How hard is it to play Guitar?

[vurt]

cooper was the king of cool.

[zerocrossing]

It’s pretty hard, at least to do well. I’ve been playing for 44 years and for that time I have firmly held the title of mediocre guitarist for 40 years.

The truth is, it takes a lot of time over your whole life, and you have to want it badly. I don’t want it badly. I’ve always been more of a song writer, and I actually think I’m great at that. I’ve got a few things that I think I’m pretty good at, so as long as my playing is good enough to support those things, I’m good. I don’t need to be an impresario. I’ll accept competent and interesting.

[pekbro]

I've never thought it was particularly hard. I always tell folks, you simply need to genuinely want to learn it, like with anything else. I could play well within 3 months of taking it up. I've also never kept playing consistently for any overly long period of time, I've played for many years but that's pretty much cumulative. I do think that I'll never be as good as I could be, if I really wanted to...

[donkey tugger]

It’s pretty hard, at least to do well. I’ve been playing for 44 years and for that time I have firmly held the title of mediocre guitarist for 40 years.

The truth is, it takes a lot of time over your whole life, and you have to want it badly. I don’t want it badly. I’ve always been more of a song writer, and I actually think I’m great at that. I’ve got a few things that I think I’m pretty good at, so as long as my playing is good enough to support those things, I’m good. I don’t need to be an impresario. I’ll accept competent and interesting.

Hehe, similar I think.

Always a bit bemused about the whole 'practice' thing meself. Obviously I did practice early on to learn, but as soon as I started writing stuff then have never bothered. Like you I can play what I need to play (and I can fudge and fake the rest with the technology... ). Life's too short to be arseing around endlessly repeating scales when there are weird gorgeous chords, top key changes etc to be playing.

[RunBeerRun]

I took lessons for 4 years so I learned a lot.

If its hard you should lower your action, every guitar can handle low action as long as you don't mind the small fret buzz.

[thecontrolcentre]

It's difficult, difficult, lemon difficult ...
https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/easy ... n-squeezy/

Takes time, effort, dedication and discipline. I found setting myself certain goals along the way was really helpful (and buying a decent guitar).

[Bombadil]

Some people are quite content to go as far as being able to accompany themselves when they sing. For every 1 guitarist who worked to improve all facets of their playing, I've known about 4 who are just happy to either play/sing covers or originals.
My first tunes were And I Love Her (in Dm) and Across The Universe in C. I ignored the F when it came around. That happened prior to me getting my own in May, 1974. My best friend had been learning concurrently while I had moved away for a few years, so he took lead and I contented myself for the first couple of years strumming and singing.
These days, with all the resources out there, I would've picked things up much quicker without question. I didn't really start learning leadvuntil I was about 17.

[thecontrolcentre]

My best friend had been learning concurrently while I had moved away for a few years, so he took lead and I contented myself for the first couple of years strumming and singing.
These days, with all the resources out there, I would've picked things up much quicker without question. I didn't really start learning leadvuntil I was about 17.

That's a good point. I struggled to start with, but after a house move, got to know another guitar player who was a much "better" player than I was. I learned almost everything I know about playing while jamming in my bedsit with Andy.

[zerocrossing]

It's difficult, difficult, lemon difficult ...
https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/easy ... n-squeezy/

Takes time, effort, dedication and discipline. I found setting myself certain goals along the way was really helpful (and buying a decent guitar).

More like, “tough, rough, cotton fluff.”

[thecontrolcentre]

More like, “tough, rough, cotton fluff.”

[geordie accent] Geet Hard Man

[zerocrossing]

My first tunes were And I Love Her (in Dm) and Across The Universe in C.

Funny, I was on a similar, but more odd path. I hitched a ride with my grandmother to the mall and bought The Best of Lennon and McCartney song book from Sam Goody’s. My first song? I Am The Walrus. That was the song that started it all for me. A song that doesn’t even have a guitar part.

[MadDogE134]

i would not say it is hard per se but it IS painful when you first start from hand and forearm cramps holding chords for lengthy amounts, cramping from contortions of the fret hand in many first position chords (sometimes feels your hand is not made to do these things lol). also there is pain on the fingertips until you build up calluses (especially from steel strings and bending them... not so much nylon classical strings but you do still bruise the tips)

but all these will pass in time. the time it takes will vary on how much you can take each session of practice and how often you practice. (don't worry about overdoing it... your hand will dictate)
the more you suffer at the start tends to make it pass faster imo lol but no matter how much you practice or how long you practice... it will ALL pass. luckily you only have to go through that once as long as you continue to play. if you stop for any lengthy period you will probably have to go through a mild toughening up period again but it will be much shorter in duration imo

bottom line is if you want to play then this should not be a deterrence. i think we all gladly paid that price and would do it all over again. i have played many instruments over my lifetime but guitar is and has been my favorite... it is just more fun to play imo and NOTHING sounds or feels like it especially playing through a good tube amp at level and letting the notes flap your pant legs around. still gives me a 'tingle' lol

cheers

p.s. been playing for about 53 yrs now

[Beatbender]

One in One Hundred people who pick up the guitar are still playing after a year. I wish I could find stats on what happens after that year.

Agreed! Most people have tried playing guitar at least once in their life. How many people actively still doing it? Very few.

I wonder what would be the stats for other string instruments or perhaps relatively easier for beginners like piano? Probably more people will stick to it.

[Bombadil]

My first tunes were And I Love Her (in Dm) and Across The Universe in C.

Funny, I was on a similar, but more odd path. I hitched a ride with my grandmother to the mall and bought The Best of Lennon and McCartney song book from Sam Goody’s. My first song? I Am The Walrus. That was the song that started it all for me. A song that doesn’t even have a guitar part.

It does, though. Listen to it without the strings and horns, and it's there. Probably the Casino on neck position.
My book was 'Lennon-McCartney E-Z Piano.' I had it since around 1970 when I pestered my brother for it to learn Beatles songs on the organ. My fiest experience of written music in the wrong damn keys!

[pekbro]

One in One Hundred people who pick up the guitar are still playing after a year. I wish I could find stats on what happens after that year.

Agreed! Most people have tried playing guitar at least once in their life. How many people actively still doing it? Very few.

I wonder what would be the stats for other string instruments or perhaps relatively easier for beginners like piano? Probably more people will stick to it.

IMO the piano is quite a bit harder to learn and play than the guitar. For me the biggest hurdle
with the piano was two separate and complex melodies on each hand, where on the guitar that doesn't
really happen as much unless your playing classical guitar or something, and even then. It's not
that it doesn't happen, but I notice the majority of amateur players I've heard, don't seem to concern
themselves with individual notes a lot times on the guitar.