How many hours a week do you guys practice? Between the family and job, I know I don't practice as much as I should, but I was curious how much other beginners practiced each week.

Thanks.
Bill

I try to go about an hour per day.  It may not be an hour all at once, though.  Being retired, I have time throughout my day to take "breaks" and plunk at my git.  I don't have a set time or routine, either.  I usually spend about 1/2 hour while I cool down from my morning workout, then find time in the evening for at least another 1/2 hour.  When I miss practice time because of being gone, I can't wait to get home to get my hands on my git.

Even after being at this for about 7 months, I am STILL having a riot learning new things.

I know what you mean about carreer and family obligations.  That's why I hadn't started the git years ago.  Now that I'm retired, I have plenty of patience and TIME.

Keep It Fun,

Dean

PS: Do you have an old AC Cobra 289?

its my main hobby i do it during commercial if i watch tv at all. at least twent minutes a day i stop to eat. otherwise i put my head down and play as much as possible. when i sleep  i try to practice scales so as not to disturb anyone with monotonus practice. when at work i feel inconvienenced by the fact that i don't get to play my guitar.

p.s. this is meant to be funny really it varies on a good day i might get two hours but i will settle for thirty minutes a day of peace and harmony.(or lack of harmony)

Practice for me  is 20 minutes here and there throughout the day, unless I'm working on a new riff. new riffs come hard for me.. I may play for 10 min. or 2 hours. depending  if I'm fighting the riff to get it right.

Hi Dean. I wish I could average an hour a day. Right now I am doing about 4 1/2 to 5 hours a week. I'll pick it up several times during the evening for about 10 to 30 minutes each time. I have been taking lessons for about 2 months and I still struggle with a lot of it. I had the guitar for a few months before that and just didn't feel like I was making any progress on my own. I am hoping to see some decent improvement within the next year. If not, I might have to admit it's not for me and move on.

As for the Cobra, no I don't own one. I am just a fan of fast cars (old and new). Maybe if i hit the lotto I can get a replica of a Cobra. :-)

At least it looks like I am not too far off from what you guys are doing. I should really try to get my total time each day up somewhere around an hour.

I think the biggest thing is to have fun.  I don't have a formal teacher.  I have what I concider a "coach".  He's a good friend that has been at this for 40+ years.  He'll show me something and then turn me loose on it.  I'll work on it and when I feel I'm ready, we'll get together for a few "refreshments" and he'll show me more.  My goal is to be able to jam with him and another guy by next March (first anniversary of the git thing) without embarassing myself.  Having a goal and someone to show you things you want to know are important.  Incentive will get you looking for more practice time.

Above ALL, have fun,

Dean

I get in at least an hour a day myself... usually, anyway. Varies a lot really, but I at least try to get 30 minutes a day if I'm strapped for time otherwise. I just practice as much as the day allows haha.

I would say every second of the day. I read a book about mental visualization which says if you dream or think about what you are trying
to accomplish it helps you succeed. So with two jobs and a 8 week old it is hard to practice as much as i would like. and some times 15mins is the max i get to practice in a week. so i spend time at work doing finger stretches and strengthening between helping customers and think about music during late night feedings so when i get to actually touch my guitar i practice and retain what i have been thinking about previous to getting to play.

I dont ever just casuallly pratice since I play pretty technical music it is best if I stretch out and warmup before I start Any real Practice.  I start with some 10 count shoulder stretches..both in front and behind my head...then I stretch the wrist forward and the fingers back. Then I massage my chest forarms and hands for about 2 minutes each...then I start with a left hand excersize its hard to explain I think I will start a topic on my warm ups with tabs and what not..anyway then I move to 4 note perstring chromatic exercises with alternate picking to work both hands together then a string skipping exercise all of this takes about 20-30 minutes...then I move on to praticing whatever solo or piece I may be working on that day....but yes I do play for fun also Ill jsut sit down watch TV and widdle away playing scales and licks and whatever fragments I happen to come up with

could you please please do a post with warm ups
i found a couple one is called the finger gym which is a
series of hammer ons and pull offs which has helped me
and one is just a finger stretching routine off the youtube
i desperately need more warm up and stretches for my
guitar playing

ACobra289 wrote:

How many hours a week do you guys practice? Between the family and job, I know I don't practice as much as I should, but I was curious how much other beginners practiced each week.

Thanks.
Bill

well right now i practice off and on all day, i,am out of work at the moment,lol,