Practice Routine

Hi all,

I have a quick question about practice. I started using this site about a year ago, and was making really good progress. Unfortunately, I got bogged down with school and medical issues and haven't picked up my guitar in quite some time. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a routine to start getting back into the habit of playing again. Any help would be appreciated, as I feel rather overwhelmed when I think of all the things I need to do to get back to where I was and further. Thanks in advance.

xXQBirdXx

I think I'd just start play what ever came to mind.. do that for am few days see what comes back naturally, the go from there. Sign back up and you may have a record of what point you left off.
Good Luck

I have been in that situation before. just start playing. You will be amazed at ho much you remember once you get back into it. :)

If your fingers are not callused any more. Be sure to put rubbing alcohol on your finger tips numerous times a day. Trust me it really helps. ;)

Good luck and have fun with it!!!

Doing your best to have a good feel about it, not judging yourself, and play sounds like a good way to get started. That brings back the motivation and passion.

When it comes to practicing, here are some pointers :

Be clear on what you want : What is the end result you will start practicing for. Write down some goals in the short and long term (goals make you 407% more efficient)

Get organized : It is great how much more efficient one becomes when your practicing is organized. Write down a practice schedule on paper , and change it up once in a while. It helps holding your focus.

Implement : You probably know ****loads of stuff, so practice using the stuff you have learned. When you have done this for a while and just want to play for fun, you will see that your options have expanded. This keep it fun, and motivate you by seeing progression in your skills.

Rock on man

Magnus has hit the nail right on the head.
Play what you know and you'll start to feel good about yourself and your confidence will grow.
Writing down goals is always good in any aspect of life - you won't forget where you're heading and why you're going there.
Play every day - even 10 minutes before going to school/work. It'll soon become a habit.

I stopped playing seriously about 20 years ago, only having a little pluck once in a blue moon. Last year I decided I wanted to start performing again and I had my first gig just before Christmas 2012. Anything's possible if you focus on a goal!

And yes, Rock On Man!

Like others have said, definitely just start playing what you used to play and enjoyed. Whether it be music or athletics, muscle memory is an amazing thing...it comes back very quickly when compared to how long it took to develop the original skill.

If you start playing something that used to flow for you and it just won't come, move onto something else and don't get frustrated. Come back later...eventually it will all come back.

But just like when you've been out of the gym for a long period, you want to ease back into things to build your stamina back up and not hurt yourself.

I have made a little system for myself that seems to be working. I broke it down into 3 main parts.

Part 1: I run thu strumming these chords Am, A, B, Bm, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, G. I go thru them in that order and then backwards to work on remembering the fingering, work on transition between chords, and also working on making on speed.

Part 2: I run the the notes starting at low E and end at high A. I do this in 2 octaves. This is getting my fingers used to moving, getting me used to hitting the notes without having to study the fretboard, and also putting the notes into memory.

Part 3: I play some various songs that focus on different parts. Pink Floyd songs for some solo work and also chords and some Santana for note work.

I am also slowly working my way thru guitar fundamentals 2. I am not wanting to rush myself thru it.

Now, I know your more advanced by far them me, but this just shows my method of staying on track and feeling like my time was not wasted.

it's always important to know, to ask yourself what it would take to make you happy musically. Sounds like you know where you want to go! Half the battle won.

Only thing, small focused amounts everyday is often better than going for long periods but skipping days... it gives what you learned and practiced a chance to build on itself. Try not to skip days. Hope this helps

I would start with playing some basic chords and such. Just so your muscles get used to playing again. Try to play at least 5 mins a day, because your muscles have memory and they store certain movements. It is better to play 5 mins a day then not play for 3 days and then play for 3 hours the next day or whatever. After you are done with basic chords move onto some scales and try to refresh your memory. Then learn everything you already knew before hand if you want or start learning something new. The main goal is to play SOMETHING for 5 mins a day, to build muscle memory.

Originally Posted by: JustinAskinI have been in that situation before. just start playing. You will be amazed at ho much you remember once you get back into it. :)

If your fingers are not callused any more. Be sure to put rubbing alcohol on your finger tips numerous times a day. Trust me it really helps. ;)

Good luck and have fun with it!!!

