How much do you practice? (If at all)

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

I play a little bit everyday, sometimes just 15 minutes, and sometimes several hours.

On the day before a gig I will practice a good amount of time.

One thing that is surprizing to me is how quickly I forget the difficult passages, If I have not played that song for several weeks. But then after rehearsing those parts once or twice, it comes back as good as ever.

I have over 150 songs memorized and I play without any tab or music sheets. Praise the Lord! I think the non-pedal steel is keeping my mind exercised as I grow older.

Dom Franco

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

I also play a little bit everyday. I keep a steel in sight so that it is easily accessible. I may play one song, or play an hour. I practice with BIAB and have found it to be a great help.

I forget difficult passages also. Like you say it comes back quickly when you start to play the tune.

I enjoy practicing and find it relaxing and good therapy.

Aloha, Smile

Don

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Can someone define the difference between 'Rehearsing" and 'Practising'
'Cause I think I don't practise but I DO rehearse when called to do so..

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

Basil; thats a good question!

I guess my definition would be:
Practicing scales and licks is PRACTICING.

Rehearsing the whole song and the arrangment (intro, solo, ending)is REHEARSING.

Put another way... a musician practices playing his instrument.
A band rehearses their performances.

just my oppinion, "Your mileage may vary", "Contents may settle during shipping", "Actual item may vary in color and appearance", "Limited to stock on hand", "not available in some states."

Dom Wink

basilh · From: United Kingdom

That's what I thought Dom, in which case I DON'T practice, just rehearse..
I'm sort of ashamed to admit it, but it is the case, I tend to work thing out in my head and once there it's no problem.(Usually)

Mark Mansueto · From: Michigan, USA

I leave a few guitars out on stands around the house so that they're easily accessable for when I feel inspired. I used to keep most of them in their cases but I found that if I have to dig the one I want out of a case which is stored somewhere I just don't do it. One of the best things I've done was to keep a lap steel right next to the PC Very Happy

Sometimes after reading these threads I reach over and grab it and start playing...
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Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Dittos on all that, Mark.

Bas, I'd say practising is the learning process, and rehearsing is getting what you've learned, down pat, in the context of a complete song, as Dom explained.
But, you knew that.

Lately, my practice time is 0. This ocean air is not kind to strings, and I've got a stack of new 16s that will be going on today, and then I can get back on it without sawing thru my bar.

If you constantly think about your tunes and playing, the memory stays fresh, even without putting bar to string, but daily life usually doesn't allow for this.

Jim Waldrop · From: Alabama, USA

Two hours per day. At the rate I am progressing or regressing I may have to increase my practice time.

Keith Wells · From: South Carolina Sea Islands

I play for an hour or so almost everyday. Sometimes I actually learn something.

Sometimes I just noodle and don't try to learn anything.

Dom said:

John Dahms · From: Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA

I practice if I have a goal, something I want to learn or accomplish. I don't do that regularly. I play every day because I have to. I just have to.
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Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

Basil asks,

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

It's difficult to define practice. I sit watching the television at night with a steel guitar in front of me. Every so often I'll play, and I like to play along with the music on the screen.

Bill Hampton · From: Colorado, USA

A woman I know told me that "women have hobbies -- men have obsessions". It certainly holds true for me.
I play between one and two hours a day and have to call it practice since I'm not good enough yet to play in front of people so it can't be called rehearsal.

Keith Cordell · From: San Diego

Since I had a stroke last year I practice at least 3 hours a day. My neurologist said it is the best thing for me, keeps the marbles in my head and improves a little lost dexterity.

Craig Reed · From: Crockett,Texas, USA

I'm still a beginner, but thanks to Roy Thomson, i have something to practice on. My old Rick. is next to my PC so i hit it every day at least 1 hour. Thanks Roy.
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IN GOD WE TRUST

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

I actually practice only about two or three hours a week. But I play an hour or two a day. I usually have a riff or two I have taken out of context and I work on it or them a half hour or so at a time. That I call practice. I, like Alan, do a lot of that while watching TV. In fact I call them "TV licks". Aren't I clever? Most of the time I play with rhythm tracks or along with CDs. A couple hours a day usually. And,of course, some jams now and then.

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