Example Practice Session
Kristofer Dahl
Dec 2 2021, 09:37 AM
GMC Founder
Posts: 18.745
Joined: 15-August 05
From: Stockholm, Sweden
In this workshop, I will show you how I typically structure my practice sessions.



1 - During the starting phase of my practice session:

* I need to warm up = good time to focus on problem areas
* My mind is clear = good time for creativity

2 - Let's work on some groove!
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Fresh-Funk-Grooves/

3 - Let's work on our chops:
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Andy-J...ynthwave-Licks/

4 - Let's explore new territory:
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Elmore-James-Style/

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


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Todd Simpson
Dec 3 2021, 01:53 AM
GMC:er
Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Very cool and very helpful!

QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Dec 2 2021, 04:37 AM) *
In this workshop, I will show you how I typically structure my practice sessions.



1 - During the starting phase of my practice session:

* I need to warm up = good time to focus on problem areas
* My mind is clear = good time for creativity

2 - Let's work on some groove!
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Fresh-Funk-Grooves/

3 - Let's work on our chops:
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Andy-J...ynthwave-Licks/

4 - Let's explore new territory:
https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/Elmore-James-Style/

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
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Alex Arvedahl
Dec 3 2021, 08:15 AM
Learning Chord Basher
Posts: 707
Joined: 14-September 14
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Agree with Todd, interesting to see this kind of practice session.
How much do you usually practice per week?

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Kristofer Dahl
Dec 3 2021, 08:25 AM
GMC Founder
Posts: 18.745
Joined: 15-August 05
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Awesome you guys dig it - I figured we could need more of this type of workshops.

QUOTE (HiimAlex @ Dec 3 2021, 08:15 AM) *
Agree with Todd, interesting to see this kind of practice session.
How much do you usually practice per week?


Right now I am trying to regain my chops, so I think my average daily practice time is 2-3 hours.

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Storm Linnebjerg
Dec 3 2021, 12:04 PM
Learning Rock Star
Posts: 7.676
Joined: 14-June 08
From: Odense, Denmark
Gonna watch this a bit now. It's great to hear you are practicing more again to regain chops. I practice in a similar "free" way, but I don't practice chops and technique all that much unfortunately. It doesn't seem to inspire me sitting there pushing myself bpm by bpm. I agree it's the best way to build technique for the vast majority of people of course, but for me... I haven't done that since maybe 2007 or 2008. Of course I play through some stuff slower and then build it up a bit, but for me it's about having fun, as you say, and for me I seem to gain more by jamming on a backing track, even from a technique standpoint. That's usually my "technique practice" too - a backing track and improvisation. Of course I know I could be "somewhere else" if I had put all the tough leg work in of going bpm by bpm, but would I have actually done that or gotten that kinda practicing done? I doubt it. Were all different though, and I know people that get a kick out of pushing themselves for 4 more bpms etc. smile.gif

EDIT: Only 5 minutes in now after writing the above. I was writing while listening to you talk and I recognize myself in your approach and mentality a lot smile.gif I almost felt like you were saying the same things I was writing at the exact same time!

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Kristofer Dahl
Dec 3 2021, 01:43 PM
GMC Founder
Posts: 18.745
Joined: 15-August 05
From: Stockholm, Sweden
Awesome Cael -

Agreed, I haven't done the "pushing myself bpm by bpm" for probably over ten years. In fact, I think I boosted my chops when I found better ways of doing it.

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Storm Linnebjerg
Dec 3 2021, 01:45 PM
Learning Rock Star
Posts: 7.676
Joined: 14-June 08
From: Odense, Denmark
QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Dec 3 2021, 02:43 PM) *
Awesome Cael -

Agreed, I haven't done the "pushing myself bpm by bpm" for probably over ten years. In fact, I think I boosted my chops when I found better ways of doing it.