I'M playing again after an 8 month break, (Only 9 mos playing previously, this time) And I am amazed at how much I remember getting back into it. Seems I will be at the same level I was before in no time. Lost but found lol... PS Love the site.

I mean, I don't get paid for this thread nor anything. Don't you remeber that in GT you'll find EVERYTHING you'll EVER need for sarting back again your guitar practice, talents and repertuoire AND MAYBE SOME GIGS? FOR MAKING SOME DOUGH?!! just browsed around, and I promise you'll feel EXCITED AND INSPIRED BACK AGAIN, for the tons of ways where you can to start ( I suggest their basic learning method for starters).

I've bought like a dozen books and DVD's about practicing and learning music theory, scales methods, Steve Vai practices routines, Eddie Van Halen's best solos, I mean everything to come out of my house a top musician, soloist and a man "One Man Band Star", Then I wanted to open GT website for some questions I had, and I noticed that I didn't need at least 80% of the guitar and music theory tutorial material I bought, worth at least $200!.

Needless to say that I felt sooo ashamed and stupid of spending hundreds of dollar in tutorial meterials, having a paid year subscription in GT, and not squeezing every tutorial and blues, rock, methods, practicing routines, learning arpeggios, chords, speed techincs, SOLOING, I mean EVERYTHING. Let alone tons of music and signature styles, hundreds of famous songs and even looking for YOUR OWN TONE, YOUR MUSICAL IDENTITY/BRAND TUTORIALS! (NOW THAT I MENTION THIS, I FEEL EVEN MORE STUPID NOW THAN LASt NIGHT!!),

I can tell you all this with total exactitude, because precisely last night I browsed again the whole GT webpage before buying more books and DVDs i wanted. AND WHEN I FOUND IN A SNAP WHAT I WANTED TO BUY IS ALREADY IN GT (AN IN VIDEO TUTORIALS!!), I FELT SOO DUMM BUT EXCITED, THAT I'VE PROMISE TO MY SELF THAT I WON'T EVER BUY ANY MORE TUTORIALS AGAIN IN MY LIFE!, UNTIL I TOTALLY SQUEEZE AND LEARN TO PERFECTION, EVERY LESSON AND 100'S OF MY FAVORITE SONGS ON GUITAR TRICKS. That alone my friend, would would take me (AND YOU) at least the rest of OUR WHOLE LIVES LEFT (hopefully 30 more years for me!).

I hope (AND KNOW) you that I've answered your question and,,, Guitar Tricks, you can pay me now for giving you extraordinary testimonial publicity (YOU KNOW IS THE BEST KIND). Let say a $1000? Looll !! But if not at least I can settle for my next year subscription for FREE. Lolllll. No seriously! Loooolll! No seriously,,Looll!, " ", " ", " "!

God bless you forever guys;
Willy

I definitely agree that just picking it up and start playing something you used to should get the feel back. I would make sure to warm up too with some exercises. The two things I usually do are spiders and a little rhythm with chord changes. These two will get your fretting fingers and strumming arm warmed up nicely.

Lisa McCormick's Videos on Spiders
https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=621
https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=18583&s_id=1437

I do a slight variation starting at the low E string play each fret 1-4 on E then move down to A, play fret 1-4 and continue to each string until you reach fret 4 of high E. Then do them backwards. So in other words, play high E fret 4,3,2,1 then B string 4,3,2,1 until you get back up to Low E string 1. Then you continue by starting with low E string frets 2,3,4,5 ... A string frets 2,3,4,5.Your hand kind of looks like spider legs as you move down the strings and fretboard to the 12th fret. It's great to get your left hand loose. For a bonus do these using alternate picking (D,U,D,U...)

For the Rhythm Chord changes, it's just like it sounds. Pick at least two cords you know well or more if you want. Choose a simple strumming pattern like 4/4 and start strumming. Count each beat with a down strum of the cord, when you reach the fourth beat change chords "one,two,three,four (Change chord one,two,three,four change chord). Keep doing this until your timing and chord changes become automatic or until you feel warmed up. For a bonus either add some more chords or change the strumming pattern but stick with whichever pattern all the way through.

Then play that same old song you used to know...