Pyronauts
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1159
Northern CA
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 01:16 AM
Think about it. How much, on average, do you play guitar on a daily basis?
This includes, practicing guitar, trying guitars at stores, teaching guitar, taking a lesson, playing gigs, etc...
This doesn't include air guitar or guitar hero. 
Add up and average week and divide it by 7 to get your daily average. If you like the Beatles a lot, then divide it by 8.
For instance:
If you practice 1 hour per day, have rehearsal one night a week for 3 hours, and have a gig on the weekend for 1 hour you'd have played a total of 11 hours for the week. Divide 11 by 7 to get your daily average of 1.57 hours, or a "little more" than hour and a half. If you really like the Beatles then you'd only have 1.5 hours for you daily average.
I guess what I am wondering is what is a lot, what is the average of our group, and how does playing a lot or not affect you? Do you wish you could play more, less, or do you have it just right?
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MissingLink
Joined: Jul 23, 2008
Posts: 488
Edge of the East China Sea
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 02:53 AM
Hmm, I thought there was some kind of a ban on polls these days -- so sure, I'll cast my vote.
"...how does playing a lot or not affect you? Do you wish you could play more, less, or do you have it just right?"
Well, I don't call myself a musician, just a participant. Between the job, work done at home, trying to eat 6-8 times per day and getting to the gym, I'm lucky to get an hour of guitar in daily; often, I have to settle for 15 or 20 minutes. I guess this makes a great excuse for my glacier-like progress, but I'd definitely welcome more hours in the day for practicing.
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 07:47 AM
Way too much probably. My guess is 15 to 20 hours a week, sometimes more. One would think that I'd see some improvement with all this guitar in hand business but after 40 years, improvement comes slow. I am always learning new stuff though.
It's pretty funny that although I have a number of pretty cool guitars, that I almost always pick up the same one or two. I favor the AVRI Jazzmaster #1, the Hallmark Custom 60, and the MIJ Sunburst JM pretty much in that order. I almost never pick up my Strat or Les Paul. I almost never turn on an amp for sitting around noodling either.
Once or twice a week, when I can get rid of my wife for a while, I'll go downstairs and fire up an amp and just blast for a while, consuming myself in clouds of reverb. Yeah, that feels good. Hands down, my favorite amp for practice, noodling around or playing out these days is the Bandmaster. I keep the '65 at Sticks' place for Surge! practice and one of my '62s set up in the studio where I can just walk in fire it up and blast what little brains I have left out....................ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 08:36 AM
I spend 2 hours at the music store every day trying out new gutiars. I'm just trying to find the right guitar for my tone. I'm stuck between a Squier Bullet and a Gibson Crossroads Signiture model. I can't decide which one sounds better. I've already decided on a Frontman 25 for my tone. It won't breakup no matter what I do!
In all seriousness, 2-2.5 hours for me. 2 hours of noodling, .5 of something structured and nice.
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JetBlue
Joined: May 30, 2006
Posts: 746
Cool, CA
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 08:48 AM
It depends on my work schedule and what's going on at home, but lately I'm probably averaging somewhere in the 20-30 minute area. It's frustrating to not have more time.
Paul, how much time for you...10hrs?
— Don
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MadScientist
Joined: Jan 17, 2008
Posts: 2188
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 09:08 AM
I have a job that requires a lot of video rendering (not terribly long, thankfully), so I often fill that time by running tough parts of songs I'm working on, or blues licks, or basic exercises. I'm glad to be able to have a guitar at work that sits in a stand right next to my desk. It's also great to have around if I need to walk away from it all for a couple of minutes. I also have my little mini-Tone Master amp that I "fire up" every now and again to drive my coworkers nuts.
—
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Rob_J
Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 500
Sacto, CA
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 09:53 AM
Probably most of us long for more time than we actually get to play. For me, being in a band forces me to play more than I would if I were not in a band.
HAR...I say "forces"..."Pleeze don't MAKE me play guitar"!!! '8O'
Our band rehearses twice a week, (and sometimes three times when we have a gig coming up) at around 3 hours per practice, and then I TRY to spend some time on my own working out new songs, ironing out problem areas on existing songs, etc.
So using the formula, I'd say I average around an hour and a half per day.
In addition, I'm often "playing guitar in my head". Those are the times when I sound REALLY REALLY GOOD! ':lol:'
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Pyronauts
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1159
Northern CA
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 08:10 PM
My average is approaching 4 hours a day... you'd think I'd be able to play a little bit better, but I don't feel like I can. I guess I feel pretty loose most of the time and don't really need to warm up very long before a show, but I still make more than my share of mistakes!
Paul
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11067
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Oct 31 2008 08:47 PM
Pyronauts
My average is approaching 4 hours a day... you'd think I'd be able to play a little bit better, but I don't feel like I can. I guess I feel pretty loose most of the time and don't really need to warm up very long before a show, but I still make more than my share of mistakes!
Paul
That's depressing Paul, I hoped to stop making mistakes eventually 
Rob J, what band are you in again?
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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Klas
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2309
Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted on Nov 01 2008 03:18 AM
DannySnyder
That's depressing Paul, I hoped to stop making mistakes eventually
I wouldn't be depressed by such thing. The day you're not making mistakes anymore, you might find that you're not playing surf music anymore.
I would estimate I play an average 30 minutes daily. When I was in the Daytonas I only played guitar at rehearsals, shows and while writing songs.
— T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S
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Pyronauts
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 1159
Northern CA
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Posted on Nov 01 2008 03:49 AM
How many songs are written because of mistakes anyway? Most of mine...
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Ruhar
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 3909
San Diego, CA
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Posted on Nov 01 2008 09:13 AM
I probably average an hour a day. Some days much more, some days not at all.
— Ryan
The Secret Samurai Website
The Secret Samurai on Facebook
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Rob_J
Joined: Sep 29, 2007
Posts: 500
Sacto, CA
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Posted on Nov 01 2008 10:20 AM
DannySnyder
Rob J, what band are you in again?
Danny, thanks for asking. I'm in a relatively new band called "The Retronauts". Nobody has really heard of us, and even fewer (fewer than nobody?) has seen us play. We just formed about six or seven months ago, but we've been gigging a little. We try to play out a couple of times a month if we can, but finding gigs is always a challenge.
We are mostly in it for the fun and joy of playing. Not trying to set any houses afire. 
http://www.rjonesphoto.com/retronauts.html
When it comes to "mistakes" we are masters at that, but we're not letting THAT stop us! Although we strive to eliminate as many clams as possible, for guys with our limited experience, it's gonna' happen and we know that, so we just try to do the best we can, play through the pain, and revel in the good moments. 
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11067
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Nov 01 2008 11:28 AM
Pyronauts
How many songs are written because of mistakes anyway? Most of mine...
It totally agree Paul, but tell me how many songs have you written on stage? 
Thanks Rob, good luck to you guys, you have the right attitude. 
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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Haole-Jim
Joined: Jul 29, 2009
Posts: 97
central coast USA metro Chicago
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Posted on Dec 03 2009 11:47 PM
Some days, a couple hours (like practicing and playing bass at Mass on Saturday). Others, 'am lucky to get 15 minutes.
Most weekdays get a half-hour to an hour.
'Been keeping score sort of, 'play about 1.7 times / different instruments per day.
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