Hi everybody!
I just starte here and wanted to ask Tomo or smbdy expirienced, what is the right way to use my training tume.
If i practice every day 2-3h, how to divide time. For example:
30 minutes Warm up with chromatic, alternate picking etc
30 minutes beginners video
30 min SR
30 min theory.
Or I do warm up and 1.5 h do only one subject that day, e.g SR, next day another subject - Theory?
If you do practice 2-3h a day you will get good fast.
I think, just opinion, that you are better off practicing no more than 30 to 45 minutes before taking a short break. I like to work in 10 to 15 minute intervals with short breaks in between, I use this time to change the sheet music on the stand, make tweaks to my setup, otherwise prepare for the next topic, or just get up and walk away for a few minutes.
My morning routine looks something like this.
Right now I spend the first 5 or so minutes working on alternate picking, either on one string or alternate strings, sometimes just playing 4 notes chromatically or just muted. I set a metronome at a slow speed, 60 BPM or below, and start with 4 beats of 1/4 notes, then 1/8 notes, triplets, and so on up to at least 1/32. For me I even include odd groupings, 5 notes per beat, 7 notes per beat and 9 notes per beat. (I'm sure there are names for those groupings.) Then descending back to quarter notes.
I then play a chord exercise based on the CAGED system starting at open C major and then moving in fourths all the way until I get the "D" form of C at the 10th fret. I then reverse and play minor chords in fifths moving back down the neck until I can no longer finger the C form. (Sorry if you don't understand CAGED it's worth making a study of.)
Both of these things together generally take less than ten minutes. (It's also best to stretch your hands and your forearms during and after your warmup.)
Then, right now I spend 10-15 on George Van Epps Guitar Method, it is a very comprehensive study of triads. I was aware of it because of an older musician I knew as a youngster and was please to find it in PDF form at a very reasonable cost.
I then spend 10 to 15 working on sight reading, something I have avoided for far to long.
Then 10 - 30 minutes working on learning tunes by ear. This can involve figuring out a progression, lifting a lick or two, coping a bass line, and recently I have been using a cajon and a tambourine to try and mimic drum parts. I also will record the rythym and bass parts into a looper and then record guitar parts and make myself listen to what I really sound like.
Usually by the time I get all of this done an hour has past, and it's time to get ready for the rest of the day.
I do my best to spend at least another 30 minutes to an hour in the evening, sometimes this is just free time, or if I am finding something really challenging I will use this time to double down.
I try to not work on anyone thing for more than a few weeks without modification, or sometimes I'll just set it aside for several weeks and then revisit.
If you are a beginner, learn your major scales and then learn how to harmonize the major scale with triads. Also learn the names of the notes everywhere on the fretboard. It makes comprehension so much quicker, you will still have to work out the technique side of things, but at least you will understand what you are trying to play.
And learn to read music, saying that reading music limits creativity is like saying if you learn to read a language it will inhibit your ability to speak it. Just think about how non-sensical a statement that is.
Sorry for being so long-winded.
Hello! Thank you very much for your detailed response. I enjoyed reading about how you spend your time. You're very productive if you manage to do so many different exercises in just one hour. No, I'm not completely new to music. In my childhood, I completed a music school for piano and played guitar using cowboy chords. Now, at the age of 35, I've decided to get back into music because my son has a great musical talent, and I want to support him, accompany him, and explain things to him that he may not understand on his own. I have a decent understanding of the basic theory, but it's more on a theoretical level, so to speak. However, I don't know how to apply my knowledge to the guitar. I've been playing for about a year and have gotten fairly good at certain techniques like bends and alternate picking, but mostly, I just play memorized tablatures without really understanding the meaning behind them. I want to not only learn something but also understand what I'm playing and be able to accompany others on the fly. Thank you very much for your response!
I’ve been getting good results by braking my practice down into:
Technique ( chromatic exercises)
Chords ( open, caged system barre forms )
Scales
Triads
Intervals & octaves
Rhythm exercises - r-3-7 swing blues, blues shuffle, neo soul chords , jazz swing
Playing songs
Theory ( learning scale degrees ect)
Each section is usually between 10-20mins , I may not do every section every day maybe 3-5 sections .
I really really enjoy Tomos rhythm exercises like the swing blues root,3rd,7 with metronome at 40bpm.
My rhythm has improved vastly since doing those exercises and they’re so fun they’re like meditation
Hi Budha! . I very appreciate your answer. There's a problem replying to comment, I can only add new comment, not reply.
I found, that I am very interested it theory and triads section, thats what I always missed, and Tomo is great teacher, because he is explaining everything very clear and makes theory interesting
Thanks so much for sharing!
I would suggest about "Technique" & "Theory" To support your playing and your learning.
1) Chromatic scale. First part is all down stroke with quarter notes. Tempo around 40 per beat (Don't use a metronome!)
Check about noises. No noises from your left fingers or any strings! Very important to practice super clean.
Then you can change to 8th notes, triplets, 16ths.... with slow tempo.
Then you can do 1212 3212 3432 1234... 4343 2343 2123 4321
All together, you should not play more than 15 minutes. Focus less time but you need to do everyday for 90 days!
2) Left hand muting technique.
R 3 7 Swing Groove. You can watch R 3 7 swing groove video for more details.
I would suggest 10-20 minutes on this subject. Super important! If you want to play funky then this exercise is so important!
Do... Bb Blues, Bb Jazz Blues... then a few tunes from Jazz Standard section.
3) Triads! This topic is so important to learn about the fretboard.
This part, you don't need to do everyday but you need to check often.
4) Theory! Learn one string approach.
Intervals.... so importat! Learn Major scale on one string and try other scales on one string.
This way, not shapes! But you can learn about intervals. You don't need to practice everyday
So basic part is all together... less than 20-30 minutes.
Then you can dive in any topics, any lesson videos.
Thank you everyone!
To Dale Murphy, Thank you for sharing! Great details!
To Smooth Buddha, Thanks for sharing! Glad you enjoy my rhythm exercises.
Good balance!