've always incorporated them into playing something I make up. I'd be a poorer player if I didn't and certainly less proficient at composing.

[3notes]

I've been practicing fairly often over the past 3 months. I do it when I first sit down to play. Stretching and scales. And I'm learning to slow down and do things correctly for muscle memory.

It's making a difference. I'm playing better than I ever have before.