BF2S Forums Is it easy to learn guitar?

Ryan wrote:

I'm thinking about getting guitar hero 3 for my birthday, and if I like it, I might even get a real electric guitar and learn to play. I know GH3 isn't like playing an actual guitar, but it's a good way to start.

You will learn absoloutly NOTHING about playing the Guitar from GH3, it may however help you get some inspiration but you won't learn anything from Guitar Hero that you won't learn from watching a guitarist you like on TV.

Ryan wrote:

I know FFLink started playing guitar awhile ago, and I think he's getting to be pretty good. My question is, how long does it take to learn guitar and actually play songs? I know that guitar is a lifelong thing and takes many years to master.

This depends on how keen you are. I first picked up a guitar six years ago and was immediatly hooked. Just now I've been playing for nearly four hours straight, (with breaks to get food or type stuff here,) and I like to think that I'm pretty good at the style of guitar I play.
However to get good enough to just play a few simple songs you like doesn't take long at all. If you learn the basic chords, a few alterations and 5 chords you should be able to put together a decent repertoir with that alone. Start small, my first song o the guitar was a two-chord version of the chorus of "Yellow Submarine", (A and E chords if you're interested.) Also learn to read tabs, the internet is a great resource for a guitar player.

Ryan wrote:

I play the drums, so I have some coordination and musical experience, but I taught myself to play the drums. I'm not very good at reading music, and I know I'll have to read music if I want to learn guitar properly.

I started guitar after eight years of playing the piano. I could read music, but only very very slowly, I think I've lost all of that skill now. I had a guitar teacher a while ago, he said if you want to be an accountant learn to read tabs but if you want to be a guitarist learn to read music. I liked my guitar teacher but that's bullshit, you don't need to know how to read music in order to become a guitar player, even a good one you just need to be keen.

Ryan wrote:

I've always wanted to play the guitar, but found it to look very confusing and fast paced. That's why I steered away from it and got into drums instead, but after listening to so many great guitarists, I really want to get into this instrument.

Sounds like you listen to metal. That's not my thing to be honest, but to get into this style of guitar it's good to just focus on generic rock songs first, easy stuff. Then when you're ready try learning some older rock songs, you know the ones with great lead breaks. "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd is a good one because it's based around the penatonic scale, (you'll pick this up easy when you're ready,) so it's fairly easy to learn but it can require some demanding finger speed at times. From there just work up until you're ready to fuckin' shread the fretboard.

Just use Tab. Takes a couple years before you will feel good playing. Well worth it if you stay with it.
I use to be able to play most of the Rust in Peace Album, I stopped playing for a couple years or so, now I forgot about 95% of everything I ever knew how to play... If you start don't stop!

Practice for at least an hour or two every day.

I have been playing guitar for nearly 20 years. I suck at GH3. There is a night and day difference, please do not base a chance on talent for guitar, on GH3.

If you are serious about seeing if you have a chance to play, there are decent start up kits for around $100.00, US. Or, find a friend that may let you goof around for a few days, and maybe show you a few cords. I played the first five years reading tab, and playing metal, then got myself in a slump. Decided to get serious, learn some jazz, and read music. World of difference now.

Again, there is no comparison in real guitar and GH3. I am much better playing GH3 with the controllor rather than the guitar. I really think it would be easier to play real guitar, and learn GH3, then it would be to master GH3, then try to learn real guitar.

You certainly never need to learn to read music; bloody waste of time unless you plan to be a ' gun for hire '.

The hardest part about learning to play is the discipline to ignore the pain on the finger tips and to stay with it when it gets boring.

it gets allot better once ur finger tips turn hard

Im_Dooomed wrote:

Just listen to Tools 46 & 2 and think about playing THAT intro. Sounds so awesome

Fucking love tool. They're the reason I picked up a guitar years ago. Their stuff is extremely easy to play, but it ROCKS.

Edit: Oh yeah, thread relevant content:

Guitar is easy to learn, that is, as long as you can put in a couple hours every day. I'm placing my last guitar on Ebay right now(lol coincidence) cause I'll never achieve the skill level I desire as I don't have the motivation that's necessary.

Last edited by Volatile (2008-01-09 21:09:57)

I dunno, I started when I was like 12, 5 years later, and I'm still not that great.

I started on air guitar... moved up through all the guitar hero series... and then switched to acoustic then electric....lol

seriously though... guitar is easy to learn...but it takes awhile to get really good... depends on how much you want to be a good guitarist...?
I started playing in 1978... and it got me through high school.... many many hours of trying to figure out songs...  this was back before computers existed...lol...  (j/k...i know computers were around then... you know what i mean)

we used to listen to cassette tapes and slow them down... to figure out leads and hard parts...

My theory is...there are people who want to learn how to play songs on a guitar...and those who actually want to learn guitar.

If you wanna be able to strum a few chords to impress a few people (Non-Guitarists) that will take you maybe a couple of a months to a year to do that (Self-taught).

If you wanna learn guitar....as in memorize Chords, Scales, Modes, etc. And being able to play melodically from the ideas in your head to your hands. THAT will take much longer....in fact, i think you can practice your whole life and still never master the instrument completely.

Learning anything, especially music...its success depends on how much time and dedication you are willing to put into it. Talent has a fairly large role to play in the terms of success. But at the end of the day, it's how passionate you are and what kind of practice regiment you commit to.

DonFck wrote:

TrueMusou wrote:

If you wanna learn guitar....as in memorize Chords, Scales, Modes, etc. And being able to play melodically from the ideas in your head to your hands. THAT will take much longer....in fact, i think you can practice your whole life and still never master the instrument completely.

Going through a basic blues scale unplugged over and over again is good practise while E.g. watching TV. Or so I've heard

I've learned by ear, some theory naturally, but mostly by ear. Developed my own style, which I actually even get credited for in my band. However, I'm sure I'd be way better if I took the time to read and memorize stuff more.

Yea, pentatonic and blues scales are excellent place to begin learning lead playing. However, like you probably discovered it takes experience to be able to phrase the notes to something that sounds attractive and in key. To take this path in guitar playing vs. playing the Smoke In The Water riff over and over again is completely different.

I'm no expert, I've been self-taught for a little over a year. But I found enough resource that is leading me the right way in my playing.

With that said: the Guitar is a fairly easy instrument to learn, however to get a true grip of the instrument's potential is not easy at all.
I recommend you take it up...but not to be another poser with an ax. We don't need any more of those. It's a very satisfying instrument.