{"id":45529,"date":"2025-05-22T15:34:48","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T14:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/?p=45529"},"modified":"2025-05-22T15:48:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T14:48:48","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner&#8217;s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#In_a_hurry\" >In a hurry?\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Before_you_start%E2%80%A6\" >Before you start&#8230; \u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#How_long_does_it_take_to_learn_guitar\" >How long does it take to learn guitar?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Basic_level_1_%E2%80%93_6_months\" >Basic level (1 &#8211; 6 months)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Intermediate_level_6_months_%E2%80%93_2_years\" >Intermediate level (6 months &#8211; 2 years)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Advanced_level_2_%E2%80%93_5_years\" >Advanced level (2 &#8211; 5 years)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Professional_level_5_years\" >Professional level (5+ years)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Our_tips_for_learning_guitar\" >Our tips for learning guitar<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#1_Take_your_time\" >1. Take your time\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#2_Stick_to_a_schedule\" >2. Stick to a schedule \u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#3_Stay_passionate\" >3. Stay passionate<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#4_Get_experimental\" >4. Get experimental\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#5_Play_along_with_others\" >5. Play along with others \u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#How_to_organise_your_practice_session\" >How to organise your practice session\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#What_is_the_10000-hour_rule\" >What is the 10,000-hour rule? \u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Breaks_are_important\" >Breaks are important!\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Recommended_beginner_guitars\" >Recommended beginner guitars\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Single_Cutaway_Acoustic_Guitar_by_Gear4music_Natural\" >Single Cutaway Acoustic Guitar by Gear4music, Natural\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Tanglewood_TWBB_OE_Blackbird_Folk_Electro_Acoustic\" >Tanglewood TWBB OE Blackbird Folk Electro Acoustic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Yamaha_F310_Acoustic_Tobacco_Brown_Sunburst\" >Yamaha F310 Acoustic, Tobacco Brown Sunburst\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#FAQs\" >FAQs\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Can_I_learn_guitar_in_3_months\" >Can I learn guitar in 3 months?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Is_30_too_late_to_learn_guitar\" >Is 30 too late to learn guitar? \u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Can_you_self-teach_guitar\" >Can you self-teach guitar?\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#Final_thoughts\" >Final thoughts\u00a0 \u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Intro&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So, you\u2019re eager to learn <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/guitar.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guitar<\/a><\/strong> and want to know how long it&#8217;ll take until you can call yourself a <em>guitarist<\/em>. As much as I\u2019d love to tell you that you\u2019ll be playing like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/jimi-hendrix-guitars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Jimi Hendrix<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> within a week, the reality is quite different. Learning guitar requires a great deal of dedication, focus, and time.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By the end of this article, you\u2019ll have a solid idea of <strong>how long learning guitar really takes<\/strong>. I\u2019ll cover everything, from how long beginners tend to spend mastering the basics, such as one-string riffs and open chords, to the countless hours you\u2019ll spend on advanced techniques.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you come away with one thing from this guide, let it be the knowledge that there&#8217;s no strict rule. The time it takes to learn guitar differs for everyone, and you can never learn <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">everything <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">there is to know \u2013 playing guitar is a constantly evolving art.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/07\/Secondhand-Guitars.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Secondhand Guitars&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Secondhand-Guitars&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/secondhand\/guitars?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=secondhand_guitars&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Secondhand Guitars Banner&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_module=&#8221;41670&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;In a hurry?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"In_a_hurry\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">In a hurry?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So eager to learn that you haven\u2019t got time to read the whole article? Here\u2019s a breakdown of the key skills and the estimated time it\u2019ll take to master them.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\"> \n<table id=\"tablepress-334\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-334\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Ability Level<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Examples of Skills<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Overall Time <\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Daily Practice Time<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Beginner<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Open chords\u00a0<br \/>\nBasic scales\u00a0<br \/>\nOne string riffs<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1 - 6 months<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">30 mins \u2013 1 hour<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Intermediate<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Barre chords\u00a0<br \/>\nAlternate picking\u00a0<br \/>\nHammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides\u00a0<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">6 months - 2 years<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">1 \u2013 1.5 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Advanced<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Sweep picking\u00a0\u00a0<br \/>\nHybrid picking\u00a0<br \/>\nPinch harmonics\u00a0<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">2 - 5 years<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">1.5 \u2013 2 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Pro<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Mastery over a range of playing styles\u00a0<br \/>\nConfidence in improvising in any key\u00a0<br \/>\nThorough theoretical knowledge\u00a0\u00a0<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">5+ years<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">2 \u2013 4 hours daily<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-334 from cache --><\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/guitar.html&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP GUITARS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Before you start&#8230;  &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Before_you_start%E2%80%A6\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Before you start&#8230; <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-45625\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Yamaha F310 Acoustic\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>There are a few things to hammer out before picking up your guitar. First, you\u2019ll want to define what exactly your goal is. Is learning the guitar a fun hobby on the side? Or is it part of professional ambitions to play in a band? Maybe a guitar has randomly made its way into your hands, and you feel compelled to give it a whirl.