How hard is it to learn to play the electric guitar?
Discussion
Ok, last dumb question (for tonight) before I wander off and do somethnig else.
Of all the instruments out there, I've always fancied playing the electric guitar. But only if I could do it fairly well and rock along to Sultans of Swing or something.
So how hard is it? Am I looking at years of Tibeten Monkesque dedication, or is it fairly easy to pick up?
It always looks really difficult to me, what with different strings to pluck and all that finger on the board stuff, and you can't see the keys.
Genuine question by the way, I'm really interested to know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-euJjZIV3Xk&fea...
THE best song EVER!
Of all the instruments out there, I've always fancied playing the electric guitar. But only if I could do it fairly well and rock along to Sultans of Swing or something.
So how hard is it? Am I looking at years of Tibeten Monkesque dedication, or is it fairly easy to pick up?
It always looks really difficult to me, what with different strings to pluck and all that finger on the board stuff, and you can't see the keys.
Genuine question by the way, I'm really interested to know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-euJjZIV3Xk&fea...
THE best song EVER!
If you want to play anywhere near MK then yes, many years of practice, and even then unlikely you would get his style.
To learn enough to turn your amp to dirty and play along to rock type stuff with reasonable accuracy then a few years. Unless you're willing to practice an awful lot.
To learn enough to turn your amp to dirty and play along to rock type stuff with reasonable accuracy then a few years. Unless you're willing to practice an awful lot.
Not that hard for the basics. A few cords is all you need to start playing a few tunes (at least three).
Try here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
There are probably others.
Here is a good guy to learn from;
http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-000-BeginnersCou...
But if you are going to learn, I suggest having at least a few lessons with a guitar teacher. IMHO obviously.
Try here;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
There are probably others.
Here is a good guy to learn from;
http://www.justinguitar.com/en/BC-000-BeginnersCou...
But if you are going to learn, I suggest having at least a few lessons with a guitar teacher. IMHO obviously.
br d said:
If you want to play anywhere near MK then yes, many years of practice, and even then unlikely you would get his style.
To learn enough to turn your amp to dirty and play along to rock type stuff with reasonable accuracy then a few years. Unless you're willing to practice an awful lot.
The latter, rather than the former. To learn enough to turn your amp to dirty and play along to rock type stuff with reasonable accuracy then a few years. Unless you're willing to practice an awful lot.
Ari said:
Hmmm... just watching that again and I already realise I'm off to a bad start.
When I air guitar I always move my hand further way for the high notes, it's closer isn't it..?
Don't worry, air guitar isn't like playing the real thing When I air guitar I always move my hand further way for the high notes, it's closer isn't it..?
Oh and unless you are dedidcated it's very difficult. Watch this, and if like me, you're lost after about 15sec, then don't worry, you're just human (rather than a true Guitar Hero ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csupfy1LvZ4&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csupfy1LvZ4&fea...
Getting some good sounds out of an electric guitar is not hard at all - don't let perceived difficulty put you off.
There are 2 ways of doing it.
The first is to get an electric guitar/amp and learn some chords, either with a teacher or a "teach yourself" book/CD. Get some cheap used equipment from Cash Converters or the small ads and just throw yourself into it. Many rock songs have only a few chords (between 3 and 6) and the chords themselves are generally pretty simple. Keep practising and you'll soon be able to play a lot of stuff.
The alternative way - which I recommend to those who want to take it seriously - is as follows:
Buy a cheap classical (not electric) guitar. 50 quid will get you a new one.
Take at least 3 years' worth of classical guitar lessons. You need to get to grade 5 standard at least. Learn to read music.
Then buy an electric guitar and play all the rock tunes you can handle.
The second way is a much harder path, but once you can read music and play classical to a reasonable standard, you will be able to play any pretty much anything on an electric guitar - rock chords, solos, metal, jazz, blues...and you will understand much more about what you are playing.
There are 2 ways of doing it.
The first is to get an electric guitar/amp and learn some chords, either with a teacher or a "teach yourself" book/CD. Get some cheap used equipment from Cash Converters or the small ads and just throw yourself into it. Many rock songs have only a few chords (between 3 and 6) and the chords themselves are generally pretty simple. Keep practising and you'll soon be able to play a lot of stuff.
The alternative way - which I recommend to those who want to take it seriously - is as follows:
Buy a cheap classical (not electric) guitar. 50 quid will get you a new one.
Take at least 3 years' worth of classical guitar lessons. You need to get to grade 5 standard at least. Learn to read music.
