Guitar vs Piano: Which One is Better to Learn?

Guitar vs Piano: Which One Is Easier To Play?

There are several levels to this question. While both instruments take lots of practice to get good at, the learning processes are different. In the beginning, the guitar is harder to learn. Why?—you may ask.

Let's look at the most obvious level of playing both instruments. Anyone can create sound on the piano. All you need to do is push down on the keys with your fingers. The instrument is a lot easier to play at first because beginners can make instant music. On the guitar, you put more effort into playing the notes. One hand holds down strings while the other plays the strings.

With that said, playing the piano gives beginners more instant gratification. You can compare both instruments to gears on a bicycle. It's easier to start on a lower gear as you're first starting to pedal. Learning the guitar is like starting on gear 14, while learning the piano is like starting on 7.

However, once you start getting the hang of the guitar, things can change. After a month or two, you'll start being able to play chords more fluently. Then, songs are much easier to learn, and guitarists have much better experiences than before.

With both instruments, things start leveling out after some time. The only difference is, with the guitar, it might happen a little bit quicker. Leveling out means getting to a point where you can confidently say, "Okay, I'm pretty good." However, in terms of mastery, both instruments require a bunch of practice.

Which Instrument Should You Learn?

Music is a language. Within this language, there are different niches for different people. The biggest factor when deciding to learn the piano or guitar is your desire. How many times have you had the urge to learn the piano? How about the guitar? Both instruments can give you and others around you lots of joy. They both take time to learn.

If you want to see instant results, I'd say go with the piano. Learning the piano takes technique, but it's not as complex as the guitar at first. Playing the guitar, you almost have to use good technique to produce a good sound.

If you're willing to get past the guitar's learning curve, it might be best for you to learn. Learning the guitar, you also have to go through some finger pain.

Experienced guitar players have calluses on their fingertips that enable them to play without pain. If you play each day, it takes about 2-4 weeks to develop guitar calluses. But, for those first several weeks, you have to brave the pain.

Learning the piano also has a learning curve. Like the guitar, playing the piano takes a lot of precise fingering. When you reach an intermediate level in piano lessons, things seem to slow down. You start focusing on specific pieces that take weeks or months to learn. Since you don't learn a large number of songs, it's harder to see your own progress.

However, what I'm describing is the piano lessons route. This route isn't always necessary. If you reach an intermediate level without traditional piano lessons, you can do what you wish with your skills. You could learn a high amount of simple music or a low amount of harder music. There are many great ways to reach the intermediate level with the help of the internet.

Guitar vs Piano: Important Factors to Consider

Piano vs Guitar by Alamo Music Center

Wrapping Up

Even though they have many differences, the piano and guitar are both excellent instruments for anyone to play. Finding out which one is best for you is ultimately your decision. The piano offers a bit more instant gratification, and the guitar better suits genres like rock, blues, and pop. Figure out what musical qualities you desire most, and get to playing!