This is a tricky query. However, for starters, there may be yardstick to somehow measure the learning progression. When you are learning, it must be emphasized that learning to play guitar is a process–a long process.
It cannot be done overnight or even for short spurts of time. It has to be gradual not sporadic. Patience is one of the keys to learn this skill.
Skill is a product of continuous practice with proper cueing in mind to guide such practice. The latter, without cueing observance, cannot attain its desired results, much less mastery.
It is true “practice makes perfect” but it has to abide by another rule which is observing and applying the proper cues.
Accordingly, one psychologist by the name of Edwin Ray Guthrie says it differently. He opined that practice alone does not make perfect.
How quickly can you learn to play guitar?
If you really want to have that guitar playing skill, you can quickly learn the same by first establishing your routine.
With the adjective “quickly”, it will depend upon your enthusiasm, the time that you will put into, and the initial songs or practice piece that you will have or whatever style of playing or genre that you will try to emulate.
Hitting the strings, just for the sake of strumming them without any clear objective, will get you nowhere. Consequently, learning quickly is a relative term, meaning it will depend on you.
The more time you put, with proper practice and appropriate cues to guide your repetition, the quicker you will learn. It is not just practice; it is repetitive exercise with right cues, thus, progression.
Cues mean how you approach chords, learning the scales, correct picking and timing, gradual advancement to set your goals, and so on.
The significant part, therefore, is repetition [practice] and correct methods plus progression [cues].
“When I was beginning to learn the guitar, I was able to play correctly the song ‘more than words’ after three (3) months. I put in at least 2 hours of practice each day with the guidance of tablature.”
—Chronicles from Savant
Can I learn Guitar in 2 Years?
Of course! That will be more than enough for learning the basic and fundamental skills. Moreover, if you put lot of time, effort, and patience in it, you can play a quite bit of advance music.
Now, again, 2 years is a long time for learning the basics. You may be able to play somewhat more intricate and complex guitar phrases at this point.
What we should discuss here is that in two years’ time, after learning how to pick right, plucking the strings, and maneuvering your way around the fretboard, where is your skill level now?
While a period of 2 years, it is already somewhat a substantial amount of time for you to majorly advance in most aspects of guitar playing, still if you are not exactly serious enough and you are just putting minimal proper practice effort, you will probably not get too far into your journey.
Although there’s nothing wrong with playing simple music if that’s what you desire to do.
However, for that period and for those who really eager, serious, and driven to learn, I believe you may now be at somewhat level of intermediate to advance at this stage.
Is it hard to learn the guitar?
I can say it is. Yet, as what we keep on pointing out, when you put your heart into really wanting to learn to play that instrument, there is no reason why you will not learn or even become a master of it.
Is it hard, yes. You have to be patient. You must learn to accept that this a stage by stage process that will take years. It will depend on your desire to advance from each level that you are currently within.
Your goal must be to achieve the maximum standard of playing skills of each level. Then, gradually advance to the next.
For example, at the start, you pick a certain song you will practice playing. That song should have what you call first “easy” chords, like “A”, “C”, “D”, “E” or “G” or combination of them.
These chords do not have “finger bars” in them in its simplest form; hence, relatively easy. Although, they have corresponding forms which have “finger bars” in them, as you go along discovering the rudiments of guitar playing.
Likewise, you should find a musical piece also that has minor chords in it such as “A – Minor”, “D-Minor”, and E-Minor”. In the same vein, you can perform these chords even without using “finger bars” at the moment.
You can begin your journey to learn how to play the instrument with these basic chords.
Can I teach myself how to play guitar?
My own answer to this is Yes and No. When you are starting out, you never know, or you know very little, about how to play the instrument, even the acoustic one.
No, because, you have to have something that you will derive your knowledge from. Not knowing anything and without a beginner’s guide, it is like attempting to climb Mount Everest during a not so friendly weather and without any gear, tools, or equipment for climbing.
On the other hand, it is yes since you can by your own study your guides, tutorials, music materials at your own pace and convenience. You can do these at the comfort of your own home.
So, my accurate answer would be, I think, is that you can teach yourself how to play the guitar with the guidance of a tutorial, virtual or any other fixed video lesson, song book with chords in the songs contained therein, YouTube, google, or any musical material for that matter with lesson module.
How long does it take to learn electric guitar?
I love playing my electric guitar. But, I first started with an acoustic one way back in 2009. For several years, until my dad bought me my first electric guitar way back in 2013, if I remember it correctly.
Initially, when I started, I used my father’s acoustic guitar. Then, he bought me a smaller one [still acoustic] which was fit for my size then.
Subsequently, he bought me another acoustic, this time with pick up, because I had to perform in school. Finally, in 2013, he bought me a Les Paul like electric guitar.
That I think signaled my unwavering interest to start loving the sound of an electric guitar. At first, I had difficulties. I was adjusting: the thinness and softness of an electric guitar string as compared to those in acoustic guitars.
The, with continuous appropriate finger exercise and proper song practice, I was able to get a hang of it. In the same year, I was able to play Canon Rock at 11 years old, which I was able to study from YouTube.
It was not the great playing looking back. Yet, it jumpstarted my continuous development in terms of discovering my skill levels, one at a time.
So, how quick you can learn playing an electric guitar, again, it will depend upon your interest, enthusiasm, and the will to continue despite initial failures.
I started to get accustomed with my electric guitar then after almost 6 months, I supposed. Incidentally, I will suggest to first learn on an acoustic guitar so you will know and get used to the feeling strength of the strings.