“How Long Does It Take To Learn Acoustic Guitar?” is a question that haunts predominantly aspiring beginner and intermediate guitarists. But, alas! This age-old question doesn’t have a simple answer as it seems. And this is where this article comes to your rescue.
In this article we are going to take a look at the levels or stages that we can divide your learning journey into, although there are no precise and well-defined “lines” between two levels.
First, let’s have a reality check, shall we?
Invested Time and Estimated Time
It is a no-brainer that the more “quality” time you invest in practice, the more progress you will make. With that, you can easily realize that it is not so simple to map out the timeline by which you have mastered your craft.
The estimated time to reach a certain level as a guitarist depends on your goal. If you envision yourself playing your favorite songs, you might achieve it within a year or two. But, if the mastery of this instrument is what you have your eyes on, a decade might not be enough.
Another factor is your learning curve. Everyone learns at a different pace. Being a slow learner is not a limiting factor for you. As long as you are making progress towards your goals, you should be assured that you are on the right track.
An estimated time required to reach a stage is mentioned below. I would advise to take it with a grain of salt, since with every little progress, you will figure out yourself the time it would take for you to achieve your goals. Like everyone else, you, on your own, will decide how much time you want to invest and this, in turn, will determine how long it would take to learn an acoustic guitar.
The Stages
As I mentioned before, there are no well-defined lines that distinguish any two stages, but there are certain skills that can be attributed to guitarists who belong to a specific stage. These skills, associated with each stage, are explained below. So, read carefully and note what’s to come as you progress along your journey.
Beginner (Estimated Time: 6 Months to 1 Year)
Of course, a beginner is someone who has just taken up an acoustic or an electric guitar and has no prior knowledge and experience with it. A beginner is supposed to get themselves acquainted with the very basics of guitar playing. They should prioritize achieving proper body and hand positions at this early stage of their playing.
At the same time, they would learn how to produce clear notes and basic open chords. In this stage, finger dexterity and strengthening exercises will be recommended. Major and minor scales can be introduced to help memorize fretboard layout. Chord progressions involving open chords are also learned at this stage. This will enable the guitarist to play songs that can be played with only basic open chords.
Remember the estimated time is useless if you do not have a practice routine that is consistent. This is true for all other stages listed below.
Intermediate (Estimated Time: 3 to 4 Years )
At this stage, you are already familiar with open chords and your fingers are more or less under your control. Now, you will move on to learn barre chords. Barre chords are challenging and often leave guitarists disheartened and frustrated. Only consistent practice can get you out of this frustration. To achieve this level of expertise, you might need to practice an hour or more in one session.
You will learn pentatonics along with Major and minor scales. How chords are constructed and how they are related with a scale, will also be taught.
Guitarists of the intermediate stage can explore their instruments on their own. This doesn’t mean you don’t need guidance from a tutor or other sources. It just means you have good enough knowledge to explore what a guitar can do and have occasional “Eureka” moments.
Advanced (Estimated Time: 6 to 7 Years)
Advanced guitarists typically practice 3 to 4 hours a day which is a big jump when compared to the practice session of a beginning and an intermediate guitarist, as an advanced guitarist needs to practice technically challenging songs or pieces of music and at the same time invest time for advanced music theory.
Advanced guitarists might start playing professionally and this requires them to brush up all that they have learned incessantly. On top of that, they have to make sure they keep themselves updated with new ideas and techniques.
At this stage, they start composing their own songs and strive for developing an unique style as well. Advanced guitarists also start playing in gigs and form or join a band, since playing with other musicians, and other instruments, is necessary for advancing to the next stage.
Pro (Estimated Time: 8 to 10 Years)
Professional guitarists are those who have started recording their own tracks and performing live for a gig or their own tours. They invest several hours of their day in practice sessions. They have already attained enough knowledge and experience that they can start teaching others as well.
They often help others in producing songs, since a professional guitarist also starts working in studios. They are usually acquainted with other seasoned and professional musicians and this is where the real journey as a guitarist begins. Up until this stage, playing guitar can be considered an avocation for a guitarist and they might practice and play for their own selves or their peers. Upon reaching the pro-stage, however, you have to stay on the top of your game as playing guitar is a part of who you are.
Master (Estimated Time: 12 to 15 Years)
Playing guitar is all you do as a master guitarist. You will invest as much time as you can, in practice. A master guitarist has a godly expertise in his craft. And this is the stage where true fun begins.
Don’t get me wrong, you will have fun and enjoy playing at any stage; but the sheer amount of experience and knowledge almost forces a master level guitarist to tear apart all the rules and make new ones.
Master guitarists tend to approach guitar, and music in general, with an entirely different vision of their own. They create new styles, trends and revolutionize the guitar world. They are usually the musicians that aspiring musicians look up to.
Final Words
Now that we have our supposed levels of guitarists, it is for you to choose how high you want to stand on. Getting on the upper levels gets progressively hard and requires considerably more and efficient practice and self-discipline. As long as your expertise satisfies your own desires, you are good to go. This satisfaction is what you should aim for.
Don’t ever compare yourself or your progress, at any stage, with others. Always remember why you started playing guitar and how much you love and enjoy playing. This mindset will take you a long way. Preserve this mindset at all cost as it is necessary for the life-long journey of playing an acoustic guitar.
