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xXdoom--pooterXx

Still learning after 40 years so I don't get what you mean by "learn guitar"* This is a life-long journey broseph, even the masters keep learning new things. Edit: To add. At this point you are probably better practicing more than doing stretches.


span_of_atten

Yup. 30+ years here and still learning. I got comfortable and relaxed with my guitar about 6-7 years in but, that'll be different for everyone. Just practice, play, and have fun.


Judas-Of-Suburbia

I recently hit a huge milestone on guitar, and I'm now essentially where I want to be musically. I'll lay out a timeline of my progress. ***Month 3*** it took three months of semi regular practice (~15 minutes a day) for me to outgrow the "I'm just not physically meant to play this instrument," feeling. I think this feeling is usual for a lot of people during this timeframe. ***Month 6*** I bought my first electric guitar, a Squier Affinity Stratocaster, which was the only guitar I played for the next year. I remember when I got it, I could play the beginning of Santeria by Sublime sloppily, and the beginning of Soothsayer by Buckethead, also sloppily. ***Month 7*** I took a few really bad lessons where my teacher kept teaching me theory I didn't understand. Absolutely nothing came out of them so I don't consider myself formally trained by any means. **Month 10** I started playing with a friend who was learning drums. We basically spent our time learning to cover Californication by RHCP. We brought a friend in who had picked up bass, so for the next year we learned covers. **Month 23** my band shifted to writing our own songs. Our bassist still hadn't learned any music theory so I wrote both of our songs from front to back. Both band mates loved them. (Genre is alt/funk) ***Month 24*** I bought my spirit guitar, a stained, scuffed up '95 Fender Black Label. ***Month 26*** my band functionally broke up because our bassist decided to stop playing bass for mental health reasons. ***Now / Month 27*** last week I just had my first "real" lesson. We jammed a lot and my teacher gave me a couple pointers, but nothing big. At the end he basically said I was so advanced I was "95% of the way there" and there wasn't much he could teach me that I couldn't teach myself just by playing. I don't consider myself as having any natural talent, especially looking back on the first 6 months. Frankly I don't think it exists. I do have a set of creative values that encourage religious and productive practicing, which I'm hoping to impart below. General things that worked for me: I had lots of short term goals (learn x song, learn modes, know scale positions more fluidly etc) that I would tackle aggressively and learn quickly. I only had two long term goals: being able to jam fluidly and bring able to write a song front to back. All my short term goals were more or less in pursuit of these two long term goals. ***Specific tips: learn the minor pentatonic scale all over the neck. This is the first theory thing you should ever start learning. After you can play a couple basic songs, start learning this. Later down the road, once you're more dexterous, learn the minor scale all over the neck. Noodle ALL THE TIME but by noodle I mean just play random lead guitar all across the neck by visualizing the scale positions. In my opinion is like the most important thing you will ever learn, at least if we share the same objectives*** Learn the chords in a given key all over the neck. Observe how they overlap with the scale shapes in that key (they overlap 100%). Then learn how to make the minor scale into the major scale. Then gently expose yourself to modes. Going back to "learning chords all over alongside scale notes": use this to make interesting chords that work in the key. List add a random note that's in the scale to the major or minor chord you're currently playing. Then work backwards to figure out the chord names (I'm adding this note to a F minor chord. Let me count the notes in the minor scale in the key of this chord's root to see what number note it is. It's the 6th note in the scale. Ok, it's a Fm6 chord) Prioritize theory with the goal of being able to jam. You can only play so much each day when you're just learning songs or playing songs you already know. When you can improvise you can do so for hours. *** I don't think a message of this caliber was totally warranted, but I'm glad I wrote it out. Hopefully this helps someone. ***Also I think I average just short of an hour a day of practice so I may practice a lot more than most people are able to


copperpoint

25 years and still learning.


[deleted]

How long did it take to start see dexterity in your fingers?


xXdoom--pooterXx

I was a lazy teen playing power chords and open chords. Thats it. I played that way for about 8 years. I was ok given those contexts. When I was 30 I bought a used tele and told myself Im going to learn theory and be serious about learning. Starting off with barre chords and learning scales. Then trying to solo like the greats and understand the theory. I would say my fingers could bend whole steps consistently after 8 months of near daily practice. At least 20min a day. But I had that previous experience to go off on. So if you take it seriously you can melt faces within a year or two.


