Non-professional guitarists: how much time do you get to play?

jeztone2

I try to make sure I have 2-3 hours a week through my amp and I try to playa little everyday. I'm not in a band at the moment & tbh that's been the hardest thing to deal with. It seems like every guitar band in London hates the guitar...

Rocker

@not_the_dj, the Yamaha THR10 seems to be the biz but is pricey???

TheOtherDennis

I try to squeeze in about half an hour or so a day, the reality is half an hour or so every three or four days. My gassing hasn't changed relative to my playing time. In fact, it's stayed pretty static, tbh. I guess that makes me weird. ;-)

guitarfishbay

I definitely notice a correlation between time away from the guitar and GAS.

However I also notice a correlation between leaving string changes too long and thinking I need to change something.... 

kelvinburn

I work 12hr shifts with a couple of hours commuting time.  I haven't practiced as such for years.  I practice with the band I'm in at least a few hours a week and we try and get song writing time here and there.

The forum and ebay are ways of feeling that I'm keeping my hand in when I'm at work

not_the_dj

Rocker said:

@not_the_dj, the Yamaha THR10 seems to be the biz but is pricey???

@Rocker it's the only practice amp available that sounds great AND looks good enough to be allowed a perminant spot in the living room ;-). Wife approval was essential for that. 

Seriously though I've played guitar an awful lot more at home since getting it. 

Iamnobody

not_the_dj;318932" said:

Rocker said:

@not_the_dj, the Yamaha THR10 seems to be the biz but is pricey???













@Rocker it's the only practice amp available that sounds great AND looks good enough to be allowed a perminant spot in the living room ;-). Wife approval was essential for that. 

Seriously though I've played guitar an awful lot more at home since getting it. 

not_the_dj;318932" said:

Rocker said:

@not_the_dj, the Yamaha THR10 seems to be the biz but is pricey???













@Rocker it's the only practice amp available that sounds great AND looks good enough to be allowed a perminant spot in the living room ;-). Wife approval was essential for that. 

Seriously though I've played guitar an awful lot more at home since getting it. 

Another +1 for the Yammy THR.

Also makes a useful loudspeaker for you iphone etc.

Buy used and you will save a fair bit.

jd0272

Not enough quite frankly. We try and rehearse once per week (work often gets in the way so it's been 4 weeks since now  ;(  ) but we're pretty tight, so as long as we know which version we're doing we can get away with it. 

'Sides, we all 'know our shit' so all is well. I'll probably have an hour tonight as she's watching crap on the telly about long lost families and babies popping out of vaginas. Gin and guitars will do for moi.

ThePrettyDamned

I work 7am-8pm but only 3-4 days per week, so I'm very fortunate that I have a fair amount of time to wind the neighbours up.

I've actually missed playing the bloody things while I've been away. It's not ritual, but I play every day for at least 15 minutes and having that disappear has been odd.

Nunogilberto

mellowsun;21390" said:

As someone who has a non-guitar-related day job that sees me getting home around 7.30pm, I get frustrated at not having enough time to play the guitar. 

Usually it's limited to a 15 minute noodle in the evening, or occasionally a spare 30 minutes or so to record a rough track into a portable recorder, e.g. for the fretboard challenges.

I think I use GAS as a substitute for not having enough time to properly play, so I buy more kit I don't need or use instead.

How common is this among forum members I wonder?

I'm probably in the same boat here...

Chuffola

Yep. All sounds familiar.

timmysoft

I tend to only play at weekends now, usually for a couple of hours. Once my job moves I will hopefully get to play a few evenings a week too.

Bellycaster

Between 1 and 1.5 hours per night on week nights and 4ish hours on Sat and Sun. I usually have a rest from Guitar on Friday nights. I guess I don't do too bad really seeing as I work in the day.

viz

Play for pleasure about 30 minutes a day. I wouldn't call it practising really, just enjoy a few chords.

Catthan

I think GAS is aggregated more from not gigging rather than not practicing-playing much at home.

IMO at least.

when I strictly stuck to my 2hrs a day of practicing I often got bored and blamed my lack of fast progress and inspiration to unsuitable or uninspiring gear. the problem when one plays only at home is that there's no realistic assessment of what is really necessary or what works better in terms of gear.

playing with others is more fulfilling so I don't need to draw excitement from different pieces of gear; I just make sure I got what I need for the job and do my part well. 

Gigging also brings some practical aspects forward, things like how big-heavy a cab, how much gear etc.

Eg, I can only use a cab that fits in the boot of my corsa so there's no point looking at the 4x12 that would compliment my amp.

PermanentWaves

I'm playing more now than I used to. I rehearse properly with 3 other mates in a proper rehearsal studio once a fortnight and also play once a week at each other houses (ie: keep it quiet!).

The force regularity of it means it happens and keeps me practicing.

Outside of those meet ups, I will manage 10 or 15 minutes playing some days.

Since I bought my Blackstar ID Core, I've found it easier to practice as I don't need to set up any pedals. I just plug in and play.

Roland

kelvinburn;318873" said:

The forum and ebay are ways of feeling that I'm keeping my hand in when I'm at work

We all know it. When we were teenagers we played a lot, although not always effectively. Then work, family and life took over. Nowadays I rehearse for two hours every week, gig twice a month, and fit in a few minutes here and there to keeps fingers supple. When the band learns a new song then I squeeze in an hour or so to work out arrangements and a guitar part. The rest of the time I grab a few minutes between meetings, or at the end of the day, to talk with like minded people on this forum.

Neil

I have as much time as I want really but to be honest 30 - 60 minutes a day is enough for me. 

vasselmeyer

If you work from home and have many teleconferences, that's an exceptionally good time to practise.

57Deluxe

...Plugged into for a Tube Amp on +5 sesh  - as much time as: 

A) My partner is out

My neighbours are out

C) My head is together

D) I am not aimlessly looking at porn  - limited also by above...

E) Power is not turned off! (I live in a rural area where they like to constantly fiddle with things)

Addendum:

Oh and having no bloody nagging chores - right now I have to take my partner to the Hozzie as she has a dickie knee from persistently jogging in fucking wellingtons.... I bloody warned her....