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Whatever your reasons, your goals will help you map out a time and suitable practice methods, which leads me on to my next point: <em>how <\/em>will you learn? With a vague idea of how much time you\u2019ll need to dedicate each day, you can find the right resources. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can find a tonne of content online via <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">YouTube<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and websites such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Jazz Guitar Online<\/span><\/b><\/a> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">(one of my personal favourites), but if you want super-tailored teaching, it&#8217;s a good idea to invest in a personal tutor. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Learning from resources online is great if your schedule changes regularly. Say you can only practise in the early hours of the morning or late at night, I doubt a personal tutor will be able to facilitate lessons. Using YouTube or online resources lets you learn anywhere, anytime, and at a much cheaper cost. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you have an idea of time frame and practice preferences, you can start looking at the actual skills you\u2019ll need to learn along your journey\u2026 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;How long does it take to learn guitar?&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_to_learn_guitar\"><\/span>How long does it take to learn guitar?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Basic_level_1_%E2%80%93_6_months\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Basic level (1 &#8211; 6 months)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-45627\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Parlour Left Handed Electro Acoustic Guitar by Gear4music, Black\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Key skills<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Accurate fretting\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Open chords\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One-string riffs\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It can take up to six months to become truly proficient at basic guitar skills if you were to practise 30 minutes to an hour every day.<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The ability to fret accurately is crucial to every aspect of guitar-playing. While it might seem tedious, learning scales and getting to know where notes are located on the fretboard will lay the foundation for pretty much everything you\u2019ll ever play. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A common learning curve at the beginning of every guitarist\u2019s journey is simply getting used to pressing down on the frets with enough precision and power to avoid the nasty note-killing buzz. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you\u2019re used to the feel and you can fret with a degree of confidence, you can take your fingers to more awkward positions by practising open chords (chords that use one or more open strings). I recommend E major, D major, and G major to begin with. O<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nce you\u2019re used to these chords, they&#8217;ll feel like second nature. These basic open chords will also let you take on some<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/easy-country-songs-to-learn-on-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> easy country songs.<\/span><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You&#8217;ll also learn how to lay down some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/easy-guitar-riffs-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">easy riffs<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. \u201cSmoke on the Water\u201d by Deep Purple, \u201cSeven Nation Army\u201d by The White Stripes, and \u201cIron Man\u201d by Black Sabbath are all great places to start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Intermediate_level_6_months_%E2%80%93_2_years\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Intermediate level (6 months &#8211; 2 years)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-45626\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Parlour Guitar by Gear4music, Natural\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Key skills<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Barre chords\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Slides, pull-offs, hammer-ons\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alternate picking\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>At an intermediate level, you&#8217;ll start creating a style of your own; this can take up to two years with 1 &#8211; 1.5 hours&#8217; daily practice.<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alternate picking and barre chords open the door to more complex songs than you would have learnt at the entry-level stage.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Barre chords involve using one finger like a capo, pressing down on multiple strings while your other fingers shape the other notes of the chord. It can be tricky to master, but once you find the sweet spot on the barring finger, you\u2019ll have a whole wealth of chords at your fingertips (literally). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One of the best methods I\u2019ve found when learning barre chords is to play along to a song that uses them. A particularly good example is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/tabs.ultimate-guitar.com\/tab\/eagles\/hotel-california-chords-1092238\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cHotel California\u201d by The Eagles<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Other intermediate skills, such as alternate picking, slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs, all improve your lead playing, unlike rhythm-focused barre chords. Getting these skills down really lets you spice up your solos, riffs, and licks, making for expressive, fluid playing across the fretboard. After you\u2019ve got the basics, these skills shouldn\u2019t take too long if you practise consistently. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Advanced_level_2_%E2%80%93_5_years\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Advanced level (2 &#8211; 5 years)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-23736\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"A beginner guitarist playing a Taylor acoustic guitar\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Key skills<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sweep picking\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pinch harmonics\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hybrid picking\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Every new guitarist has heard these techniques and dreamt of the day they\u2019d be able to pull them off. Sweep picking, heard in most metal tracks, involves what it says on the tin. You sweep your pick up and down the strings in a fast and fluid motion, often following an arpeggio pattern to achieve a superhuman level of speed. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Likewise, hybrid picking is about playing a flurry of notes to achieve a fast and fluid sound. This one\u2019s often heard in country music &#8211; listening to legends like Chet Atkins and Albert Lee will give you a good grasp of what this technique should sound like. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nailing these picking styles takes a high level of correspondence between your fretting and your picking hand. It\u2019ll take more than a few years to get them on lock. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pinch harmonics make your guitar squeal, and they require a feel for the guitar that can only be achieved after hours upon hours of playing. To play pinch harmonics, pick the string in a downstroke motion and immediately follow by lightly grazing the string with your thumb.\u00a0 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Professional_level_5_years\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Professional level (5+ years)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-39547\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Live guitarist\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-1280x1280.