How Long Does It Take to Play Guitar Well?A common question among beginners picking up the guitar is...

1. How Long Does It Take to Play Guitar Well?
How Long Does It Take to Play Guitar Well?
A common question among beginners picking up the guitar is how quickly they'll be able to play it
properly. Generally speaking, it won't take that long - but you'll need to put in quite a bit of effort
and be persistent throughout the learning process to ensure that you take in all the important bits
properly.
Learning the guitar can be split into a few stages which pretty much everyone goes through, and
each of them is related to different skill levels in general. Some things can be learned quite quickly,
while others take more time - those who just want to learn the instrument for brief entertainment
will have it a lot easier than those aspiring to play metal solos.
The important steps in learning the instrument can be divided as follows:
Playing basic chords - this tends to be the first important skill most beginners learn; you must learn
how to strum and switch between the basic guitar chords. You may not have the chords memorized
and can't play many songs from memory, but you'll still be managing to fret and strum them. This
shouldn't take more than a week to accomplish.
Playing easy songs - the next level involves playing some easier songs that you've practiced hard
enough and have memorized them to a good degree, able to strum and switch between them easily;
you should be able to do that without keeping your eyes on the fretboard all the time. With a lot of
practice, 2-3 weeks should be enough to get there.
Playing barre and power chords - next up, you've got a bit more advanced style where many who
teach themselves never manage to go. Barre chords tend to be really difficult compared to standard
ones, and you'll need to practice extra hard to get the hang of those. Expect to spend at least 2
months getting there.
Fingerpicking - you must be able to pluck individual strings and play some simple riffs to get here,
and this can be typically done in 2-3 months of solid practice.
Lead guitar - this is a big achievement, as being the lead guitar gives you all the focus you can
dream of. You must be able to play solos and use various techniques like slurring, sliding and vibrato
- and there are various other rules to adhere to as well. Playing acoustic solos is easier to learn
compared to metal ones, but in general you're looking at 3-4 months of practice for this.
The improviser - the final stage of your skills is where you're able to improvise riffs and solos during
a live performance, something which you'll need a lot of skill for. It might take you anywhere from 6
months to a whole year to get there, and some people need even longer than that!
Of course, all of these are just estimates and some people need a lot more time than that to learn the
appropriate techniques - while others get the hang of them quicker. Try and see for yourself!
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2. Author's Bio:
Who exactly is Glenn Sutton? Find out who this legendary musical tutor is and more about his
background right now by reading on. Whether teaching pupils how to master a musical style or
playing a local gig Glenn Sutton has been a large influence in the musical scene of San Diego for
over 30 years.
For decades Glenn Sutton has been leading, influencing and teaching young aspiring musicians. He
has taught everything from electric guitar, electric bass, keyboard, music theory and improvisation
for over 30 years--and he shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Sutton's work at Ozzie's Music
begun in 1983 and has helped shape the path of internationally famous musical groups as well as
other successful musicians and teachers. Whether it's a young aspiring musician or someone as old
as 80, Sutton has been able to use his unique teaching style and approach to help guide pupils in
their desired musical direction
Sutton has experience in a wide array of genres and styles of music. When he isn't teaching classical
blues guitar he may be helping students learn the intricacies of Spanish guitar or different styles of
keyboard. One of Sutton's greatest teaching attributes is that he believes the age-old adage: practice
makes perfect. Sutton has taken on students who have gone on to attend Berklee and the Music
Institute of Technology in Los Angeles. Sutton's background and knowledge of music has been a
tremendous influence on his students and made his private music lessons some of the most valuable
in the region.
Sutton's musical experience began around the age of 12 with classical guitar and quickly spread to
mastering the classic organ. Studying under numerous successful musicians and private tutors
Sutton has had decades of experience in playing a vast array of genres, styles and instruments. Still
today he's active in the local musical community and when not helping his students master their
craft, he can be found playing in various bands and groups in the San Diego area. When it comes to
finding a diverse and flexible musical teacher in the San Diego area Sutton is one of the best around.
Sutton's unique teaching approach has garnered him a lot of respect in the local musical community.
He believes that every student should be treated as an individual and the teaching should be
adjusted and suited towards each student's learning style. He believes that every student learns
differently and no two students will learn at the same pace or in the same way. Due to Sutton's
unique background, progressive teaching style and diverse musical range he is arguably one of the
most sought after musical tutors in the San Diego region. For any student who wants to hone his or
her skills in virtually any genre or style Sutton can help lead them in the proper direction.