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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Finding Motivation

Posted by: Matt23 Jun 21 2008, 10:40 PM

My problem is that I can quite happily play the guitar all day, but I find it hard to practice, properly, one thing, with a metronome, for even half an hour. If i do have the motivation one day to get my metronome and actually sitdown for a serious practice, I just get distracted really easy, so I can be playing an exercise then my mind will wander and i'll be improvising or playing songs or something.

I just wondered if anyone else has had this problem and if anyone knows how I could find the motivation to actually seriously practice.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Jun 21 2008, 10:54 PM

Well if you have the motivation to sit all day - I would suggest to just make sure you jam alot to backings and cds. If you do that you will still practice timing without using a metronome. Many really good guitarists have learned that way, without the metronome.

However - if you want to learn more advanced techniques - then I really can't see a way around the metronome...perhaps try with a drum machine and see if it gives you more inspiration!

Posted by: Matt23 Jun 21 2008, 11:06 PM

Thanks for the fast help Kris. I've got nothing against metronome's it's just they're usually as far away from where i am as is possible. I think I could start playing with a metronome more, but my main problem is if I try and practice something then i will start playing whatever comes into my head. I can't keep focused on one thing for more than a couple of minutes.

Posted by: Gus Jun 21 2008, 11:18 PM

I always had the same problem.
I love playing cover songs and so on, but when come to repetitive pattern with metronome, I hardly find the motivation.

My motivation right now is that I've been doing that for years, and just playing songs can make you only improve up to a certain point. For instance, my sweep picking is really bad. I am sure I can only improve that by metronome exercising. Also my alternate picking can go fast on songs I practiced, but it is not that precise. I think that precision and mastering is more easily done using the boring exercises... . So in the long run, discipline will pay itself back.

Posted by: DeepRoots Jun 21 2008, 11:22 PM

I really don't think that motivation is the problem.

Ask yourself- what you want out of guitar playing. Then write down the smaller goals you'll need to get there.

If on that list you think you'll need to practise alternate picking to a metronome- then do it. You already want to do it, its there written down. You don't need motivation as you already know you want to practise this thing as part of your "master plan".

I remember being in your position- but it turned out, metronome practise wasn't on "my list" at the time. It is now! And i'll practise for hours to the nome. Back then i just wan't to play along to a few metal songs. I enjoyed it alot!

However- you have to think to yourself, if it require "motivation" to do, then do you really want it, that badly?

I say practise the things you enjoy, if you don't enjoy it- then don't do it. Seems quite simple, and it is.

Eventually, like me, you may realise- " i need to re-think things", "i want to practise X , for Y amount of minutes a day", and when you say that then you are ready to practise it and get the most out of playing it.

Posted by: jacmoe Jun 22 2008, 01:30 AM

QUOTE (Matt23 @ Jun 21 2008, 11:40 PM)

I know what you mean.
I can't seem to find the motivation either.
But lately I've been using the metronome as my secret weapon to get past 70 bpm on Pavels excellent http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/ionian-scale-speedpicking/ exercise.

I still have a long way to go to reach the 120 bmp mark, if I ever will..

Anyway. This is one thing you really can't do without a metronome.
Tick-da-da da-da-da Tick-da-da da-da-da .. and so on.

I mean, you really can't count that fast, eh?

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Jun 22 2008, 07:58 AM

metronome is really important !!! and if you don't like it try to get some drum patterns to work with.

Posted by: Matt23 Jun 22 2008, 09:06 AM

Thanks everyone for your help. I think maybe i've subconciously been unsure if i'm practicing right so i just practice as i have been but reading this has convinced me to start practicing well.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jun 22 2008, 12:37 PM

Well maybe if you could somehow just make a habit of practicing for 30minutes every day, I think after a month you will not feel boring playing with the metronome. I think good metronome practice discipline is something that comes with time and a lot of metronome practice.

Posted by: superize Jun 23 2008, 09:20 AM

If you lack of motivation just play something you like and then when the motivation comes back you can continue with metronome practise....... Works for me