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Key skills\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mastery over a range of playing styles<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Confidence in improvising in any key<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Thorough theoretical knowledge\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Reaching a professional level of guitar playing means you\u2019ll be able to make a career out of what you love, whether that\u2019s as a session musician, a solo artist, or a tutor. Reaching these heights doesn\u2019t happen overnight; it takes years of practice and commitment. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When you\u2019re playing at a professional level, you\u2019ll be able to adapt to different playing styles easily, like speaking different languages. While you might excel at one genre more than others, you\u2019ll be able to let rip and match rhythm at a moment\u2019s notice &#8211; this is what makes session musicians so valuable! <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What\u2019s more, as a pro, you\u2019ll be confident when it comes to composing your own work in the studio or improvising during live performances \u2013 legends like Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour are just two great improvisers when it comes to conjuring legendary leads on the fly. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You\u2019ll have no problem knocking out a mean solo out of the blue or adapting to any key on demand. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Many professionals (most definitely tutors and session musicians) also have a deep understanding of music theory. While it&#8217;s not necessarily essential, theoretical knowledge can be very<em>\u00a0<\/em>useful.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Our tips for learning guitar&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Our_tips_for_learning_guitar\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Our tips for learning guitar<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Take_your_time\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">1. Take your time<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As much as you might want to reach the pinnacle of guitar playing within a week, good things take time. It\u2019s important not to rush your way through the many skills that come with learning guitar. Start slow and get a complete grasp on those techniques before speeding things up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Stick_to_a_schedule\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">2. Stick to a schedule <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Whether it\u2019s a rough sketch or a detailed timetable, it\u2019s super helpful to keep to a schedule when learning guitar. Knowing that you\u2019ve got time to practise is half the battle when it comes to learning, so planning when those practice sessions can be will keep you motivated.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Stay_passionate\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">3. Stay passionate<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>What&#8217;s your reason for learning the guitar? As recommended earlier, setting out your goals will help you structure your practice and get you to where you want to be. It&#8217;s also a good idea to consistently visualise these goals to keep the fire burning when things get difficult!<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Putting too much pressure on yourself can make you lose sight of your love for the guitar. Just listening to your favourite artists or playing your favourite pieces is enough to keep that spark ignited.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Get_experimental\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">4. Get experimental<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I get it, you might have a specific style that you want to achieve. I used to be guilty of playing nothing but blues. However, it can be really helpful to explore different genres and tones. This helps you diversify your style and unlock new techniques. So, try that whacky pedal, master the Phrygian scale, and alternate your tuning! <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Play_along_with_others\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">5. Play along with others <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Solitary practice sessions are great when you\u2019re just starting out, but when you get to the intermediate or advanced levels, it\u2019s important to play with others, whether that\u2019s in person or playing along to backing tracks. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not only does this expose you to different styles, but it also gets you used to rhythm and timing. Most of the time, music is a collective endeavour, so playing with others is bound to happen at some point. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;How to organise your practice session &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_organise_your_practice_session\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">How to organise your practice session\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Organising your practice session effectively makes learning much easier. First, you&#8217;ll want to warm up. It\u2019s up to you how you do this. I like to improvise and play whatever I feel like in the moment, running through my favourite chords or lead lines. Playing something you\u2019re super familiar with is also a good warm-up. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You should then practise a few scales and strumming patterns as a short extra warm-up. Then, you&#8217;re ready to move on to the pieces of material you want to practice. If it&#8217;s super technical, it helps to break the technique or piece of music down into smaller chunks, <span data-contrast=\"auto\">e.g. if you\u2019re learning sweep picking, start with the motion of one hand, go slowly, and gradually match up the motion of both hands in time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Repeat things over again to really hone the skill. And don&#8217;t put too much pressure on yourself to get things perfect in just one practice session.<\/p>\n<p>At the end, play a song you love. It doesn&#8217;t have to be difficult, just something that you enjoy and keeps you passionate about learning the guitar.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-37118 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar.jpg\" alt=\"A female guitarist playing the Sunburst LA Electric Guitar\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;What is the 10,000-hour rule?  &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_10000-hour_rule\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is the 10,000-hour rule? <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Playing guitar, like many other hobbies and skills, is said to be subject to the &#8220;10,000-hour rule&#8221;. The rule states that it takes around 10,000 hours to become an expert in a field. It comes from the work of psychologist K. Anders Ericsson and his research on &#8220;deliberate practice,&#8221; where he studied expert violinists and found that their talent came from over 10,000 hours of practice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yes, you read that right\u2026 Following this rule, to become a professional guitarist, you\u2019d have to practice for approximately 10,000 hours. That\u2019s 417 days\u2019 worth of hours or three hours a day for 3,333 days, which sounds incredibly daunting at first. <\/span><\/p>\n<p>However, we use the term &#8220;rule&#8221; very lightly. There is nothing to say that practising for 10,000 hours and becoming a master guitarist are directly linked; you could play for 10,000 hours but repeat the same thing over and over again. However, we can infer that the more you play, the more proficient you&#8217;ll be.<\/p>\n<p>What really matters, though, is the quality of the practice and ensuring that you&#8217;re challenging yourself and learning efficiently. Plus<span data-contrast=\"auto\">, when you\u2019ve been playing for long enough, you tend to lose track of how long you\u2019ve been playing for. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Breaks are important! &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Breaks_are_important\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Breaks are important!\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I\u2019ve said it before, and I\u2019ll say it again &#8211; don\u2019t try and do everything at once. Take your time, be patient with yourself and accept that some skills, songs, and techniques simply take longer to master than others. Giving yourself adequate breaks ensures you properly rest between sessions. Trying the same thing repeatedly without success can be incredibly frustrating, and coming back with a fresh mindset might be all you need. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Practising for hours at a time is not only physically taxing on your fingers and wrists, but also on your ears and mind. Returning to whatever it is you\u2019re learning after a break offers a chance to reset and regain control, and you\u2019ll often find things much easier after a period of processing and reflection. The city of rock \u2018n\u2019 roll wasn\u2019t built in a day. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-35222 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding.jpg\" alt=\"Featured image - Best Guitars for Shredding\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Recommended beginner guitars &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recommended_beginner_guitars\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Recommended beginner guitars<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now that you know how long it takes to learn guitar, it\u2019s time to start looking for a beginner guitar that suits you.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_3,1_3,1_3&#8243; make_equal=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f3f3f3&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Single Cutaway Acoustic Guitar by Gear4music, Natural &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; link_option_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural\/1IFM&#8221; link_option_url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Single_Cutaway_Acoustic_Guitar_by_Gear4music_Natural\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Single Cutaway Acoustic Guitar by Gear4music, Natural<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45633 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Single Cutaway Acoustic Guitar by Gear4music, Natural\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cutaway body<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Poplar laminate fretboard<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">C-shaped neck<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Basswood construction\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Affordable\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural\/1IFM&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP NOW&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Tanglewood TWBB OE Blackbird Folk Electro Acoustic, Smoke Black Satin &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; link_option_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin\/3BVP&#8221; link_option_url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tanglewood_TWBB_OE_Blackbird_Folk_Electro_Acoustic\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Tanglewood TWBB OE Blackbird Folk Electro Acoustic<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45634 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Tanglewood TWBB OE Blackbird Folk Electro Acoustic, Smoke Black Satin\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin-1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin-980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin-480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Premium Plus electronics<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Orchestra body\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Satin finish\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">All mahogany<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Chrome hardware<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin\/3BVP&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP NOW&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Yamaha F310 Acoustic, Tobacco Brown Sunburst &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; link_option_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst\/3VAJ&#8221; link_option_url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-45928375-1fd3-4d7e-b1f0-0adee316b54f%22:%91%22border_color_top%22%93}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Yamaha_F310_Acoustic_Tobacco_Brown_Sunburst\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Yamaha F310 Acoustic, Tobacco Brown Sunburst<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45635 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst--300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Yamaha F310 Acoustic, Tobacco Brown Sunburst\u00a0\u00a0\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst--300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst--1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst--600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst--768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst--1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst--980x980.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst--480x480.jpg 480w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst-.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Spruce top, meranti body<\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ultra-thin lacquer finish<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dreadnought body<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rosewood fingerboard\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Affordable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst\/3VAJ&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP NOW&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;FAQs &#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">FAQs\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_I_learn_guitar_in_3_months\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Can I learn guitar in 3 months?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can learn basic guitar techniques and songs within three months if you practise consistently and develop an effective learning strategy. While there are tonnes to learn on guitar that can\u2019t be conquered in three months, you can achieve some of the basics. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_30_too_late_to_learn_guitar\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Is 30 too late to learn guitar? <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It&#8217;s never too late to learn an instrument, and the guitar is no exception. Picking up a guitar at 30 can actually be really beneficial. It\u2019s a great distraction from everyday stress, it&#8217;s fun and creative (something as adults we might not get to enjoy often), and there\u2019s always something new to learn. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_you_self-teach_guitar\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Can you self-teach guitar?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:80,&quot;335559739&quot;:40,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s definitely possible to teach yourself guitar &#8211; many of the most acclaimed guitarists to ever exist have been self-taught, such as Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain. What\u2019s more, today there\u2019s an abundance of resources online to support self-learning, one YouTube search will take you down a rabbit hole of guitar lessons that you can use. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Final thoughts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thoughts\"><\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Final thoughts\u00a0 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hopefully, this article has given you an idea of <strong>how long it takes to learn the guitar<\/strong>. While it\u2019s possible to make rough estimates of the time it takes to reach milestones, it\u2019s important to remember that every guitarist is different and your journey will be totally unique. There\u2019s always something new to learn, and if you think you\u2019ve got everything on lock, try inventing your own tone or technique.