Just wondering how much other people get to play their guitar. Some days I get to play for 30 mins or more without grief, but other days, as soon as it comes out the compaining begins. Maybe if I was a better player, I wouldn't get so much flack.

Now that I'm divorced, and living by myself, I can play as much as I want. (not that I recomend this solution)

On work days, I practice 15 or 20 minutes in the morning before work, then thirty minutes to an hour in the evening. Weekend days, about 2 hours total each day, on and off throughout the day.

Not nearly as much as I should! I tent to take it in spurts. I may go a week and never touch it, then I may be in the mood and play for two hours or more a day.

Do what I did. Take up fiddlin'. They'll beg you to bring out the guitar.

myself itry an get at least an hour a day in some time,s it turns to two, i leave the guitar on a stand that way it,s in veiw all the time because if it,s in the case outta sight outta mind, i have a spare room can go to that way i,m not bothering anyone and they are,nt bother,n me, and yes i,ve bin told on more than one ocasion to give it a rest

i guess i'm lucky my wife works and i'm retired so i tend to try and get at least two hrs a day,sometimes, even when she's home i dont get bothered at all,she is a good lass though..

I can back up tumbleweed on the fiddle idea. My kids call it child abuse. You can always try this one:
Wife complains about you playing, say, "But, Baby, I'm writing a song about you!"

I try to play as much as I can, when the little woman is home I sit out on the front porch and play and wave to the neighbors paassing by, they seem to enjoy it

i try 2 play about an hourx every weekday, but lately i aint really been play but 15 minutes a day

Oh yeah, by the way I have nothing against fiddlers or fiddlin'. It's just my skill level that worries me .... and those I live with. Fortunately the nearest neighbors are 2.5 miles away over the ridge and I have a barn 150 yards or so away.

I play everyday, banjo or guitar, one or the other or both. Sometimes 10 mins. or sometimes probably 6 or 7 hours, that would include some jamming time though.

If you have significant others or neighbors who have to listen to you practice, it can be tough.
Some thoughts:

1. Don't play straight scales- the monotony of these can drive people up a tree!!!
Play tunes instead. "Joy to the World" incorporates a descending major scale- there may be others.
Or, you can play the scale once, then "noodle" on it, changing direction in unexpected places, hitting all the scale
notes, but trying to make it sound musical.

2. Most people relate to songs more than instrumentals, so learn some songs... especially any of your listeners' favorites- it's a good way to butter them up and win brownie points and tolerance.
It also makes for good family memories.
It's not the same as more focused practice, but you are building calluses, finger strength and even performance skills.

If you can't sing, at least play the song melodies. Anything your family members may recognize is GOLDEN-
television themes, melodies to old commercials, whatever.
If it makes them laugh, all the better, then they won't be complaining!!!!

If you must play fiddle tunes pay attention to any likes or dislikes- I always played a couple tunes my wife said she liked, and avoided another one (modal minor one) when she said it spooked her!!!

if unfamiliar tunes are sandwiched between or medleyed with familiar ones, it makes them easier to take.
A solid block of unfamiliar stuff is asking for trouble.

Better to play slowly and with feeling to start, then pick up the speed gradually as you gain control.
Stuff that sounds sloppy and rushed is not pleasant for non-musicians to listen to.

Learning to please your family as an audience is good training for pleasing other audiences.

If you're not trying to play over your head at home, you're not practicing. So a lot of musicians subject their home mates to a lot of mediocre, gratuitous practice. If you can, try to practice when they are gone, opposite ends of the house, try a mute, etc. If they are around, try to clean it up, play your better stuff, and make it a soothing background, and play softly. Also, appeal to their sense of compassion. You're trying to acheive something that requires some commitment. You shouldn't feel guilty or restricted. And, you can remind them that it could be worse: 1st year fiddles are like killing cats, and any year banjos can be like hammers to the head!

I practice with the band weekly for @ 4 hours, plus try to get in a few days of 1-2 hours by myself working on scales and fiddle tunes ect.New songs I go over for hours till I make some progress then wait a day or two and try it again. But all said and done i make the most progress when playing as often and as long as i can. as flivr said don't tire yourself too much though.

Regardless of how supportive your household is, if they don't play an instrument they will eventually get tired of hearing the same stuff over and over. For me, it requires repetition to get any patterns to "auto" mode.

I discovered, by accident, an effective mute for my guitar and mandolin. I bought a sample pack of Wegen picks that contained a few big, thick rubber picks. While I am not sure what they are intended for, they are an effective mute and allow me to practice the sequences without making too much noise. The size requires me to be more precise in the pick stroke, which also is a benefit when I go back to my regular pick.

Worth a try.

tumbleweed, with the distant neighbors and detached barn, your a prime candidate for the banjo :)

I like to play everyday atleast an hour. Depening on what day it is i can play up to six hours. It all depends on my time. Love to play tho!!!
Tim

Outside of teaching lessons, I try to play for at least 1 or 2 hours a day - preferrably 3 or 4 but I don't always get that much in. The key for me is to make sure I'm always pushing myself to play a little beyond my abilities; otherwise I get stagnant and stop progressing.

--Jamey

I play every day. Sometimes a few minutes, other days it might be 4-8 hours. Depends on what I'm doing and what I have time for.

At least a couple hours a day total. If I'm watching TV I always have a guitar or banjo on my lap and practice during commercials.

As much as I possibly can. Being a Grad student now definitely eats into my desire to play all the time. But at least an hour a day on various instruments is a mandatory minimum.

quote:

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and any year banjos can be like hammers to the head!

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Edited by - If 6 was 12 on 11/25/2010 17:21:31

I`m a disabled person that lives alone so guitar is really therapy for me. I play at least 4-5 hours a day, trying for every day. I go through periods where I play all day and maybe 2 gigs a day on the weekends, and some days/weeks I`m unable to play at all. I`m in it for the long haul, so It`s really important for my progress ,to be consistent in my practice and as others have said, play beyond my abilities. Playing the same `ol crap all the time, or really slow tempos does nothing for progress.

I think a fella should practice at least a small amount everyday...smaller amounts daily beats practicing a bunch once every week or so...

Chuck

a couple of times a day for 20 minutes to an hour or until my fingers get sore.