It is very difficult to answer. It varies a lot from one person to another. The learning period depends hugely on the passion of the learner. Since I have experience teaching many students, I can give you an idea about the timeline as follows:
Finger Exercises: The hardest part of learning guitar is the first couple of months. Many students lose interest when they start doing finger exercises, but it is an important part of the learning process. Your style and smoothness of playing are mostly dependent on how accurately you complete the finger exercises. Practicing 20-25 minutes every day will help you get past this hard time. Finger exercises are necessary to shape your fingers properly, increase finger strength, and familiarize your fingers with the fretboard.
Basic Chords and Simple Songs: As soon as you finish basic finger exercises, you will begin learning basic open chords like G, E minor, C, D, etc. You might have lost your interest in guitar during the first two months; hold your breath! You will regain your interest in this phase for sure when you start learning how to play chords with simple songs you like. If you follow the first step diligently, you will be able to play simple songs by the end of the third month, for sure. Regular practice of 20-30 minutes will also be enough for this phase.
Intermediate Skills: This is the longest phase of the learning process, but you will learn a lot of skills and techniques during this phase. You will learn bar chords, power chords, and finger-picking, which allow you to play a large variety of songs. Learning different strumming patterns, understanding tempo and beats, and studying basic music theory are also part of this phase. If your progress is good, you will start learning different musical scales as well. Normally, intermediate skills need 4-12 months to develop if you practice regularly for 30-45 minutes.
Advanced Playing: After completing this phase, you can call yourself a guitarist. In this phase, you will learn all types of musical scales by doing a lot of finger exercises, various solo-playing techniques like arpeggio, pedal tone, sweep picking, etc., and finally, you will start covering complex guitar solos for your exercise. Theoretically, you will understand how scales are formed, how to play harmony, how melodies are improvised by advanced chords like G7, A-sus, etc., and how to read and write staffs in sheet music. To perform in a band or solo, you must complete this level. Normally, you need 1-2 years to complete this phase, but regular practice of 45-60 minutes may reduce the time frame.
Mastery Level: To play at a mastery level, you will need several more years. You will be able to reach this level by not only practicing regularly but also by performing before an audience. Without performing, you will not grow. Covering complex songs like “Panic Attack” (Dream Theater), “Dance of Death” (Iron Maiden), “November Rain” (Guns N’ Roses), etc., will help you improve your techniques and musical understanding. Besides, you should start creating and recording songs; many of your playing mistakes will be identified when you start recording.
It’s important to enjoy the process and celebrate small milestones along the way. Learning guitar is a continuous journey, and even after years of playing, there’s always something new to discover. With consistent practice and patience, you’ll see steady progress.
For basic learning, visit the page Level-01: Beginner (musicalhighbrow.com)
How often you should practice the guitar depends on your goals, schedule, and how quickly you want to progress. Here’s a general guideline:
Beginners: Practicing 15-30 minutes per day would be sufficient for a beginner guitar player. My advice is not to practice 1 hour on Sunday and 10 minutes on Tuesday; make a practice schedule based on your daily routine. Everyday practice is more effective in gaining finger strength, adopting a good finger shape, and building muscle memory. Keeping patience is vital for beginners. Do not hurry to the next step; just follow your master’s instruction.
Intermediate Players: It is ideal for an intermediate player to practice 30-45 minutes daily. This allows you to work on more advanced techniques like bar chords, scales, fingerpicking, and playing full songs. It is beneficial to divide your practice time into 3-4 segments. The segments can be divided as follows: a) warm-ups (for effective warm-up techniques, read this article: Fretty Hand Warmup (musicalhighbrow.com)) to remove inertia from your fingers, b) practicing techniques, c) song practice, and d) ear training.
Advanced Players: Advanced players should practice 45-60 minutes or more. There are many techniques to practice for an advanced guitar player, and they should focus on learning complex solos and developing a unique style. Practicing songs of different genres will keep you motivated if you are an advanced player. Experimenting with and covering challenging guitar solos or riffs will be very beneficial.
Ultimately, the key is to find a practice routine that fits your lifestyle and keeps you progressing steadily. Even a few minutes a day can make a big difference over time.
For basic learning, visit the page Level-01: Beginner (musicalhighbrow.com)
Don’t panic. It is very common for beginner guitar players. Here is why it happens and how to manage it:
Reasons Your Fingers Hurt:
Building Calluses: As a beginner, your fingertips are soft and unaccustomed to pressing down on the strings. Over time, repeated pressure causes the skin on your fingertips to harden and form calluses. This is a natural process, but it can be painful until the calluses fully develop.
String Tension and Gauge: The higher the string tension and string gauge, the more strength you need to press the strings, which makes your fingers hurt. As a beginner, you should use lower-gauge strings on your guitar, which will allow you to play comfortably.
Frequent Practice: Your fingertips will not get enough time to heal if you practice for a long time or frequently as a beginner; this results in soreness in your fingertips.
Improper Techniques: You should learn the proper techniques for holding a guitar as a beginner. Follow your master’s instruction diligently. If your fingers and hands are not in the proper position while playing, it may cause pain and injury.
Finger Fatigue: Playing guitar requires finger strength and dexterity, which can be exhausting for beginners. Finger fatigue can contribute to soreness, especially after long practice sessions.
Tips to Manage and Reduce Finger Pain:
Gradual Practice: As a beginner, keep your practice sessions short but effective and regular. Regular practice sessions are highly recommended for beginner guitar players.
Use Lighter Strings: Using lighter-gauge strings will definitely make your practice sessions more comfortable. Normally, heavier strings provide a heavier sound, but you do not need heavier strings as a beginner.
Proper Technique: Learning proper technique is key to avoiding finger injury. Do not press down on the strings too hard; it will tire your fingers quickly. Press down on the strings just hard enough to produce a clear sound.
Take Breaks: Taking breaks during practice sessions will allow your fingers to recover if they hurt. Create a practice schedule that includes break time.
Warm Up: Warming up before practice is a great way to increase the stamina of your fingers. It will make your fingers relaxed and ready to play. For warming up techniques, you can visit: Fretty Hand Warmup (musicalhighbrow.com).
Moisturize: Using moisturizers will prevent your fingers from becoming sore. However, remember that moisturizers are harmful to strings as they can cause rust.
Pain Relief: If your fingers hurt a lot, try soaking them in hot water or using an ice pack for pain relief. Use a pain reliever if the injury is severe.
Long-Term Perspective:
The good news is that finger pain usually subsides as your fingers get stronger and calluses form. With regular practice, you’ll find that your fingertips become less sensitive, and the discomfort will diminish.
Stick with it, and you’ll soon reach a point where finger pain is no longer an issue!
For basic learning, visit the page Level-01: Beginner (musicalhighbrow.com)