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I recorded myself today and thought it sounded pretty good. What a difference from a year ago or even six months ago. So I guess I will keep my practice routine more or less the same. I spend more than an hour each day playing songs I know well with backing tracks. This is to continue getting muscle memory, to continue improving timing and rhythm and tone, and speed.
I also spend time playing banjo alone with no backing tracks or metronome or anything. And I play along with some youtube videos. I learn a new song maybe every two weeks, sometimes from tabs but mostly by ear.
Once in a while I go through my instruction books again -- the Janet Davis books Splitting the Licks, Backup Banjo, and Up the Neck.
What I am doing seems to be working for now, because I still want to improve timing and tone and speed. I am not trying to do anything very fancy or difficult.
One other thing I am doing is trying to get a more old-timey sound for certain songs. I think I have a pretty good arrangement for Sail Away Ladies, where I use a lot of hammer-ons and open strings.
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