Learning the piano is a beautiful way to make music, and so is playing guitar. Do you have to learn the piano before you can play guitar? Can you do both? Most importantly, does it help to play the piano first? It depends on your goals. Naturally, if you want to play the piano and guitar, you’ll have to practice both. However, for those who only want to play guitar, the piano isn’t necessary first. Fortunately, if you already play a little piano, you may have good music reading skills and a music theory background. That certainly won’t hurt. However, guitar players may find their string experience doesn’t translate so well to piano playing. Either way, there’s a lot to learn. I’ll explain how the guitar and piano relate for new learners and clear up a lot of these questions so you can focus on the music.
Do you have to learn piano before guitar? You do not need to learn the piano to play the guitar. Although the piano is a fantastic way to learn music theory and how to read music, the two instruments require different skills and muscle memory. If you want to play guitar, the best way to learn is to pick one up and get started.
Is it Better to Learn Piano or Guitar First?
If you plan to play both the piano and guitar, you may want to start with the piano, but you do not have to learn to play guitar. Both are outstanding instruments that will give you a good foundation in music. For people who want to know the guitar, the best place to start is with the guitar.
However, for those still in debate and genuinely enjoy both, there are some excellent reasons to begin with the piano. As Elite Music points out, “For a beginner, it is easier to learn and memorize the notes on a piano because they repeat in the same pattern across all the keys.”
Additionally, a piano isn’t going to give you calluses as you strum. The smoothness of piano keys is less likely to abraid skin. The piano also teaches scales, timing, notation, chord signatures, and other vital musical skills.
Overall, the piano is simpler to pick up initially, though it will likely take much longer to master. Once you move beyond the beginning levels of music, you have more notes and often more complex fingering to work out.
A good piano teacher will offer formal training in music reading and music theory. Additionally, for many new learners, the piano has more instant gratification. You can learn a couple of less complicated songs on the first day. The ability to play something right away is a fantastic motivator. Especially when you struggle with new skills, a piano is the way to go.
Nevertheless, I recommend aspiring guitarists to play guitar. Learning to ‘tickle the ivories’ is not going to give you guitar skills. Only patience, perseverance, and dedication will get you to your guitar playing goals.
Guitar All-in-One For Dummies may have a silly name, but it’s for serious learners who want to start simply. You get the book plus an online video and audio tutorial all in one. Follow the step-by-step instructions and begin your guitar journey now. Read the outstanding Amazon Reviews by clicking here.
Is it Easier to Learn Guitar if You Play Piano
It is going to be easier to play the guitar if you play the piano first. Fortunately, this is not because you have to learn piano before guitar. However, the musical background that piano lessons give you will help with any instrument, including guitar.
When you understand chord progressions on the piano, for example, the knowledge translates to the guitar. Since you don’t have to learn from scratch, you will pick up the concept more quickly. That said, piano playing won’t help you learn guitar fingering. The two motions are very different.
Another significant bonus is patience. With a piano, the learning curve gets steeper as you grow your skill. A guitar has a less steep slope from beginner to intermediate and on to advanced playing. Much of the information is there already, but speed and precision are lacking.
Those who have benefited from formal piano lessons will find self-teaching isn’t as hard on the guitar. Since the background in music is already there, the practice portion is all that remains. Getting to the point where you have the motions and tempo worked into your muscle memory will take time, but you won’t need to re-learn how music works.
Learn to play acoustic and electric guitar with Phil Capone: Learn to Play the Guitar guide from Amazon. This beautiful hardcover book comes with a CD to help you learn quickly. With over fifty play-along songs, you’ll be jamming out in no time. Get yours by clicking here.
Should I Learn Guitar and Piano at the Same Time
Deciding whether to learn two instruments at once is a big deal. On the one hand, you don’t need to worry about whether you need to learn piano before guitar, and you will be learning skills that apply to both anyway. On the other hand, you have to commit more time.
Assuming you have both the time and drive, simultaneously learning piano and guitar is an outstanding choice. When you learn two different instruments, you challenge your mind to pick out the correlations. How does composition relate to the different sounds and styles? Can you play the same song on both? The differences and similarities aid you in comprehending how music works, the theory, and practice.
Furthermore, both instruments have advantages that you cannot get from the other. You can tune your guitar to different keys and experiment with the sound more efficiently. Plus, a guitar is portable, and you can take it on the go to practice.
A piano may not travel as quickly, but music written in standard notation is playable on any piano. Many composers use the piano even when writing music for other instruments, and the rich, classic tones are used in many types of music that don’t use the guitar.
Will Learning Piano Help With Guitar
There are numerous advantages which playing the piano can give you. You don’t have to learn piano before you play guitar, but if you plan to play in a band and write your own music, it certainly helps. Because of the range, playing the piano will give you a deeper understanding of melodies.
The foundation in scales chords is beneficial. Likewise, you will be able to use the piano to help you work out notes for your guitar. Moreover, as a pianist, you likely already read music, and your hands already practice stretching for notes.
The focus a pianist has from practicing will also help you with your guitar. Since you can’t pick up your piano and take it to a more distracting environment quickly, you get used to spending the time necessary all in one session. Furthermore, you can write and record music you wouldn’t play with just one instrument.
Having more than one perspective on playing music will open you up to new worlds and sounds. You can get inspiration for your guitar music from playing the piano and vice versa. Plus, a pianist can pick up a keyboard and add even more sounds at the touch of a button. It gives you more opportunities.
Do you want to play for fun, or would you like to work as a musician someday? If it’s just for giggles, then you don’t need additional skills. Working musicians will find more jobs if they are versatile and versed in more instruments and styles.
Guitar players will have an easier time adding the piano to their repertoire later as well. Any solid musical foundation is a bonus when you branch out. Still, there’s no need, to begin with, a different instrument from the one you want to play. Doing so will take longer. If you’re going to play guitar, you need a guitar.
The Play Guitar Today! Beginner’s Pack: Book/CD/DVD Pack will get you started right. Designed for self-teaching, you’ll have everything you need to get started. Just add your guitar. Best of all, the instructional DVD will help you learn to read the notes so you can play any music you like. Learn more on Amazon by clicking here.
Final Thoughts
Do You Have to Learn Piano Before Guitar – YouTube
Whether your goal is to play the guitar, the piano, or both, there’s no better time to start than now. After all, you can’t learn if you don’t play. The practice is everything unless you’re a prodigy, which most of us will never be.
Since the finger work is very different for these two instruments, you’ll find that a lot of the skill doesn’t translate back and forth. Still, reading music and understanding the theory behind it will always help. No matter what instrument you play, you can always start with the one you prefer.
For those seeking to learn both piano and guitar, there’s no reason you shouldn’t play both. Set aside practice time every day or two for each instrument, and you’ll be playing in no time.