how often do you really practice?

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 30 Mar 2006 10:50 am

I read somewhere, somebody suggested atlest 5-6 hours of practice a day, I would love to do that but with my job I travel alot and when I'm home I sleep. So if I can get in 2 hours in 2 days I'm doing good. The PSG is just to big to take as well, just wanted to see how much others practice, thanks

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 30 Mar 2006 10:55 am

It's the quality of the practice that matters, not the quanity. 15 min. can be more important if done right than 6 hours of learning something wrong.

Bobbe

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 30 Mar 2006 11:32 am

Not often enough...

It's just so hard, and there are so many strings, and so many tunes, and so many chords. I think I'll just give up and go watch TV

Bobbe is right though, it all depends on your state of mind at the time.[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 30 March 2006 at 11:33 AM.]

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 30 Mar 2006 11:44 am

Good point bobbe, this is true.

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 30 Mar 2006 12:00 pm

how often do you really practice?

Practice what??

I practice drinking beer,every day. I'm gonna keep practicing 'til I get it right!

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com</pre>

Stewart Thompson · Post by **Stewart Thompson** » 30 Mar 2006 12:12 pm

My goal is to practice one solid hour a day, but the reality is that some days I only have time enough to sit down at my guitar to run through the latest lick, solo, or song I am working on. At my current skill level I SHOULD be practicing alot more.

Rick Garrett · Post by **Rick Garrett** » 30 Mar 2006 12:47 pm

Anywhere from 30 minutes a day up to 2-3 hours. Depends on the work schedule. I've got alot of ground to cover and I got a late start so I tend to push it a bit.

Rick

richard burton · Post by **richard burton** » 30 Mar 2006 1:17 pm

I don't depend on playing a steel to augment my income any more, so I play only when I feel like it.

I have no practice regime (never have had !), it's too much like hard work.

It's not called playing an instrument for nothing.

Playing is what we humans do to amuse ourselves.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 30 Mar 2006 1:31 pm

My practice is generally daily..not for hours but generally in 15 or 20 minute snipits.

But what I practice is exactly the same, over and over and over..I generally do not stray.

I have been told and have found , that when working with unfamiliar string combo's or phrases that require unfamiliar Ped or Knee movements, the ONLY way to make it comfortable is to repeat it over and over and over..it will eventually get into the comfort zone..

this is what I do..

and yes, every now and then I will play to some tracks just for the enjoyment of it but most practice sessions are to bring something different into my comfort zone or to work out the kinks in some things that are still bugging me..like eveything

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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite


[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 30 March 2006 at 01:32 PM.]

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 30 Mar 2006 2:05 pm

A.J., when I travel I take my little National lap steel with me. It's great for working on picking technique, and it's a lot more portable than my pedal guitar.

It makes for better use of the right hand in hotel rooms.

Jason Schofield · Post by **Jason Schofield** » 30 Mar 2006 3:01 pm

Luckily I'm 34, still single and no kids. I've been playing Pedal Steel under a year but in the last 5 months I've been practicing 6 hours a day 4 days a week. About 28 hours a week at least. I do get really distracted by the internet though, especially this forum

I just found a teacher in the area too. Danny Dunn just moved back from Nashville. Sweet!!!

I have some cds for sale here. check it out http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum18/HTML/000720.html

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 30 Mar 2006 3:06 pm

Certainly Bobbe is right that 15 minutes of effective practice is better than 6 hours of practicing the wrong way. But, of course, 6 hours of practicing the right way still beats 15 minutes of practicing the right way. So, yes, there is still a matter of quantity. I never progressed so far so fast as when I quit my day job and practiced 7-8 hours a day. I'm sure I could have done it more effectively too, which would have been better still.

Gene H. Brown · Post by **Gene H. Brown** » 30 Mar 2006 3:29 pm

Everytime I sit down behind my steel and also any spare time I can find, that's my first love (after my wonderful wife of course).

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If You Keep Pickin That Thing, It'll Never Heal!

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 30 Mar 2006 3:45 pm

I feel lucky if I get to play at all. I probably get 15-30 minutes on a good day.

working mans blues here......

A. J. Schobert · Post by **A. J. Schobert** » 30 Mar 2006 4:01 pm

Good idea Chris and Ben I feel your pain, when I retire I guess I can practice "alot" I only have 28 years to go.

