How hard is it to learn to play the guitar?
Hi,I’m a singer, who never thought about learning an instrument, but that had an acoustic guitar always around, which I did not play often because I thought I had to learn first how to play.Being a singer who writes lyrics on bands, I also love to create songs, but again without knowing how to play an instrument it is quite difficult.Anyway, I learned from friends and internet how to make open chords and lately how to do barre chords, some of these chords I can tell what they are, some other I have no idea.. I just move around my barre chords up and down, left and right.I never had a lesson, the far I went, was to pick some tab chords from other bands and tried to play it, like 2 or 3 times.Because of my interest on songwriting, I decided to play on the guitar, no matter how bad it could be, so after some months of playing on the guitar (not every day and not too longer), I was able to compose 5 songs and even made up a cover mixing Smells Like Teen Spirit with Knockin’ on Heavens Door - and I did perform those songs on a stage, live.You can see that live performance here - SigDórSo basically, learning guitar will be as hard as the level you are looking for, but I can assure you that once your fingers will be able to do power/barre chords (it will be very disappointing at the beginning, so practice a lot), you can have lot of fun. In my case, I avoid doing things I do not feel secure to do, like guitar solos…Have fun!Sérgio
Would you call guitar a hard instrument to learn?
I actually play both of the instruments you mentioned, & also the guitar, drums, & clarinet. (= I will try to give you expert advice. I'm also 16-years old (how ironic!) & can honestly say that the border between hard & easy to learn to play guitar lies solely in how motivated you are & how much effort you will put in to practice. It is a little difficult to get started (chords, etc.) but once you get the hang of it it will get easier, though at no point is it completely a walk in the park. To be "fluent" you'll need to practice everyday, no doubt, & it will take about a year. Trust me, it may sound like a lot of work but it will be worth it. Nothing feels better than knowing how to play the guitar & being able to sing along with it! (= The book will help but if you have absolutely no access to a guitar then I don't think it will help very much, because you will have nothing to refer to. You might end up learning something that you take the wrong way, but were never able to confirm because you didn't have a guitar to practice on. Also, books work just as well as YouTube videos if not better, because you can go at your own speed. Good luck! (=
How hard is to learn to play the guitar at the age of 29 as an absolute beginner?
I started in my 40s.. it's never too late. In fact, some people are more successful at a later age, because they're better able to understand the learning process. Guitar requires building "muscle memory"... basically, you hands have to learn what to do without your brain consciously going through the steps. So you're going to have about a year before even simple songs start coming together, and from time to time, you'll think you're stalled on progress. This is what causes most kids to quit. The key to learning guitar is playing guitar. Set the guitar up on a stand somewhere you'll see it every single day. And pick it up every single day. Folks who decide they're arbitrarily going to spend 3 days a week (or some-such) practicing easily find they go for weeks between one day and the next. So pick up that guitar and do something with it every day. Even 10-15 minutes a day is better than maybe setting aside two hours a week on a single day. It's still ok to do that 2-hour session when you can (a few weeks back, I played for four hours straight, but usually, about an hour a day). And keep it fun. If you're taking lessons, of course, follow the instructor's advice. It may not even always make sense, but a good instructor has a big-picture view of the learning process, and you only see a tiny piece of that picture as a beginner. If you're learning on your own, it's good to set goals, and goals that you can achieve... "I'm going to play "Radioactive" all the way through with clean chord changes", "I'm going to nail barre chords", whatever you're interested in doing. Most of my practice is just playing songs. I collect chord sheets (originally in a loose-leaf binder, now in a PDF on my tablet) and just play what I feel like playing most nights.And if you play a little every day, you'll guarantee that at least one good thing happens every day.
How hard is it to learn guitar?
Guitar is relatively easy to learn but very difficult to master. Gaming will not help you, it involves an entirely different skill set. If you truly wish to learn, than buy a good acoustic steel string and take lessons with a qualified local instructor. This is the fastest and easiest way to learn. I am not sure what you mean by being a "boss" at it. Every one learns at their own pace and a lot depends on how much you practice, how dedicated you are, etc. Within a few months you should be able to play some basic songs. Within a year you might be good enough to jam with some friends in a garage band. It will take many years to be "very good". How much it costs is not even a consideration if you truly love it. You can't "buy" ability, you have to truly work hard for it. Lessons are a good way to learn a great deal faster than you could alone, but you are paying for the privilege to benefit form someones greater knowledge. I have had many students who have taken lessons for quite awhile but they do not put forth the effort needed to truly excel at it. Likewise, I have had many students who take what I have shown them and work very hard to become excellent players in their own right. It really depends on the individual.
How long does it take to get good at playing the guitar? I'd like to start a band eventually.?
