Now here's a good Question....

[MrSamson]

This is for you seasoned veterans out there...

I have had a lot of personal debate as to what is the best thing/things to practice when you sit down for practicing guitar.

Some things (theory) could even involve no actual physical guitar in your lap at all....

ANYWAY...

My question to you veterans out there (including Stone)...knowing what you know now...what would you change if you started from scratch again all over again...totally green... practice wise...knowing what you know now...

For someone playing only three years...I thought long and hard about this...and I dont beleive I would change a thing with what personally I have done...but there might be something I am missing that will eventually really bite me, forcing me to take several steps back so I can attain something I missed before I can go forward with my guitar playing progress...

So...LETS HEAR IT!!!!

http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/devil.gif

[ghodaddyyo]

I would have taken some form of musical instrument in elementary/high school, for the theory as well as the reading skills.

[Josh]

I'm not exactly a veteran but I agree with ghodaddyyo. I gave up trumpet after a month when I was in 5th grade and I regret it to this day.

[Sixstring]

Hmmm... well just about everything I've learned since I started I wish I had learned earlier!

Practically speaking, I would want lessons from a qualified, inspirational teacher. (Although, as a result of being self-taught, I developed a decent ear, which has been a good benefit.)

A few shortcuts I took that I later had to correct:
Not using my pinky for lead.
Not starting out with a stiffer pick.
Not learning scales and theory soon enough to really have it nailed down by now.
Not spending enough time on dexterity/speed/accuracy-type exercises, you know, the boring stuff.
Not alternate picking from day-one.

Those come to mind first, but I don't know any player who advances as fast as they would like, so every new trick or skill comes with the regret of not having learned it sooner.

One of the most important things I've learned is that music is wonderful enough to allow us expression in every stage we go through, so we should cherish where we are and savor every experience it lends us while we strive to reach the next stage. Don't bottle that up, waiting for the perfect moment. GET OUT AND PLAY! http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[Kristoffer]

That's easy...very easy!!!

THROW AWAY THE TAB!!!

WOLF MARSHALL SUCKS!!!

I HAVE THE SPEED OF BECKER AND THE MENTALITY OF THE RAIN MAN WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A MUSICIAN. I could make it big someday...anyone here wanna write a song for me???..LOL

GET PERFECT PITCH EARLY GUYS...at least try to attain it.

[drumstix128@aol.com]

I wish I hadn't spent my first two years of guitar playing power chords. Of course now that I'm sort of good, it might have actually helped me. But still, two years basically went down the drain. Oh well.

[Bluice]

I spent too many years backing vocals and not soloing. Not exploring different musical genres has also limited my areas of "expertice". I find it hard to this day to practice runs and solos,wanting instead to strum my way through the songs.

[geoffreyt]

Sixstring is on the money here. Too many forget it's not about the race. Look for the satisfaction derived from what you have accomplished and can do. Then decide what you want to be able to do and do that next. How can one expect to progress if they cant be satisfied by what thier efforts have already produced for them? Enjoy what ever you can do. WAIL ON PLAYERS, LOL

[StoneDragon]

I've been thinking about this one a bit, and for me, it comes down to having to sort out the "I wishes" from the "I should haves".

As far as "I should haves" go, there's really only three that I can think of.

1) I should have spent more time with my hands on the strings and less time with my lips on the bottle and chasing the elusive teenage dream of naked women and lots of money.

2) I should have made myself sit down and figure out the lead breaks and solos off the record. I didn't have any idea what those guys were playing... I thought that they had some magic secret that I had to know first, so I never tried to figure out the leads. I think that this stunted my growth in certain areas. It took me a lot longer to really figure out my fingerboard than it could have.

3) I should have spent more time seriously coming up with a plan rather than just this vague idea that I wanted to be a musician, so one day I would be in a band and become a famous rock star.

[squierboy/tremonti]

hey how about a naked woman holding a bottle of beer in one hand and a guitar in the other while laying on a mound of money
http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/eek.gif