How hard is it to learn to play the guitar?

GrapeSoda · 11-19-2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard the Duck

not hard at all, just takes effort

Or the spirit of jad fair

*david fair whoops

Ohwarriorx1 · 11-19-2012, 11:57 PM

Pretty Damn hard. For me anyways

ThePhanastasio · 11-20-2012, 12:30 AM

Just weighing in with my personal experience:

Guitar is difficult. When you first start, it's going to be extremely frustrating and you're probably going to be convinced you can never switch between chords or even learn chords that aren't G, C, D, A, Am, Dm, G7, because your hands won't want to move that way, and your fingertips will feel like they're being murdered. That lasts for weeks.

After that, you'll suddenly realize that you can play all manner of other chords with a little bit of practice, and your fingers don't hurt anymore. Suddenly, it seems like it just happens one day, you're able to switch between chords and that F chord is cupcake city.

After that, you've got a nice foundation to continue, and you can pretty much look up tabs and kind of know what you're doing. And it's just up from there! You just have to understand that it's going to take a little while for it to feel natural, but from there, it's going to be fine. You're not going to be able to shred like Malmsteen off the bat - or maybe ever - but you will be able to strum an acoustic at a campfire LIKE A BOSS.

GrapeSoda · 11-22-2012, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

Just weighing in with my personal experience:

Guitar is difficult. When you first start, it's going to be extremely frustrating and you're probably going to be convinced you can never switch between chords or even learn chords that aren't G, C, D, A, Am, Dm, G7, because your hands won't want to move that way, and your fingertips will feel like they're being murdered. That lasts for weeks.

After that, you'll suddenly realize that you can play all manner of other chords with a little bit of practice, and your fingers don't hurt anymore. Suddenly, it seems like it just happens one day, you're able to switch between chords and that F chord is cupcake city.

After that, you've got a nice foundation to continue, and you can pretty much look up tabs and kind of know what you're doing. And it's just up from there! You just have to understand that it's going to take a little while for it to feel natural, but from there, it's going to be fine. You're not going to be able to shred like Malmsteen off the bat - or maybe ever - but you will be able to strum an acoustic at a campfire LIKE A BOSS.

It took me me a couple months before I could learn guitar. I never did any kind of scales or learning of songs. I still don't really but I noticed some cool things on the way. Mainly that no matter your skill level if you can hear music while you play you're playing musically and that is something to get excited about at any point while your playing!

thefreethinker31 · 11-22-2012, 07:47 PM

For me, you just got to get through this "phase" wherein your fingers are still adjusting, notes are still new, and strumming is still measured by ups and downs. When your fingers get to the point when they automatically position themselves with chords, and strumming becomes innate, then it gets easy from that point on. It usually takes 3 months to get over this phase with constant practice (consistently playing the guitar for 30 mins a day).

Isbjørn · 11-23-2012, 08:38 AM

Be careful and try not to injure your forearms - that tends to happen if you practice too much. If your arms start to hurt, STOP PLAYING IMMEDIATELY.

Burning Down · 11-23-2012, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Briks

Be careful and try not to injure your forearms - that tends to happen if you practice too much. If your arms start to hurt, STOP PLAYING IMMEDIATELY.

This is why proper posture is so important. The biggest issue is players wrapping their thumb around the neck of the guitar. That puts a huge strain on all the tendons in your hand, wrist, and arm. So, proper posture is wrist out, fingers curved, and thumb placed directly on the back of the neck. Some guitars (Strats and some other models) have a darker line or strip of wood that runs along the back of the neck - this is the perfect place for the thumb to be while you're playing.

simoirs · 11-23-2012, 11:43 AM

My experience with guitar has never, ever getting back tog...been frustrating.
I had my moments: the F chord, trying to link properly the D one (because of the unusual position of fingers) and others for sure but I really loved the instrument and I couldn't wait to be able to make some great noise with it.

My advice is to learn powerchord, even without knowing the theory behind, so if you start getting nervous you can just stick to the same fingers position and play music anyway.
It could even make the F chord become easier, but in my case after weeks of practice I just woke up one day and I could do it. Still a mistery to me.

11-19-2012, 11:57 PM	#22 (permalink)
Ohwarriorx1 Groupie Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 3	Pretty Damn hard. For me anyways __________________ Code: Do You Have Em Yet?

11-20-2012, 12:30 AM	#23 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	Just weighing in with my personal experience: Guitar is difficult. When you first start, it's going to be extremely frustrating and you're probably going to be convinced you can never switch between chords or even learn chords that aren't G, C, D, A, Am, Dm, G7, because your hands won't want to move that way, and your fingertips will feel like they're being murdered. That lasts for weeks. After that, you'll suddenly realize that you can play all manner of other chords with a little bit of practice, and your fingers don't hurt anymore. Suddenly, it seems like it just happens one day, you're able to switch between chords and that F chord is cupcake city. After that, you've got a nice foundation to continue, and you can pretty much look up tabs and kind of know what you're doing. And it's just up from there! You just have to understand that it's going to take a little while for it to feel natural, but from there, it's going to be fine. You're not going to be able to shred like Malmsteen off the bat - or maybe ever - but you will be able to strum an acoustic at a campfire LIKE A BOSS. __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

11-23-2012, 08:38 AM	#26 (permalink)
Isbjørn cooler commie than elph Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: In a hole, help Posts: 2,811	Be careful and try not to injure your forearms - that tends to happen if you practice too much. If your arms start to hurt, STOP PLAYING IMMEDIATELY. __________________ fast(ml) Hear me play the guitar Look, mom! I got a journal

11-22-2012, 07:47 PM	#25 (permalink)
thefreethinker31 Groupie Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 9	For me, you just got to get through this "phase" wherein your fingers are still adjusting, notes are still new, and strumming is still measured by ups and downs. When your fingers get to the point when they automatically position themselves with chords, and strumming becomes innate, then it gets easy from that point on. It usually takes 3 months to get over this phase with constant practice (consistently playing the guitar for 30 mins a day).

11-23-2012, 11:43 AM	#28 (permalink)
simoirs Groupie Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 38	My experience with guitar has never, ever getting back tog...been frustrating. I had my moments: the F chord, trying to link properly the D one (because of the unusual position of fingers) and others for sure but I really loved the instrument and I couldn't wait to be able to make some great noise with it. My advice is to learn powerchord, even without knowing the theory behind, so if you start getting nervous you can just stick to the same fingers position and play music anyway. It could even make the F chord become easier, but in my case after weeks of practice I just woke up one day and I could do it. Still a mistery to me.