How many hours a day?

MFB · #1 09-30-2008, 01:22 PM

Pretty straight forward. Since I'm taking lessons (all self taught over 3 years) and actually learning to read music, I've been practicing for about 2 hours of actual bookwork, and 3 hours of playing songs.

DEADTUNES666 · #2 09-30-2008, 02:40 PM

When i was first starting out I immersed myself in all things guitar for impossible hours on end.

After I got pretty good and confident with my ability i went down to about 2-3 hours a day.

When I was gigging all over, (90-97) I read somewhere that for a great guitarist (I forget who) just to maintain his ability he needed to practice 8 hours a day at least. So I started doing this (or as close as possible). After my son was born in 1998, I started gigging less and after the fourth child was born it got real hard to practice. I just started booking myself again, and got a website up, so some days now I do an hour of playing, and others 15 minutes.

I'm assuming you're younger, so now is the time to really set yourself up and learn good technique/practice habits...

MFB · #3 09-30-2008, 03:22 PM

I am still young (18 ) but I'm in class anywhere from 2-5 hours a day and work 30 hours a week

I usually don't get to practice until around 10 o'clock at night or so and thats when I spend about 2 hours on bookwork

**jim777** · #4 09-30-2008, 03:39 PM

Now I play about 5 hours a week, split between bass, guitar, and piano/synth. When I started 35 years ago, it was 10 hours a day for the first 10 years or so.

Brosa · #5 09-30-2008, 03:48 PM

I used to practice all day long. Now i only play melodic music when i pick up my guitar.

I got caught in only practicing until ten years ago. I used to play lot's of scales in stead of something musical. I still do sometimes

Myst and rain · #6 09-30-2008, 04:22 PM

I don't really practice that much. I just play a lot, which keeps me on the level I'm at. I do sit down to practice in order to improve my technique, though. But I feel like I've kind of reached my limit when it comes to technical proficiancy. Satch felt the same way when he was in his twenties. Here's an interesting quote from an interview with him.

"I started with a half hour, then worked up to an hour, worked up to two, worked up to three. I started waking up before school and practiced for two hours, and then I'd practice after school. Then when I was out of school and touring with top 40 bands, between tours I'd spend two months practicing literally 13 hours a day. Then I'd have to go out and find a job again.

It was really about discovery: 'How fast can I play? How slow can I play? How many different key signatures can I play exactly the same?' You just keep pushing yourself to every boundary, whether it's intellectual or physical, that you can think of.

You learn—especially when you reach the mid-twenties—'This is the body that I've been given [laughs]. And I've put it through every possible pace with this instrument, so now it's time to pull it together.' Some of us walk faster than others; have a larger stride than others. And it's the same with the way we approach our instruments."

Inzane · #7 09-30-2008, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MFB

Pretty straight forward. Since I'm taking lessons (all self taught over 3 years) and actually learning to read music, I've been practicing for about 2 hours of actual bookwork, and 3 hours of playing songs.

You have FIVE hours a day to devote to guitar practice?

I take it you're neither employed fulltime or married? ;-)

MFB · #8 09-30-2008, 04:39 PM

I'm a part-timer at a pharmacy but still do 30 hours a week, and no I'm not married

Gonna stay not married for a LONG time too

Plus like I said, it's a good 3 hours or so in between class and work, then from about 10:30 to 12 or 12:30 I'll practice too

austxjim · #9 09-30-2008, 07:37 PM

1 hour at least. Sometimes 2. Wish I had the time I used to.

vicente_romma · #10 10-03-2008, 11:14 PM

I made a weekly schedule that involves 3 hours a day of guitar, but I have never had the real tiem =(

I need It!!!!!!!!!!

Rekuss · #11 10-04-2008, 06:50 AM

Back when I was doing my GCSEs, I'd spend 2-3 hours of pure technical practice. Now I'm doing my A-levels I'm finding it extremely hard to practice my tech skills. So now whenever I do 'practice' I just learn songs or write for my band as I feel it is more productive. Also, I feel as if I burned myself out just working on my technical ability, I should of really tried to balance it with 'more musical' exercises such as song learning etc but hey ho!

kotornut · #12 10-04-2008, 09:40 AM

I practice 1 or two hours a day. But sometimes I skip days. I know people say you have to practice 8 hours a day to maintain your ability, but I think that is excessive. I would say 3 or so to maintain and 4-6 to improve on a steep incline.

I find that for me I'm getting like Satch felt, and my technique is only so so.I'm not as good as 90% of you out there. But, I still try technique and such. I realize now more than ever, though, that my mind needs to be ahead of my hands.

I also heard Satch say "Once you open the door to expressive playing it's very difficult to get back to practicing technique," and I agree. I opened that door very early (even if I wasn't/am still not good at it), I need the outlet even when I was 14 because of social problems I had growing up. That screwed over my desire to practice technique too early. Now I kind of torture myself and practice technique anyways, and learn other peoples songs just so I'm able to call myself a guitarist of somesort.

Davey · #13 10-04-2008, 03:09 PM

I *play* at least 20 minutes a day. 'Practice' insinuates that you're progressing

Albert Hollemans · #14 11-06-2008, 07:16 AM

I can play around for a while, but NET it would be something like 1,5/2 hours, what means I'm behind my computer with youtube and guitar pro for 3 hours, this distracts, but also gives idea's.

corey j grieve · #15 11-06-2008, 08:29 AM

When i was developing and learning i played until i simply could'nt any more, every moment i was'nt at school etc,Vai's 10 hour workout and stuff. Now im older and can play the instrument i would average an hour a day i guess to maintain and have a rule where anytime i also walk past a guitar i must play one lick or scale correctly and cleanly before i can continue on.On top of this when i have a day to myself i do a real practice/study/writing session which will eat 4-6 hours easily and thats not including band practice (1-2 hours) and shows. Every waking moment im not practicing im thinking about it,playing licks and tunes in my head! So i guess im absorbed by it alot,but i still feel i don't practice enough and wish i did'nt have to work!

Even when your not playing i believe running through it in your head is still practicing and playing a major part. There was a study on this with shooting free throws in basketball,2 groups,1 group told to all day imagine taking the shots and the motions in their head. Guess which group considerably out shot the other group!