approaching practice

Steve Becker · From: Daytona Beach FL

I'm sure this subject has been covered in the past, but I couldn't find anything when I did a search..

Just wondering how other players address the issue of practicing.

Do you:

1) Take a hodge-podge approach, practicing whenever you can, for as long as you feel like it, on whatever you feel like playing.
2) Take a more disciplined approach, practicing for set increments of time, or on specific drills, exercises, or licks.
3) Work on complete songs over and over til you've got it down before tackling something new.
4) Work on multiple things at the same time, or

5) A combination of all of the above.

Other ideas? Does one technique seem to be more productive and efficient than another? I'm an old dog, but I can still learn a few new tricks!

Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

Steve, I practice a lot every day. Before I play steel guitar shows, I always practice songs a few times to make sure they sound alright...if my left hand gets tired, I save practicing for later, so I take a break, but then I go back to practicin'.
Brett

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

Mostly I'm busy learning a new set of tunes doing the freelance thing these days. Transcribing another 20 or so songs for a particular artist/gig every couple days lately. When things settle down and I have any free time I make a list. I make a group of 8 circles each representing 30 minutes for a total of 4 hours.

Such as:
1. picking/scales
2.arpeggios
3. arpeggios in minor keys
4. single notes along to drones (I will play the same D note on every string I can over and over again as slowly as possible)
5. Play scales over jazz blues changes.
6. Play scales over rhythm changes.
7. learn a new song
8 Solo over new song changes.

It varies quite a bit.

I'm pretty methodical I guess. I shoot for a minimum of 4 hours practice daily unless somebody is giving me money to learn or play something.

These days I'm spending whatever free time I can get playing Autumn Leaves over and over again on a lap steel. Its a pretty deep tune.
_________________
Bob

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

I've been approaching practice for an hour but haven't got any closer.

Johnny Cox · Posted 27 Jun 2010 11:26 pm

#1 Turn off the computer and the TV.

#2 Approach the steel guitar.

#3 Plug the steel guitar into the volume pdeal.

#4 Plug the volume pedal into the amplifier. (this part saves you money and will actually help your tone and technique).

#5 Set there and play for hours and hours.

#6 When you see another steel player ask him to show you something,(not his new tuner or effects box, or amp or how much cabinet drop his guitar has but something on the guitar involving the bar, picks, strings, frets and hands that makes a musical sound).

#7 If you have doubts that this approach will work listen to Buddy, Jimmy, John, Weldon, Hal, Curly, Reece and all the rest of the greats. That's how they did it. No tab, no teaching videos, no forum. Just a gift and hours and hours of practice.

#8 If you do this for years and never get any better try model trains,some folks just don't have the gift.

#9 If you think I'm being a wise ass, you may be right. If you think that what I'm saying is not the truth you may be wrong.

#10 If all else fails, marry a real good steel player and pick her brain. Worked for me, have you heard me play lately? That part was just for fun. Laughing

_________________
Johnny "Dumplin" Cox
"YANKIN' STRINGS & STOMPIN' PEDALS" since 1967.

Clete Ritta · From: San Antonio, Texas

Headphones on with steelradio.com
I like to play along with whatever is on...
No matter what I sound like!
Sometime I get lucky and actually figure something out as I'm listening.
Rewards:
1.I'm not bored.
2. Ear training. Listening to recordings gives you a tonal center to cue in with.
3. Try to get the chords right to everything you hear, as soon as you hear it. Much music is semi-predictable when you really break it down.
4. Improvise! Once the progression of a song is apparent...go off!! No one is listening but you, so use any part of a song to solo over and learn the melody parts as you hear them. Play over the singer if you like hahaha.
5. You may be inspired and come up with something you want to perfect. You can always turn the radio off and practice with a metronome if you feel like recording it.
6. Doesn't hurt to record your entire practice and listen back later too. You can always erase it or record again. Im so looking forward to the Zoom H1 Smile

Clete

Clyde Mattocks · From: Kinston, North Carolina, USA

I find that I get the most from my practice when I have something specific to work toward, like a body of work for a theater show, or a new artist's material. In the discipline that is required to do it a certain way, I not only discover another player's way of thinking, but variations on his ideas will pop into my mind. In these situations, I usually come out with a few new tricks.
_________________
LeGrande II, Nash. 112, Fender Twin Tone Master, Session 400, Harlow Dobro, R.Q.Jones Dobro

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Eric Philippsen · From: Central Florida USA

If you don't have some methodical or disciplined approach to practicing you'll just be playing repertoire.

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

+1 on Johnny's advice, probably his most informative and practical post ever on this Forum, especially #5 through #9. Print it out and hang it on the wall in your music room.
_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville

Roger Francis · From: kokomo,Indiana, USA

One approach to practice that really helps me is to record my self while playing out or in the practice room. You think you sound good till you hear your self and realize you need to perfect what you know before moving on to something new, sometimes i tell myself YOU S&#$ and sometimes i pat myself on the back, so i try not to get discouraged at something i can't do very well and spend more time trying to do it better. Like others have said, you have to walk away from it and come back a little later an start over, it's all a part of being a musician.

Mark Lavelle · From: San Mateo, CA

I'm basically a hodge-podge guy (one advantage of not trying to make money at it), but I've found I tend to spend about 1/3 trying to learn specific songs, 1/3 on licks/technique & 1/3 playing along with random tunes.
_________________
http://www.harmonicappliances.com/

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: