So you’ve decided to take the plunge and commit to guitar lessons. Congratulations! It’s likely you’re asking yourself how long it will take you to become the next John Mayer (or Jack Johnson… there’s a genre for everyone).

While it’s hard to prescribe an exact length of time to engage in lessons - after all, we all learn differently, - it is generally recommended at Dylan Baker Music to commit to about 6 months of lessons as a beginner, and 3 months with previous guitar experience. To help you identify a learning plan, we’ll explore a couple of skills building theories and tips:

Theories of Skill Building

There are a few theories used to discuss effective skill building that may help you define an outcome. In a 2013 interview with Forbes magazine, Josh Kaufman, author of The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything… Fast!, discusses pre-committing at least 20 hours to learn something completely new before abandoning the idea. He posits that approaching learning with an immediate goal of mastery can actually be counterproductive, and add frustration to a beginner’s experience, shutting down learning before it can really begin. He recommends defining a realistic outcome and starting with smaller, achievable learning goals to make the experience more pleasant, and effective.

Another theory, published in Science Alert in November, 2017 suggests that the time spent building a skill isn’t the only important factor; the way you build it holds a decent amount of weight. Research suggests that varying your training method actually yields more successful results in the game of skills building than repetition alone.

So what does this mean for you, a new student?

The length of time you should commit to lessons ultimately depends on your desired outcome as a learner. Ask yourself what you’re hoping to achieve, and work to build your plan from there.
While you should pre-commit to some length of time, don’t limit yourself to just one kind of lesson… try on group, private, and online to keep your experience open and fresh.

Whatever method you decide, we’re here to help! Reach out to Dylan Baker Music, and we’ll meet you on your path to learning… wherever you may be.