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/guitar.html&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP GUITARS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/category\/guitars-bass\/guitar-guides\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;READ MORE GUITAR GUIDES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By the end of this article, you\u2019ll have a solid idea of how long learning guitar really takes. I\u2019ll cover everything, from how long beginners tend to spend mastering the basics, such as one-string riffs and open chords, to the countless hours you\u2019ll spend on advanced techniques.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":63,"featured_media":45624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So, you\u2019re eager to learn guitar and want to know how long it'll take until you can call yourself a <em>guitarist<\/em>. As much as I\u2019d love to tell you that you\u2019ll be playing like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/jimi-hendrix-guitars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Jimi Hendrix<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> within a week, the reality is quite different. Learning guitar requires a great deal of dedication, focus, and time.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By the end of this article, you\u2019ll have a solid idea of <strong>how long learning guitar really takes<\/strong>. I\u2019ll cover everything, from how long beginners tend to spend mastering the basics, such as one-string riffs and open chords, to the countless hours you\u2019ll spend on advanced techniques.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you come away with one thing from this guide, let it be the knowledge that there's no strict rule. The time it takes to learn guitar differs for everyone, and you can never learn <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">everything <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">there is to know \u2013 playing guitar is a constantly evolving art.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">In a hurry?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So eager to learn that you haven\u2019t got time to read the whole article? Here\u2019s a breakdown of the key skills and the estimated time it\u2019ll take to master them.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\"> [table id=334 \/]<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Before you start... <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-45625\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Yamaha F310 Acoustic\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>There are a few things to hammer out before picking up your guitar. First, you\u2019ll want to define what exactly your goal is. Is learning the guitar a fun hobby on the side? Or is it part of professional ambitions to play in a band? Maybe a guitar has randomly made its way into your hands, and you feel compelled to give it a whirl.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Whatever your reasons, your goals help you map out a time and suitable practice methods, which leads me on to my next point: <em>how <\/em>will you learn? With a vague idea of how much time you\u2019ll need to dedicate to practice each day, you can find the right resources. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can find a tonne of content online via <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">YouTube<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and websites such as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jazzguitar.be\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Jazz Guitar Online<\/span><\/b><\/a> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">(one of my personal favourites), but if you want super-tailored teaching, it's a good idea to invest in a personal tutor. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Learning from resources online is great if your schedule changes regularly. Say you can only practise in the early hours of the morning or late at night, I doubt a personal tutor will be able to facilitate lessons. Using YouTube or online resources lets you learn anywhere, anytime, and at a much cheaper cost. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you have an idea of time frame and practice preferences, you can start looking at the actual skills you\u2019ll need to learn along your journey\u2026 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h3>How long does it take to learn guitar?<\/h3><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Basic level (1 - 6 months)<\/span><\/h4><p><strong><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-45627\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Left-Handed-Electro-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Black-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Parlour Left Handed Electro Acoustic Guitar by Gear4music, Black\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>Key skills<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Accurate fretting\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Open chords\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One-string riffs\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>It can take up to six months to become truly proficient at basic guitar skills if you were to practise 30 minutes to an hour every day.<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The ability to fret accurately is crucial to every aspect of guitar-playing. While it might seem tedious, learning scales and getting to know where notes are located on the fretboard will lay the foundation for pretty much everything you\u2019ll ever play. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A common learning curve at the beginning of every guitarist\u2019s journey is simply getting used to pressing down on the frets with enough precision and power to avoid the nasty note-killing buzz. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you\u2019re used to the feel and you can fret with a degree of confidence, you can take your fingers to more awkward positions by practising open chords (chords that use one or more open strings). I recommend E major, D major, and G major to begin with. O<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">nce you\u2019re used to these chords, they'll feel like second nature. These basic open chords will also let you take on some<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/easy-country-songs-to-learn-on-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> easy country songs.<\/span><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You'll also learn how to lay down some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/easy-guitar-riffs-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">easy riffs<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. \u201cSmoke on the Water\u201d by Deep Purple, \u201cSeven Nation Army\u201d by The White Stripes, and \u201cIron Man\u201d by Black Sabbath are all great places to start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Intermediate level (6 months - 2 years)<\/span><\/h4><p><strong><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-45626\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Parlour-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Parlour Guitar by Gear4music, Natural\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>Key skills<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Barre chords\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Slides, pull-offs, hammer-ons\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alternate picking\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>At an intermediate level, you'll start creating a style of your own; this can take up to two years with 1 - 1.5 hours' daily practice.<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Alternate picking and barre chords open the door to more complex songs than you would have learnt at the entry-level stage.