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Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 29 2011, 08:59 PM

Sometimes it will happen that our job is making us play less guitar. You know, when you have more spare time, then you can actually work on your guitar techniques, while when you are commuting, working and getting home tired, it's hard to sit down and do a 2 hour session.

How do you guys handle this? Are you in the situation to fix this? Is it just a mental state or is only the absence of time?


Tommy Tedesco was one of the biggest (for sure most recorded) session guitarists of all time, and he had a job to support his family, but spend all of his spare time playing and practicing. Anyone in 5 years is capable of reaching proficiency needed to get started professionally (small motivational story)

Posted by: Sinisa Cekic Nov 29 2011, 09:41 PM

Fortunately, my primary job is a guitar! At one time I worked in the company, and it is very difficult to come home after a stressful day at work, and practice the guitar! I would say - a mental state in the first place!

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Nov 29 2011, 09:53 PM

I agree with Sinisa, although I know it's easy for everyone to just play guitar, so I think it's essential to just put some time to it, and make it like a subject for Uni. something that has to be done.

Posted by: llibach Nov 29 2011, 10:15 PM

I know exactly what you mean I work a full time job plus I have two kids under 4 years old which take up most of my time after work !
I have an old beat up electric which I leave in my car at work and during my lunch break I go out sit in the car and get about 30 to 45 mins just running through scales and modes or little practice exersises like finding certain notes with a metronome.
Ater the kids go to bed it's my proper practice time but theres never enough hours in a day.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Nov 30 2011, 12:45 AM

I work as a guitarist as well as a producer so it's a bit easier for me to play guitar some time every day. However there are some moments when I have to many compromises with my band or productions when I can't play the guitar. I don't feel bad about this because I'm still doing music related things and that's what I love... music.

Posted by: Nihilist1 Nov 30 2011, 01:03 AM

Yes it does. I wish that during the days where I had to work, I could still play for ten hours.

Posted by: AdamB Nov 30 2011, 10:46 AM

I work full time as a programmer in the games industry, which is quite heavy going. I still do 4 to 4 and a half hours a day at the moment of metronome exercises and such. I have to get up stupidly early in order to do it, though. But once you've done it for a while you get used to it.

I'd rather be playing during the day, though :/

Posted by: PosterBoy Nov 30 2011, 02:01 PM

It will be easier for me when I move to a bigger place.

My music room has turned into my step-sons bedroom so I can't get access some of the times I want to practice.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Nov 30 2011, 02:19 PM

I am mainly making music since this summer, I mean I am not employed at a company or such things, so I am a MASTER OF MY OWN TIME. In my opinion, this is the most important thing. PERIOD.

Time is the most precious resource we have, so I think that if we have an opportunity to use it as we please, we should do it wisely enough not to fritter it away and loose enough not to go crazy from being over-scheduled with everything.

I see myself in Gabe's position, I don't get to practice as often as I would wish but, the times when I am not practicing are still dedicated to music (my bands and other projects I am involved in)

Being able to make money out of your passion is a blessing! Hmmmm, I found this interesting article, which you guys might like to take a look at:

http://zenhabits.net/live-passion/

Posted by: thefireball Nov 30 2011, 04:47 PM

NOT AT ALL. I live with my parents. I work as a cashier at Walmart. I come home and play a lot. I have lots of spare time.

Brandon

Posted by: Alex Feather Dec 20 2011, 04:50 AM

The answer: Sleep less, play guitar more.

Posted by: TimMcG Dec 20 2011, 04:57 AM

I travel for my job. I just picked up a Traveler Guitar Speedster to take with me. Light and compact it fits in the overhead bins on the planes and still has a full-size neck. Now instead of drinking in the hotel bar, I can practice.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 20 2011, 08:56 AM

QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Dec 20 2011, 03:50 AM)

Posted by: JaxN4 Dec 20 2011, 08:59 AM

QUOTE (Alex Feather @ Dec 20 2011, 03:50 AM)

Posted by: JTaylor Dec 20 2011, 11:25 AM

I told my wife she needs to get a second and, if need be, a third job so I could practice more. Oh yes, I also told her she would have to watch our son in her spare time. It's a good thing for me that I was only joking!
Seriously though, I get up very early and I love it! That is my time to do whatever I want, with no interruptions.

Posted by: rocko Dec 20 2011, 11:36 AM

I work full-time as a software engineer at a company. And, yeah, i have to say it's definitely so exhausting that after work it's pretty hard for me to pick up the guitar and do some serious practicing- at first because of the mind-state.

But in contrast, to take the guitar and just playing around is some kind of mind relaxing for me. However that doesn't brings me forward on the guitar.

Oh, and Cosmin, I'm totally with you when it comes to enough sleep. It's that important for me to get 6 to 7 hours of sleep. Okay, I have to say that sometimes (maybe more often ) I don't get that amount of sleep - maybe cause I do some guitar work till midnight. But I just recognize that on the following day (tiredness, hard to concentrate, headache etc.).
I actually think knowing that I basically accept this, just to play some more guitar. But, I haven't yet thought about that this way .

And to say something about when the guitar is your job. That's...wow..just the thought gives me the heebie-jeebies. Actually...for me that is something I think I'll never do - sadly. On the one hand because I think I'm not good enough. On the other hand it's something like "the coolest job you can do" and my common sense says: "okay...come on...that would be too cool - you'll never could do that".

By the way - very interesting topic Ivan

best regards
Andreas

Posted by: superize Dec 20 2011, 03:01 PM

Yes it does but i dont see it as a bad thing since i know have to make better use of the time i have when playing so i still can learn as much as i did when i dident work and just played all day.

Also ever since i started playing in a band i have refocused my practise time a lot too

Posted by: Todd Simpson Dec 20 2011, 10:45 PM

This is a great question and thread Notice the general trend in responses? In short, people are willing to "SACRIFICE" in order to play. Almost universally, players wish they could play more! But each, is adapting his own situation as much as possible toward the goal of becoming a better player.

For some, this means coming home after work and practicing even though you may not feel like it. For others, it means not wasting time during day on petty things like (non guitar related) work! Cheers there For anyone who can piece together a living doing nothing but music, you provide a motivating example. For everyone balancing (non guitar related) work/family and music/practice, you also provide motivating example. In both cases, we see players structuring their lives to provide as much music/practice time as possible. Play On!

Posted by: JaxN4 Dec 21 2011, 01:56 AM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Dec 20 2011, 09:45 PM)

This is a great question and thread Notice the general trend in responses? In short, people are willing to "SACRIFICE" in order to play. Almost universally, players wish they could play more! But each, is adapting his own situation as much as possible toward the goal of becoming a better player.

For some, this means coming home after work and practicing even though you may not feel like it. For others, it means not wasting time during day on petty things like (non guitar related) work! Cheers there For anyone who can piece together a living doing nothing but music, you provide a motivating example. For everyone balancing (non guitar related) work/family and music/practice, you also provide motivating example. In both cases, we see players structuring their lives to provide as much music/practice time as possible. Play On!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Dec 21 2011, 08:38 AM

QUOTE (JTaylor @ Dec 20 2011, 10:25 AM)

I told my wife she needs to get a second and, if need be, a third job so I could practice more. Oh yes, I also told her she would have to watch our son in her spare time. It's a good thing for me that I was only joking!
Seriously though, I get up very early and I love it! That is my time to do whatever I want, with no interruptions.