Hi Mike,
I’ve been practicing scales with a metronome everyday day for a whole year and have came to the conclusion that it wasnt worth it and that I was better doing other stuff in that time. My end goal is to create good original music therefore I feel like I should be doing musical stuff. So what I do when I practice now is:
1: Practicing songs and learning new ones, where I slow down difficult parts and practice them very slowly with a metronome .
2: Practicing improvising over backing tracks. Lately my focus on this area being targeting chord tones and being aware of the underlying rhythm / arrangement.
3: Creating my own songs and riffs. Both writing lyrics, practicing my singing ( which is great fun!) And the instrument parts.
4: Reading about theory and learning new chords along the neck.
My question is really simple: Am I missing anything?? Should I do anything apart from this? As you might understand im just guessing and need some advice
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
I pretty much do everything you mentioned with a few additions
1. spend 10 to 20 mins everyday doing technique exercises
2. Jam to backing tacks in different keys (which I don’t know) for ear training
3. try and play melodies etc. from songs of the radio
4. Know the fretboard and practice relevant modes/patterns
I don’t think practicing scales is a waste of time, it would have helped you with knowing the key signatures and hopefully the fretboard
Mike