Do you still practice guitar?

[JackC1]

I think I've reached the end of my acoustic guitar practice/learning phase because I'm now able to play all the chrod progressions and melodies (and even chord melodies) in my music books (books that looked almost impossible when I first started).

There's nothing else I want to play beside songs in these books (and other similar easy-guitar books); so I don't see any point to continued practicing and learning on the acoustic guitar.

I've reached this stage on the uke a few years ago; and I'm happily playing the uke almost everyday. I now feel similar for the acoustic guitar; and would be happy to just maintain my current skills forever.

Kind of like driving a car; once I've reached a certain level of competence that gets me from point A or point B legally ans safely, I'm good (it's not like I'm going to race on a racetrack). I may get more fluid with my guitar playing those basic songs over the years, but no need for more technical skills.

Anybody else in this situation?

[Glennwillow]

I have always been about playing songs or pieces. Learning to play these were my practice.

- Glenn

[SRL]

If you're happy, that's great. If you find yourself getting bored you can always learn new songs, new styles or genres of music, learn to sing, learn other instruments...

[Robin, Wales]

Jack, I practice because I have tangible outcomes (with consequences) to achieve, like preparing for the next performance or session.

Also I will hear new songs when I listen to the radio or Spotify that I want to perform. Musical growth is continous, ever changing and life long. But the key is to have clarity of outcome, and passion.

All my playing is practicing, even when performing for an audience I will review how it went and what can be improved upon.

So, yes, I do still practice guitar even though it is 50 years since I first picked one up, because there's so much more to learn.

[JKA]

Originally Posted by JackC1

I think I've reached the end of my acoustic guitar practice/learning phase because I'm now able to play all the chrod progressions and melodies (and even chord melodies) in my music books (books that looked almost impossible when I first started).

There's nothing else I want to play beside songs in these books (and other similar easy-guitar books); so I don't see any point to continued practicing and learning on the acoustic guitar.

I've reached this stage on the uke a few years ago; and I'm happily playing the uke almost everyday. I now feel similar for the acoustic guitar; and would be happy to just maintain my current skills forever.

Kind of like driving a car; once I've reached a certain level of competence that gets me from point A or point B legally ans safely, I'm good (it's not like I'm going to race on a racetrack). I may get more fluid with my guitar playing those basic songs over the years, but no need for more technical skills.

Anybody else in this situation?

I've been driving for 50 years (same amount of time I've been playing guitar) and I still try and improve my techniques every time I get behind the wheel. Pretty much the same as each time I pick up the guitar. Practice until you can't get it wrong.

[Dave Hicks]

I don't practice techniques on the guitar, but I do often learn and practice new songs, and occasionally write one. My goal is recording or playing at an open mic (or other kinds of events on occasion).

D.H.

[Skarsaune]

To me, the beauty of learning guitar is that there is always something more to learn - songs, genres, styles, techniques.

Our brains are wired to reward learning new things.

[TBman]

Generally my practice comes from learning tunes, some of which are etudes which are meant as practice. I should do some exercises a couple of times a week too.

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

Jack, I practice because I have tangible outcomes (with consequences) to achieve, like preparing for the next performance or session.

Also I will hear new songs when I listen to the radio or Spotify that I want to perform. Musical growth is continous, ever changing and life long. But the key is to have clarity of outcome, and passion.

All my playing is practicing, even when performing for an audience I will review how it went and what can be improved upon.

So, yes, I do still practice guitar even though it is 50 years since I first picked one up, because there's so much more to learn.

This is how I view playing and, since I haven't performed since high school, pretty much all I do is practice.

But if you (the OP) are referring to exercises, scales, etc., I don't do those much anymore, but probably should. I do like learning new songs, although I'll go through phases where I will just play songs I know over and over (i.e., practice for me). My current challenge is to figure out how to play some of Carl Miner's TNAG demo pieces at 3/4 speed...

