How to learn guitar: the roadmap

Short answer

Learn in this order: tune and hold the guitar, five easy chords and strumming in time, then songs with strumming patterns, riffs and the blues, barre chords, scales and keys, and finally lead guitar. At 30 minutes a day most people play their first song in about 6 weeks and play comfortably in about 5 months. Practice a little every day, and only move on once you can play the current step cleanly.

Updated 31 October 2026 · Written by the Fretwork team

The 10 stages, with time at 30 minutes a day

Stage	You can…	Practice time	Reached after
0. Getting Started	Tune the guitar and play a clean note on every string.	6 h	about 2 weeks
1. First Chords	Change chords in time and play a whole song.	14 h	about 6 weeks
2. Rhythm & Songs	Play a four-chord song from start to finish with a strumming pattern.	29 h	about 3 months
3. First Riffs & Solos	Play a riff, a 12-bar blues and a short solo of your own.	29 h	about 5 months
4. Barre Chords & Groove	Play any major or minor chord and hold a 16th-note groove.	28 h	about 7 months
5. Scales & Keys	Name the chords in any key and solo with the pentatonic anywhere on the neck.	29 h	about 9 months
6. Lead Guitar	Play a solo with in-tune bends, vibrato and clear phrases.	35 h	about 11 months
7. Playing the Changes	Solo over a progression and hit the chord tones as the chords change.	36 h	about 14 months
8. Advanced Vocabulary	Transcribe a full solo and improvise with tension and release.	36 h	about 16 months
9. Artistry	Play any key, any style, with a band.	58 h	about 20 months

Practice time per stage is what the Fretwork curriculum plans for its lessons. “Reached after” assumes 30 minutes a day, every day. See how much to practice for 10, 20 and 60 minutes a day.

The questions everyone asks

How long does it take to learn guitar?With 30 minutes of practice a day, most people play their first full song in about 6 weeks, play comfortably as a beginner (songs, riffs, a simple solo) in about 5 months, and reach intermediate in about 11 months.Which guitar chords should I learn first?Start with E minor, A minor, E, A and D: they use two or three fingers, and the shapes are related, so learning one helps with the next.Should I learn guitar with an app or a teacher?Most beginners do well starting with a structured app or online course, which costs $0–$20 a month, and booking a few lessons with a teacher to check posture and technique.Can adults learn guitar?Yes.How should kids start learning guitar?Most children can start guitar at around 6 to 8 years old, on a guitar sized for them: a 1/2 or 3/4 size with nylon strings is easiest on small fingers.Should left-handed people play guitar left-handed?Either works, and many left-handed people play right-handed guitars well.How much should I practice guitar?Twenty to thirty minutes on at least five days a week is enough for steady progress.Should I start on acoustic or electric guitar?Start on the guitar that plays the music you want to play: you will practice more.

Your first 10 steps

Get a guitar that is easy to play (light strings, low action) and a tuner. Free tuner.
Learn to hold the guitar and the pick, and to play a clean note on every string.
Learn five easy chords: Em, Am, E, A and D. Which chords first.
Practice one-minute chord changes daily and strum in time with a metronome. Chord change trainer.
Play your first two-chord song all the way through. Free song library.
Add G and C, a strumming pattern, and four-chord songs.
Learn power chords, a riff, the 12-bar blues and a short solo.
Learn barre chords so you can play any major or minor chord.
Learn the major scale, keys and the pentatonic across the neck.
Add bends, vibrato and phrasing: lead guitar.

Questions

How do I learn guitar by myself?

Follow a step-by-step path, practice 20–30 minutes on most days with a metronome, record yourself once a week, and consider a few lessons with a teacher to check posture.

What should I learn first on guitar?

How to hold the guitar and pick, tuning, then five easy chords (Em, Am, E, A, D) and strumming in time.

How long does it take to learn guitar?

At 30 minutes a day: your first song in about 6 weeks, comfortable beginner in about 5 months, intermediate in about 11 months.

Step-by-step guide to your first 30 days →The full curriculum →

Follow the roadmap, one step a day

Fretwork turns these stages into short daily lessons, each with a check at the end. The first two stages are free, with no card.

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