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Barre chords involve using one finger like a capo, pressing down on multiple strings while your other fingers shape the other notes of the chord. It can be tricky to master, but once you find the sweet spot on the barring finger, you\u2019ll have a whole wealth of chords at your fingertips (literally). <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One of the best methods I\u2019ve found when learning barre chords is to play along to a song that uses them. A particularly good example is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/tabs.ultimate-guitar.com\/tab\/eagles\/hotel-california-chords-1092238\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u201cHotel California\u201d by The Eagles<\/span><\/b><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Other intermediate skills, such as alternate picking, slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs, all improve your lead playing, unlike rhythm-focused barre chords. Getting these skills down really lets you spice up your solos, riffs, and licks, making for expressive, fluid playing across the fretboard. After you\u2019ve got the basics, these skills shouldn\u2019t take too long if you practice consistently. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Advanced level (2 - 5 years)<\/span><\/h4><p><strong><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-23736\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2023\/02\/A-beginner-guitarist-playing-a-Taylor-acoustic-guitar-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"A beginner guitarist playing a Taylor acoustic guitar\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>Key skills<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sweep picking\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pinch harmonics\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hybrid picking\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Every new guitarist has heard these techniques and dreamt of the day they\u2019d be able to pull them off. Sweep picking, heard in most metal tracks, involves what it says on the tin. You sweep your pick up and down the strings in a fast and fluid motion, often following an arpeggio pattern to achieve a superhuman level of speed. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Likewise, hybrid picking is about playing a flurry of notes to achieve a fast and fluid sound. This one\u2019s often heard in country music - listening to legends like Chet Atkins and Albert Lee will give you a good grasp of what this technique should sound like. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Nailing these picking styles takes a high level of correspondence between your fretting and your picking hand. It\u2019ll take more than a few years to get them on lock. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Pinch harmonics make your guitar squeal, and they require a feel for the guitar that can only be achieved after hours upon hours of playing. To play pinch harmonics, pick the string in a downstroke motion and immediately follow by lightly grazing the string with your thumb.\u00a0 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Professional level (5+ years)<\/span><\/h4><p><strong><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-39547\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/09\/Live-guitarist-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Live guitarist\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/>Key skills\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Mastery over a range of playing styles<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Confidence in improvising in any key<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Thorough theoretical knowledge\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559739\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Reaching a professional level of guitar playing means you\u2019ll be able to make a career out of what you love, whether that\u2019s as a session musician, a solo artist, or a tutor. Reaching these heights doesn\u2019t happen overnight; it takes years of practice and commitment. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When you\u2019re playing at a professional level, you\u2019ll be able to adapt to different playing styles easily, like speaking different languages. While you might excel at one genre more than others, you\u2019ll be able to let rip and match rhythm at a moment\u2019s notice - this is what makes session musicians so valuable! <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What\u2019s more, as a pro, you\u2019ll be confident when it comes to composing your own work in the studio or improvising during live performances \u2013 legends like Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour are just two great improvisers when it comes to conjuring legendary leads on the fly. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You\u2019ll have no problem knocking out a mean solo out of the blue or adapting to any key on demand. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Many professionals (most definitely tutors and session musicians) also have a deep understanding of music theory. While it's not necessarily essential, theoretical knowledge can be very<em>\u00a0<\/em>useful.<\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Our tips for learning guitar<\/span><\/h3><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">1. Take your time<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As much as you might want to reach the pinnacle of guitar playing within a week, good things take time. It\u2019s important not to rush your way through the many skills that come with learning guitar. Start slow and get a complete grasp on those techniques before speeding things up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">2. Stick to a schedule <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Whether it\u2019s a rough sketch or a detailed timetable, it\u2019s super helpful to keep to a schedule when learning guitar. Knowing that you\u2019ve got time to practise is half the battle when it comes to learning, so planning when those practice sessions can be will keep you motivated.<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">3. Stay passionate<\/span><\/h4><p>What's your reason for learning the guitar? Like we recommended earlier, setting out your goals will help you structure your practice and get you to where you want to be. It's also a good idea to consistently visualise these goals to keep the fire burning when things get difficult!<\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Putting too much pressure on yourself can make you lose sight of your love for the guitar. Just listening to your favourite artists or playing your favourite pieces is enough to keep that spark ignited.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">4. Get experimental<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I get it, you might have a specific style that you want to achieve. I used to be guilty of playing nothing but blues. However, it can be really helpful to explore different genres and tones. This helps you diversify your style and unlock new techniques. So, try that whacky pedal, master the Phrygian scale, and alternate your tuning! <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">5. Play along with others <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Solitary practice sessions are great when you\u2019re just starting out, but when you get to the intermediate or advanced levels, it\u2019s important to play with others, whether that\u2019s in person or playing along to backing tracks. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not only does this expose you to different styles, but it also gets you used to rhythm and timing. Most of the time, music is a collective endeavour, so playing with others is bound to happen at some point. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">How to organise your practice session\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Organising your practice session effectively makes learning much easier. First, you'll want to warm up. It\u2019s up to you how you do this. I like to improvise and play whatever I feel like in the moment, running through my favourite chords or lead lines. Playing something you\u2019re super familiar with is also a good warm-up. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>You should then practise a few scales and strumming patterns as a short extra warm-up. Then, you're ready to move on to the pieces of material you want to practice. If it's super technical, it helps to break the technique or piece of music down into smaller chunks, <span data-contrast=\"auto\">e.g. if you\u2019re learning sweep picking, start with the motion of one hand, go slowly, and gradually match up the motion of both hands in time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Repeat things over again to really hone the skill. And don't put too much pressure on yourself to get things perfect in just one practice session.