I have two weeks free into which I want to compress as much guitar information as possible.

Finger/picking exercises (speed/strength): 3 hours

Theory: 4 hours

Playing other artists' music: 2 hours

Creative: However long I deem fit (3-4 hours)

Finger/picking exercises (speed/strength): 2 hours

That's what I plan on doing... I know it's a long duration of time, but I really don't have anything else during these two weeks. What adjustments should I make? What should I focus on? If possible, revamp my whole schedule.

bump.

I will paypal $20 to anyone who give an in depth training regiment to me.

I will paypal $20 to anyone who give an in depth training regiment to me.

two points here, even if someone did trust you to pay them $20 for in depth writing (which no one will) you wont pay up, we all know it.

secondly i don't care who you are 5 hours of guitar practice is harsh, not physically but not getting bored is just about impossible. so I will paypal you $50 if you somehow manage to actually this "regiment" (gay use of language btw)

two points here, even if someone did trust you to pay them $20 for in depth writing (which no one will) you wont pay up, we all know it.

secondly i don't care who you are 5 hours of guitar practice is harsh, not physically but not getting bored is just about impossible. so I will paypal you $50 if you somehow manage to actually this "regiment" (gay use of language btw)

Actually it could be quite harsh, unless you're a fan of carpel tunnel.

OP, you and I both know you're not going to practice for 15 hours.

Also stop bumping your thread ever other hour.

OP, you and I both know you're not going to practice for 15 hours.


YOU DON' KNOW ME, YOU DON' KNOW ME

So really, no advice?

I'd recommend Just doing an hour of fun practice, as in, playing the music you enjoy, learning a songs or two that you like, nothing too dead serious. Then, do an hour of serious not fun guitar drills, just little repetitive finger exercises. I don't know much about fingerpicking, but I would imagine you would want to start with the most common patterns, and then go to some more complex patterns, and then you should be able to not need patterns and just be able to pick whatever you want.

As for your fretting hand, start with some runs up the fretboard, where you would start with your index finger on the low e on a fret of your choice, and using all four fingers, (in simple tab) go 1-2-3-4, then move up a string, and do it on all the strings, then come back down. If you don't understand what I mean here, just let me know and I'll just tab it out for you. Make sure to play to a metronome to a steady tight beat, and use proper fingerpicking form. You would want to alter your finger position after a couple times, to pretty much every combination of fingers. For example, just use your first two fingers (1-2) then first three (1-2-3) then first three fingers again but space them so your fretting (for example frets 5-7-9), basically all sorts of finger positions on one string. Start with that, same finger position on each string, and then you can move to some scales if you want.

Since your fingerpicking, I'm sure you'll want to learn some arpeggios (a chord with the notes played one at a time), start with one note per string style apreggios. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/lessons/the_basics/arpeggios.html
Theres a pretty good lesson on them. I'd start with a simple major arpeggio, across five strings. Then move to minor, then maybe some more complicated ones, but DO NOT FUCKING OVERSTEP YOURSELF. If you don't know what the fuck a major arpeggio is, don't even try to go crazy with wild exotic arpeggios.

Learn a bunch of chords, just start with your simple open chords. Notice how an open c major chord looks exactly like a c major arpeggio. Also, note how the notes that are in the C major scale include the c major chord. With fingerpicking, you'll be weaving chords and scales together, so it's good to learn some theory behind it.
But, strumming chords is something you'll probably pick up quickly, while I don't know how to strum a chord without a plectrum, you'll figure that out. You'll need to pick up on how to go between chords as quickly as possible for smooth playing, it'll be important that you learn how to fret certain chords correctly. Don't stress too much on the perfect form with chords, because sometimes you'll need to switch up your fingering to be able to go from chord to chord, or to go from a chord to a couple of single notes.

*THIS PARAGRAPH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE*
Start slow, and then work up your speed. I'm talking ridiculous slow, like retarded person playing guitar slow. Only move up your speed if you can play a part perfectly a couple of times through. Your going to have to go over one stupid fucking progression over and over and over until you feel like your going to kill yourself. Thats how you get good. Always play to a metronome (you can find plenty of online downloadable metronomes. Along with the metronome, tap your foot to the beat. Make you start playing tight, and you'll always play that way. YOU HAVE FOUR FUCKING FINGERS, USE ALL OF THEM. This goes for your fretting hand, use all five fingers for picking. No exceptions, it may feel weird to use your pinky all the time, but it's better to get used to it early on. Don't take it toooo serious either. The main reason to play guitar is because it's fun, theres no reason to totally take the fun out of it for practicing for fifteen hours. Thats just too many. Make sure to take enough breaks to let your hands rest.

So, I would say you should maybe do an hour of just fucking around and having fun, and then an hour of serious drilling, and then just chill and have a drink for 15-30 minutes. Just remember, you don't get all that much better by fucking around and playing half serious sloppy drills. You get better by working at it a lot. But don't kill yourself, you could honestly get carpal tunnel from playing for 15 hours straight, and everyone here knows that you are not going to actually play that long.

I work way too much as it is. I don't want guitar playing to become a chore. I may not be Joe Satriani and I may not be as good at playing as a load of the guys here (or anywhere for that matter!) but I enjoy playing and I'm not terrible at it.

My advice is just have fun...Take your time, learn your chords, learn your scales and practice regularly to get it really set in your mind and get your muscle memory going. Aces gave you a load of great information and some solid tips there but remember, it's supposed to be fun.

I think people might be missing the point that this is OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD. That's an average of a little over an hour a day. NB.


As for advice on this, as much as I want the $20 (not that much, to be honest), I can't help you because I don't know you and your strengths. Obviously you should practice the most on what you're weakest at.

And yeah, have fun too :cool:

but remember, it's supposed to be fun.

Exactly. All that shit I said doesn't mean shit if your not having fun.

two points here, even if someone did trust you to pay them $20 for in depth writing (which no one will) you wont pay up, we all know it.

secondly i don't care who you are 5 hours of guitar practice is harsh, not physically but not getting bored is just about impossible. so I will paypal you $50 if you somehow manage to actually this "regiment" (gay use of language btw)


Ummm I play for 12 hours a day when I get the chance, and don't get bored once, speak for yourself.

One suggestion from my way is when you are doing your "creative" kind of thing to just try and play what you hear in your head, it might start off sounding bad , but it works up to some pretty sweet improv and ear playing ability.

also what was said by Aces_High (awesome post btw mate) about PLAYING SLOWLY AND CORRECTLY BEFORE PLAYING FAST.

DONT SHRED IF U R SPED :D

I also suggest doing an hour of READING every day, learning music theory and history etc.....