I thought I would tap into the collective knowledge to get some ideas on making band practice more productive. Our practice time is getting scarce so any ideas would be appreciated!! 
For the past number of bands, this method seems to work:
Three lists of songs.
List 1 = songs that we know well.
List 2 = songs that we are working on and somewhat know.
List 3 = brand new songs.
We'll play about 10 songs from List 1 to warm up, and the next practice, play a different set of 10 songs, and so on until we've done all the songs on the list, then we start over. This eliminates only playing the fun songs and not doing the ones we don't like as much, and makes it so that we've played all songs within the past few weeks.
Next, on to List 2. We'll work on these songs, and they will go on List 1 when we've conquered them. We'll take notes on what each individual or the entire band needs to do for the songs that remain on List 2.
Then, on to List 3. We only have a max of 8 songs on this list so it doesn't get unruly like it has in the past (1 or 2 chosen by each band member so everybody gets a say in what songs are played). Also, we have a specific order that we are going to learn them in, so we all don't work on different songs. Then the songs go on List 2. When this list is almost complete, we pick another group of songs.
We'll each work on as much as we can on our own, we'll discuss who needs the recordings, how we want to end the song if it fades out, who does what background vocals, any differences in the way we want to play it from the original, how long the solos will be, how we will take care of keyboard and horn parts since we only have guitars, etc.
Sorry for the length
Anything else anybody does that works?
For the past number of bands, this method seems to work:
Three lists of songs.
List 1 = songs that we know well.
List 2 = songs that we are working on and somewhat know.
List 3 = brand new songs.
We'll play about 10 songs from List 1 to warm up, and the next practice, play a different set of 10 songs, and so on until we've done all the songs on the list, then we start over. This eliminates only playing the fun songs and not doing the ones we don't like as much, and makes it so that we've played all songs within the past few weeks.
Next, on to List 2. We'll work on these songs, and they will go on List 1 when we've conquered them. We'll take notes on what each individual or the entire band needs to do for the songs that remain on List 2.
Then, on to List 3. We only have a max of 8 songs on this list so it doesn't get unruly like it has in the past (1 or 2 chosen by each band member so everybody gets a say in what songs are played). Also, we have a specific order that we are going to learn them in, so we all don't work on different songs. Then the songs go on List 2. When this list is almost complete, we pick another group of songs.
We'll each work on as much as we can on our own, we'll discuss who needs the recordings, how we want to end the song if it fades out, who does what background vocals, any differences in the way we want to play it from the original, how long the solos will be, how we will take care of keyboard and horn parts since we only have guitars, etc.
Sorry for the length
Anything else anybody does that works?
