Is Piano Or Guitar Easier to Learn?
So, you want to be a musician. Choosing your first instrument can be difficult, but is piano or guitar easier to learn? Which instrument should you go for if you are brand new to music, and what are the pitfalls to avoid as a budding musician?
Of course, the question of piano vs guitar is a little subjective, some people find one easier than the other, but generally speaking, there are patterns to what people find tough. This means we can advise on which instrument is better to get started.
Is Piano or Guitar Easier to Learn? Each Instrument Explored
Learning to Play Guitar – Pros and Cons
A lot of people have a romantic image of standing on stage wowing the crowds with their guitar skills, but is it easy to get to grips with the basics? What are the good and bad things about learning to play the guitar when compared to piano.
Pros:
- A good guitar is cheaper than a good piano. More models are available and the prices are more reasonable. Digital pianos and keyboards are an option, but guitars still tend to be easier on the bank balance.
- Guitars are more portable. It’s easier to take a guitar to lessons or to a friends house to practice.
Cons:
- Guitars often need more maintenance. You might have to replace strings regularly, and you will definitely have to tune a lot more than you would a piano.
- Getting your hands used to playing can be very difficult. You may end up with calloused hands and struggle to build the finger strength. Finger workouts are not the most exciting thing to practice.
Learning to Play Piano – Pros and Cons
Likewise, there are positives and negatives to consider when it comes to learning how to play piano.
Pros:
- Starting to play the very basics is simpler. You don’t have to worry about hurting the tips of your fingers or becoming stronger.
- Visually, it is easier to see what you are doing when learning piano. With a guitar, seeing the neck can be tougher, but with a piano, the keys are laid out in front of you.
- There are some really simple and easy piano songs out there, that can be learned in very little time, even by beginners. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol is an example of a song with a simple melody and simple chords.
Cons:
- It’s easier to play piano if you learn to read music, and this can be time-consuming. It isn’t absolutely essential, but you can’t rely on tablature, which is a simplified way of learning how to play a song on guitar.
- Acoustic pianos are hard to come by. They take up a lot of space and don’t come cheap, either. You may be restricted to a keyboard or digital piano to start with, though this isn’t too much of an inconvenience, and it helps with portability.
Wrapping it Up – Which Instrument is Best For You?
So, is piano or guitar easier to learn? There’s definitely an element of personal preference. If you are desperate to learn one of these two instruments and aren’t bothered about the other, follow your passion! You are much more likely to stick to the hobby if you know that the end result will be you playing the instrument you love.
Basically speaking, piano may be easier initially to begin to play basic melodies. There are less barriers to getting started, and you can be playing simple songs quickly. Everyone is different, and some people will find that they naturally pick up the hand movements of a guitar pretty simply.