<\/p><p>At the end, play a song you love. It doesn't have to be difficult, just something that you enjoy and keeps you passionate about learning the guitar.<\/p><p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-37118 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/06\/Red-LA-Electric-Guitar.jpg\" alt=\"A female guitarist playing the Sunburst LA Electric Guitar\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is the 10,000-hour rule? <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Playing guitar, like many other hobbies and skills, is said to be subject to the \"10,000-hour rule\". The rule states that it takes around 10,000 hours to become an expert in a field. It comes from the work of psychologist K. Anders Ericsson and his research on \"deliberate practice,\" where he studied expert violinists and found that their talent came from over 10,000 hours of practice.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yes, you read that right\u2026 Following this rule, to become a professional guitarist, you\u2019d have to practice for approximately 10,000 hours. That\u2019s 417 days\u2019 worth of hours or three hours a day for 3,333 days, which sounds incredibly daunting at first. <\/span><\/p><p>However, we use the term \"rule\" very lightly. There is nothing to say that practising for 10,000 hours and becoming a master guitarist are directly linked; you could play for 10,000 hours but repeat the same thing over and over again. However, we can infer that the more you play, the more proficient you'll be.<\/p><p>What really matters, though, is the quality of the practice and ensuring that you're challenging yourself and learning efficiently. Plus<span data-contrast=\"auto\">, when you\u2019ve been playing for long enough, you tend to lose track of how long you\u2019ve been playing for. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Breaks are important!\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I\u2019ve said it before, and I\u2019ll say it again - don\u2019t try and do everything at once. Take your time, be patient with yourself and accept that some skills, songs, and techniques simply take longer to master than others. Giving yourself adequate breaks ensures you properly rest between sessions. Trying the same thing repeatedly without success can be incredibly frustrating, and coming back with a fresh mindset might be all you need. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Practising for hours at a time is not only physically taxing on your fingers and wrists, but also on your ears and mind. Returning to whatever it is you\u2019re learning after a break offers a chance to reset and regain control, and you\u2019ll often find things much easier after a period of processing and reflection. The city of rock \u2018n\u2019 roll wasn\u2019t built in a day. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><img class=\"aligncenter wp-image-35222 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/03\/Featured-image-Best-Guitars-for-Shredding.jpg\" alt=\"Featured image - Best Guitars for Shredding\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Recommended beginner guitars<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now that you know how long it takes to learn guitar, it\u2019s time to start looking for a beginner guitar that suits you.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Single-Cutaway-Acoustic-Guitar-by-Gear4music-Natural\/1IFM#6f3a\/embedded\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Single Cutaway Acoustic Guitar by Gear4music, Natural<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cutaway for easy high-fret access\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Poplar laminate fretboard for smooth playability\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">C-shaped neck provides the perfect comfort for beginners\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Basswood construction delivers bright and balanced tones\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Affordable price avoids breaking the bank<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><hr \/><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Tanglewood-TWBB-OE-Blackbird-Folk-Electro-Acoustic-Smoke-Black-Satin\/3BVP\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Tanglewood TWBB OE Blackbird Folk Electro Acoustic, Smoke Black Satin<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tanglewood Premium plus electronics let you plug in and get gigging<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Orchestra body provides the perfect balance between comfort and playability\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Smoke black satin finish offers a stylish aesthetic that\u2019s sure to stand out\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">All-mahogany construction delivers beautiful warm tones\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Conquer any genre with ease \u2013 from folk and blues to pop and indie, there\u2019s nothing the Blackbird can\u2019t handle\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><hr \/><h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Yamaha-F310-Acoustic-Tobacco-Brown-Sunburst\/3VAJ\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Yamaha F310 Acoustic, Tobacco Brown Sunburst<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stunning Tobacco brown sunburst finish\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ultra-thin lacquer finish for a warm and responsive tone\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dreadnought body lets you play with power and projection\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rosewood fingerboard provides a comfortable playing experience\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Big brand at an affordable price\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">FAQs\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Can I learn guitar in 3 months?<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can learn basic guitar techniques and songs within three months if you practise consistently and develop an effective learning strategy. While there are tonnes to learn on guitar that can\u2019t be conquered in three months, you can achieve some of the basics. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Is 30 too late to learn guitar? <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It's never too late to learn an instrument, and the guitar is no exception. Picking up a guitar at 30 can actually be really beneficial. It\u2019s a great distraction from everyday stress, it's fun and creative (something as adults we might not get to enjoy often), and there\u2019s always something new to learn. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h4><span data-contrast=\"none\">Can you self-teach guitar?\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":80,\"335559739\":40,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s definitely possible to teach yourself guitar - many of the most acclaimed guitarists to ever exist have been self-taught, such as Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain. What\u2019s more, today there\u2019s an abundance of resources online to support self-learning, one YouTube search will take you down a rabbit hole of guitar lessons that you can use. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"201341983\":0,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><hr \/><h3><span data-contrast=\"none\">Final thoughts\u00a0 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{\"134245418\":true,\"134245529\":true,\"201341983\":0,\"335559738\":160,\"335559739\":80,\"335559740\":259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hopefully, this article has given you an idea of <strong>how long it takes to learn the guitar<\/strong>. While it\u2019s possible to make rough estimates of the time it takes to reach milestones, it\u2019s important to remember that every guitarist is different and your journey will be totally unique. There\u2019s always something new to learn, and if you think you\u2019ve got everything on lock, try inventing your own tone or technique. <\/span><\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[243,105],"tags":[290,107],"class_list":["post-45529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-guides","category-guitars-bass","tag-guide","tag-guitars"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner&#039;s Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We discuss how long it takes to learn the guitar and reach milestones. But remember, everyone is different; there&#039;s no strict time frame!