Is learning to play the guitar very hard?

[Scar]

I'm going to buy me an acoustic guitar with my next paycheck, or at least i'm planning on it (a couple days from now). I've always wanted to learn how to play the guitar, but im wondering. I've been training myself to play he piano for over a year now, and its very complicated. Do you think the guitar is as complicated as the piano? Or much easier?

I hope its much easier. i dunno.
Does anyone here actually play the guitar?
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[coralvalley]

I learned to play guitar when I was a bit younger and from what I can remember it was not really complicated at all. You learn the notes and then you start to learn the chords and things kind of fall into place. I remember when I was first learning that I was not sure if I would like it or not, but it was pretty fun during the time that I was taking lessons. From what I recall it was a lot easier than learning to play another instrument for the most part. I am not an expert by any means, but I do think it should be simple enough for you if you are willing to work at it and ready to practice. The nice thing with a guitar is that when you are first learning it does not sound really bad at all even if you are not always sure about what you are doing. Have fun if you wind up taking up the art of playing a guitar.

[spock]

I play the guitar, and actually quite good. I've played for about 2 years now.

Anyway, in my opinion playing the guitar is at the same time hard an really easy. If you just want to learn a few chords to just strum along with some simple songs, you can learn it in just a matter of a few weeks. Though if you want to do more complicated things; playing melodies, learning scales, learning about songwriting techniques (keys) etc. it can become quite complicated. Basically you'll never finish learning.


I actually messed up like about 9 months, because I wanted to learn how to do complicated songs first and because I first bought a crappy guitar.

The best advice I can give is: Buy a good guitar, buy a tuner so you can easily tune it yourself (you should really make sure you learn to play/ you play on a tuned guitar) and start of with simple songs. I recommend just learning a few simple 3-chord songs for a start.

Good luck, and although it might be hard at first, I can tell you the effort will be worth it
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[Xtreme]

I would say that you should understand the fundamentals of music as you can learn from the piano before you play guitar. If you have that opportunity - and you said that you have.

Too many people pick up guitar and just become chord-hammering solo-repeating drones rather than musicians. This doesn't seem to be the case on, say, wind instruments, because typically a wind instrument is learned under the supervision of a band director or private instructor. Although many guitar instructors, in reality, aren't very good at teaching guitar, I would recommend taking lessons over just trying to figure it out on your own. You'll tend towards bad long-term habits, unsafe practices, and poor fundamentals.

So many guitar players have no concept of basic music fundamentals and yet they "seem" to be able to play many popular songs. That's likely because many popular songs are totally devoid of musical and artistic depth. Learn the fundamentals and take your time; I'd recommend honing your piano abilities all the while and taking lessons on one or both of those instruments.

[spock]

[martinz]

I find learning guitar tough, probably am not a musical person. Besides, I learnt it when am young, and I always find my finger aching because of the tight strings. I gave up learning after trying it for a while.

[kenoodo]

I tried once years ago, but it seems I have no music gene, all I can make is noise.

I always envy you guys who have this gift, life turns out to be so rhythmical when you are making music out.

I read before that play music would help your brain balance functions inside and make you smarter, I think that must be the reason why I am so dull.

[Xtreme]

[exsanguination]

[Scar]

I really am more interested in learning the play the piano. i think it sounds far more beautiful than a guitar does, but it really does seem complicated. I have found some sites that help teach music theory on a piano so i should be getting better soon.

So far i've only really memorized how to play songs on it, but im unsure why they work the way they do, but i'll get there. then i'll learn guitar. Piano is more of my passion.
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[Lyth]

I recommend a piano teacher. Learning the very foundations and basics on your own is very difficult, and bad habits tend to (if not, always) form, which become hard to correct later on. Have a teacher show you the basics of technique and theory, and if you want, you can continue taking lessons or go learn on your own.

I took lessons from a teacher when I first got into piano and music. After having learned the basics, I started self-teaching from there. Works well if you have the patience and perseverance, and saves money.