How Do You Practice

Tony Dingus · From: Kingsport, Tennessee, USA

This is something I don't get to do and I need to take time for it.

Tony

Ernie Pollock · From: Mt Savage, Md USA

I like to use rhythm tracks to practice with, unless I am working on a specific lick, then I just do that lick over & over & over till I get it!! Sometimes it takes awhile. The I put a track on & try to use the lick that took me 3 days to get!!

Ernie Very Happy

Les Anderson · From: The Great White North

I tend to listen to a song and get it going around in my head util I can "feel" the melody and tempo. From there I, mentally, fit the steel guitar in where it will fit the melody and tempo long before I actually sit down and play along with the song.

I am not a steel guitar afanatic who believes that the steel guitar is a necessary instrument in all songs. When I do hear a song however, I know almost instantly if the steel would add or enhance the piece.

Besides that, I am a very strong advocate of playing scales until my fingers fall off.
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(I am not right all of the time but I sure like to think I am!)

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

I play with rhythm tracks but not necessarily steel oriented tracks. Blues and Rockabilly tracks are great fun! Also I play along with records (CDs) a lot. And again not necessarily a songs with steel guitars on them.

Steve Broatch · From: Newcastle, England

I play through the Winnie Winston book and Jeff Newman courses. Very Happy

Bob Simons · From: Kansas City, Mo, USA

I try to play songs I've never tried before, harmonized at full tempo the first time through...
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Zumsteel U12 8-5, MSA M3 U12 9-7, MSA SS 10-string, 1930 National Resonophonic, Telonics Combo, Webb 614e, Fender Steel King, Mesa Boogie T-Verb.

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

I'm an amatuer/semi pro. I have a full time day job. So I practice according to time and energy. On low time and energy days I concentrate on scales and arpeggios. It is on my longer days when I'm feeling stronger that I work songs. I often play through a bunch of tunes that I know. And I stop to tweak them here and there where I feel inspired to do so.
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Amor vincit omnia

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

I usually practice new songs by listenin' to steel parts really close, then I play along with the song and do the steel parts. If I'm practicin' for a show, I usually play the two songs three or four times to see if I can make the song sound better than the first time. I use rhythm tracks a lot too.

Brett

Matthew Prouty · From: Warsaw, Poland

I get up everyday around 4:45, use to get up at 4:30, but have been slipping lately. I make my coffee and then practice for an hour with headphones and L6 POD.

If I want to learn a lick I will play it, either with the like looped or just playing it alone. I will try to play it 1000 times in the week. If I start on Monday I will do it 100 times, them move up to 200 times a day then when Saturday or Sunday rolls around I will finish up and have that lick burnt into my memory.

The rest of the time I like to play over tracks with no vocals. Karaoke tracks are great for this and I pick them up off of iTunes store. I like to focus on working through the chords, then working some melody over the song and lastly improvising over the song.

The only days I skip practice are the days after big shows. Those days I just don't even want to think about practice.

Bill Terry · From: Bastrop, TX

I usually hit about 10-15 half wedges, then a few more full wedges, and move up through the bag to a 3-iron, hitting about 20 or so with each club. I don't practice 2-irons since I turned 50, I use it for a fireplace poker now. I finish off with a few fairway woods and then release the final bit of anger by hitting the driver sideways for a while.

When I'm done with all that, I go home and play pedal steel.. piece of cake.
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Lost Pines Studio
"I'm nuts about bolts"

Jack Mattison · From: North Bend, Wa

When I do sit down to practice I work on some Billy Cooper things, and Jeff Newmans up from the top. But lately I haven't any drive to practice. I think about it, but can't seem to get myself motivated to do it. I know if I am going to learn this guitar I need to Practice, Practice, Practice. Has anyone gone through this Crying or Very sad

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Chris Schlotzhauer · From: Colleyville, Tx. USA

I arrive at the gig, load in, set up my gear, kick off the first tune. I'm getting really good at this.

Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

In my case I go and get a copy of the tune and listen to it first all the way through and then sit down and work out the various licks and that's it.

If I want to get faster at a particular lick I simply play it over and over until I get to the speed I need to be at.

Colm Chomicky · From: Kansas, (Prairie Village)

I find I mix up the material to keep it varied. Work on several parallel tracks to keep it interesting. Sometimes just put on some CDs and play along, then go back to some more structured course work with hopes to apply that to improv. work. Sometimes go back and go over some things from previous months. Experiment trying to use licks from one song, in another. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to be able to sit-in on a gig. Therefore attacking the situation from different angles, so that I don't get tired of too much of the same thing. Call out the positions to myself so I don't get mentally lazy or stuck in a routine. At least I try to do this, but sometimes just mindlessly noodle around. I feel I am not in a rush, guess I am in the slow lane trying to soak it up and not worrying about some of guys that seem to be in the passing lane or ahead of me on the other side of the mountain.

(And yes sometimes it feels like I hit the foot of the mountain and slip a gear, start rolling backwards.)

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

Jack Mattison,

You are OK. I feel very frustrated at times. I have had 3 lessons with a pro player, and used Jeffran stuff for the rest. There have been times since 2001 (when I bought my first steel) that I hated the sound of it. I felt like every note I played was stale and bad...I needed to move to a new level. I took a break, played some different instrument for a few weeks, or months, and found my passion again. Remmember, Jeff Newman said " one neck, one lifetime". I guess that he D-10 players are looking for immortality.

Fool around with simple tunes that you can embellish...like Neil Young or any othe folk-rock artists.

When you take a break from the hard-learning you'll find your love again.
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon

Wayne Morgan · From: Rutledge, TN, USA

Hey Tony, the way you play, I would have thought you practice four hours a day.
My best method of practice, I put a picture of Tony Dingus up in the back yard, and sometimes I use a scope and sometimes I use just the adjustable sights.
Can't wait to hear you on that JCH again
Wayne

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

First I do scales up and down the bar in one position,, Then do the harmonized scale up and down the neck a few times,
Then work on sliding into the same chord from other positions, 3 positions per chord (open, ab down and a/f for every major chord).

After that I just play songs I like for fun, or run through songs I have to play for a band or set.

Once good and warmed up I work on blocking licks and faster stuff.

about 2 hours total.
If my time is limited I just do the scales and harmonized scales. I had an art teacher that said its better to get ten minutes of practice in every day than 2 or 3 hours in one day a week,, so I try to make sure I get my daily 10 minutes in at least. It does seem to keep the muscle memory fresh.
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

Tony Dingus · From: Kingsport, Tennessee, USA

Mike Archer · From: church hill tn

hey Tony

you and Wayne come down to my house

we can swap licks and jam with tracks

I got um!! and better still

ill invite Roger Kelly and dave Martan
and Charles powell and bryan adams
and steve leonard and Eddie trent
well set um up in the back yard if nothing else!!
that ort to fire us all up!! Mike

Wayne Morgan · From: Rutledge, TN, USA

Mike Archer, you are a brave man, posting like that, you would get run out of Kingsport with that much noise, but it would be sweet !!!

Louis Vallee · From: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

If possible behind the steel on the Pac-A-Seat...

Cool

Sorry, I am happy to evening
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Louis

'08 Magnum D-10 8&5 * Hilton VP * Lemay MK-1 * Peavey NV 1000 * Rick Johnson Cabs * Walker Seat.

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