How long does it take to learn guitar?

Learning to play the guitar is an exciting journey, full of twists and turns. However, many beginners and those thinking about starting often ask the same question: “How long does it take to learn the guitar?”

Every guitar player is unique. There’s no clear-cut answer to how long it takes to learn an instrument, as it changes from person to person. Luckily, some good rules of thumb can help you assess the time it will take to learn the guitar, depending on several factors, including practice time and consistency, the type of playing you do, and your goals.

Let’s explore how long it typically takes to learn guitar and how you can accelerate the learning process.

What does it mean to know how to play guitar?

Before exploring how long it takes to learn guitar, it’s worth considering what “knowing how to play” actually means. The short answer is: when you feel like it. In other words, knowing how to play the guitar depends on your personal goals and standards.

But if you’re here for something more specific, let’s define the minimum skills needed to reach the level where you can confidently say you can play the guitar:

• You’re familiar with your instrument and can tune it by ear or with a guitar tuner.
• You know basic chords, the most common major and minor guitar chords and can play them confidently.
• You can play a simple song either using chords or guitar tabs.
• You can use different techniques to spice up your playing, such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, palm muting, and barre chords.
• You can play in time with other musicians, a backing track, or a metronome.
• You know how to learn new songs and maybe even write or improvise parts of own songs.

Factors that influence learning time

How you play also influences how long it will take to reach your guitar-playing goals. Consider these things if you feel like you’re not learning fast enough or you want to make your playing as effective as possible from the beginning:

• Consistency: Creating a consistent practice routine is crucial for your learning. The more often you practice, the quicker you’ll learn. Opt for shorter daily learning sessions rather than longer, less frequent ones to get the most out of your guitar learning.
• Quality of practice: Learners who spend more time on deliberate and focused practice dedicated to specific techniques or songs learn more effectively than players who focus on just the easy things. Although your learning routine should have room for less serious playing and having fun, most learning occurs when you’re just beyond your comfort zone.
• Learning methods: There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to learning guitar, which is why every guitarist needs to find the methods that work for them. This can be a combination of methods, including interactive guitar learning apps, in-person learning with a teacher, or jam sessions with other aspiring musicians.
• Personal goals: Remember, your definition of “learning guitar” is what matters and will impact the time required to reach your goals. Set your goals as high as you want, but keep in mind that becoming a pro takes time and effort.

Levels of guitar mastery

As mentioned, the time it takes to learn guitar is up to the level of effort and time you put into it. Use the following as a rough guideline to plan where you will be on your guitar-playing journey six months, a year, or five years from now.

Beginner (3-6 months)

A beginner guitarist understands the most basic chords (both major and minor), some strumming patterns, and simple melodies. As a beginner, you can play some easy songs, either with just chords or guitar tabs. You might still need more practice finding your way around the guitar fretboard and using nuanced techniques, such as barre chords or fingerpicking.

Intermediate (1-3 years)

As an intermediate guitar player, you’re familiar with some scales and can pull off barre chords, simple solos, and riffs. Improvisation and things like tapping may still be a challenge, but you’re getting the hang of it.

Advanced (5+ years)

Congratulations! You’ve reached the advanced stage. There are very few things you can’t do on the guitar. Now, it’s time to expand your repertoire of songs and knowledge of music theory while improving your skills even further. Very challenging songs may still be too hard to play but you’re confident with playing various styles and genres.

Professional (10+ years)

As a professional guitar player, you’ve moved from being a learner to becoming an innovator. Other aspiring guitarists look up to you in awe of your playing skills. Use your years of experience to hone your unique musical style that’s unlike anyone else’s. Maybe you’re even ready to write songs now and compose your own music.

Tips to speed up the learning process

1. Set clear goals: Playing for fun is a valid reason to learn the guitar. However, you’ll get more out of your playing when you think about what you want to achieve and set short and long-term goals for yourself.
2. Use a metronome: Rather than playing at a speed that sounds good to you, consider using a metronome. It helps you improve your timing and allows you to learn faster songs as you gradually up the tempo until you can play at full speed.
3. Play with others: Jamming with friends or joining a band is not only a motivating way to learn, but it also forces you to adjust your playing to others.
4. Learn songs you love: Having fun and enjoying the process is crucial, or you risk burning out when learning to play. Find your favorite songs that that are within your ability to play. This makes practice more enjoyable. Just make sure to pick songs that aren’t too easy if you want to improve your skills in the process.
5. Focus on technique: It’s always worth using the right playing techniques from the very beginning. If you start playing with the wrong technique, it can be difficult to correct it later.
6. Let the internet help you: There are countless online resources and music learning apps, like Yousician and its interactive gameplay, that can level up your playing.
7. Take care of your hands: Remember to warm up and stretch your hands to prevent injuries. Take breaks during your practice sessions to give yourself some time to recover.
8. Be patient and keep at it: Progress takes time, so it’s important to stay patient and persistent. Remember that all your idols started playing guitar as a beginner at some point!

Get better at playing guitar with Yousician

Learning to play the guitar is a journey that should be fun. Yousician’s beginner guitar lessons and interactive gameplay for all skill levels help you stay motivated while improving your playing. Explore Yousician’s extensive library of exercises and songs to reach your guitar-playing goals. Enjoy the learning process with real-time feedback from the app.

Try Yousician for free on your computer or iOS and Android devices!