The electric guitar = hardest instrument to learn?

Question

I think so in IMO. I'm talking about REAL electric guitar. Like satriani style. Not some pus sy emo crap where they just play the same riffs over and over again. "real" electric guitar incorporate sweeping picking, extremely fast legatos, alternate picking at 16th notes at 200bpm! and blah blah blah the list goes on. Anyone think there actually a harder instrument to learn?

Answer 1

Electric guitar is definitely difficult especially when someone refers to the difficulty that someone faces when it comes to dynamics. The instrument itself is extremely limited in tone and dynamics thus making it difficult to play but I would say that a nylon string guitar is more difficult.They are not as limited in dynamics but you have to have near perfect technique in your right hand or it ends up sounding scratchy. Also in classical guitar, the music tends to have more simultaneously voices then electric does. If done on a electric, the effects would probably drown it out and make it sound bad. Taking this into thought I would have to say that the classical guitar is more difficult

Even the things that sound the easiest to play can be difficult on a classical guitar. Look at this as an example:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jd3gOsHwjPg&search=contemplacion

The sheet music can be found at:

http://www.guitarpress.com/Barrios_Contemplacion.html

I like your enthusiasm and I agree that guitar is difficult but I don't know about electric being the hardest to learn and I have not played much of the bowed stringed instruments, they might be more difficult.

Answer 2

The guitar like other instrument is a hard instrument to play. Even though its difficult, it is fun to play. I started teaching myself to play about a year ago and I'm not as good as Slash but i'm getting there. If you truly want to learn you have to practice at least every day and know the basics of music theory (chords, music notes or tabs, timing, arpeggios, bending). It also depends what type of music you want to play. Most heavy metal and rock songs are hard to learn. Its up to you if think you dedicate some time to learn. I would suggest you get lessons in the beginning. Also try downloading guitar pro 5 to help learn how to play some songs on guitar. If you want a good guitar start off with an Epiphone Les Paul or a Fender Squier Stratocaster. Both are cheap and have great sounding quality.

Answer 3

The tricky thing about any instrument- no matter what style, or how fast, you must play with "feeling". A listener can tell if you are truly feeling what you are playing. Satriani is awesome technically and he has alot of emotion, and feeling. Eric Clapton is not the fastest player in the world but has emotion and feeling. You must connect with the listener. They can sense your intensity and emotion no matter how fast.
I've been playing for 20 yrs. I started playing electric first. Eddie Van Halen, Satriani, Steve Via. For the past 8 yrs I've been playing mostly acoustic guitar. I play with the same emotion and intensity as ever. You don't have to do the technically difficult stuff to impress an audience. Just show emotion. It has to come from the heart. Don't force a thing. Have fun man!!

Answer 4

I don't necesarily think it's the hardest... that is, I don't think it's necessarily anhy harder than any other instrument that you care to take to it's conclusion.

Granted, there are very few people who have put in the hard yards to sound like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, or John Petrucci.
Listen to some of the stuff Les Claypool, John Myung or Billy Sheehan can do on the bass.
Or try to wrap your head around some of the stuff that Virgil Donatti or Mike Portnoy can do.

Getting that proficient is hard no matter what instrument it is.

Answer 5

well if you want to play satriani, petrucci, maimsteen etc then yea that's going to be pretty difficult - but then again i think every instrument possesses a high level of difficulty - c'mon how many ppl are considered a true "master" of any instrument - and yea as for that "pus sy emo crap" not all of it is the same over and over haha - if you can play full Fugazi and At The Drive In songs i'd be pretty impressed haha

Answer 6

listen, bpms are erelivant.

But yes, satriani is a marval!! And it takes a lot of practice. But most people start with the worst basic training. Loose the pic and stop playing rock. Play with your fingers and play classical guitar. I swear to god this is the best foundation for GREAT guitarist.

Randy Rhoads did
SAtriana did as well

classical guitar is very complicated and will teach you powerfull habbits!

Answer 7

You have a point there, but dont you think that other instruments have the same difficulties in terms of chords and techniques or beats for drums. I guess almost all instruments have the same difficulties as of the guitar, you just have to discover how difficult they can be.

Answer 8

i agree with. You need to train your fingers to be fast. However drums are pretty hard too. its not just some carry a beat. you have to actually keep rythm at fast speeds. You can be doing three different things at one at then change it up. Anyone can kick a bass drum but when you get souble bass drums and double sets involved you gotta know your stuff and keep your speed up. Joey from slipknot Lars from emtallica and Traivs Baker from blink all run about 6 miles aday to keep their heart in good enough shape to handle their set.

Answer 9

Well...I pplay violin and I'd say that's pretty hard I mean there's no frets like there are on guitars and I've played 32nd notes. Not to mention tons of other stuff you have to know, like vibrato, etcetera

Answer 10

I agree with you thats its a really hard instrument, but i guess u just have to keep practicin and u'll become good. maybe not as good as some people but at least u will be able to play sumthin. and ur fingers will hurt like hell lol.