Practicing vs. Playing

Hope your guys weekend is going as well as mine. Today I'd like to tell you guys about building a system of guitar playing that works for you. First, let me ask you two questions. How many hours do you spend a day playing guitar? Now, how many hours do you spend practicing guitar? From the way I presented these questions, it is apparent that there is a HUGE difference---practicing is when you learn new material, whether it be a new lick, a new song, or a new pattern. Playing guitar is retreading the information you already KNOW about guitar---the continous act of reinforcing what you already know. While it is important to maintain your past knowledge of guitar, it is also important to develop techniques and skills that will allow to be come a master of the instrument. The great thing is that you don't need to practice ad nauseum until guitar becomes utterly void of any pleasure. Practice can be learning a new scale or a new song----as long as you have specifically defined goals as a guitarist. Here's some sound advice: write down three specific goals--somewhere highly visible---that reflect your goals for guitar this week. A specific goal is not "learn to shred guitar" but might be "learn intro riff to "Master of Puppets" by Metallica". I highly recommend downloading the "Power Tab" editor as it provides full tablature and allows you to slow down licks to practice at a speed you learn correctly and ACCURATELY (WHICH IS KEY). Practice with a metronome and, if you routinely play the same licks over and over, at least "practice" them by performing them at a higher speed on the metronome or with a different feel ( delaying the articulation). THE MAIN PART IS HAVE FUN, but like anything in life, DON'T BE AFRAID TO SUCCEED and REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO GET THERE.