How to practice?

Hi, I have been playing for a number of years and I am struggling with all the advice about practice!
When I try and learn alternate picking 3 note per scales should I try and master the scale or run, in one position or start at fret 1 and go cromatically up the board. Should I just concentrate on one pattern and nail it or go for AP then sweep then legato????
I am really struggling to make any headway. How many times should I play each exercise etc etc etc :(
If I concentrate on 1 and stick with the metronome... I tried all the go slow relaxed and make gradual increases but after a few days I go insane!!!!
Any help would be appreciated
:confused:

Originally Posted by: craggstarHi, I have been playing for a number of years and I am struggling with all the advice about practice!

What specifically are your goals? What are you trying to accomplish? What, for example, would you do with that 3 note per string scale lick? Why are you having trouble with it? If you can please narrow down your goals and problems to something a bit more specific that will help provide a useful answer.

Mr. Schlegel,

I just visited your website, I must say, I enjoyed it tremendously. I especially enjoyed your acoustic playing, but even your electric was great. Usually when I listen to electric stuff it’s full of a lot of distortion which I find nerve racking. Your performances were so crisp and clear. What brand of guitars are you playing?

I just had to tell you what I thought. Good work!

Originally Posted by: looneytunesI just visited your website, I must say, I enjoyed it tremendously.[/quote]
Thanks for the favorable feedback. :)

Originally Posted by: looneytunesWhat brand of guitars are you playing?

If you go here you can see my machinery:
http://www.truthagainsttheworld.com/Tools/

If you can tell me what specific tunes you are curious about I can tell you exactly what I used.
[QUOTE=looneytunes]I just had to tell you what I thought. Good work!

Thank you very much.

That is what is so difficult on the guitar is to know when to move on. But, I can tell you the secret of guitar playing in general. Technique is the distance between two points. In order to move between two points very efficiently, you need to work VERY slowly. Which for many is INcredibly difficult. Yet, REALLY good guitarists, even those who can play very fast have the ability to work very slowly. Give it a try, you will find that it is difficult because the mind is learning fast even when the fingers are moving slowly.

Thanks for the advice..I have slowed everything down to 7o bpm. This feels very slow but everything is relaxed and I will try this for an hour a day and see what happens. I wont try and burst any speed. I think a lot of my problems lie with my practice ...I will play slow accurately on a lick for say 30 mins...then i have to try and see how fast I can get or if there is any improvement from the day b4. I think i need to stay slow without the burst for a while and remain disciplined!
Cheers Friend! :)