Then buy an electric guitar and play all the rock tunes you can handle.
The second way is a much harder path, but once you can read music and play classical to a reasonable standard, you will be able to play any pretty much anything on an electric guitar - rock chords, solos, metal, jazz, blues...and you will understand much more about what you are playing.
I've been playing for two years, am self taught and could easily play that Sultans of Swing. Mind you, I play every single day, it becomes habit to pick up the guitar after a while - a lot of the time I don't even realise. Do it, it will hurt both your brain and fingers, but is very fun and rewarding.
V100 said:
I've been playing for two years, am self taught and could easily play that Sultans of Swing. Mind you, I play every single day, it becomes habit to pick up the guitar after a while - a lot of the time I don't even realise. Do it, it will hurt both your brain and fingers, but is very fun and rewarding.
Custard or it's not true. Ari said:
Ok, last dumb question (for tonight) before I wander off and do somethnig else.
Of all the instruments out there, I've always fancied playing the electric guitar. But only if I could do it fairly well and rock along to Sultans of Swing or something.
So how hard is it? Am I looking at years of Tibeten Monkesque dedication, or is it fairly easy to pick up?
It's not easy, it takes time to build up the muscle memory and dexterity to hit clean chords/notes and actions, keeping time & rhythm can be easy or hard depending on how naturally good you are. Strumming or picking patterns will be easier if you have good rhythm but still take time to master.Of all the instruments out there, I've always fancied playing the electric guitar. But only if I could do it fairly well and rock along to Sultans of Swing or something.
So how hard is it? Am I looking at years of Tibeten Monkesque dedication, or is it fairly easy to pick up?
If you can manage about 4hrs a week split into 30min/45min focused sessions you should do quite well and be able to play some simplistic tunes well after about 4-6 mths
V100 said:
I've been playing for two years, am self taught and could easily play that Sultans of Swing. Mind you, I play every single day, it becomes habit to pick up the guitar after a while - a lot of the time I don't even realise. Do it, it will hurt both your brain and fingers, but is very fun and rewarding.
Easily?You must be very naturally talented.
You playing with fingers and thumb like he does? Getting all the left hand mutes spot on in the solos?
If you've reached that stage in 2 years I hope you are out earning some good money doing session work.
br d said:
V100 said:
I've been playing for two years, am self taught and could easily play that Sultans of Swing. Mind you, I play every single day, it becomes habit to pick up the guitar after a while - a lot of the time I don't even realise. Do it, it will hurt both your brain and fingers, but is very fun and rewarding.
Easily?You must be very naturally talented.
You playing with fingers and thumb like he does? Getting all the left hand mutes spot on in the solos?
If you've reached that stage in 2 years I hope you are out earning some good money doing session work.
And i guess getting to the stage where you don't need to think about how you perform is the key - it’s a bit like riding a bike or driving a car. You can learn and learn theory and other musician’s style and techniques till the cows come home, but there comes a time when you just have to go for it, follow your own lead and do what comes naturally (or not as the case may be). Subconsciously the learning and knowledge will remain in your head, but you won't consciously draw upon it when putting tunes together. That to me is when you get fresh, new music.
My personal advice would not be to spend too much time watching videos of guitar greats like MK, Clapton, Page etc etc. Each have their own personal style which you will never possess and so will always think you are not up to it when that may not be the case at all - you will simply play and sound different. There are umpteen ways to finger a basic A chord - watching someone do it in their preferred way will seem alien and very complicated to someone else, but its what suits you and your style of playing
br d said:
V100 said:
I've been playing for two years, am self taught and could easily play that Sultans of Swing. Mind you, I play every single day, it becomes habit to pick up the guitar after a while - a lot of the time I don't even realise. Do it, it will hurt both your brain and fingers, but is very fun and rewarding.
Easily?You must be very naturally talented.
You playing with fingers and thumb like he does? Getting all the left hand mutes spot on in the solos?
If you've reached that stage in 2 years I hope you are out earning some good money doing session work.
Disclaimer: I am nowhere near as good as MK, when I say I could easily play it, we know of course that this would be my own rendition.
ETA: I believe that learning yourself helps you to develop your own unique style. For example, whilst I am left handed, I play a right handed guitar. My fretting hand therefore, is considerably stronger than my right. I am decent at picking, but not great, therefore I use lots of hammer-ons and pull-ofs to create what would usually be alternate picked. I can alternate pick, and do it naturally for everything I play, but not at say 180 BPM on the same string, I simply don't have the strength in my hand.
