How Long Does It Take To Learn Guitar - The 6 Stages (2019)

So how long does it take to learn guitar? Well here I break it down in to 6 stages based on the research I have done. No one size fits all but milestones are a great way to set goals.

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Hi I’m Luke and If you don’t know my channel is all about sharing my midlife beginner guitar journey with you.

Along the way I show my progress or lack thereof! and look to pass on tips along the way that I learn or read about to share with those of you who are going through a similar journey.

I find that YouTube has a lot of experienced guitarists telling us how to play which is great but nothing I can really relate to as a beginner.

So I want to change this and show what it is like following an online course as a beginner.

Hopefully, this will encourage you to pick up and play the guitar, whether its one that has been sitting in the back of your closet or the new one you are about to buy.

So, subscribe and become part of a community of beginner guitarists looking to have fun and enjoy the journey.

It would be fantastic to hear from you along the way, so reach out and share your experiences with me.

Cheers

Luke

[MidlifeGuitar]

We all learn at a different pace, so remember that it is about the journey and not the destination.

[carlhaggard]

I think the most beneficial is being able to play songs songs that you like because then you show your friends and family and it gives you a sense of accomplishment

[dromeus]

Stage 2 is when you're constantly wondering if you ever gonna make it to stage 3

[jamespowers]

I've been playing guitar since I was 10. That was 62 years ago. Through my teen years I played several hours a day. Throughout my adult life at least an hour a day. I'm intermediate at best. But, I never tried to arrive, it's been all about the process. I enjoy it so much it was worth it regardless. And I got to spend a lot of money trying to buy talent down at the local guitar shop.

[A.K.A.ME.]

Stage 7 : develop your own unique recognizable playing style based of your taste and knowledge of music. 15.000 +

[lancerains]

Anyone that asks how long it takes to learn to play guitar is not cut out for it they are only seeking instinct gratification... On the other hand if you are fascinated by just a single ringing note And satisfied with that initially you are truly on your way..

[cliffshepard]

I just started - 3 lessons down - and am 61. Have a good teacher but really wonder whether my fingers and brain will ever be on the same page and how long that will take. Glad I found your channel since it exactly describes my situation - Midlife (well a little past) Guitar. I’ll have to supplement with Justin’s course to compare and contrast with my teacher.

[darrylbrooks]

The chart on your blog at the same time gave me hope, because at 200-300 hrs, I shouldn't be any better than I am, but scared the crap out of me because it's going to be 3 years before I get where I wanted to be next week.

Good work,

[okflyer]

Interesting how we think of time & effort invested into skill development. I think in terms of years - maybe even decades spent toward full mastery of highly complex processes and skills. I also believe in quality practice time which absolutely requires some kind of teaching. Practice right, keep short term goals and stay consistent and well guided.
I just finished Justin’s beginner stage 3. Highly recommend it, especially his app which is very well developed.

[Ryan]

I began on my own, bright a guitar as soon as I knew we were all going to be in quarantine for a while and began to work from a chord chart that it came with. Then as I began to learn more chords, I began to play songs I liked. The Eagles, John maloncamp and the like. I learned one queen song and I get my first brake through, changing chords quickly, then grew a lot in the space of a year. I had lessons on and off and mostly that was music theory, writing and I even wrote a few basic not terrible songs. And now at one year, I’m a little lost. I have some scale shapes down, some connections down, I can hear things and play them for the most part, and I have a bunch of chords. Triads, arpeggios and some aspects of technique such as finger style elude me. So at one year, reflecting. My practicing wasn’t as diligent as I would have liked, an adult with a day job why would it? My learning[recess was organic and scattered for the most part which isn’t ideal. Now I’m positively itching to play with others, maybe in a band one day. Really have some fun. And I’m not there yet. I don’t know whether you’re call that intermediate or beginner. Or somewhere in between. Everyone you ask has something different to say… there were times where I’d learn something and I wasn’t even playing, I’d be driving and suddenly out of nowhere he Nashville numbering system just clicked and my tiny mind would be blown. Same happened with Barr chords and movable chord shapes.

[horsemanoftheapocalapse]

I have played guitar for 40 years. I am an intermediate player. It takes a long time to get to the next level. I am back playing 20 hours a week. I spend an hour a day playing classical, sight reading etc. I spend an hour a day with a metronome playing scales, arpeggios in various keys. I spend a few hours every few days learning new songs and improving old ones. I currently practice scales etc at 40 to 50 bpm 4 notes per beat. I hope to reach 120 bpm at end of the year. I try and play every note perfectly. I am writing my own songs and lead solos following the chord progressions. I hope to to be an advanced player in a few years. For me these are realistic goals

[poewitx]

Ok let’s see... my present age, the amount of hours I’ll require to be intermediate..., well I probably won’t live that long🎸

[dwangs]

biggest benefit ive had playing guitar on and off over the past 15 years is finding the right teacher and 1-1 lessons the difference this can make to your playing is incredible although does come at a significant cost most people cant afford 1 lesson a week at say anywhere from £25-£45 an hour. I my self have two 1 hour lessons a month which is a luxury i have only been able to enjoy in the last 6 months after years of crap jobs. The amount my skill level has went up in 6 months has been a huge shock as i spent years struggling on my own and getting nowhere fast. The problem with learning is everyone learns differently and by far the hardest part is finding what works best for you.

[hencodelange]

Join a band, you'll progress faster than you ever have just because of the fear of "messing up"

[redmed]

Perhaps the main trick is to try stick to something when you are not enjoying it. It's easy to enjoy and do something when it comes easy. Barre chords are the first big barrier that people come to. That can take months if not years to get it really correct. That takes mental strength or perseverance whichever word you want to put for it. Like you say you have to concentrate on your weaknesses not ignore them.

[Smashachu]

There's alot of wisdom in the idea that the things that make you feel uncomfortable are the things that we have the most potential to grow and improve.

[RaulpkmetinUK]

It took me 20 seconds to learn how to hold the guitar not 300 hours

[gr]

Hi, I’ve been taking lots of online courses, I own probably about 300 of them. The course that helped me progress the fastest, indeed the best structured and clearest course, was the Fretlive Fretboard Mastery Programme by Pow music. It is not cheap but it is worth every penny. It is like a college guitar course, with homework that must be submitted. This aspect made me more accountable and pushed me to focus more in my practice. The live diagrammes showing where I had to put my fingers were priceless. I recommend the version which includes online lessons, as it really makes you feel like a college student and part of a community. Good luck, Gaetano

[LLO]

By the 3rd snap I snapped, can't watch this video with those ques. Don't like feeling hypnotized.

[jeromeleoterry]

I started off using Marty Schwartz beginner lessons, moved onto Andy Guitar, and then Justin Guitar. I did Justin’s Beginner and Intermediate courses, and attempted the blues module. That’s where I got stuck since I had not developed the hammer ons, pull offs and string bends. That was about 11 months in, so I decided to get myself a guitar teacher. Been taking lessons for the last 4 months working on blues fundamentals. I supplement all this with dozens of books, attempting to learn songs I like such as One by Metallica, or doing various one off lessons as they come up on YouTube that strike my fancy. I play every day, and I try to work on my weakest skills, and I have some practice routines I do and work on polishing songs, and learning new skills.

Been a fun 15 months, and I still have a long way to go. But I really enjoy it so I don’t see me stopping any time soon