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Post subject: How long did it take you to get proficient with guitar?
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:35 pm
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Hi,

I have been on a tear to learn to play guitar lately. Thanks to business being horribly slow, I am able to practice between half an hour and 2 hours per day. Being 41 means I learn slower then I used to.

I thought it would be interesting to hear from all of you how long it took you to get to where you felt proficient with guitar. I know the term proficient with guitar is very open to interpretation, but how many hours of practice do you think it took to get there?

Martin


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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:49 pm
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I'm still waiting.........

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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:52 pm
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Quote:
I know the term proficient with guitar is very open to interpretation


You're right about that! I've been striving towards that goal for over 40 years! During that time I have achieved a fair bit of good playing and a few moments of brilliance.

I think it comes down to this: The more you enjoy it, the more you do it. The more you do it, (practice), the better you get!

Cheers
Gridlok 8)


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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 1:01 pm
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I attended a Jazz college in the mid nineties and I was practicing 3 hours a day. I had to drop out at Christmas because I didn't learn everything I needed to pass the term. They said I hadn't put in enough practice time.

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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 1:13 pm
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39 years and counting...

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Post subject: Re: How long did it take you to get proficient with guitar?
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:06 pm
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pro3dguy wrote:
Hi,

I have been on a tear to learn to play guitar lately. Thanks to business being horribly slow, I am able to practice between half an hour and 2 hours per day. Being 41 means I learn slower then I used to.

I thought it would be interesting to hear from all of you how long it took you to get to where you felt proficient with guitar. I know the term proficient with guitar is very open to interpretation, but how many hours of practice do you think it took to get there?

Martin

P3,hi bro,you may be there already, it sort of depends on if your a soloist or if you're going for an ensemble type of gig, if you're playing and singing as a solo and you can get through your act without too many "obvious " flubs start working, if you're going for the ensemble/band way then getting with those other people will get you used to timing and chord changes sometimes people learn and perform better in that setting (i'm that way better players bring better playing out of me).

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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:43 pm
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CAFeathers wrote:
I'm still waiting.........


Me too.........

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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:54 pm
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I guess it depends on what is considered proficient. I only play well enough to have fun, in my opinion.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:26 pm
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Proficient?

I'd start with competent--then go for proficient--But I guess it depends what those words mean as far as guitar playing, and what you want to do.

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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:27 pm
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I'm almost good enough to play for family and close friends around a campfire, not quite good enough for open mike night at a coffee house, a long way from a covers band in a bar, and then that little bit further from an international stadium tour...

Started in September and probably practice 3-4 hours a week.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:30 pm
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Hello Pro3dgy,

I've been at it for about 40 years.
I'm still not good enough. :shock:

Cheers.


Last edited by Mr Bill on Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:22 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:49 pm
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I've only been back at it for a few years now but I'm 'proficient' enough to have fun playing alone and with others which is all I really need. I even got to play a few tunes with a friend of mine at his regular wednesday night bar gig once. That was really a blast, drunk girls LOVE Tom Petty evidently. :lol: :wink:


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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 10:15 pm
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Guess it depends on what you consider proficient. I've been playing acoustic for about 40 years and electric for a little over a year. I wouldn't consider myself proficient yet, but the rest of the family plays professionally so I try to avoid playing when they are around. Makes me feel like a beginner. Guess I'm proficient enough to enjoy playing and teaching MY kids. Hopefully whatever gene I missed they got. My son is 10 and I figure he will pass me up in a year or 2. I started teaching him banjo at about 5 - the slim neck and light action suited his hands at that age and gave him my old acoustic a few years later. He got a Strat for his 9th birthday and really started catching up with me. If proficient means having fun playing and kicking one out for friends now and then but knowing better than to get on stage, I guess I'm there.


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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:01 am
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Over 45 years now and I still can't get it right.

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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:20 am
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Hi pro3dguy,

With a user name such as you have I would venture to guess you may run a software called Pro/Engineer? If you do, than music is sort of like running that. there is always something new to try. Like you I started playing late in life (59) so if I'm going to be proficent I better hurry up.

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