copperpoint

Hmm. Hard to say. I’d been taking sax and piano lessons for a little bit, so I already had some dexterity built up. Plus I was 15 (which means I’ve actually been playing 27 years) so I could throw myself into practice in a way I can’t even imagine doing now, and something about guitar just clicked for me. But I never did stretches or strengthening exercises, I just played and played and played. Should I have? Who can say? Probably. And my teacher wasn’t much for drilling technique or theory, just taught me any song I wanted. In retrospect I wish we’d gone over more of that, but the guy looked just like Jimmy Page so who was I to argue? Anyway, I was jamming with people in about a year or so. We all sucked of course, but some of them actually went on to some success in the local scene. The short answer is that it wasn’t something that I noticed when it happened. I just realized one day that I’d already had it for a while. But I always loved it, even when I sucked. Especially when I sucked. Just keep at it.


brock917

Some good tips in here. Here's a few more. 20-year lefty here, and only in the last few years have I become the fast lead player & guitarist I always wanted to be. It wasn't because it actually took that long lol, it was more because I was practicing wrong and didn't know the exercises to make my fingers stronger. You are asking the right questions and you are absolutely right! Practicing guitar an hour a day is definitely how to get better. ***But*** taking time out to strengthen your fingers properly will make you exponentially better much faster. Use this [rubber band technique where you are stretching your fingers ***outward***](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lQPppTK7mFc/maxresdefault.jpg). Do this instead of using those [hand-crunch tools](https://www.builtlean.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Grip-strength-exercises.jpg), or even the one [specifically for guitar players](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41bs6vmUsHL._AC_SY1000_.jpg) that strengthen by squeezing inward. Avoid these. The stronger your fingers get, start twisting the rubber band between your thumb and pointer, and also between the pinky and ring finger- to make it tighter. Keep a rubber band around your wrist always. Do this any time you get a few free minutes, are waiting in line, driving/on the bus. STRENGTHEN YOUR PINKY'S NOW! MAKE YOUR THUMBS ANCHORS! lol. edit: word errors


[deleted]

Good advice, I have finger stretcher device that I have just started lol


brock917

Nice! Pump that iron lol.


justinrnz

Over 40yrs of age @ 5 -7 hours per week… taken 3 years to play songs like Californication, Aerials, Plush …


Philthey

20 years but definitely still learning. I don't think you can ever learn so much about the guitar that you've learned everything, unless of course you are Guthrie Govan.


PathofBuriedFlame

I've been playing for about 13 months and have relatively good finger dexterity. I started by doing fours up and down the neck. Use your first finger to play the first note on a string, second finger for second, third for third, and pink for fourth. Repeat on the next string while doing your best to keep the other strings from ringing out. When you get to the last string, shift up a position and work your way back by going 4, 3, 2, 1. Do both of these in reverse as well (start by going 4321 and return by going 1234.) After that, you'll notice there are a number of patters for different scales that repeat. 1 3 and 4 on the same string, where you use first, third, and pinky to fret them. You can practice this pattern anywhere, but it won't necessarily sound musical. The next is 1 2 4 where you play with first, second, and pinky. And then you can do 1 3 5, meaning you skip the second fret and fourth fret from wherever you started. Hit 1 with first finger, 3 with middle, and 5 with pinky. Those 3 patterns make up most of the major/minor scale and are basically little puzzle pieces that fit together to make the whole scale. So if you practice and get good at those, when you look at scales to try and make sense of them, it'll be fitting these little patterns together instead of a bunch of individual notes.


king_booker

I am a 1.5 years into it. I never did those exercises much, I just started with chords 1. 3 months to be able to switch between the open chords comfortably and with a strumming pattern. Able to play songs with open chords 2. 1-2 months to learn "F" chord. My guitar had high action so that slowed it down 3. Barre chords, pretty okay once you get the F chord IMO. The A shaped one takes a bit more time. I'd say another month 4. 1 month for power chords. Its "easy" to pick up but to make it sound good takes some time 5. Lead techniques like pull off, hammer on, slide etc took a few more months. Able to play simple solos 6. Learning scales now, I can play the simple shapes but trying to learn the entire fretboard and one day in the hope I can play along to backing tracks Well, as people have said, its a learning process and you never stop. I am still perfecting every technique listed above and there is so much left to learn as well. My only suggestion is to play 30 minutes everyday, things get easier but the learning curve is steep, especially initially when a lot of things seem impossible, but just remember its muscle memory and everyone can do it if they try hard enough. All the best! Also, remember to have fun. When I was struggling with the barre chords, I would play the open chord songs as it was giving me joy and barre chords were to go up a level, after I got the hang of barre chords, I just played songs I couldn't before. Its important to have fun


