Here is the situation. I play a lot, am always learning new songs, different genres and stlyes but I have not praciced techniques and scales in a long time. Any tips on getting back to improve my overall ability on guitar. I want to improve my familiarity with chords and improve my ability to play solos. I can get sloppy when playing solos. Maybe I need help with time management as well.

Learn modes....look them up....and scales,both major and minor,and when you first pick up the guitar to play,practice those scales,ascending and descending......over and over...in different keys.
That's a good start.

+1 to the learning the scales.

Find some backing tracks and just start jamming and doing some improv. I'm going to be doing that a lot over the summer, along with learning to read treble cleft for guitar, learning Jazz scales, and some of the more theory-based chords and proggressions. (I'm trying out for jazz band next school year)

I'll also try to throw in some random stuff, like sweep picking....

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(former user jimbo612)

Play with a metronome for at least half an hour a day. Its boring as hell, but it will help sooo much.

Try keeping your pratice in keys like E flat and B. The first will help if you ever find yourself playing rythm to a horn section, the second will just make you stop and think a little.
Good Luck,
John.E

Set up a few scheduled times per week to practice that are non-negooitable, kind of like if you had a commitment like you were going to an instructor for lessons. I did that for a year when I couldn't afford lessons and it forced me to keep pushing the envelope.

And do what all the other fellas said.

Rock and Roll isn't a disease, it's the cure!

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Keep rockin'

+1............ Mike

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