[musicman1951]

I wouldn't say I've reached the end of any particular phase, that sounds a little to final for me (and I'm not particularly good at predicting the future). But I rarely practice lately. I'm not sure we all agree on what that term means, but I consider practice repeating any less than excellent passages very slowly ad nauseam with slowly increasing tempos, learning the nuances of new styles, etc.

I'm mostly playing songs now. I do not consider trying to play the songs well as practice. If you're having trouble with parts of the song you might consider it practice, but that's a slow way to get where you're going. I suppose if you're playing the song better with each repetition that's practicing.

I rarely practice any of my instruments at this point. I play the trumpet every day, but I go through my pile of music books and play something once, then maybe not for another 2 months. It's hard to consider that practice.

[mr. beaumont]

Nope, I practice every day. Theres always something new.

[Mr. Jelly]

Originally Posted by JackC1

Anybody else in this situation?

So, you have learned what is in the box. Are you interested in what is to be learned outside of the box?

I have been working on performing the songs I know. Rather than playing them, going through them or rendering them. It's a big step in making music instead of sounds.

[rllink]

Originally Posted by JackC1

I think I've reached the end of my acoustic guitar practice/learning phase because I'm now able to play all the chrod progressions and melodies (and even chord melodies) in my music books (books that looked almost impossible when I first started).

There's nothing else I want to play beside songs in these books (and other similar easy-guitar books); so I don't see any point to continued practicing and learning on the acoustic guitar.


Anybody else in this situation?

I get what you are saying. I think that I have felt that way. But do you play your guitar with anyone or just entertain yourself with it? I used to take lessons and between them I was practicing, trying to nail it before the next one. It was all pretty structured and focused. There came a point when I felt happy where I was at and quit the lessons. Just played my guitar and sang songs.

But then I got in with a group of country/bluegrass musicians, fiddle players, banjo players, mandolin, dobro and guitars. So every weekend we are jamming for hours on end and players are doing some really remarkable playing. And they like to share what they are doing. So every week I come home with something new to work on. But there isn't that urgency that there was with lessons, I'm just learning new things and putting more tools in the toolbox. So in that sense I am still practicing.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by JackC1

…I've reached this stage on the uke a few years ago; and I'm happily playing the uke almost everyday. I now feel similar for the acoustic guitar; and would be happy to just maintain my current skills forever.

Kind of like driving a car; once I've reached a certain level of competence that gets me from point A or point B legally ans safely, I'm good (it's not like I'm going to race on a racetrack). I may get more fluid with my guitar playing those basic songs over the years, but no need for more technical skills.

Anybody else in this situation?

Hi JackC1…
Not exactly. I grew up in a classical music environment which involved, note reading, sight reading, rehearsals, lessons (where the exercises were doled out and graded) and performances.

I taught myself guitar in a similar fashion:
Scales, etudes, chord formation and inversions, melody, harmony etc.

I'm 74½ yrs old and involved in a modern church environment where we do modern worship music, and I'm playing either electric lead and backing guitar or synths.

I still have to practice to just keep up with the arrangements, solos, rhythms, and instrumentations required by our worship leader and we often use popular and well-established songs which have highly recognizable solo parts.

The lead parts (on electric) and the orchestral lines (synth) are neither written out nor published. We are expected to dig them out on our own, and translate them to the keys the worship leader chooses for the weeks we are on the team.

Hence I have homework every time I'm on the team (2-3 times a month).

In my case (and those of others playing on our team), reaching that 'level of competence' you mentioned is just the price of admission, and going from point A to point B requires me to practice and grow.

I quite enjoy it…

To answer the question, yes. Obsessively. Playing is practice. Practice is playing. To me, it's all the same. There's only practice. Everything is practice. I'm not "practicing" for anything specific, like to acquire a certain skill or prepare for a performance. But I'm always practicing. If it's not playing, then it's singing. If not singing or playing, then memorizing lyrics or chord progressions. I'm always working on something.