The Guitarists' Accountability Thread

[Atom Smasher]

Ok guys... As promised, here's the Guitarists' Accountability Thread.

This is where we'll all meet to define our individual practice goals and to hold ourselves accountable to each other to fulfill them.

Structurally, it seems that reporting each and every day will bog this thread down too much, so I suggest maybe we check in twice a week, say Wednesday and Sunday to report how well we've adhered to our stated goals for the past 3 or 4 days.

We can also report on anything else under the sun about our practice. Techniques, time allotments, styles, methodologies, philosophies on the art of practice and performance, and anything else that pertains to perfecting our craft.

If you have any other or better ideas please throw them on the table now.

To get the show on the road, I'm going to make a pledge to myself and to you guys to do 1 hour of solid practice 5 days a week. My intent is to double that eventually (and soon), but this is a lifestyle change and I believe in setting achievable goals and then raising the bar. This is how I succeed at anything in life and how I avoid overwhelm while still reaching beyond my comfort zone.

So, for Atom Smasher, it's 1 solid hour minimum of playing per day, minimum 5 days per week.

Let's get this show on the road and realize our potential together. If you're in, report your intent here.

 

[Black Dog]

I'm in! Started playing in 8th grade with Nirvana driving my ambition; nowadays I'm more into classic rock and blues. I previously owned a lunchbox amp that I never cared for, currently I'm saving up for a Fender amp and electric guitar of some sort. (Strat? Casino? Who knows....check out this sexy collection; that's my dream collection) My guitars are mostly all in need of TLC: Epiphone SG has a broken tuning peg, and crap strings+pickups; Gretcsch acoustic has loose tuning peg+crap strings; Les Paul is just a skeleton at the moment, no internal hardware of any sort...the only working guitar I have is a moderately-nice sounding acoustic..unsure of the brand but it's cheap lol

Atom by any chance would you have experience with guitar kits? I bought a Saga Les Paul kit and have minimal experience with changing out the stock hardware. It's just sitting in my room as eye candy; no pick guards or pickups of any sort, basically it's just a neck and body.

My goal as a musician is to understand the majority of instruments inside and out, and have a respectable knowledge of different music. For reference, here's an online musician I've learned a lot from: Privettricker

As for my log: last few days I've been noodling more with piano since my guitar ensemble is lacking, but I've put about 20 minutes in a day, for the last week. Mostly intricate acoustic songs, since it sounds best off my fingerpicking guitar. I'll update when I complete my goal, which is buying a worthy amp and completing my LesPaul project, fully up and running with a crisp sexy tone!


Every guitarist should know the live version of Hotel California!! It's so sick. Really got me into flamenco and makes you sound like a legend from Spain....(shreds panties off in seconds)

EDIT: I also need to buy a capo

 

[joverby]

I am also going to do 1 hour 5 days a week.(But possibly 7 days, I'll see how it goes) Going to work on finishing a new song I started writing(the guitar parts) and just general technique / scales I know.

Might check out that Hotel California too, it's a good song.

 

[5string]

Can a scrungy ol' banjo picker participate? I play guitar and mandolin as well.

 

[Atom Smasher]

Ok, so far Black Dog, joverby, 5string and AS are in. I'm expecting a few more to show up.

Black Dog, I just got in from a super-hot day, so when I cool down I'll answer your specific questions. I'd better do it before tomorrow, as we're expecting over 100 humid degrees here in the NY area.

joverby, that's great. I would make it a solid hour 5 or 6 days to start out. Walking away from it for a day or two can actually help as I find that some kind of regeneration that I can't put my finger on occurs. For that reason, I never practice the day of or the day before a gig. That enables me to leverage that regeneration into a vastly improved perfornmance.

5string, glad you're here. Of course you can participate...I was going to PM you about it to see if I could convince you. What is your goal for practice?

Note to all: This thread is open to any musician. Strings, keys, percussion, spoons, wood saw, it doesn't matter. It's all about our getting over our tendency to stay stuck in our ruts, and that problem is universal to all musicians.

Today is day one for me. I'll be doing my (min.) one hour tonight.

Man, it feels good to have some structure and some accountability. Guys, I'm counting on you to hold me to my stated goal.

 

[Rollo Tomassi]

Heh, OK, I'm in.

Shouldn't be too hard since I play in a semi-pro band now and I've been playing for 25+ years.

 

[Atom Smasher]

Great. What's your goal?