Same here. Of course good base technique is required, but I think it can achieved in multiple ways. I feel I've improved more when I started focusing on what I find fun too.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

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Todd Simpson
Dec 4 2021, 01:19 AM
GMC:er
Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
This i also an important point. At some point ,you just don't need the metronome anymore to work on a lick. You internalize a sense of time the same way your ear internalizes a sense of harmony/melody/tonality. This takes time of course. So a foundational technique is often required at first. Thus click click click smile.gif


QUOTE (Kristofer Dahl @ Dec 3 2021, 08:43 AM) *
Awesome Cael -

Agreed, I haven't done the "pushing myself bpm by bpm" for probably over ten years. In fact, I think I boosted my chops when I found better ways of doing it.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
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Storm Linnebjerg
Dec 7 2021, 03:38 PM
Learning Rock Star
Posts: 7.676
Joined: 14-June 08
From: Odense, Denmark
QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Dec 4 2021, 02:19 AM) *
This i also an important point. At some point ,you just don't need the metronome anymore to work on a lick. You internalize a sense of time the same way your ear internalizes a sense of harmony/melody/tonality. This takes time of course. So a foundational technique is often required at first. Thus click click click smile.gif


Metronome clicks were never inspiring for me. Admittedly my timing can be a bit off at times probably due to this, but I always felt more inspired playing to a drum beat - and that can be just as tight, but it's just more musical and inspiring imo. Similar to how I'd rather ride my bicycle around nature than sit on an exercise bike in the gym for 20 minutes smile.gif

I commented this one on of the recent GMC Facebook videos by Kris:

"I think this approach is very important 🙂 There are a couple of different branches in terms of learning music. One is actual technique, which for me is the boring part, and then there is a music part, like approaching chord tones in soloing, achieving the lydian sound (if we're going for that) and whatever else we think of as "music" and not "technique".

I sometimes think of the technique part as running on a treadmill, and learning "musical approaches" as going out in nature seeing the colors and so on. When you get back home you can paint a beautiful picture with what you have seen, but if you didn't go into nature you would have only been learning technique. Of course there is value in technique too, otherwise you won't play anything, but if all you have is technique, then you're only on the treadmill and not going anywhere"

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


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Todd Simpson
Dec 8 2021, 04:24 AM
GMC:er
Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
I would agree! I have never found a metronome "inspiring" to be sure. But metronome work is more about precision than inspiration imho. Of course a drum track can work just as well. The point is to get used to playing on beat. One can use just about anything that works for that purpose. The metronome is just a stripped out drum kit thats meant to be less distracting. I always prerfer making music with drums of course, not clicks smile.gif


QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Dec 7 2021, 10:38 AM) *
Metronome clicks were never inspiring for me. Admittedly my timing can be a bit off at times probably due to this, but I always felt more inspired playing to a drum beat - and that can be just as tight, but it's just more musical and inspiring imo. Similar to how I'd rather ride my bicycle around nature than sit on an exercise bike in the gym for 20 minutes smile.gif

I commented this one on of the recent GMC Facebook videos by Kris:

"I think this approach is very important 🙂 There are a couple of different branches in terms of learning music. One is actual technique, which for me is the boring part, and then there is a music part, like approaching chord tones in soloing, achieving the lydian sound (if we're going for that) and whatever else we think of as "music" and not "technique".

I sometimes think of the technique part as running on a treadmill, and learning "musical approaches" as going out in nature seeing the colors and so on. When you get back home you can paint a beautiful picture with what you have seen, but if you didn't go into nature you would have only been learning technique. Of course there is value in technique too, otherwise you won't play anything, but if all you have is technique, then you're only on the treadmill and not going anywhere"

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
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Storm Linnebjerg
Dec 8 2021, 11:45 AM
Learning Rock Star
Posts: 7.676
Joined: 14-June 08
From: Odense, Denmark
QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Dec 8 2021, 05:24 AM) *
I would agree! I have never found a metronome "inspiring" to be sure. But metronome work is more about precision than inspiration imho. Of course a drum track can work just as well. The point is to get used to playing on beat. One can use just about anything that works for that purpose. The metronome is just a stripped out drum kit thats meant to be less distracting. I always prerfer making music with drums of course, not clicks smile.gif


I agree that it's about precision. I just meant that a metronome click doesn't make me go: "10 more rounds of this picking exercise!", but with a drum groove I'm more inclined to keep going a bit. Maybe a better wording would be "a metronome doesn't make me want to practice, but a drum groove does".

