Practice outside the practice room

[SammieWammie]

Just wondering what are some ideas for productive music practice when you don't have a guitar handy, when you're sitting on a bus, or walking, or in a car, that sort of thing. I used to listen to music but my ipod is unfortunately lost.

[cosmic gumbo]

While walking?

[Sandor]

Practice spelling out triads and seventh chords in your head. Practice going through the cycle of fifths and for every root note think "whats the 3rd, 9th, etc. Stuff like that is good to do when you don't have your instrument.
If you have staff paper with you, practice writing chords and scales on the staff. Try to write out the progressions of songs you know, and transpose into different keys.

[JakeAcci]

I often find it very productive to go through tunes/solos/arrangements/comping, whatever, in my head without an instrument - I do this often, even when a guitar is handy...

[SammieWammie]

Nice ideas

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

While walking?

Yes, what I've done is work on polyrhythms in my head while walking (using my feet as the main beat).

[TruthHertz]

Swing beats with 2 and 4 in step, that's a good one. Everything you listen to is an ear training exercise that stimulates that part of your brain. Music plays in the movies? What's the tonic key? chord qualities? Some idiotic music in the supermarket? What's the harmonic structure? Can you name the notes by interval? In relation to the change? In relation to the key of the piece? Can you think of a reharm and hear it as the piece is going on? These are things that you will be doing when you're playing, you want to have access to this music sense somewhere outside the practice room because real time awareness is unforgiving and non negotiable.
Actually, thinking music outside the practice time can often be more productive in assimilating ideas. Ever notice there are some things that you do when you practice and you don't use them at all when you're playing with other people? You didn't move it over to the right side of your brain. Think music while the world is around you and bring musical ideas to your everyday awareness. You might start to make much needed connections. Listen to a recording so much that you can sing it, love it so much that it becomes a part of your "mental jukebox" and then when the guitar is not in your hands, analyize that piece. Where would you play it.
I listened to Keith Jarrett solos 'cause I loved those recordings. I know all the solos from listening. I walk and "see" them unfolding on the guitar.
Of course some people will say this is too much analysis but you need it to really play when you leave the rules behind you.
Just my opinion of what worked for me.
David