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 30 Mar 2006 5:09 pm

. . . I play to some tracks . . . but most practice sessions are to bring something different into my comfort zone or to work out the kinks in some things that are still bugging me . . .

This is me also, albeit too heavy on the tracks side.

Michael Barone · Post by **Michael Barone** » 30 Mar 2006 5:37 pm

I try to practice an hour every day. More on weekends. E9th only. For the first 40-45 minutes I play the same group of songs in various positions. Mostly Gospel/Liturgical. Then I explore riffs & chord melody that I play on keyboard, to see if I can adapt them to steel.

I don't use tab much (just Erv's) and I rarely listen to other steeler's recordings at practice. But I do listen to most recordings within the forum, as I find it very enjoyable.

Mike

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 30 Mar 2006 7:05 pm

Curley Chalker told me in a treasured conversation that you eventually reach a point where you can mentally practice. He
said he could be doing something else and work up a tune in his head and sit down later
and play it that way. At the time, that seemed pretty amazing, but after years more
of playing I do understand and can pretty much hear myself playing a song in my head the
way I want it, certainly not as complex as
Curley or some of the other greats, but his
point was sound. I try to play some on one
instrument or the other every day.

Lonnie Portwood · Post by **Lonnie Portwood** » 30 Mar 2006 7:12 pm

I try to get behind my steel at least 30 min per month, but I don't (very seldom) get to do that. It's more like 3o min per three months. That's why you very seldom see me playing steel!!I saw a t-shirt awhile back which read; "Somewhere, right now, someone is practicing, and when they meet you in competion, they'll beat you". I thought that was insightful. Ya'll go back to practicing, now, while I waste my practice time. Chow!! Lonnie

Pat Kelly · Post by **Pat Kelly** » 30 Mar 2006 7:33 pm

still single and no kids

I hope that's not as unusual as it sounds!

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 30 Mar 2006 7:47 pm

After a long layoff, not playing steel for a couple years, I started back with renewed focus and desire. I had not forgotten anything, I just could not think "steel". I find that I am playing better than ever, and spending more time behind the steel and dobro, and less on my 6 string which has been my constant mistress for more than 45+ years.
I am a nite owl so I may play late in the evening, then if I wake up from 2-3 in the AM, then again mid afternoon and early evening. I guess I am practicing 2-4 hours a day. I miss a day here and there..but it all averages out. [This message was edited by Bo Borland on 30 March 2006 at 07:48 PM.]

Elizabeth West · Post by **Elizabeth West** » 30 Mar 2006 7:51 pm

My husband says I over practice.Tell me? how can one over practice.

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 30 Mar 2006 8:04 pm

Bobby Seymour said it right. If you don't target practice time with specific goals its a wate of time. On the other hand you must practice goals to get better. That goes for bands too.

Don Powalka · Post by **Don Powalka** » 30 Mar 2006 8:16 pm

I've been doing little snippets of practice evry day lately, and it probably adds up to about an hour a day. I play a universal so it's a bit hard to find instructional material geared for it. What I do is just think of a song and try to play it. If I can't play it, I try a couple times and move on to a different one. I also will actuate a pedal or lever and listen to the sound it produces. I then try to use that sound in a song I play. I've also worked heavily on playing songs using the bass strings. All of these things are helping to get me familiar with all of the sounds the guitar is able to produce. After doing this for a few weeks, I find that there are songs that I couldn't play just a few days ago and by gaining familiarity with the sounds I can get, I can now play those tunes. I just wish there was someone close by to watch me play and see if I'm doing things the right way.

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Fender Strat Fender Tele Gibson Les Paul ShoBud U12 Genuine Dobro Washburn B16 banjo for aggravation

Gary Glisson · Post by **Gary Glisson** » 31 Mar 2006 5:51 am

i practice 2 to 3 hours a day on E9th and 2 to 3 hours on C6th total 4 to 6 hours. i work on right hand technique, and speed picking and chord structure and progession, on saturday and sundays i usually spend 4 to 6 hours a day working on new tunes.ethier for my band or solo's i also play dobro so i try to sneak an hour or so somewhere in there for that, bobbe seymour is right you must practice technigue and do it the right way.

carter D-10, two Evans FET500, Fender custom dobro[This message was edited by Gary Glisson on 31 March 2006 at 05:52 AM.]