As for inspiration in terms of creating riffs, licks and such, it depends a lot on the situation for me. Riff writing is usually neither with a drum groove or click, but just "free time" without a time signature considered or anything. Then I'll figure out what is going on with it, then write a drum part, then the other instruments and maybe finally a melody line. I think it's almost "backwards" compared to some other people. I know a lot of people talk about putting on a drum groove and coming up with a riff inspired by the drum groove. My brain doesn't work like that. This has given me a good idea for a thread/lesson/talk/video smile.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

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Todd Simpson
Dec 8 2021, 09:11 PM
GMC:er
Posts: 25.297
Joined: 23-December 09
From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
I agree with you there as well smile.gif I think we all have had that at some point. My original but on metronome was just about building up speed and staying on beat. Of course, as mentioned, a drum plugin works for the same purpose. For working on tight/precision bits. too much "groove" can actually get in the way sometimes which is why a stripped down beat works well often. Still, drills/etc are just to prep the hand for the time when it's actually time to play real music. So it's just a preparatory thing. Much of the hard work of guitar does come at the start of things which is why it's important to balance playing actual music with chord/scale/drill practice imho.

Looking forward to your thread!


QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Dec 8 2021, 06:45 AM) *
I agree that it's about precision. I just meant that a metronome click doesn't make me go: "10 more rounds of this picking exercise!", but with a drum groove I'm more inclined to keep going a bit. Maybe a better wording would be "a metronome doesn't make me want to practice, but a drum groove does".

As for inspiration in terms of creating riffs, licks and such, it depends a lot on the situation for me. Riff writing is usually neither with a drum groove or click, but just "free time" without a time signature considered or anything. Then I'll figure out what is going on with it, then write a drum part, then the other instruments and maybe finally a melody line. I think it's almost "backwards" compared to some other people. I know a lot of people talk about putting on a drum groove and coming up with a riff inspired by the drum groove. My brain doesn't work like that. This has given me a good idea for a thread/lesson/talk/video smile.gif

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
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Storm Linnebjerg
Dec 8 2021, 09:15 PM
Learning Rock Star
Posts: 7.676
Joined: 14-June 08
From: Odense, Denmark
QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Dec 8 2021, 10:11 PM) *
I agree with you there as well smile.gif I think we all have had that at some point. My original but on metronome was just about building up speed and staying on beat. Of course, as mentioned, a drum plugin works for the same purpose. For working on tight/precision bits. too much "groove" can actually get in the way sometimes which is why a stripped down beat works well often. Still, drills/etc are just to prep the hand for the time when it's actually time to play real music. So it's just a preparatory thing. Much of the hard work of guitar does come at the start of things which is why it's important to balance playing actual music with chord/scale/drill practice imho.

Looking forward to your thread!


Yeah, that's why I'd suggest a completely tight but very simple midi drum groove, maybe just a kick, snare and hi hat, and not a human drummer for that kinda drill practice. With midi you can just program the kick to be tight on 1 and 3 and snare on 2 and 4. No human feel or actual "groove", but still feels a bit more inspiring to be practicing to that than a "CLICK, click, click, click, CLICK, click, click, click" and it will be just as tightly programmed as a metronome click. But they absolutely both have big value, and I know people who get a kick out of pushing for those extra 4 bpm with a metronome smile.gif

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This post has been edited by Caelumamittendum: Dec 8 2021, 09:15 PM


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