how much often

I just started playing guitar again after not playing for years.Until recently I never learned any songs didn't know any theory and really didn't have any structure just alot of experamenting and geuss work until I got bored.recently I ran into to someone who taught me some theorey and inspired me to start playing again and I have been learning songs as well.I guess I want to know how much I should be playing and practicing.When I have the time I like to spend at least 6 hours a day or more on technical exersizes,scales,arpegios,learning a new song or solo and polishing old stuff.I wonder though if maybe my mucsles might tire from all this because some days I feel like i'm playing really hot and others not so good.any suggestions?

You really don't NEED 6 hours a day.

To be able to improve, I suggest at least 30 minutes a day of exercises. Any more would just increase the rate at which you learn.

The best way to learn is to find a song that utilizes a special technique, and focus your learning on that technique, using the song to cater to it (Just like you would learning a new subject in school.)

Last suggestion: Learn 1-2 songs at a time, NO MORE!!! You end up starting too many projects at once and none of them get done.

yea, you dont' have too practice that much but, your going too be learning 3 or 4 times as fast as most people. also, when you do practice for 6 hours take about a ten or fifteen minute break every hour just so you can stay focused and not injure your self. keep playin

Seems a little much, but then again I don't have that kind of time. If you have the time to devote to practicing and it doesn't interfere with your life then I say go ahead, but if you are doing something incorrectly you can injure yourself. If you start feeling a pain (muscle/tendon pain) then you may want to stop to rest. If you injure yourself then you won't get to play at all during the healing process. I used to practice drums like that when I was a teen during summer break. Those were the days...

I kneel before you..... I only wish I could be that deticated..... WOW!...... You my friend will rock beyond all that rocked before you...

This last summer i played about 6 hours a day religiously, often more, and guess where it got me? I now am unable to play because of a repetitive stress injury. Its in your best interest to practice good form. If you think your pushing it too far, you probably are.

Practicing 6 hours a day is not bad,but you need to know how to practice,lets say 1 hour warming up,scales and picking,another hour jamming to backing tracks,another hour of rest,then lear a song,then another hour of theory,i dont know,if you study like this at a constant rate,you will be a total virtuoso in no time

yeah, alex is right. manage your time between learning music and applying it, and technique and form. Also remember, that the brain can only learn about 1 hour of new information everyday then it actually will be harder to learn and remember things after that. So don't beat yourself up if you can't remember something from the day before, it is very hard to do after a certain point.

The best way to learn is to find a song that utilizes a special technique, and focus your learning on that technique, using the song to cater to it (Just like you would learning a new subject in school.)

Last suggestion: Learn 1-2 songs at a time, NO MORE!!! You end up starting too many projects at once and none of them get done.

ur so right cuz i learn all these metallica songs but none r complete cuz i know sooo many.. ugh

Thanks for all the feedback it's reassuring to know that I will get results from all my hard work.I just want to get as good as possibly quickly.My practice time usualy consits of 1 hour technical exersizes,1 hour on scales playing diferent ways plus diagnaly.30 minutes on arpeggios 1 hour on a new song usualy the solo takes longest to learn.Another hour on a solo Tha I'm staring to make progress on.So two solos usualy.then I play through my songlist of songs I already know.the I usualy finsh up learning a simple melody like jingle bells or star spangled banner or something so I can learn to play melodicaly.

well it sounds like youre well on your way to be the next Alex Berserker! lol

i practice about 4 hrs a day and teach the rest
(i teach about 28 hrs a week)

Alex is right .. nothing "new" hits ya after an hour or so BUT extensive
practice yields muscle memory, note-recall (from neck) and such.
what i do now, after 30+ years playing is "look back" and refresh older stuff while trying to escape any corners i may have theoretically(as in theory) painted myself into.
I also use the time to e x p a n d "the little things" into larger ideas...
but i also typically Improvise (Warm up Cool down) for 40min to an hour.
(and yes i have a formula)

and hey! 'Trane was known to go weeks practicing 16 hrs a day (damn!)
...like him, (but not crazy) i'm in favor of practicing as much as possible whenever possible.

RAWK!
Cs