NWB - Community Blog

A friend of mine in the states summed it up for me. 15 minutes focused practice is worth more than 2 hours "noodling". If you set out what you want to do between warm up and cool down, no matter how little it is, it's worth doing. :o)

Hell yes Rob. It's enough of a struggle getting practice in for the new band I'm in (and that's just fairly simple function-band stuff), never mind sussing other stuff out. But having a wife, a 4 year old daughter, hosting a weekly quiz and occasional DJ-ing, alongside everything else, means it's very difficult.

But Mick has a very good point regarding being focussed and that's something I'm really trying to nail right now. I find myself setting half-hourly goals (i.e. what can I realistically do in the next 30 mins if I really put my mind to it) and it appears to be working. No more picking up random tab books and strumming along to them for the hell of it - the number of times I've done that and thought I could have achieved so much more if I'd really put my mind to it.

I was 'forced' into stopping playing for about 3 years by my stupid ex wife. Just when NT were at (one of their) peak, playing 4/5 nights a week at places like Band on the Wall (when it was nigh impossible to get on), uni's etc....NEVER again. I'll always regret those wasted years.
Nowadays I'll play every night I can, (in fact as soon as I left that bitch, I started doing 5 or 6 Buskers Balls a week and built that up).

I've made a point of doing my recording almost every day....set myself a 3 hour limit for each song...love it!

I would definately benefit from getting my bat out more often, but kids watching TV, runnning my son about to rugby pratice and sitting at my laptop putting comments on here doesn't help either. Note to oneself, make the time.

thing is, there'll come a time when you CAN'T play, so make the most of it while you can, otherwise you'll regret it

"# Posted by NIGHT TRAIN - 30/06/2011, 20:53 (GMT)

thing is, there'll come a time when you CAN'T play, so make the most of it while you can, otherwise you'll regret it"

Hell yes.

A couple years ago I sold my electric Roland V-Drums but needed the cash at the time. I used to come home from work and spend an hour or two every night just drumming away to myself, and I really felt like I was always learning new things & progressing technically as a drummer. I also felt it kept my wrists, arms & joints loose, whereas now I don't drum during the week at all and so my joints can feel stiff sometimes come gig night. It's defintely an advantage spending a few hours during the week just jamming along, I really want my v-drums back.

This might be slightly contraversial, but has anyone else noticed that players (mainly guitar) who say "I don't practice. I just let it flow" generally follow this up by making a noise similar to a seal screaming down a stone trombone?

It's like going to the gym for me - you start off practising three times a week and end up having a beer instead!

Do you all have the same problem I have; that playing on your own is simply NOT fun like playing in a band where ideas are bouncing and connections are being made?

I actually joined Poison Whiskey to bring a breath of fresh into my playing, because I was aware that i was becoming 'stale' with Kingpin, but not bored with them (if you know what I mean).

It's easy to play the same thing week in week out and get hide bound, whereas playing something a bit different and with different people gets you thinking again and actually reinforms the songs you play in the other band.

IMHO - but I'm only a drummer

AYP

@Al, I happen to have loadsa fun playin on my own, would sooner that than have my hide bound ffs !!!
Tex Maniac

I know Tex, but you can only do so much wanking - then you have to play chords again......

Alyerffspal

Gonna have to get rid of that Susan Boyle poster, mind you it sure has helped me last longer !!!!

Al, I have no idea what it's like to be a drummer or percussionist, but I really enjoy practicing because, even though I'll never be the player I would like to be, it gets me in the zone where I'm trying to get close to it. I can't abide complacency in my playing :o)

@Mick, Al's no idea what its like to be a drummer or percussionist either !!! ;0)
Tex Piss

Lol!

@ Mick -pretty much exactly what I said!

AYP

YES!!! - to the initial question.

Strange how different things influence your actual physical playing. Mick G pointed out having a 4 yo obviously lead to a change in practice. Strangely for me, my daughter being born is what got me back into guitars and bands. I suddenley found myself in the house every night!!! The "show" guitar on the stand actually got picked up.
As for learning - for years I'd always played rhythm (probably due to lack of "being arsed" to practice lead. Having got back into bands and tried to set another one up, i finally took the plunge and actually tried to learn some lead - and as said, alittle focussed practice when possible is paying dividends. I tend to focus on things I can't do as opposed to just speeding up things I can and it seems to be finally paying off!

I used to play on my own a lot when I was young and just learning the instruments, but I suppose I've reached a plateau now where I'm good enough to hold my own in a band. It's not like I can't improve because of course everyone can improve and I'm no way near a genius or anything but I suppose you do just get lazy.

I really enjoy rehearsing with the band, which we do at least once a week and sometimes more...we always try to do more. I very rarely practice on my own unless we're learning a particularly hard song which I need to go over again in my own time.

I would like to do more, but at the same time I enjoy my activities outside of the band especially relaxing watching the TV or going on the computer. Activites like that may seem like a waste of time but it's really just unwinding which is pretty important.

I practice in my free time try and do hour per day , main things I use is a metronome and backing tracks for improvising over. Just can't leave the guitar alone. Speed drills and accuracy with the metronome i

I try to play every day, I sometimes cram a bit in before work. It really wakes you up and puts you in a good mood for the day. That being said, I'd still love to practice more than I do. I'm cramming in loads of stuff in the day at the moment. As well as work, I'm doing epic runs/bike rides and working on the next video for my band (approx 100 hours work so far and counting).

After gigging and touring for years I, for no understandable reason took a 2 year sabbatical and didn't sing or drum at all. One day I just realised 'what the hell am I doin?! and I hen't stopped since.

I would do 3 bands if I could but you have to have some balance and the wife would get very pissed off.

Would love to do more but I'm back writing again and that makes me very happy.


Make as much time as you can, TV is crap anyway. It's a total waste of time

err 2 bands aand a duo, that could soon be a trio!!!!

fekk no i play enuff!!!!

lol

Although i"m the singer for our punky band & i dont play guitar on stage (& dont get me wrong i do love the music hence my pistols tattoo) but i do have 2 guitars ( a white gibson les paul with gold trimmings & a ovation acoustic ) at home that i practice playing,anything ! apart from PUNK ROCK ,checking out radioheads "karma police " & echo & the bunnymens "killing moon " at present & a bit of david gray & dire straits ,i wouldn"t mind some more lessons but they are so bloody expensive ....andy "the stories".

People have been asking for Black Velvet Band, which weve never done,so i,ll have to get my serious head on,rare occasion these days.Her oye,s they shone like diamonds.Thats as far as ive got.I,ll have to get off this bloody computer somehow.