Obviously this depends on a lot of things - but generally speaking, you CAN get to the point you're talking about within the first year or two years of playing. You need to commit yourself to spending time every day practicing the guitar - about 20-30 minutes per day if at all possible. Be very serious about what goals you want to have. Write down stuff like "I want to learn two songs off Led Zeppelin II by this time next year," "I want to play in a band by this time in two and a half years, etc." If you're really serious about it, both of those goals are actually pretty realistic. Finally, and I can't stress this enough, even though a lot of people don't really want to hear it - you absolutely need to get in with a qualified guitar teacher. Unless you have someone who can help you accomplish your written goals, your chances of succeeding at this stuff anytime soon are actually pretty slim. The folks who put expensive guitars on eBay because they've gotten frustrated and gave up playing are often people who simply tried to "teach themselves guitar." A good teacher will show you not only what scales you need to know and how your favorite songs go - but also how to get a band together from other musicians in your area, how prepare a good set list, which local venues are looking for people to perform, etc. It costs a bit of cash for guitar lessons, but the investment pays off in spades - please don't let your goals die hard just for being too cheap. LOL Seriously though, getting in with a good instructor and someone who'll look out for you is really the only right way to get started and hedge your chances of success. Good luck - it's a lot of fun. :)
Is it worth trying to learn left-handed guitar when I have been playing a right-handed one for almost 6 years, but am left-handed?
Of course you can switch! The theory is identical, the only difference is that it will look like a mirror. Being that you have experience playing right handed, I personally feel that you will get quite frustrated with the switch. I am a lefty and play righty, and every now and then I try lefty guitars, and no luck.When I was about 4, I was wandering in my mother's attic, and came across her old classical guitar. I took it down, and started strumming like lefties do, not knowing what I was doing. I then went for lessons, and the teacher told me to turn it upside down and play it they way traditional righties play it. I obliged.Fast forward 25 years and I'm working at Guitar Center. They carry about 5 left handed guitars at any one time, most of them lower end. Whenever a left handed beginner comes in and asks the exact same question you do, I tell them a quick version of my story.I also ask them which hand is their most dominant and articulate- they almost always said their left. Then I asked why they would want their dominant, articulate hand wasted on strumming or finger picking, when it could be used for fingering intricate notes. They agreed. About 80% of them purchased a righty guitar and were grateful. Of the 20% that purchased lefty guitars, about 10% exchanged them for a righty guitar.Moral of the story, go with what is comfortable for you, but there is a much bigger selection of right handed guitars out there, usually without the lefty markup, as well as using your strong dominant hand for precise fingering.Full disclosure, I am the Business Development Manager for a new startup, an online social musical gear exchange site, NinthBeat at NinthBeat: Buy & Sell Gear. We specialize in affordable used gear and telling a story to go along with your equipment.
Why learning guitar solo is so hard for me?
I have learn guitar for like 8 months. I can pretty much play most of the chords now. Except a little difficulty on bar code. I cant play the guitar just by listening the rythm of the song. Now i have a problem to advance myself to the next level, such as guitar solo part/finger picking, songs like dust in the wind and greensleeves still seems so hard for me on my acoustic guitar. What i can do is just strumming, also my strumming pattern is not very creative, kind of using same pattern most of the time. Could that because i dont read music and that is the reason why i cant learn as fast as others, do you think learn guitar blindly is fine, by just remember the chords? What should i do to adjust myself. I really hope someday i can play canon in D, tears in heaven, stairway to heaven, and hotel california with my acoustic guitar. Please advice, your advice will be appreciated !!
WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR ME TO PLAY GUITAR!?!?!?
I LOVE music, I have been playing guitar for a little over a year. I FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING NO WHERE! I know a lot of the basics, as in string names, a lot of cords, how to read notes, etc. Other stuff is soo confusing. Like why in the world is it basically impossible to describe a key and why those chords are in it? Or do I just have to memorize all the chords in the world and what key there in? My guitar teacher said it's hard to explain keys. I just don't get whats up with all the Key of C major and A Minor and why it's called that and what the heck minor and major means. And why it makes my finger and hands cramp up and trying to do certain chords because of my freakishly small hands. AndI don't even like to practice anymore because its not even fun its more of work now, it just makes me angry whenever I walk in my room to see my hardly ever played guitar and peavey amp. and GRADE 1 book sitting there. this would be my second teacher so no I wasn't on grade 1 book for over a year. I just cant do it! I KNOW this is what i've ALWAYS wanted to do. Play music. And it will happen I just have NOOO idea how though. Especially when I am as horrible as this! I can't even explain everything theres too much to say so yeaa HELP ME Helpppppp me!!!! I GET A HEAD ACHE JUST LOOKING AT MY GUITAR!!!!!! HELP ME:(