How hard is it to learn electric guitar? is it much harder than bass?

Question

can already play the bass slightly, but is it harder to learn electric guitar ? are chords really that hard to learn how to do ?

also is it a good idea to get lessons or can you learn through tabs, like the bass ?

thanks.

Answer 1

Well, it depends on you passion for the guitar and if you have musical talent. Ive been playing the electric guitar for 9 months and i can play all of sweet child o mine, iron man, crazy train, face down, kryptonite, ect. I practice 3 hours a day though. and id say it is a lot harder than bass because you play more difficult parts of a song on the guitar.  

Answer 2

yes, it's much harder.

There are 50% more strings to remember the notes on :)

And for most kids the only thing that seems to matter is banging out chords, which of course require more fingers to be in the right place on a guitar compared to a bass.

However, if you're really interested in learning to play, I don't think it matter much.

Answer 3

Comparing bass to guitar is a lot like comparing violin to guitar: there are similarities but the role they serve in a band is completely different. That is the one fundamental difference. Also, there are techniques that are more suited for one instrument than another. I wouldn't say guitar is much harder to play than bass... it's just a different instrument.

I teach guitar and bass lessons for living, so I can tell you that it is all in the hard work you want to put in. The three P's as they say: Practice, Practice, Practice! But there is more to it than that. I really suggest you research reputable teachers in your area and get someone to take lessons with. A good teacher will expedite the process and make things a lot easier for you; especially beginners. I've noticed that some beginners exhibit really good technique without being shown what to do yet may not understand the more cerebral side of things (theory and the such); while I've meet students who are the exact opposite. A teacher can help you target your weak areas and speed up the learning process. They give you the direction you need and the road map you need to get where you are going.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

To be honest, that's like asking how long a piece of string is. Playing any instrument is as difficult or easy as you want it to be, as there is an ever-increasing scale of mastery. You don't really need lessons to learn, especially as you buy books, videos and go on the internet to learn. Practise is the main thing!

In terms of chords, they're probably the simplest thing to learn when it comes to the electric guitar. You'll be surprised at how simple they are. For example, a lot of rock and metal guitarists use a sort of "semi-chord" called a 5th, also known as a power chord. You only need two fingers for these, they're that simple. And you can play hundreds of rock tunes with them.

Tab books: pretty good if you want to learn your favourite bands' songs for rote, but don' focus all your attention on them. Try listening to guitar lines and attempt to figure them out for yourself. Get books and videos that teach you techniques, rather than just songs.