Practice time issue.

[H2ODog]

I tried two different teachers in the last five months. Unfortunately for reasons I described in other posts it did not work out. So I decided to work on my own for a while until I can locate a teacher that I feel is really what I need. My question is this. I have about an hour per weekday (sometimes more) to practice per day. I need a structure that would maximize my time practicing. I’m not a total beginner, know some theory and can read a little. Right now i seem to be at a loss on what i need to concentrate my time. Unfortunatley i did not get any advice on this from tha lst two teachers. If you had only an hour to use practicing how you would spend that time. Any info that can help me structure my time would be appreciated.

[DocBop]

I'll give you my general schedule but it is only a sketch the amount of time on each topic varies constanly. You will have to reduce the number of topics and time spent to fit your schedule.

Remember the key to practice is do a little every day. I'm not talk about the bass, I'm talking about the topics you are working on. Even if only 5 minutes, do it daily. Spending a lot of time a few days a week on something does not work as well as a few minutes a day.

Each one of these is 10-20 minutes.

Scales
Arpeggios
Sightreading (good area to add more when possible)
Soloing
Eartraining
Walking
Time/Groove

Now some things get combined because of what I'm working on. Like soloing. I might be spending a week working a chord. So everyday I am playing the two octave scale associated with that chord. Then play the two octave arpeggio for the chord. Then some pattern or squence based on the scale. Then some time doing free improv using scale and arpeggio. Then play a circular chord progression using this and other chords I've worked on using associated scales and forcing myself to use closest connecting tone when chords change. Now that is a lot to do in ten minutes the thing is do it, remember where you stopped and pick up from that point the next day. Working this way you don't feel like you are getting much done in a day, but over a week or a month you end up getting a lot done.

[H2ODog]

Thanks Doc, that is some good info.

[DayoftheGreek]

Originally Posted by H2ODog

Thanks Doc, that is some good info.

I second this.

I might have to start a practice regiment like that as well, it is quite the line up.

[El Bajo]

Its a pretty decent list. The Scale, Arpeggio and Time thing I incorporate into one. I have been relearning the humble Major Scale but absolutly all over the fretboard shouting out the notes (to test fretboard knowledge) but also the number in the scale that corresponds to the note (for soloing, improv and arpeggios) The doing them at different time settings

[El Bajo]

After that learn a couple of new songs, but make them hard ones and from a different genre that your used too and take your time. This way your picking up different styles, emulating other artists, following standard notation even if you have the tabs, and exercising your fingers. You will then have a cool groove to show of next band rehersal.

[WillPlay4Food]

Originally Posted by El Bajo

Its a pretty decent list. The Scale, Arpeggio and Time thing I incorporate into one. I have been relearning the humble Major Scale but absolutly all over the fretboard shouting out the notes (to test fretboard knowledge) but also the number in the scale that corresponds to the note (for soloing, improv and arpeggios) The doing them at different time settings

I just started lessons again and my teacher brought me back to major scales to practice what you talk about in your post. On top of this my teacher makes me work the scales using 3 different fingerings:

Major Scale Fingerings for G Major, 1 Octave Root to Root

#1 - Most common

 0| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
G|| - | - | - | - | - |
D|| - | 1 | - | 3 | 4 |
A|| - | 1 | 2 | - | 4 |
E|| - | - | 2 | - | 4 |

#2 - Extended reach pattern (maybe called open fingering?)

 0| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
G|| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
D|| - | - | - | 1 | 2 | - | - |
A|| - | - | 1 | - | 2 | - | 4 |
E|| - | - | 1 | - | 2 | - | 4 |

#3 Start on pinky, need to shift slightly for notes 7 & 8

(pinky on fret 15 of E string for this example)
 0|11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |
G|| 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
D|| - | 1 | - | 3 | - | - |
A|| - | 1 | - | 3 | 4 | - |
E|| - | - | - | - | 4 | - |

OR

 0|11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |
G|| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
D|| - | 1 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 4 |
A|| - | 1 | - | 3 | 4 | - | - |
E|| - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - |

The point of this exercise as my teacher explained it is, if you know these 3 fingerings for the major scale then once you start doing 2+ octave scale work no matter what finger you end up on the root of a scale, you'll already know how to continue moving up the scale. I've been practicing these for a couple of weeks now and I'm much more comfortable moving around the fretboard and staying in key with much less thought involved.

Now I just need to work on my arpeggios and progressions.


To the original poster, I'm in the same boat as you in that I only have about 45 minutes per day to practice. My session goes something like this:

warmup - this can be scale work or free jam stuff, depending on how I feel. The important thing to me is to play slowly and get the playing muscles warmed up and hand ligaments stretched out.

Teacher / lesson related stuff - Work on what I've been assigned. The last couple of weeks I've been working on 12 bar blues in all keys by going through them in cycle of 4ths. Also working on 'toolbox pieces'. For example, I'll work through 12 bar blues using the following methods for each measure:

R-b7-R-1/2 step chromatic approach
R-R-3-1/2 step chromatic approach
R-R-5-1/2 step chromatic approach
R-R-7-1/2 step chromatic approach

The 1/2 step chromatic approach is practiced both 1/2 step from above and 1/2 step from below the target note.

The next couple of weeks I'll be working on call & response soloing over 12 bar blues. I'll also be working on assigned sheet music pieces.

Now all the above stuff is great to expand my theoretical knowledge, sight reading, etc. But I still want to have fun since these 45 minutes is the only time I'm guaranteed I'll be able to play, so the last 15 minutes of my time I leave for me. I either work on songs I want or need to learn (want to learn for myself, need to learn for the band) or I'll jam / make noise or work on technique stuff, like slap & pop.

Once I've got everything packed away (I practice during my lunch break), I'll do some stretching exercises as a cool down. I'm trying really hard to be good to my hands so I don't get RSI or carpal tunnel problems.