How long should I practice the guitar and piano each day to become very good?

Question

I try to practice a hour for each instrument, is this enough?

Answer 1

When you look up and notice you're on stage at Carnegie Hall, you can probably cut it back to three or four hours a day.

Answer 2

You have some excellent answers here. But it is a hard question and as one person said: "It varies from individual to individual"!

What you need to do is make a plan. Choose a skill, or a song, or a set of songs. This plan will probably be different for each instrument. I practiced both in my early years and I had a harder time with piano. I could always bring my guitar to bed with me and play myself to sleep! In any case, set a goal and keep practicing until you achieve it. If you can do it in one hour, good for you. Spend some time on planning your next practice session, then go to the other instrument. My main problem was finding time to eat or sleep or go out with the guys! I was always practicing!

Answer 3

Basically, it would be better and more practical if you concentrated on your piano lessons first. By doing this, you'll be familiarized with the notes on a much easier level and be able to carry it over on your guitar lessons. Also, it doesn't have to consume as much time as it would if you're trying to learn both, and once you've cemented and is comfortable with the melody (in playing piano) you won't have to spend too much time learning guitar because most of the basics are already covered and your fingers are stretched out well enough and comfortable that you wouldn't have to stress yourself in laying out chords.

The time actually depends on you; how much perseverance you've got for the day, and your mood, but commonly, and hour or two is appropriate. The maximum time for the average learner would be between 3-4 hours, since the creative part of your mind will gradually decrease in functioning and will be supported by your logical part of the brain beyond that time limit, which will result in a drone melody and ultimately; wasted time.
If you are a beginner at piano, expect it to be no less than a year before you get at the tip of 'really good', keeping in mind the fact of the 1hour per day practice. On guitars, you can achieve the level of 'good' that you want within more or less 6 months with the same amount of time per day (with the help of sheer force of will, of course).

Answer 4

When talking about practicing the guitar, I think that people like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and even the late Jimi Hendrix should certainly be analyzed, as they are undoubtably the best. Steve Vai said he practiced from eight to ten hours a day! I do not think this much practice is necessary, but if you would like to be even an "above-average" player I would reccommend you practice at least two hours every day. (Don't be afraid to take a day-long break if you get too bored...)

Answer 5

However long it takes you to be happy with how you are playing the piece you are working on.

It's not so much the quantity of time you spend practicing as much as the quality of the practicing you're doing and the amount of talent and musical background you have going into it.

I wish there was a definate answer, but it literally varies from person to person.

Answer 6

I'd say if you love playing the instrument play for as long as you feel in a day and set no limits. If it's something you like but are not that passionate about, I guess, 1 hour is enough on each instrument.

Answer 7

Forget the ongoing ramblings of the guy above. Short answer: When you make a living playing either instrument, then you can cut back to practicing 5-6 hours a day.

Answer 8

you should practice whatever song your doing about 4 times in a row each time trying to fix mistakes from the last one it's kind of addicting like when you make a lot of mistake you want to try to fix them all but you should practice each song 3 or 4 times in a row every day

Answer 9

for d guitar, ideally in d beginning atleast it shud b 6 hours, gradually u may reduce but not less than 4 hours..dunno abt d piano..sorry..