Practice

I think I need to practice more productively! I can sometimes be sitting there playing for 2,3,4,5...6 hours and then go to work.( I do shifts) However, I'm pretty sure I need to be more methodical about what I'm doing.

Here's what I do most days:

1.Warm up on some of my own stuff.
2.Print out a few tabs off the internet and start learning them. (This can go on for hours.)
3.Spend about 15 minutes doing runs on pentatonic and chromatic scales. Then get bored and go back to learning the tabs.
4. Get bored of the tabs and then spend a couple of hours widdling until I come up with and idea for a new original tune.

Anyone with ideas on what I should be doing should post their idea for practice sessions pronto. How can you make the scales more interesting- you here about guys like Zakk Wilde, Steve Vai and EVH apending hours just doing the same runs to get fast.

It is true that to really get scales, chord progressions, arpeggios, etc... down to the point where they are second nature, you have to repeat them many many times. However I think there is a big difference between playing a scale pattern in the exact same way ad nauseum 100 times or finding 100 different ways to apply that scale pattern. I opt for the second way. It's much less boring and much better for developing your ear for music. You should think about taking lessons from a reputable teacher, one that wants to teach you about music theory, not just someone who wants to show you how to play songs. That should liven up practicing and give you a little more structure to what you're trying to learn. Learning lots of songs is important, but not knowing how those songs fit into the grand scheme of things will stunt your growth as a musician.

I used to work out solos but with only my ring finger and my pinky, then only with my index and third... Gets less boring...

sometimes if you stand on your head while you practice it can give you a different perspective on things.

Originally posted by chris mood
sometimes if you stand on your head while you practice it can give you a different perspective on things.

Don't try this after dinner though...

or after going on a roller coaster:)