Thank you!

Having it "in the way', or at least way accessable, and near the computer, if you are similarly addicted.

After "starting" to practice, and "getting up", leave the rythym machine ON, or reach over and start it up when you get the "bug".

Me? I start by punching up the latest Rebel Ricky intro, looped, BE Black album, or Lloyd Green mp3 and letting it run while I check my mail or other links.

I guess I start with my Bud's Therapy, Flint Hill Special, on the E9 and run through the 2nd Fret, cross over pull off up and down scale on the C6 until I feel my thumb "kick in", and go from there.

I have several "never can play them right" excersizes like Rhodes Bud Boogie, or the mid section of Troubador Stomp that are almost never able to be played "at speed" ( 180bpm), and at some time I try them. Then I try them at 100, and go back to 180. I'm usually amazed at how they "snap in".

Also the PF Speed Picking Courses I and II get a quick brush up. Those are really great for getting the old "brain/hand" thing going.

That's about an hour.

THEN. I go through a couple "Standards" like Way to Survive, or Mansion, and always try some NEW song, incorporating MELODY into a two or three string passage.

AND. I have at least ONE song I'm learning to memorize " Instrumental Breaks" for. Whether it's Jukebox Charlie, or another run I'm memorizing in a special form like "Truck Driving Man", that I force myself to try the next time I play it.

Also practice a Travis Style way to play at least one "new song". You'll be ahead of "most of them" thataway.. C6 AND E9.

I guess it's in condensed form:

#1 Have it in an Accessable Place. Hard to "Avoid". Leaving the Rythym machine ON inbetween "get ups".

#2 Get the "fingers working". It takes only a few minutes.

#3 Brush up.

#4 Work on new Memory Projects.

If you practice several hours, you'll notice your fingers and brain "tire" after about 4 hours, and it's time to try the "speed stuff" once more, and notice your fatigue and come back tomorrow.

Do this at least twice inbetween gigs, and you'll find yourself not falling into the "same old ruts" on even the worst of gigs.

It isn't the same way for every body, but you asked what "I" do.

My 4 points, I guess are my "suggestions".

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 24 December 2003 at 01:16 PM.]

Then put on a rhythm track I am working on. Single note melody first, 2 note harmony next, then improvise.

Do this for 2 weeks....quit.....and sell everything on eBay! (nyuk, nyuk, nyuk)

When I returned to Steel a few years back from a long self inflicted layoff I used a checklist for the items I knew I needed to work on.

A few single note scales, some double note scales and some scales done with chords as well. Then I worked on some chromatic picking excercises.

I used the list and checked off what I did daily. When I was done with the list , which basically only took about 20 minutes then I moved on to other things , songs, melody lines etc..

The list kept me from wandering around and getting nothing accomplished. Amazingly one of the items on the list was a descending banjo roll lick which I can now do pretty well and use on gigs often. If it was not on the list there would be no way I would have the right hand finger motor movement to play this little beast.

I currently still practice those early items and have now added bass/drum tracks of tunes that I am working on to my practice session.
As Ron mentions above I will add that playing at meter is equally as important as playing in tune. Start slow , there are no tempo Police.Remember, if you can't play it slow there's no way you will be able to play it fast.

Good luck

welcome to the world of the crazies !

What kind of Steel and guitars do you play ?

Merry Christmas
T

[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 25 December 2003 at 02:56 AM.]

1. Listen to the song w/o playing and write down the structure. Number system, Nashville chart. I buy all the practice disks I can find. Newman has the Honky Tonk Heroes with the charts already done. I use those, but I am now making my own with his big 4 disk volume of a zillion songs. Great practice to write charts for these!

2. Write out a plan to play. Newman favors the 5 and 8 string scale (4 and 5 as alternative.) After doing this a while, you start to hear what the progession will sound like before you sit down to play it. A skill that players like Newman have that comes with this kind of drill.

3. Circle areas where you would play fills and otherwise write out one chord per measure. Play one chord per measure when the vocalist is singing.

3. Stay simple to build confidence.

For me, having some "paperwork" to do is useful and improves my understanding of how to play. Also, reality is that I can't always sit at my guitar in my room and practice. Domestic expections include being in the same room with my wife in the evening. She's ok with me sitting and writing out play plans for guitar, but it's different if I just disappear for 2 or 3 hours.

One of my big reasons for going to Tennessee was to learn how top players like Jeff Newman think. Jeff can write a complex song progression in numbers as it is being played. A great skill, and one that an amateur can learn with the right kind of practice...at least that's what I am hoping to learn.

[This message was edited by David Weaver on 26 December 2003 at 08:37 AM.]

His name was Elika.

Used to help him sit for HOURS on end and practice.

It also helped him play with the worst of bands, and let him ignore almost every negative part of it. It also made his wife seem nicer, and not so bush whipped.

I haven't seem him for about 15 years since he had to be subject to random and post accident drug tests. He took off and is living on some island in a tropical climate. He practices 8 hours a day, though he hasn't even had a clock for years. He works on the native kids bicycles and plays acoustic lap steel at Luaus for enough gas to get his 63 Panhead Harley around the little island on the road he paved himself with beach tar and coconut shells. He speaks only in Haiku, and drinks moderately.

In short, he's a happy man.

I miss him.

So do other folks sometimes.

EJL

[This message was edited by Eric West on 27 December 2003 at 02:01 AM.]