Practicing Routine

When you say transcribing, do you mean taking a song in sheet music and tabbing it, or listening to a song and tabbing it out, or, something else?

Transcribing can mean a few things;

- Another instrument is played, and you learn to play that melody on your instrument. So learning a song/ melody/ lick on an instrument which is different from the original instrument in the song.

- Learning from notation (or tab, I guess) onto your instrument.

Tabbing a song out doesn't mean transcribing. It's just an easier way to remember what you learnt. But you need to be able to actually play it in order to call it transcribing.

Very well said. Your routine is exactly how I am pursuing the guitar. I also add in some basic music reading/fret note-position familiarization once in a while in the knowledge department. keep tips coming!!!

i would like to inform all of you, that if you have any intention of being a professional musician, or even a worthy musician, learn to sight read sheet music... now. forget tablature. use your ears to replace it, and actually read music for everything else.

It's important to learn notation when trying to transcribe songs.

Like "The Real Book" for example, all of the songs are in notation, yet tell you how to play each of the listed songs by the greats (In Jazz). It'll be really important if you're into session work, too.

I really wished I studied that way by learning the notes it was really hard for me to get the notes so I just went by ear and kinda learned backwards...it would have saved me so much grief...so my hat s off to the sheet readers!!!

cant transcribing also mean moving it to a different key? or is that something else?

Yep, it can mean that, but that's down to the musician if he or she wants to change the key. I recommend learning it in the original key first, and then moving it around after. This can also help you to see more around the fret board.

I wish I could practice everyday like that. I can't because I'm always at school doing something. so during school I usually practice theory. i use to play for about 5 hours a day which is ok.. but now it's only like an hour a day, three hours if i'm lucky.

You guys practice a hell of a lot compared to me

I at the moment am using the Chris Elmore site http://www.guitartips.com.au/ as well as the lessons I find here to make up my practice routine.

He says that even if you can only practice 15 min a day to do 3 things Arpeggios, Scales and Chords.

Doing all 3, sweeping in the case of my very basic Arpeggios and fast picking in the case of the one scale i know helped a lot. He says to learn a new chord every day and then move them around the fret board.

I’ve all but mastered the one scale and my accuracy has improved noticeably. Also the 3 different type’s o exercises do different things for hand strength, speed and accuracy. It is worthwhile looking into.

i should get a practice routine. currently i just mess around tryin to find riffs and playin songs

yea same here exept all i do is sweep pick and fiddle around on the guitar

I recommend writing down a practicing timetable, or a brainstorm for the times you do practice if it's an hour or more, make sure you practice everything that's on the brainstorm. It'll help you in the long run and you'll feel more confident in each area of music.

NOTE: It is so important to work on more than one aspect of music! PLEASE look into more than just soloing - understand what makes the solo! Or chords - understand how that relates to the scale!

If you only focus on one thing through the whole practicing routine every time you practice, you'll fall behind and find it very difficult to comprehend the rest of music later on.

To add to this I would suggest that you note there is a difference between practice and playing. Practicing is the not so fun part, playing is what you live for.

It's no difference than an athlete such as a basket ball player who runs up and down the court and works works on guarding jump shots. Practice is not why he signed up. it playing the game. But understanding that to play the game will you must practice and important is the most important thing he can now. Same goes for us guitar plyers.

As your practice also take the time to play for the love of it. All practice and no play make for one un-happy picker.

good points tele

I kind of felt it was obvious about the difference and the point in aiming for that great goal. But then again, it depends on how you see it. Sometimes practicing can truly be exhausting for the mind. Other times it can be so much fun.

Jamming can be a sort of practice, too. Like using Band in a Box, that's a good way to practice while Jamming. You can practice with friends, too. They can give you pointers, and vise versa. Naturally there will be more exhausting times (If you're truly serious about your goals) but it's exciting to think what it's worth in the long run!