How Long Should It Take An Adult To Learn To Play A Musical Instrument?

[Proudiddy]

Anyone with a musical background? How long would you think it would take someone to learn to play a guitar or drums proficiently?

I actually played the trumpet and percussion in middle school like 17 years ago or so, lol, but I remember almost nothing about it. I'm looking at taking lessons and I'm hoping to learn guitar and possibly the drums once I'm comfortable with that.

Anyone else here pickup and learn an instrument as an adult?

[Panthro]

my tombstone would say "Still couldn't play Plush"

[cookinbrak]

If you just wanna learn chords and strum Beatles songs, a couple of weeks.

 

Crazy Train, at least 6 months, if you practice.

 

Thunderstruck.....I still can't play it twice in a row correctly.

[Jase]

depends on talent and how much work you put in, it's really hard to say.

 

If you have a basic understanding of music theory, you can pick up most things relatively quickly.

[Mvp2014]

my tombstone would say "Still couldn't play Plush"

Easy song

[Anybodyhome]

It's kinda like the ol' "riding a bike" theory. I played trumpet from third grade all the way thru high school and can still run scales, although the notes don't come as easily. I was pretty fuggin' good, too. Always sat first chair and never really had any competition, although I had to relinquish my spot when it conflicted with my HS baseball and basketball careers. But I played daily and practiced an hour a day and was even writing music for myself by the time I was 14.

 

I began playing bass guitar when I was about 18 when I was in the Navy. A girl I was dating in Northern California was a regular baby sitter for Larry Graham, who was the long-time bass player for Sly & The Family Stone and founder of Graham Central Station, gave me a bass and a small amp and he taught me some stuff. But I haven't played in about 20 years and I don't think I can remember much about it.

 

I think you tend to retain less of something you learn as an adult than than what you learn early in life.

[Panthro]

Easy song

 

exactly

[Zcustom]

Focus on one instrument to start, and don't pay for lessons.  There's enough info on youtube for you to get the majority of the basics out of the way.

 

Music is instinctual, and if you have an innate ability to play it that will come out on its own.  It may not happen right away, but if you can stick with it you will get there.

 

Lastly, guitar players are a dime a dozen, so only learn that instrument if you get great satisfaction out of playing it.  If you want to get into a band and play in front of crowds learn the bass or drums, those players are always in demand.  Trust me, music touches your soul, and the only thing more gratifying is when what you are playing touches other peoples souls. 

[Zcustom]

Oh and to actually answer your question it only takes a couple months to learn "how" to play, it takes forever to master it.

[TheRumGone]

it's hard as fug, and takes a lot of time and effort.

[Salvo]

I taught myself the guitar when I was a junior in HS...and it probably took me less than a month to actually begin playing songs. I commited a few hours a day and then more once my callouses built in. Playing in a blues band right from the get-go helped me along, so if you're able to find anybody to jam with (doesn't have to be a band), that will significantly expedite your learning process. That doesn't matter if you're playing guitar, drums, bass, or whatever...there's just something about playing music with others that makes it that much more gratifying which will improve your learning process tenfold.

 

It just all depends how driven you are to learn and how committed you can be to it each day...no matter the instrument.

[OneBadCat]

Depends on the instrument, your patience and talent level. I've played piano for 10 years now. I took lessons for 5 years and only took it seriously for the last 2. You really need to pay attention and focus to be able learn songs and play with people. However, now days I try to write my own songs just by discovering sounds based on limited scale knowledge. I know major/minor and few pentatonic scales.

 

I grew up an artist. I painted and drew a lot as a boy but when learned enough piano it became my paint brush entirely. Musical instruments are a beautiful thing if you can see them in that way.

 

I will say though many of the things that make one instrument difficult apply to other instruments. For example with piano you kind of have to learn to synchronize your left and right brain. Or I guess you could say your left and right hand. Left hand usually carries the rhythm and bass while the right plays chords and solos.  I find this to be similar to drums which I suck at. Being able to keep a beat with your feet and play sticks at the same time take a sht ton of coordination.

[Mother Grabber]

if it's the uilleann pipes...a long time.

[Happy Panther]

Anyone with a musical background? How long would you think it would take someone to learn to play a guitar or drums proficiently?

I actually played the trumpet and percussion in middle school like 17 years ago or so, lol, but I remember almost nothing about it. I'm looking at taking lessons and I'm hoping to learn guitar and possibly the drums once I'm comfortable with that.

Anyone else here pickup and learn an instrument as an adult?

 

Bill Murray did it in one day