How long was your musical instrument learning curve? Do you feel you're stil

Question:This question is for long time (10 years or more) musicians.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: This question is for long time (10 years or more) musicians.

Keep in mind I had no lessons: I started playing the guitar (Jackson PS4) at 14, by 16 I knew "the cool parts" of 16,000 songs it seemed, but no FULL song. It was at that 2nd-3rd year mark I started learning my chords and scales. Nothing is more valuable than a chords poster! As the other poster stated about himself, I was able to play with a band or other musicians, but I still had problems singing and playing (which was a result of another bad habit I had; playing sitting down. I learned all my early stuff through tabs on the internet, so whenever I was playing I was sitting. I play every day, and even if it is just for 5 minutes I usually learn something new. That is what keeps it fun, I have never met a good musician that was "finished" learning.

I do play drums and piano, but they came much later. Drums @ 20 or so, Piano @ 24 or so. I must say my learning curve for those two instruments was a lot shorter, but then again, I already knew basically what what was going on musically (as in the elements of a song), wheras with the guitar in the begining, I did not know my **** from a hole in the ground. I was playing the drums well enough to play in a band within a year, and I seemed to take to the piano easiest of all.

Would I have learned the piano that easy had I not been playing other insruments for years? I seriosly doubt it. The main reason being dexterity. With both the piano and guitar one has to overcome this mind/finger (getting your fingers to do what your mind wants) barrier that breaks only after much practice for people like me who aren't Stevie Ray, or Jimi.

As you can see there are TONS of variables, but just the guitar alone, using only tabs it took me the better part of 3 years to NOT run people out of the room when I plugged in.

I was good enough to play in a band after playing about 4 years. However, I've been playing 30 years and still learn something new all the time..that what keeps it interesting.

I started in 5th grade and went through my first semester of college - yes, I felt (until I got to college) that I was improving consistantly. Then I got to college and the band there wasn't as good as the one in HS. I didn't feel like I was benefitting, so I dropped it.

I've kind of progressed slower than I used to but I think the most that I have constantly progressed in a period of time has been one year.

I think the first 5-7 years, for me, were spent learning technique---just learning the instrument itself. The last 4 years have been spent cementing my technique, and exploring the music ITSELF, instead of sole focus on my instrument it has become focus of how I can project the music to the best of my abilities communicating through my instrument.

I don't think I'll ever stop learning about my instrument and it's possibilities of communication. I think this makes "improvement" less tangible than when you're studying technique, because instead you're trying to improve YOU. Technique is still improved, yes, but it's not the focus. I hope that makes sense...?

I've been at it 15 years. I'd say it took 5 years to be able to play at all. Since then I've been improving, and seem to have just recently starting to sound half-decent. So, yeah, still improving, with a long way to go.