Choosing one of the two most popular instruments in the world to start on has many advantages. The only downside is deciding whether you should learn piano or guitar first. Either way, you’ll have access to instruments, parts, instructors, songbooks, and more virtually anywhere in the world. Better still, choosing piano or guitar means you will learn music theory and develop a solid background in music as you practice your instrument. So how do you pick? Well, you can always go with your heart if you have a preference; in fact, that would be wise. However, when it’s a tie, there are some easy answers. For example, a piano is a little easier to begin with, but gets much harder as you learn, but the guitar is a steady skill progression. I will share everything you need to know to compare the two and make the right choice.
Should I learn piano or guitar first? It would be best if you learned the guitar first rather than the piano. While a piano is a little easier, both teach sound musical theory. When learning both, fingering is harder on the guitar, and it’s easier to pick up the piano once you know music theory. The piano is also harder to master, so beginners are better off with a slow but easier skill progression on guitar.
Is Piano More Difficult Than Guitar
Piano and guitar are both uniquely challenging, beautiful instruments with rich histories and deep roots in music theory. Choosing whether to play guitar or piano first can be quite a challenge. A piano player will almost certainly be able to pick out a few simple songs right away, but the tradeoff may surprise you.
If you are uncertain, flip a coin. While the coin is in the air, you will almost certainly hope it lands on a particular side. Ignore the result and go with the option your instincts wanted. That said, the guitar is easier to carry with you, but it’s also harder to get started playing.
The piano is easier to begin. The notes are simple to find, and it doesn’t cause calluses on your fingers the way a guitar will. However, the learning curve from beginner to master is steeper than you might imagine.
Another thing to consider is the grip. Beginning students with small hands will find the piano much simpler to play. When you reach complex music, a smaller hand is a disadvantage with any instrument because the finger reach is smaller. Guitarists start with a tougher hand position.
Once you’ve gotten to the intermediate level, it will rapidly become harder to progress. Basic music theory, chords, and other parts of the piano play are all a matter of simple practice and memorization. Beyond that, you will reach a point where the complex pieces and the feeling with which you play are not so easy. It is also noteworthy that many university-level musical programs require you to have a knowledge of the piano.
A guitar takes a little longer to get started. Your hands will hurt more, and there will be more frustration. Nevertheless, mastering a guitar is a smaller slope. If you practice daily and don’t stop, you will reach the pinnacle of the art at roughly the same pace you began, though it will still take years.
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Is Guitar Or Piano More Fun
Piano may be more instant gratification, but the guitar is a lot more fun. When you pick either guitar or piano to learn first, it’s important to consider your own nature. If you are solitary and prefer to sit alone and listen to music, the piano is for you. However, humans are social creatures, and guitars are made for events and parties.
When your idea of fun is more about the music and learning, the piano will have you working on melodies before chords. You will take a deeper dive into music theory and history with this instrument. A lot of what counts as ‘fun’ depends on the player.
A guitarist will often find themselves welcome for their skill, even when beginning their musical journey. It’s a lot of fun to be admired and the center of attention. Whether you rock or sing soft lullabies, this is the way to go for a good time. Guitar players are seen as cool almost by default.
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Is Guitar Or Piano More Attractive
The trope of the sexy musician is a lot of fun, but is it true? Does it matter whether you choose to play the piano or the guitar first? Most importantly, is one more attractive than the other? There are plenty of opinions on the subject, but I went digging for facts.
According to Pubmed, being a musician makes you more attractive to other musically inclined people. In general, no particular instrument comes out as a clear winner. What is obvious from at least one study is that musicians who perform in a private setting are more desirable than non-musicians or public performers.
If I’d had to guess, that wouldn’t have been what I expected. The guitar offers curves and beauty that accentuate a player. A piano seems more distant and almost up on a pedestal. To certain people, both of those things would be attractive. Certainly, guitarists are always portrayed as attractive in pop culture.
You can’t go wrong with developing a talent regardless. So I’d still recommend the guitar for portability and the obvious cultural implications.
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Is Piano Or Guitar More Popular
Deciding whether to play the piano or guitar first is a popularity contest. While you should play whichever you like best, the overall popularity of both instruments is undeniable. Which one is the winner? It’s an incredibly close call.
Over time, the piano is the more popular instrument. Pianos have been around longer, and as a result, far more piano players have made the beauty of this classical instrument well known. The advantage of time has given the piano a lasting impact on world music.
There is hardly a place on earth where the people haven’t seen or heard a piano. Perhaps a few distant pockets of humanity where people still live nomadic or very simple lives know nothing of the piano, but the rest of us are familiar.
The piano is the most played instrument in the world. Additionally, it is a complete acoustic option because of the sheer number of notes available. You can quite literally play any song on a piano.
Alternately, the guitar is a much more popular modern instrument. Where a piano is often seen as old-fashioned and outdated, the guitar has been meteoric in it’s rise to fame. Over the last few decades this far more portable instrument has brought it’s sound to every corner of the earth as well.
There are certainly advantages to both. For now, the guitar is king, but in all of human history, the piano is the supreme leader. Either way, you’ll have a beautiful, challenging, and well-loved instrument.
It is a lot harder to bring a piano with you to jam sessions. If you want to be able to play anywhere, the guitar is the way to go. A keyboard may be portable, but an acoustic guitar needs no power, and only needs a bag and strap to play.
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Final Thoughts
Ultimately, which instrument you learn first will always be up to you. However, I strongly recommend learning the harder fingering on the guitar before you learn to play piano for what it’s worth. Since music theory will translate no matter what you play, it’s worth the time to do this first.
I do not suggest trying to play both at the same time. It might seem sensible to multitask, but studies show that it makes you less effective at each individual task. Focus and practice are the keys to making good music.
Learning the guitar is slower at first, but the skill is cumulative and the learning curve is less steep from beginning to mastery. Piano may give you immediate satisfaction, but once you’ve learned the basics it’s a tough uphill path from there.