Guitar ?
 

How hard is it to learn the Guitar ?

I can play nothing atmo but would say i am pretty good with my hands :o


Any advice welcome :bouncy:

[Edited on 25-1-2006 by Totto]

Not as hard as the didgeridoo.

It's a bit like asking "how long is a piece of string"

If you just want to learn to strum a chord or two to wail along too it doesn't take long at all.

If you want to play seriously it takes a lifetime 'cos you never stop learning

A piece of string is of equal length from each end to the middle!:D

True , but is the Guitar a hard instrument to learn the basics on ?

Dont like the sound of ( Strum) play sounds more acceptable , how hard to get to PLAY ?

[Edited on 25-1-2006 by Totto]

The basics are easy (if I can do it being deaf, then most can). Its the reading music to play properly that I don't have the time for. That said, if you have the time and are reasonably "tuneful" (I'm not) then its easier than most instruments to learn.

Do you wan't to play electric/accoustic?
What sort of music you wan't to play classical, blues, rock?

If you wan't to play the electric guitar and modern rock (loads of power chords) it's going to be easier and quicker to learn than if you wan't to play the accoustic classically.
I'd say most people with lessons and practise could play a reasonable tune after 12 months, but as Jools says if you want to be good it takes forever as you never stop learning, people like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani etc practice for hours a day every day.
Most important thing to remember is even Eric Clapton didn't sound like Eric Clapton after 12 months so don't be dishartened if you don't either :D

Some inspiration fom my favorite here
and no I can't play like that :(

Darren

Interested in the Accoustic guitar , just looking into it atmo

thanks all so far :D

I remember starting playing at the same time as my best friend over 25 years ago, and he picked it up very quickly but I took to it more slowly. A lot depends on how good your ear is, if you can learn by ear you will progress very quickly. I have friends that can copy passages they hear almost instantly whereas it takes me for ever to learn a piece. Once you get to a certain level it gets more interesting as you start to pick things up at a quicker pace. A lot of people dont peservere though and give up too soon.

After my kids and the bikes its my favourite pastime, we gig quite regurlarly and for me its as much about having a good night out with my mates and making a load of noise and getting paid for it. This last saturday we played in a local pub and were supposed to play just 2 sets at 45 minutes each. We ended up playing 4 sets and I finally put my guitar down at 4.15 am! The singer and the drummer did an acoustic set after I left that carried on til 6.30 am! We got free beer from 4pm to 6am and the landlord paid us double the agreed fee! A night to remember for sure. We enjoy it that much we would and quite often do it for nothing.

You dont need to be able to read music unless you go in a classical direction, most music for guitar is available in 'tab' form which makes learning songs a doddle. I have loads of old guitar mags in the loft if you need to borrow any. The are handy as they have lessons in ranging from beginner to advanced. Most have cds with them as well so you can hear how it should sound.

Give it a go and try and set yourself a target. ie play a certain song within 6 months?

I'd buy a good guitar as your first, not in the £1000's but around £250-£400 for a nice accoustic. Yamaha do some nice ones at reasonable money.
My first guitar was a cheap thing and I would get alot of fret buzz in various places on the neck, thought it was my bad playing till I brought a better guitar and it went away :D

Darren