 

[WhitePimp]

I literally cannot bring myself to sit with my guitar practicing for an hour, yet I will constantly practice and write music in my head when I'm away from my guitar. It's like mental practicing. I envy those who can dedicate themselves to working on technique and skills. I only play when I'm replaying what I've written in my head

 

[Atom Smasher]

I literally cannot bring myself to sit with my guitar practicing for an hour, yet I will constantly practice and write music in my head when I'm away from my guitar. It's like mental practicing. I envy those who can dedicate themselves to working on technique and skills. I only play when I'm replaying what I've written in my head

Then I recommend setting a goal of 1/2 hour, perhaps split up into 2, 15-minute sessions, or even less than a half hour. The amount of time really doesn't matter. It's a matter of starting to take control by using tiny baby steps.

I believe in the concept of Kaizen, which promotes taking minute, baby steps toward creating new habits. That takes all the anxiety away. It's very freeing to allow yourself to actually commit to small steps (as opposed to feeling that these small steps aren't enough).

Those little pennies in your piggie-bank add up after a while to new confidence, new trust in yourself, and new capabilities. And the "interest" does indeed compound. I have found great power in breaking things down to tiny steps and then doing them consistently. The smaller the steps the better. For a guy who keeps on resisting practice and has no idea why, it would be enough on day one to lay out a pick in his practice area. Day 2 would be to place the guitar stand. Day three could be playing a few chords.

I know this sounds ridiculous, but a man can really accomplish great things by overcoming inertia in this simple but powerful way.

 

[snowdog]

Cool stuff, guys!

This is a wonderful site for all kinds of interesting information about your favorite players.

http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/

Best part of the site: http://www.dinosaurrockguitar.com/new/alchemy/guitar

I literally cannot bring myself to sit with my guitar practicing for an hour, yet I will constantly practice and write music in my head when I'm away from my guitar. It's like mental practicing. I envy those who can dedicate themselves to working on technique and skills. I only play when I'm replaying what I've written in my head

Best way to do it, learn a song that you like! You gotta make it fun. Same with picking up chicks.

 

[Atom Smasher]

Very cool, snowdog. Thanks for the links.

Ok, I've got to go do my 2nd half-hour and I'll have day 1 under my belt.

 

[WhitePimp]

Best way to do it, learn a song that you like! You gotta make it fun. Same with picking up chicks.

I've actually been playing guitar for almost 10 years now. I never practiced technique. I just learned to play by writing music in my head that was harder than my skill level/abilities, and gradually I'd work myself up to be able to play it. It's almost like I practice in reverse. I write a symphony in my head and keep working till I can play it

 

[5string]

Ok, so far Black Dog, joverby, 5string and AS are in. I'm expecting a few more to show up.

Black Dog, I just got in from a super-hot day, so when I cool down I'll answer your specific questions. I'd better do it before tomorrow, as we're expecting over 100 humid degrees here in the NY area.

joverby, that's great. I would make it a solid hour 5 or 6 days to start out. Walking away from it for a day or two can actually help as I find that some kind of regeneration that I can't put my finger on occurs. For that reason, I never practice the day of or the day before a gig. That enables me to leverage that regeneration into a vastly improved perfornmance.

5string, glad you're here. Of course you can participate...I was going to PM you about it to see if I could convince you. What is your goal for practice?

Note to all: This thread is open to any musician. Strings, keys, percussion, spoons, wood saw, it doesn't matter. It's all about our getting over our tendency to stay stuck in our ruts, and that problem is universal to all musicians.

Today is day one for me. I'll be doing my (min.) one hour tonight.

Man, it feels good to have some structure and some accountability. Guys, I'm counting on you to hold me to my stated goal.

Here is my situation.

I played in a bluegrass band for years primarily playing banjo and some guitar. A little dulcimer as well. When I first started out, I took lessons for 6 months and started studying Earl Scruggs and Doug Dillard. Then I got into a band. We won 4th place in the National Bluegrass Band Championships in 86 and were awarded a recording contract in Muscle Shoals, AL. When I moved to my present location, I really could not find anyone to play with. And that's my problem right there. I can't really find the motivation to play unless it's with other pickers. That's the only way it's fun for me. I'm gonna try to pick it up this weekend for a couple hours. Maybe the guitar too. I hope you guys stay on me about this. It's just that the guys I know who do play, are so busy with other things that they just won't play on a consistent basis. Here is a link to the banjo that I play (I have another as well that's really nice by another luthier).

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/LFVIRG.htm

Somehow, I have to become motivated again. Even without other people to play with. Encouragement needed.

 

[joverby]

I'm the same as you 5string. I think one thing you might want to try is to try playing some new type of music or song. For me, new gear does the trick too. Like a new pedal or guitar or amp etc.(Would get expensive if you had to keep doing this though lol)

One way to synthize the band at least is to play with backing tracks. Or use a looper and play over yourself. Both these ways are way more fun than just playing w/o anything.

