How to Practice

I am now at a crossroads and could use some help. I have completed Fundamentals 1 and 2, and am now working on Country 1, but because I already know all open chords and barre chords and power chords, my goal is to be able to play songs, but also master the ability to play lead licks in Blues or Country. I found a nice solo that uses the entire neck and I have the fingering down but my speed is very slow. I play it at 90 bpm. My question is this, how much time should I spend on this solo, the actual lesson, and then other songs also. I usually spend like 30 minutes on just fingering exercises on two guitars, an acoustic and electric, and then I am not sure how to structure my time to get it all done. Does this sound right? I can practice fingering for 30 minutes, then spend 15 minutes on that solo itself, then 15 minutes on the lessons and then 30 minutes on new songs?? I tend to actually practice all day long since I am retired but I tend to practice fingering, take an hour break, practice the solo, take an hour break, practice the lesson, another break and then finally learn a song. Is this ok? Also should you ever stop practicing on weekends or only take one day off?

First, congrats on completing GF1 & 2! :) Well done.

Originally Posted by: johnv31552

...my goal is to be able to play songs, but also master the ability to play lead licks in Blues or Country.[/quote]

Learning songs is always the end goal! So it's good that you are looking for appropriate songs to work on.

Originally Posted by: johnv31552

My question is this, how much time should I spend on this solo, the actual lesson, and then other songs also. I usually spend like 30 minutes on just fingering exercises on two guitars, an acoustic and electric, and then I am not sure how to structure my time to get it all done. Does this sound right?

[p]It sounds like you have a good plan. Give yourself a variety, but stay focused on any given task for 15-30 minutes to get good repetition on it. Daily repetition is the key to getting it under your fingers & in your memory.

[quote=johnv31552]I tend to actually practice all day long since I am retired but I tend to practice fingering, take an hour break, practice the solo, take an hour break, practice the lesson, another break and then finally learn a song. Is this ok? Also should you ever stop practicing on weekends or only take one day off?

It's not necessary to take a day off unless you feel burnt out. Guitar playing uses fine motor skills. So it's not like weight lifting in which you have to rest your large muscle groups for a day or more.

However it is important to take short breaks throughout your practice routine. So, 30 minutes on & 5-10 minutes off works well as an example. Your example of an hour off is fine also if it works for you.

Your mind also needs time to absorb new material & patterns: ideas & remembering repeated physical motions are gradually moved from short term memory to long term memory. Eventually if you keep practicing, it's all stored in your memory banks, your subconscious for easier retrieval. This is how difficult & complex tasks become second nature & seem very easy after a while. This is why we work on something & it seems hard & frustrating. Then maybe a day or a week later all of a sudden it seems we can play it with no problems!

Sounds like you are doing well! Keep going. Don't stop. Best of success!

Though guitar uses fine motor skills, there are repetetive stress things to watch out for. If you start feeling any tingling or sharp shooting pains in your fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, etc., stop...don't play through it.

When you get fatigued, your form will go to pot and you will start compensating. I would back off if you notice this too. Just like in any physical activity, pushing through this can lead to injury. It's also inefficient.

It sounds to me like you have a nice variety of what you are doing throughout the day, and you are taking breaks. I belive those two things are very important. I've experienced what Christopher is talking about where your body and mind need down time to absorb all that you are doing. I've gone to bed after struggling with something and woke up the next day able to fly through it.

Breaks are important and remember...slow and steady wins the race.