Whilst I do not doubt this is a weak spot in my playing, it has helped my develop my playing considerably, as I have had to learn to tap a string with my left hand and have it ring almost as clearly as if I had picked it.
For me the fun part is learning. I like to teach myself, it feels like I have really accomplished something when I learn to play that song I could never get (i.e Layla). My Dad taught me a few chords to start off with but I don't think that really constitutes teaching. I remember when he was teaching me Morning Glory, got halfway through and went to the toilet (he takes forever). After five minutes, I was bored and actually managed to figure out the next part myself, that to me feels like I have achieved something rather than having a teacher drum it in to me.
I'm not joking when I say I play every single day. Usually around an hour, sometimes five minutes, sometimes up to six hours. In that time I have, without any support whatsoever (I find internet too slow, although I do look at tabs), learned to:
Alternate pick
Sweep pick
Hybrid pick
Bends, reverse bends, simultaneous bends etc
Right hand tap (albeit badly, am working on this)
Finger pick
Hammer-on and pull-off continuously
String hammer-ons and pull-offs on different strings (i.e playing a riff only picking once, then playing the rest of it just by hammering on and pulling off, on different strings)
Palm mute (easy but)
Figured out most natural harmonics
Figure out multiple songs by ear
Learn every single note on the fretboard
Thus realising that a single fret equates to a half-step, thus figuring out every standard barre chord immediately
Neck bending
There's more, but all of this I figured out myself and in two years. Granted, it is not brilliant, but in my opinion is more fun than being taught, and has helped me to develop my own unique style. Compared to the other guitarists at college (and there are lots) I have a distinctive sound. I suppose the feel I put in my playing helps that, and I also have a lot of dynamic control.
Now, I wouldn't say I am a naturally brilliant musician. I don't doubt that I have a good ear and a knack for figuring things out, but I by no means have a unique natural talent. What I have done is grafted, and figured stuff out. If something was frustrating me I would move on and come back to it later, and most time would get it.
Learning guitar is something that is meant to be enjoyed, and if you really want it you will get it. There is no need for a teacher and whilst I don't doubt I would have more technical ability, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much.
How do I know this? Well, I had a piano teacher. Now I really didn't enjoy that, I used to love playing the piano. Being taught killed the fun of learning how to play separate melodies for me. I had more fun getting frustrated trying to figure it out.
The one thing I would say is worth getting a teacher for is music theory. Undoubtedly, I would be nowhere near the level I am at without knowing the notes in a scale. My improvisation skills would be gone, and as a guitar player I would be useless. A guitarist that can't improvise is not a proper guitarist IMHO.
Sorry I've rambled on, I am very passionate about guitar! Not quite sure who this was aimed at, all of you I think
Edited by V100 on Tuesday 20th September 13:05
NLP practitioners would say that if someone can do it, then anyone can do it - given around 10,000 hours of practice. My guitar coach reckons he got as good as he is (and he really is seriously good - check out Ben Travers on YouTube) by playing 7 hours a day for 15 years.
In my experience, most people seriously underestimate the amount of effort you have to put in to get to be good. Learning how to play a guitar is easy, give yourself 6 months of playing every single day to get your fingers hardened, and you'll be able to play along with a load of stuff.
To get to be seriously good takes a lifetime, and you never stop learning.
In my experience, most people seriously underestimate the amount of effort you have to put in to get to be good. Learning how to play a guitar is easy, give yourself 6 months of playing every single day to get your fingers hardened, and you'll be able to play along with a load of stuff.
To get to be seriously good takes a lifetime, and you never stop learning.
Gaspode said:
NLP practitioners would say that if someone can do it, then anyone can do it - given around 10,000 hours of practice. My guitar coach reckons he got as good as he is (and he really is seriously good - check out Ben Travers on YouTube) by playing 7 hours a day for 15 years.
In my experience, most people seriously underestimate the amount of effort you have to put in to get to be good. Learning how to play a guitar is easy, give yourself 6 months of playing every single day to get your fingers hardened, and you'll be able to play along with a load of stuff.
To get to be seriously good takes a lifetime, and you never stop learning.
This, not quite sure how it takes 6 months for your fingers to harden though.In my experience, most people seriously underestimate the amount of effort you have to put in to get to be good. Learning how to play a guitar is easy, give yourself 6 months of playing every single day to get your fingers hardened, and you'll be able to play along with a load of stuff.
To get to be seriously good takes a lifetime, and you never stop learning.
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