Is it hard to learn how to play an acoustic guitar?

Question

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I have been thinking about buying my own guitar but I'm don't want to waste the money if I am going to have trouble learning how to play it. So, if anyone has an acoustic guitar and can play it it would be very helpful if you would explain how easy or how confusing it is to learn. Is it easy or hard? Someone please answer very soon because I have my eye on a cheap guitar on ebay and the time is almost up. So someone please answer this question for me, I will be very happy!!

Answer 1

Please, please don't buy a guitar on e-bay, I saw one there the other day for a day, what do you think your going to get for a penny, yes that's right a penny. You get what you play for, and unless you can play this guitar before buying it don't. It may not even be playable, I've seen some of those so called buys on e-bay, the strings were way above the fret board, not even playable, your fingers and hands will kill you. Guitar is not an easy instrument to play, maybe if you just want to learn to play cords and just strum a little ok, but otherwise forget about it. Just like reading when you were little, you have to go throght the process, there was not easy quick way to learn that was there ? The same goes for guitar, it takes three months just to get the callouses that you need before playing doesn't kill your fingers and hands, but that does go away with daily practice, and you won't even notice it any more. Then it takes time to learn how to change cords smoothly and without struggle. It's also takes time to learn how to read music. Believe me you have to put in a lot of time and study, and hard work, ask any rock star it took them years of study to get where they are, it doesn't happen overhight. I always advise everyone to have a teacher, but I know a lot cannot afford one, but now that summer's here a lot of undergraduates teach students in the summertime, in your home, call the colleges in your area and see, or try your local music stores and see how much it would cost for weekly lessons. There are other ways to get an acoustic guitar, check your newpapers, this way you can check it out before you buy, take someone with you who can play and give you an oppion, or ask the person that your buying it from to play it and see what it sounds like, or you could ask your local music stores if they rent them out, a lot of them do. I hate to put a bummer on your e-bay guitar but I could bet that isn't not going to be a pretty experience. You have to hear, feel, and play a guitar to make sure that it's the one for you. To make learning all the funtimantal of guitar playing less boring for you just learn a couple of cords, you could play thousands of pieces with just a few cords, and this will help in getting your fingers and hands ready for playing plus give you those callouses you need, while your learning the other stuff nessasary for making you a good player. If you can't afford a teacher go to Sam Ash and ask them to recommend a good method book with the Cd in the back so you can follow your progress, and get a cord book. Hope this helped some. P.S. If your going to order that guitar anyway make sure that you can send it back if your not happy with it, and quickly have someone that knows how to play to tell you what they think, this way you can send it back before the times up. The most your going to lose is the cost of the guitar and the S&H and perhaps a lesson !!!!!!!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Hi Kristen, I don't know if you are planning on learning on an acoustic with a view to getting an electric when you are reasonably proficient or you are set on an acoustic period. I would recommend learning from scratch on an electric rather than acoustic whatever type of guitar you want to eventually play for two reasons.

Firstly the width of the acoustic body is a stretch to get to the strings whereas an electric is only a couple of inches thick & in many cases they have a sculptured body so they fit snugly against you so you can concentrate on your playing without any discomfort & secondly even on very cheap electrics the action (the height of the strings above the fretboard) is way lower than many acoustics, also electric strings are generally more pliable than acoustic so here again you will be able to concentrate on your playing rather than struggling to press strings down & get your arms round what will seem like a very large & cumbersome instrument at first.

Just a few thoughts from personal experience. Once you have mastered the basics on an electric-then changing to an acoustic will be an easy transition.

Answer 4

Kristen, I have been playing guitar for 31 years now. This I know, many people agree that the guitar is the most difficult instrument to learn to play correctly. I personally play nothing but acoustic guitar because of the soulful rich tone, and I have known some of the greatest guitar players that have ever lived. But you need to realize one thing. When we were learning life was different, today there are a number of video programs that can accelerate the learning process, I have known people that learned to play bass guitar in a couple of weeks who had no previous musical experience, and they went on to become excellent electric lead guitar players, still that is different from acoustic guitar which is an entirely different beast. If you want to learn fast and effeciently, you should NOT buy a cheap guitar. If you want a great playable instrument then I suggest you purchase a Gibson or Epiphone acoustic, and find a guitar guru that can set it up properly. The more comfortable and reliable the instrument, the faster you will learn. Good luck.

Answer 5

Kristen. DON'T buy a guitar on ebay. U don't know what ur getting. Go to ur local music shop, preferably with a friend who can play, and see what's in ur price range. Get ur friend, or an assistant to play a few. Hol one urself, see wht it feels like.Decide if u want nylon strings or steel (Steel sound brighter, but nylon are easier on the fingers). Be aware that it will hurt ur left hand fingertips at first as u hold down the chords, but this will pass. Also be aware that u can't have long, pretty nails on ur left hand.Buy a plectrum and a tuner (electronic if u can afford it). Buy a book of chords. Choose 2 or 3 - A D E are good.Practise one of them, say A, until you can sound it right. Then choose another, practise that. Then practise changing between them. There are stacks of songs out there with 3 chords. Early rock'n'roll (Hound Dog, Blue Suede Shoes) kid's songs (Going to the Zoo, He's Got the Whole World in His Hands) that only use 2 or 3 chords. I'm self taught, & have been playing for over 45 years, and teaching for over 20. U will need plenty of time to practise, and tolerance for that fingertip pain, but it is worth it. Go for it. If U need any more help, contact me thru Yahoo Answers.
Hope this helps

Answer 6

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Answer 7

I'm trying to teach myself to play the acoustic guitar. (Just started yesterday, lol) Anyway, I'm having great difficulty, I also play the clarinet and alto sax very well. But it takes a lot of practice. I'm determined to play it well.The worst thing right now is that my fingers are in AGONY, but they will harden and hurt less the more I practice and play.

My advice to you would be try it out!! Be determined and don't give up easy! It may come to you naturally and be easy, it may be difficult or anywhere inbetween. But don't just not try because somebody told you not to. It's up to you!

Answer 8

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Answer 10

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