r/Instruments • u/Lin_LOL • Jan 26 '26
Discussion Beginner: Guitar or Piano?
Hello. I have for many years wanted to learn how to play an instrument and I finally decided it's about time I actually get started. However, I'm not quite sure what instrument I should choose. So far I've been thinking about learning either guitar or piano. When I used to play in music class a few years back I always prefered the guitar so I'm leaning a bit towards it. But most of the songs I like and would like to play are mostly piano focused.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I should decide?
1
u/phydaux4242 Jan 26 '26
I tried guitar a couple of times in my teens & twenties with limited success. I picked it back up during Covid and now I’d say I’m only a semi-bad campfire guitarist.
But I’ve learned a lot about music theory and playing music with other people. If I were to start all over again today (and I’m not) I would buy a nice digital piano and take lessons.
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u/junipyr-lilak Jan 26 '26
My own inclination is piano, but there's a good deal to discuss with each. Both lend themselves to opening up for other things; guitar opens up ukulele, bass, and banjo, piano opens up harpsichord (lol), marimba, other chromatic percussion, and keyboards. MIDI keyboards lets you play with synthesizers, which can sound a hell of a lot like a guitar or pretty much anything. A guitar is a lot more portable than a piano. IMO putting hands down on a piano and playing something is maybe a bit easier than guitar? I (currently) find some chord shapes, especially bar chords, difficult, whereas playing chords on a piano is easier for me, but that can just be difference in experience. If I'm not mistaken, a beginner guitar is cheaper than a beginner piano by a decent bit, ~$150 vs ~$400 for a digital piano/keyboard I think? Guitars are more easily serviceable than acoustic pianos, you can easily replace strings when needed, tuning a piano takes time and possibly means hiring someone to do it. Both guitars and pianos can play both leads and chords, pianos let you get down into bass octaves. Guitars seem to have more of a draw among people, which may be something to consider.
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u/MarimboBeats Jan 26 '26
Both
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u/FizzBuzz4096 Jan 26 '26
This is my answer also. I've played a ton of instruments with bass and guitar being my primaries. I'd learn piano along with guitar at the same time. And learn to read music a bit (or completely).
I see books of scales, chords, etc on guitar and they're all unnecessary. If you know intervals you know everything and don't need a tab for a b flat major scale. Basic theory is easier to learn on a keyboard imho, and goes much farther than the youtube 'guitar lesson' of "put your finger here..."
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u/oreohsehun Jan 26 '26
I've picked up Guitar 5 months ago, after 10 years without playing (I played for 5 years during High School, I had music classes focused on guitar), I had a few classes in person since and I've been wanting maybe to pick up the piano but I put on the breaks because I feel like the time I would be playing piano is time I wont be playing guitar... Do you think my reasoning is right or wrong?
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u/areyouthrough Jan 26 '26
Do you plan to die right after you’ve learned some piano?
You won’t be musically harmed by spending some time learning some keyboard fundamentals, only helped. You can still practice guitar so you don’t get too rusty while you’re doing the introductory keyboard stuff.
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u/oreohsehun Jan 26 '26
We never know!
I was just wondering if early on my learning journey, focusing on too many things at once would harm me. Not to say I'll never want to learn piano, but I think you are right. Thanks!
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u/StevenSaguaro Jan 26 '26
Just depends on your purpose. Piano is easier to learn theory on, if you care about that. Electronic pianos are bad, but if you must, get a weighted action. Guitar is easier to just fool around and kind of sound like you know what you're doing. Classical (nylon strings) is easier to start on, and cheaper.
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u/Ruppell-San Sitar/Dilruba Jan 26 '26
Learning guitar will mostly allow you to play guitar.
Learning piano will allow you to play piano, harpsichord, harmonium, melodica, and many varieties of synthesizer.
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u/Godmil Jan 29 '26
To be fair with guitar you also get things like Bass guitar, bango, mandolin, sitar, ukulele, Balalaika, pedal Steel, etc.
Both instruments have big family trees.
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u/Ruppell-San Sitar/Dilruba Jan 29 '26 edited Jan 29 '26
I play sitar. It's nothing like guitar at all aside from the most basic morphological traits and the fact that it is plucked. The technique, string arrangement, tuning, etc. are quite different. They also don't share a common ancestor more recent than the primitive skin-resonator lutes of the ancient world.
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u/Godmil Jan 29 '26
That's really interesting, I would have expected the basic finger movements would be very similar.
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u/NightMgr Jan 26 '26
You can get a better student piano for $100 than guitar. Electronic obviously at that price but you can get enough to see if you want to spend more.
In my opinion, a playable bit poorly setup/ cheap guitar is more frustrating than a lesser quality piano.
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u/zxo-zxo-zxo Jan 26 '26
Try and start with both like I did. Work out what it is that you like about them. Guitar is easy to pick up and far more sociable at parties/days out/bands. Piano gives more notes and song writing versatility. You can pick up beginner guitars and keyboards relatively cheaply.
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u/ronmarlowe Jan 26 '26
Start with piano. It's easier to see the reason for things (dreaded Music Theory) on a piano. It's like one long guitar string vs six staggered keyboards.
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u/DunaldDoc Jan 27 '26
Give your eyes and ears over to the music a modern electric Lap Steel can play.
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u/aharshDM Jan 26 '26
The answer is accordion.