Best bang for your practicing buck??

[JammerMatt]

So, I have very little time to practice anymore.

I've been on a plateau for about a year, since having to give up lessons due to time constraints. I got to the point where I was okay theory-wise, could read fairly well, could pick out most chords that I need, understand how chords and scales are built, and can generally begin and end on the right note when I think about it.

It's the technique that's bothering me. As the speed increases, so do the mistakes and clarity. Here's the question. I'm working out of the Petrucci book these days, and have 1/2 to an hour a day to play, would you:

1. Practice Picking technique (alternate picking phrases, etc.)
2. Practice hammer's and pull's
3. Practice Arpeggios
4. Get the heck off this machine and do it all? (this ain't probably happening."
5. Give it up, start smoking and strumming Marley.

What is the best bang for the buck?

 

[shred me good]

Re: Best bang for your practicing buck??

definatly (if ur only alowed 1 from that list) work on picking.alternate is nice but sweep is nicer. also this will force your fret hand to speed up. and if you try sweeping then you WILL have to think about arpegios and broken chords etc. also if you oick realy well then legato will come easy beceause your frethand will have to do it on its own to keep up with the picking.

although if you are alowed 2 from the list i surgest smoking and picking. its so mutch beter than picking on its own!!

 

[nuntius]

Re: Best bang for your practicing buck??

Have you got power tab?

I'm not home atm but I'll do some lesson example things to improve your picking technique and arpeggios that you could do in half an hour

 

[nuntius]

Re: Best bang for your practicing buck??

What i'll do (if you want) is record them and stick em up on soundclick, and tab them out for you on power tab

 

[shred me good]

Re: Best bang for your practicing buck??

i agree with the surgestion of powertab. every guitarest should have it.
i half an hours practice you have i surgest that you pick soledly for that halph an hour, though dont over do it.
if you have time when you are waiting, like on a bus, just brush up on your arpegios then. take a chord, say e maj and imagin where you could put all of the notes of this chord. and do it with all kinds of chords. that will realy help your theory.

 

[shred me good]

Re: Best bang for your practicing buck??

also if its hammer ons and pull ofs your after just tap on stuff with your frethand.
a steering wheel is a good thing, imagin the wheel is the neck of your guitar and you are doing trill, 2 notes on 2 fingers. use all the finger combenations there are and just keep taping on stuff. by the time you get home your fingers will be stronger and your practicing time will be spent on acuracy rather than buildng strength

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: Best bang for your practicing buck??

Good suggestions. I do not have Powertab. So, I'm hearing picking technique first, which leads to sweeps 2nd. Hammers and pulls are a 3rd priority?

What about smoking and Marley?

 

[shred me good]

Re: Best bang for your practicing buck??

smoking always! but reserve marly for a later year.
dont try to hammer/pull off religiously, it will come realy easy if you alternate pick well.
also that taping on stuf realy dose help.
www.power-tab.com
good luck