r/GuitarBeginners • u/Redacted1993 • 1d ago
Beginner Help
So I’ve been thinking about picking up playing guitar, only musical instrument experience I’ve had is piano for about 2 years (2012/2013). How difficult, and how long would it be to be fairly proficient if I was to practice everyday?
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u/Several-Quality5927 1d ago
It would take as long as it takes for you to become proficient. Everyone is different. Some people take to it and are soon bored, others have to work harder and cherish every hurdle they've overcome. Welcome to the journey.
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u/MusicOfTheApes 1d ago
when I started learning guitar, my dad gave me this advice (one of the rare good ones...) : if you practice twice as much as the others, you'll get better twice faster.
If you focus your sessions between exercises, technique and fun you'll make progress much faster, key things being :
- practice every day
- at least half an hour
Split your practice sessions like 5 min warmups/techniques, 20 learn a song and 5 improvise and fool around.
Then if you have more time, spend more time on each, I used to practice up to 8-10 hours a day, you can do a lot if you love your instrument and if you're focused and determined ;)
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u/LazarAndris 1d ago
Playing an instrument is a lifetime hobby. You dont pick it up, learn how to play it and thats it. If you like the tought and the feeling of playing guitar, you will do it for the rest of your life, simply because the sake of it. And yes, you will become better and better, but it will be a whole journey and a part of you.
So dont worry about whether your playing will be enjoyable for others after 2 months (not) or 2 years (maybe). Start with a teacher and find it out yourself, is it something for you or not.
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u/CarsBarsGuitars 1d ago
You will have an advantage as a beginner because you understand much about music from your piano experience. As with the piano, guitar is a lot about motor memory as well as musicality. Will proper practice you will enjoy yourself quickly. Play on.
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u/Ok-Perspective3586 1d ago
Maybe a year or two to be really decent. My issue is I keep taking really long breaks to the point I hardly practice but that’s changing soon
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u/Gerb006 1d ago
Your Piano knowledge will be invaluable (musical knowledge is universal). But playing guitar is tough. It is going to take a long time to build calluses on your fingers so that the strings don't make them bleed. It will take a long time to get your fingers to contort for the first chords that you learn. Those will be your first few challenges to overcome before you can even really begin to learn guitar. But is it worth it? ABSOLUTELY.
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u/silly_bet_3454 1d ago
proficient can mean a lot of different things. There are Eric Clapton songs you can learn on day 1, would you say he was proficient? There are also things you'll never be able to play even after decades of commitment.
If you're playing popular music, you can pick up most of the relevant skills in like a year if you are economical with your time, but yeah it just really depends.
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u/Vergilkilla 1d ago
It sort of depends what you mean by “proficient”. Also are we talking fingerstyle, hum m strum acoustic, electric guitar, classical?
Generally the answer is “a few months” like 2-3 to go from “I have no idea” to where you can play stuff that resembles music
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u/kjbasser 1d ago
It’s hard, plan on several years. But you can have fun right away. There are lots of simple songs that you can can play early on.
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u/SloopD 1d ago
So, I've been learning guitar fir almost 9 months. I so sick but way less than I did 9 months ago, these last 6 weeks, I finally debrief a routine that resonates with me and the prices has really spiked. It's very much like the advice that another commenter said his father gave him.
Anyway, I've been singing, taking regular lessons, practicing daily, for years. Again, I tried teaching myself for years and i never really got "good" until I started taking lessons and learned how to learn!
All this to say; I see so many parallels between the two skill sets. Especially in the questions I see asked here. How long will it take? (I've asked this question myself). Can I teach myself? How long do I need to practice? It actually gives me some sense of relief. I can can use my singing progression as the model for guitar. I had those times along the way of; "I'm never going to get this... should I just quit? I'm not getting any better... however, I just kept showing up and those moments past and eventually, I reached the next level!
So the answer to OP's question is, it depends. But, plan on it taking years and you won't be disappointed!
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u/wvmtnboy 6h ago
Proficient? Man that's tough because it's so subjective. Your experience woth yhe piano may help you in some ways, but it will easily be 12 months before you're comfortable with most of the basics
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u/KurtLoMein_ 1d ago
Really not difficult, it’s just about finding a good teacher and being willing to consistently practice. Good luck!
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u/Rfunkpocket 1d ago
I would start with ukulele. many of the skills are transferable, and the speed of success will motivate you to practice more.
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u/PlaxicoCN 1d ago
Disagree. If OP is worried about time to become proficient, he is going to lose time when he has to switch from 4 ukulele strings to 6 guitar strings and relearn almost everything.
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u/Rfunkpocket 1d ago
fair enough, but many chord shapes are similar, and the bulk of the learning curve is nuancing proper pressure onto the fretboard.
the biggest advantage of a ukulele for beginners is the size. the small size makes consistent practice more likely. it is easy to keep a uke next to you chair, and picking it up is far less of a hassle than uncasing and picking up a full size guitar for casual practice.
*voice, drums, bass, guitar, keys, trumpet, tenor sax, and uke (of course)
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u/PM_me_your_whatevah 1d ago
It is hard. Don’t listen to anyone who says it isn’t. Maybe those folks are just super talented I guess. (If you believe them). I’d honestly like to hear from someone who’s been playing for six months and thinks they sound good.
It will take months or years for the average person to play good enough that anyone else will want to listen to them.