Is It Hard To Learn Acoustic Guitar? All You Need To Know

There are many people who would love to learn a new skill like playing an instrument but are discouraged by the process and potential difficulties. The acoustic guitar is one of the examples. It is among the most popular instruments in the world, and many have one in their attics. 

But is it hard to learn to play acoustic guitar? It depends on your goals. Learning the basics of the acoustic guitar is actually rather simple. However, if you plan on mastering the instrument or any other musical instrument, then it might be one of the most challenging things. 

The only thing or question that’s important is what are your goals. What is the thing you aim to achieve when it comes to playing the guitar? Based on it, the difficulty might vary. 

Is The Acoustic Guitar Easy Or Hard To Learn?

Learning how to play the guitar can be quite difficult at the beginning. Especially if you don’t know anything about music. You will need to learn a bit about music theory, and there are tons of new terms like chords, frets, notes, and others. 

There are so many new things you’ll need to absorb, and on top of that, you will need to adjust to playing the instrument. This includes positions of your fingers, coordination between hands, fingerpicking, and so much more. 

This is why many people simply give up at the beginning. Because it can be overwhelming. As a result, people start believing that they aren’t built or meant to play the guitar and that it is such a rare gift only a few people have. 

But playing the guitar gets easier with time. You will become more familiar with the instrument, a lot of terms will turn out to be quite logical and simple, and you will become significantly more confident after the first song you learn. 

Furthermore, in the beginning, it will be quite painful for your play for hours and hours without a pause. Your fingers will hurt, you will get tired, and it will be impossible for you to continue. 

However, after enough practice, you will build calluses on your fingers, and it won’t be painful anymore to play the guitar. This is just one part of the process that gets easier by the minute, and there are so many others. 

How Long Does It Take To Learn Acoustic Guitar?

There are many factors that can affect the time needed to learn how to play acoustic guitar. The most important question is about your goals. How much do you want to learn? What are your dreams when it comes to this instrument?

You can learn the basics of the instrument in just a couple of months. The guitar is not the hardest instrument to play, and there are so many instruments that are more challenging. 

There is one important thing I need to discuss. The amount of time you spend practicing will determine your progress. If you spend a couple of hours each day, you will notice the results in just a couple of weeks or months. 

However, if you continue with this tempo, you will become more and more familiar with the instrument, and you will notice the rapid progression in your technique. 

Of course, if you don’t practice enough, all the time in the world won’t be enough for you to learn how to play it. 

The second thing is related to goals. After two or three months, you will have a better command of the basic chords and switching between them. But after a year, you will be able to play almost all chords without problems. 

Finally, if you aim to become a legend on the acoustic guitar, a virtuoso like Tommy Emanuel, unfortunately, it might take you a lifetime. Music is something that keeps offering so much more, and you will never be in a situation where you can say that you know everything about it.

Even the greatest guitarists in the world keep practicing daily and improving their skills. Or simply trying out something new and different. 

How Hard Is It To Learn Guitar On Your Own?

Learning how to play the guitar on your own is one of the most difficult things when it comes to the guitar. You have no idea where to start or what are your mistakes. However, it is still possible to do it if that’s what you want. 

Most well-known players are self-taught. Clapton, Sting, Hendrix, Knopfler, all learn to play the guitar alone. This, of course, requires that special something or talent, or music ear that will help you along the way.

But today, things are a bit easier than they were fifty years ago. Firstly, you have the internet that offers so many incredible lessons, tips, and tricks for the guitar. 

All you need to do is search the song and you will find a video lesson that shows how it’s played. It is no longer a special skill that only the chosen people have, and you can achieve it on your own. 

Even though it will be challenging from time to time, you can do it if you focus and practice enough. 

How Much Does An Acoustic Guitar Cost?

The price of the acoustic guitar starts at around $100, and it can go well over $5,000. Naturally, you don’t need a high-end instrument if you are a beginner, and you can easily find a decent acoustic for $200 or $300. 

Getting the cheapest available model is often a mistake, and they can be quite bad. You will have a lot of problems trying to play them, and they often have such a low quality that they aren’t even worth $100. 

The price of a beginner’s guitar can be up to $300, and you will get a nice instrument that will serve you for a long time or until you’re ready to move to something that has a different sound and additional features. 

How Much Do Guitar Lessons Cost?

Guitar lesson prices can be divided into 2 – online and face to face. Needless to say, online lessons are cheaper, and the price for them is between $10 and $20 per month. Private or face to face lessons are a bit more expensive and they can be up to $60 per one hour class. 

Lessons are a great way to learn faster, especially with a good teacher. They’ll be able to point out your mistakes, and show you how to learn properly. 

This is why it is always a good idea to take lessons if you are in a position to do so. Naturally, the price depends on the type of teacher, their knowledge, whether you have individual or group classes, your skill level, and so on. 

Should I Learn Acoustic Or Electric Guitar First?

If your wish is to play an acoustic guitar, and that’s something you find exciting, you should go for it. However, if you want to become an electric guitar player, there is no reason for you to learn acoustic guitar. 

Even though both instruments have “guitar” in their names, there are a lot of differences between the two. Firstly, the way you play them is different. Electric guitars are usually played while standing, while you will sit for an acoustic one. 

Moreover, classical guitars are almost always accompanied by the guitar stool that helps you keep the right posture. 

The other major difference is the technique. Acoustic and electric guitarists are two different species. Although they are related, and come from the same place, they often don’t understand each other. 

On acoustic guitar, you won’t be able to bend as much as you can on the electric one, and even if you do, it might be painful due to the string gauge. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

Electric guitars have effects and you can just increase the gain to get a fuller tone. On the acoustic guitar, you will have to make the tone sound fuller with your technique. 

So, focus on the thing you enjoy. It doesn’t matter if it’s the electric or acoustic guitar as long as you enjoy playing it and want to master it. 

Some people claim that you should start with the acoustic one, but I don’t subscribe to that point of view. I firmly believe that you should stick to the one you enjoy and that it is the only right way to go. 

Is Learning The Acoustic Guitar The Same As The Electric?

The first part is. Both guitars have the same notes (if they are in the same tuning), and the basic theory is the same. However, there are many techniques you can use on electric guitar that are unavailable on the acoustic. 

If you plan on learning basics, chords, and a bit of music theory, then both guitars are the same. But electric guitars often have more frets, they have whammy bars you can use, pickups, amplifiers, pedals, and so on. 

The basic idea behind both instruments is the same, and you could play one if you know how to play the other. But once you learn more about the instrument you will start focusing on different techniques that aren’t available on both types. 

For example, many acoustic players mastered the technique of using the body of the guitar as percussions. On electric guitar, hitting the body is pointless since it doesn’t use the resonator and the sound is created in the pickups. 

Summary

The guitar is not the easiest instrument to learn and it can be quite challenging, especially in the beginning. However, with enough practice, you will be able to master it. 

There are several factors that will determine the speed of your progress. The amount of time you spend practicing, whether you are learning by yourself or having classes, type of guitar, size, and so on. 

The only important thing is to keep pushing and learning. With enough practice and dedication, you’ll be able to learn how to play it, and it might go a lot faster than you’d expect.