How long it takes to learn guitar – 5 real stories

Most people toy with the idea of learning to play guitar at one time or another. And who can blame them? Music is intertwined in society, and the guitar is a cool instrument.

Here are 5 real guitar journeys from guitar players of various levels, as they discuss how long it took to learn to play guitar at an acceptable level, what they had difficulties with, and what they would do differently looking back.

Lukas

What age did you start playing the guitar and why?

I was 16, I just thought it was cool.

How long did it take to learn it?

Well I never really stopped learning, but I started playing in my first band about 2 years later.

What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?

Oh there were lot’s of difficult things. Where to begin. Barre chords, rhythm, chord embellishments, learning the notes. But it’s all doable.

What would you do differently?

Maybe I would have bought a 2nd guitar sooner. I played on an acoustic for over a year before I got an electric guitar as well.

Martzel

What age did you start playing the guitar and why?

About 8, my father played guitar, and he wanted me to play as well.

How long did it take to learn it?

I didn’t start taking it seriously until I was in my 20s, but from there it came pretty quickly. I started learning and practicing a lot at that time, and I got better quickly. I had a great teacher, my dad.

What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?

Technically I learned everything early on, so I don’t really remember. Later on in my 20s, I had a hard time with the theory.

What would you do differently?

You can probably guess. I should have taken it more seriously when I was a kid.

Karoline

What age did you start playing the guitar and why?

12. I like the sound of the acoustic guitar.

How long did it take to learn to play?

That’s hard to answer. It took quite a while I guess. I’ve been playing for 13 years now, so I’m ok. I sing as well, so it’s a split show between the 2.

What was the most difficult aspect of learning guitar?

Definitely bar chords.

What would you do differently?

Actually I don’t know, I’m pretty satisfied with how everything went.

Aldric

What age did you start playing the guitar and why?

When I was 28. I always thought it was cool, but never learned. I quit my job at 28 looking for other opportunities, and with that, I just went into a guitar shop and bought my first guitar.

How long did it take to learn to play guitar?

Probably about a year before I started enjoying it, so that’s when I could play songs. It took a while from there on until I really started understanding what I’m playing, so the theoretical part of it all.

What was most difficult aspect of learning guitar?

I am self taught, I learned online. I was bouncing in between youtube lessons a lot, so I didn’t have any direction.

What would you do differently?

If I would have actually paid for lessons, I’m sure the length of time it took me to get to a solid level would have been reduced by a lot. That’s what I would do differently. Not be so stingy.

Adam

What age did you start playing the guitar and why?

I was in college, so I was about 19-20. My roommate had a guitar, he was pretty good, and all the girls were in love with him. So naturally I wanted to learn the art of guitar seduction, haha.

How long did it take to learn guitar?

By the end of college I was OK.

What was most difficult aspect of learning guitar?

Well for me it was balancing college life and getting enough practice. I knew from my roommate that practice was key, and I had to make time in between classes and studying and parties. But I always squeezed in at least an hour a day, and usually much more on weekends.

What would you do differently?

Considering the circumstances, I don’t think I would have done anything differently. I know many guitarists now who took much longer to learn guitar. It all depends on how much time end effort you devote to it.