Going to be practicing hard tonight, re-joining my old band for sure now! Really excited about it. I already know most their songs but I have to brush up on them and learn a few new ones. Went over to the practice spot last night and jammed out a little bit(only had my acoustic though)

The other guitarist(guy who replaced me, the other ones getting fired) is really cool, we got along really good / jived w/ eachother well playing. And he taught me some sh1t. I've been at it for like 3 years 7 months. He's got like 10 1/2 years under his belt. Had mutual respect for eachother because we both know / try to learn the theory aspect. Our scales / keys etc.

 

[5string]

Hear ya joverby.

I think what I'm gonna do is hit it kinda hard tonight or maybe tomorrow, get my speed back up to a reasonable level and then play along with some records. I used to do that and it helps a great deal with timing and chord changes.

That's cool you are getting back into a band. I wish I could.

Years ago, our band played in the same bluegrass festivals with Alison Krauss and Union Station (before they hit it big), Jimmy Martin and Bill Monroe. They last show we did before I moved and left the band was opening for the Nashville Bluegraas Band in Omaha, NE. Guess those years are gone.

 

[Atom Smasher]

I've actually been playing guitar for almost 10 years now. I never practiced technique. I just learned to play by writing music in my head that was harder than my skill level/abilities, and gradually I'd work myself up to be able to play it. It's almost like I practice in reverse. I write a symphony in my head and keep working till I can play it

Oh, I initially thought you were complaining about it as a problem.

If that's you're way, then great. It works for you. Are you practicing enough to satisfy yourself or are you going to join us in setting goals and being accountable?

 

[joverby]

If you can improvise(not sure how it works on the banjo but I imagine you could) I would really check out some backing tracks. Makes it a lot of fun.

I know how tough it can be to find people worth being in a band with, man. That's why I'm so pumped to get back with these guys. They are all pretty good, the only slightly lacking one is bass. He can flow well, just doesn't know any theory or anything. Makes it so much easier just to say play A, C,G,F etc....

But have you tried starting something up? An easy out is craigslist of course. Can always go out and find other bluegrass type bands playing and market yourself too(depending on how ambitious you are with it).

Not sure how big your town/city is, but mine is 60K+ with a 30K+ city near by and a couple other small ones. It's very slim pickins around here. Seems like almost all the good musicians are already in bands.

 

[Atom Smasher]

Here is my situation.

I played in a bluegrass band for years primarily playing banjo and some guitar. A little dulcimer as well. When I first started out, I took lessons for 6 months and started studying Earl Scruggs and Doug Dillard. Then I got into a band. We won 4th place in the National Bluegrass Band Championships in 86 and were awarded a recording contract in Muscle Shoals, AL. When I moved to my present location, I really could not find anyone to play with. And that's my problem right there. I can't really find the motivation to play unless it's with other pickers. That's the only way it's fun for me. I'm gonna try to pick it up this weekend for a couple hours. Maybe the guitar too. I hope you guys stay on me about this. It's just that the guys I know who do play, are so busy with other things that they just won't play on a consistent basis. Here is a link to the banjo that I play (I have another as well that's really nice by another luthier).

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/LFVIRG.htm

Somehow, I have to become motivated again. Even without other people to play with. Encouragement needed.

That's a sweet looking instrument. I love the banjo myself but I'm spread too thin to get serious about it.

Now, about that "trying"... Don't make me go all Yoda on your ass!! :trouble:

How about you commit to one hour this weekend? One hour, broken up into whatever increments work for you. I'm going to look to hear from you on Monday, and we'd all like to hear your observations regarding getting back into practice.

One hour. Are you up to commit to that?

Edit: Saw your other post. What's keeping you from starting or joining another band? (Unless it's personal).

 

[Atom Smasher]

If you can improvise(not sure how it works on the banjo but I imagine you could) I would really check out some backing tracks. Makes it a lot of fun.

Don't forget, for the lone instrumentalist there is always the option of a looper, aka phrase sampler.

Hit the record footswitch and wacka-wack the muted strings for a rythm section. Overlay a chord progression on top of that, and improvise to your heart's content. Voila, instant band, with no baby sitting involved.

A looper can really make one a much better player.

 

[5string]

Atom

You have my word. I get up really early, so I'll head downstairs to the garage in the moring with my coffee and start pickin'. I have my Ipod down there hooked up to a stereo so I can play along with that easy enough.

If I falter, please don't hurt me. lol

Practice I will (Yodaspeak).