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner&#039;s Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We discuss how long it takes to learn the guitar and reach milestones. But remember, everyone is different; there&#039;s no strict time frame!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gear4music Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Gear4music\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-22T14:34:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-22T14:48:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1330\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"665\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elliot\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@gear4music\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gear4music\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Elliot\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Elliot\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/15da8a38dc5e75a6aa0fed9374351a28\"},\"headline\":\"How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner&#8217;s Guide\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-22T14:34:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-22T14:48:48+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4080,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Guide\",\"Guitars\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Guides\",\"Guitars &amp; Bass\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/\",\"name\":\"How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner's Guide\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-22T14:34:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-05-22T14:48:48+00:00\",\"description\":\"We discuss how long it takes to learn the guitar and reach milestones. But remember, everyone is different; there's no strict time frame!\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2025\\\/05\\\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg\",\"width\":1330,\"height\":665,\"caption\":\"Featured image - How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Gear4music Blog\",\"description\":\"News, tips, deals &amp; loads more...\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Gear4music\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2021\\\/12\\\/b75da5e6-blog-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/storage.googleapis.com\\\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\\\/2021\\\/12\\\/b75da5e6-blog-logo.png\",\"width\":600,\"height\":193,\"caption\":\"Gear4music\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/Gear4music\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/gear4music\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/gear4music\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/gear-4-music-limited\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/gear4music1\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/15da8a38dc5e75a6aa0fed9374351a28\",\"name\":\"Elliot\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/dba50d6248b7f9b978d52156d0a8168ecbfde4aaee571ed0406f90fb51f6b561?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/dba50d6248b7f9b978d52156d0a8168ecbfde4aaee571ed0406f90fb51f6b561?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/dba50d6248b7f9b978d52156d0a8168ecbfde4aaee571ed0406f90fb51f6b561?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Elliot\"},\"description\":\"Elliot is Gear4music's Content Writer for Guitars. He currently plays a Fender Jag American Professional and dabbles in a bit of bass here and there! Aside from his love for music and guitars, Elliot enjoys skateboarding.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.gear4music.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/elliot-gosnold\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner's Guide","description":"We discuss how long it takes to learn the guitar and reach milestones. But remember, everyone is different; there's no strict time frame!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner's Guide","og_description":"We discuss how long it takes to learn the guitar and reach milestones. But remember, everyone is different; there's no strict time frame!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/","og_site_name":"Gear4music Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Gear4music","article_published_time":"2025-05-22T14:34:48+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-05-22T14:48:48+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1330,"height":665,"url":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Elliot","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@gear4music","twitter_site":"@gear4music","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Elliot","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/"},"author":{"name":"Elliot","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/15da8a38dc5e75a6aa0fed9374351a28"},"headline":"How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner&#8217;s Guide","datePublished":"2025-05-22T14:34:48+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-22T14:48:48+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/"},"wordCount":4080,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg","keywords":["Guide","Guitars"],"articleSection":["Guides","Guitars &amp; Bass"],"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/","url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/","name":"How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar? A Beginner's Guide","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg","datePublished":"2025-05-22T14:34:48+00:00","dateModified":"2025-05-22T14:48:48+00:00","description":"We discuss how long it takes to learn the guitar and reach milestones. But remember, everyone is different; there's no strict time frame!","inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-learn-guitar\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2025\/05\/Featured-image-How-Long-Does-It-Take-to-Learn-Guitar.jpg","width":1330,"height":665,"caption":"Featured image - How Long Does It Take to Learn Guitar"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/","name":"Gear4music Blog","description":"News, tips, deals &amp; loads more...","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Gear4music","url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2021\/12\/b75da5e6-blog-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2021\/12\/b75da5e6-blog-logo.png","width":600,"height":193,"caption":"Gear4music"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Gear4music","https:\/\/x.com\/gear4music","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gear4music\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gear-4-music-limited\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/gear4music1"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/15da8a38dc5e75a6aa0fed9374351a28","name":"Elliot","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dba50d6248b7f9b978d52156d0a8168ecbfde4aaee571ed0406f90fb51f6b561?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dba50d6248b7f9b978d52156d0a8168ecbfde4aaee571ed0406f90fb51f6b561?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dba50d6248b7f9b978d52156d0a8168ecbfde4aaee571ed0406f90fb51f6b561?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Elliot"},"description":"Elliot is Gear4music's Content Writer for Guitars. He currently plays a Fender Jag American Professional and dabbles in a bit of bass here and there! Aside from his love for music and guitars, Elliot enjoys skateboarding.","url":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/author\/elliot-gosnold\/"}]}},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-20 10:12:27","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/63"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45529"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45529\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45644,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45529\/revisions\/45644"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}