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How many times a week?
I try to make it every single day, though I do occasionally miss a day, but they are rare. So far I have been able to maybe miss 1 or 2 days a month at most, and usually because I have no choice in the matter.
When do I play?
I work from home, and have guitar on its stand next to my desk. When I take a break I tend to pick it up and at least strum through some chord changes or a verse or chorus of a song I am trying to learn. These aren’t always long 5 or 10 minutes generally, but they happen throughout the day.
The longer times are in the evening after my kids are in bed, I usually will practice for 30 minutes to an hour, and sometimes much more.
Where do I play?
In my office.
How has routine changed my guitar life?
Well so far have had this routine since I decided to play the guitar, so I can’t really compare it to anything before. I do see the progress I am making, though it is slow, and certainly not linear. I definitely don’t think I would be where I am, and I am not very far at all, without this routine. Not quite 2 months into this journey, and while nothing I am doing is remotely perfect, being able to strum through some 3 and 4 chord songs and keeping reasonable tempo, well enough to where they are recognizable, is a long way from where I was just a month ago.
Yes I still miss a string, mess up the tempo, don’t change the chord in time, screw up the strum pattern, get occasional buzz, lose track of where I am and all the other things a beginner does… but I do see the progress. I am using far less mental energy to play, and beginning to be able to “feel the music” as they say when I do.
Took 3 days of trying, but finally was able to have enough strength to create a F Barre chord, and no way I can transition to one in a reasonable time frame yet, but will keep working on it.
It’s definitely in my blood now to practice and play ever day, even when what I am trying to accomplish is frustrating.