Finding Balance in Practicing

Dave I have only been playing for 2 months so take my advice with a grain of salt.....

You need to practice what motivates to to stick to it. For me the songs in some of those beginners books just don't do it for me. So I got tab for songs I like and started with that...Yes many are WAY too advanced and are in the back of my binder for later. Then I fit in the technique stuff in around that...

So for instance, my latest song to learn is Eight Days A Week by the Beatles. I knew my strumming needed work. That is why I picked this song. I have a few other songs like the simplified version of Hotel California (in the Easy Song Database) that I am also using. This is just so I can use different strumming patterns and not just practice the same pattern over and over. I need variety to motivate me

The answer really lies within you. I tried playing 15 years ago but I just couldn't stick to it...now at 38 years old (soon to be 39 next week!) and I can't see myself ever putting the guitar down! Some people like practicing the scales and drills...that motivates them I guess because they feel like they are working...you have to find what works best for you. If following that book works and you enjoy it then stick to it...but keep in mind eventually that book is going to end and you will need a plan to go to.

I've been playing just over a month now and I downloaded tabs right off the tab pretty much. So far, I can play one song, albeit slower than the song goes but I can play it.

I divide up my practice time like so:

90% freestyle, learning songs I know
10% chord changes.

The chord changes are only a recent thing for me, I started learning songs before I even knew about them. I guess its just a matter of finding what works for you.

I spent most of my forty years of guitar playing just playing. I sure learned alot.

since I started lap steel and pedal steel recently, I began playing in open tunings.
I wanted to learn where the familiar notes were from my standard tuning playing. so I started mapping the fret board.
in short, I am getting into theory.

Im a better player for it too.

still, all those years of playing hasnt really taken anything away from me.
Im satisfied.

I took lessons as a teenager. Ive learned how to read music.
Ive learned alot from jamming with other players.

you want to learn to satisfy yourself and entertain friends.
Id say you are a casual player. that's fine.

go back through your lessons. as you've experienced more you will look at those lessons differently; hopefully, taking more away from them than the first orlast time.

I go back and review stuff all the time.

and I constantly challenge myself to new as well.

putting on a CD and playing with it is a riot.

sticking with something until you got it cold is good.
but dont kill your enjoyment for the instrument.

but dont listen to Homer Simpson. didnt he say once, 'if it's too hard, it's not worth learning".

I agree with everyone else.....it boils down to what works for you and keeps you playing. I've only been playing for a month, but right now I am satisfied attempting to master open chord changes. My teacher sets out some progressions and gives me a bpm on the metronome and tells me to practice the changes. Been doing this for two weeks, about an hour a night and I am seeing some progress. Next week we dive into a song....haven't decided what, but for now the chord changes are enough. I am being slightly methodical though because while I want to enjoy playing I want to be good at it to....and.....it works for me.

MrClean