sorry for being rude for 1st post, didnt even inroduce myself.  new to guitar, at least the right way/i guess better late
than never.  once apon a time i tried to play by ear and never learned how to read it, wasnt bad but got away from it.
now over 20years later trying to give it another shot, love musicand just want to play it.  learning chords and scales but having a hard time getting a practice schedule together, time doesnt permit for a teacher right now.  just trying to get the
basics going forward/

Welcome aboard RAFL, well an instructor would be good, true but there is so much information online that you can learn much of what you need...right here for example...ask anything and there will be someone that has an answer...i can almost promise that !

For a practice schedule, an hour a day is good and for a routine you could work on a scale you know, a scale you don't know and this will warm you up...then you could work on chords you know (changes for example) then add a new chord or two each practice, then if you know enough chords and/or how to read tab, you could work on a song you like. Another important thing i figured out when i got serious was to build a sone book...copy tabs from the internet...the 'chords over lyrics' type, learn how to print them up so you can work with them and work with the songs each practice. What i do know since i have so many of them is i open the three ring, start at the beginning and leave it where i left off...after a week or so i'm through the whole binder and i start over. Hope this helps RAFL.

GuitarZen

I agree with Z, but, don't let yourself get caught up with just playing the same thing over and over, a ridgid scvhedule didn't work for me, !5 minutes, 20 minutes here and there throughout the day  adds adds up and you don't get frustrated either.I would add my welcome to the group also.

Thanks for the hospitality/I really wish I could designate an hour to pratice, unfortunately if 20 minutes pops up, thats what I got.  I like the idea of adding known with unknown-I get in the habit of only practicing what I know because of lack of time.

Thanks again, RAFL

RAFL,

Along with the old and new stuff, ya may want to add some diferent technics to your scale practice such as:

String bending
Left hand tremolo effect (If your right handed)
Pull offs and Hammer ons (1,2,3, and 4 finger (note) for starters)
Learn a new scale, then fool around with it using these little ditty's,   It will not only break up the bordom, but you"ll also learn something more while your at it.

Jim