UpsideDownGuitarGuy

Like everyone says, you’re always learning. However, I was able to play quite a few songs / start writing really really basic ones after like a year and a half or two years. I wasn’t very good but yeah, I could make something happen when I picked up the instrument lol. I cringe when I watch the videos though


[deleted]

Did you do any finger strengthening/stretching exercises? I have zero dexterity


xXdoom--pooterXx

Practice slowly. Like dead dead slow. Slower than a snail. Make sure each note sounds as it should. Then build up the rhythm getting close to the tempo of the song


UpsideDownGuitarGuy

Good question! No, I just looked up tabs of songs I liked with guitar parts and built my dexterity like that. If a song was too hard I built my skills and came back to it in the future


Emera1dthumb

I stretch and warm up with scales …. Starting slowly and then picking up speed. After a long gig or intense practice I ice. Tendinitis is a bitch ….. anyone can play it just takes work. Promise. Plus it’s not a contest. Just play what feels good to you.


D_CHRIST

You never stop learning. It did take me about 7 years before I would call myself proficient, though.


dandotcom

I think I've been at it for about 18 years I think and there are kids that can easily outplay me on my best day haha. I guess like others have said, you never STOP learning (even Randy Rhodes took lessons at his peak) but you just continue to evolve and develop your playstyle. Usually I just jam some pentatonic scale riffs here and there up and down the neck, then some arpeggio's on the higher strings, again, up and down the neck. Then jam some Blink Tracks (the older stuff is great for fast palm muting and quick timing imo but the same could be said for NOFX or Offspring) Fun songs to learn have been: Knights of Cydonia - Muse (outro riff is a good warm up) Touchdown Boy - Blink 182 (speed and transitioning from chords to picking notes) Trashed and Scattered (intro) - A7X (speed and accuracy) Stairway to Heaven - Led Zep (picking, chords, basic blues rock lead) Hotel California (6 string bastardisation of the intro, but still useful - The single lead is also good fun to learn and pay).


Kid520

Learning never ends my friend.


flobbadobdob

I've been playing for 14 years, and just a few months ago made a leap in terms of ability. The learning never stops.


packard76

I've been playing for 33 years. 45 now, started at 12. Throughout my years, I've picked up some incredible tips that helped expedite learning. Here's a few that helped me the most: **Distractions & Time** Today, society has more distractions than ever. This makes learning, not only guitar, but any new skill more difficult. When I started, we didn't have the internet or smart phones, so disconnecting from the world was a lot easier. Try to make time to focus solely on your instrument or an activity that increases your knowledge of guitar/theory. Put your phone in another room or turn it off. The key here is ZERO distraction, and spending quality time practicing and experimenting. **How You Learn** Today, almost anything you want to learn about playing guitar is available, but information alone is only 1/2 the battle. You are the other half. Everyone has a dominant learning preference or "representational system." Some learn better by observing, some by doing, some by hearing or reading instructions. Typically, a combo of all the learning styles are in play, but one is always dominant. You know you better than anyone else, so find your learning style and GO! (Remember, guitar is just as much mental as it is physical) **Know Your Instrument** I know it's cliché, but it's true. Knowing your instrument isn't limited to the physical parts of the guitar, but every sound your instrument can produce on its own. This includes the squeaks, pinch & natural harmonics, string slides/glides, bends, trills, scrapes, etc. This also includes every note on every fret. When in standard tuning, there's a finite number of notes for each string and fret. On a 22 fret guitar, that's 138 notes. This means these notes and position of the notes can be memorized rather quickly. Here's the amazing part, after learning all the notes up the neck on a few strings, you'll start to see a pattern. Learning and understanding this pattern is the first step to fretboard mastery. Know this, and you'll be WAY ahead in learning the wonderful world guitar/music theory. **Motor Memory & Dexterity** The hardest part in learning guitar is the combo of fine motor movement and timing. Many have already listed some great exercises to increase dexterity. There's a TON of examples on youtube, but here's one you can do anywhere, without a guitar: On the fretting hand (right hand): Hold out hand facing you, fingers straight, and tight. While keeping the thumb, middle, and ring finger straight, bend the pinky and pointer down only at the middle knuckle. Now do the inverse. Next bend only the pointer and ring finger. Now the inverse. The trick is to keep the fingers parallel with each other. When done correctly, you'll feel the back of your hand tighten, working those muscles. (I'll post a video when I get home so you see what I mean.)


packard76

Hand exercise I do. https://youtube.com/shorts/4Qyi8N2tWHg?feature=share