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I think the 10k rules can be a decent guideline, not something that's written in stone.

Some very talented individuals can get there much faster, untalented much longer - just like with everything else, there's some distribution involved, and the mean might be somewhere around 10k. You'll still have the tails on both ends...

I'm a musician, and I've seen people get "good" really fast. They've learned 80% of the instrument in as little as 2-3 years, and you couldn't really distinguish them from someone that's been playing for 10 years - prodigies like that pop up from time to time.

But I've neve met a prodigy that just half-assed and got there in that time. Every single one that I've met, have been practicing obsessively during those formative years. At my peak, I could play guitar for 8 hours a day - and every good musician I've ever talked with, have the same stories of playing/practicing long hours for some time.

I like to think that if you're talented, you can turbocharge that time. You don't need to spend as much time as others on certain things, and can progress much faster. A good friend of mine has perfect pitch, and learned every note on the instrument in just a couple of days. On the other hand, I've met people that have played for years, that struggle to find almost any note - just to use one example.

With that said, it is the last 10%-20% that takes time to master. That's where all the nuances come in, and what differentiates a master from a good musician.




I've been practicing guitar pretty hard for 4 years. Certainly not 8 hours a day since I have a job and wife, but at least 1 or 2 every day. I feel like maybe I'm not practicing the right things.

When you were playing guitar 8 hours a day, do you remember what you were doing for those 8 hours? Learning new songs? Practicing scales? Transcribing songs? I know all those things are important, but I'm still trying to figure out what I should really be spending my practice time doing.

I think my goal is just to be able to play with friends for fun, no gigs or anything like that, and sound decent, rhythm or lead. And maybe write a few songs.


At my height of playing, I was between ages 14 - 20, so basically from Jr. HS to college. I had all the time in the world, and was really obsessed with the instrument.

I played in multiple bands, so a ton of my spare time would go toward that. Writing and playing songs, basically living in the rehearsal space. When it came to practice it was mostly learning/playing scales, modes, chords, rhythm, etc. - and of course trying to play more and more difficult (cover) songs, as well as trying to write stuff. I spent a huge amount of time just writing stuff in guitar pro (software), and later composing stuff via MIDI in DAWs (Cubase at the time).

My main tips would be to use a metronome at all times, learn as much music theory as you can, learn to sight read, and just have fun by challenging yourself with music. Finding someone to play with is, IMO, priceless.


Thanks! You inspired my to order 'Berklee Guitar Theory'. Next up: 'finding someone to play with' (which has proven difficult so far).




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