Should Every Guitarist Learn Piano?

Many instrumentalists seek to diversify their range, but is this something guitarists should do? Do you need to learn how to play the piano to be a professional-level musician?

Read more to reach a decision, and if you would like piano or guitar lessons in Gastonia, please contact the Rogers Music Academy today.

Understand Relationships Between Notes and Chords - Music Theory

On the piano, you can play 10 notes at once (or more than ten if you cluster notes), and this can give you a visual representation of music theory at scale. You can see inversions, five-of-fives, V7s, and more all spelled out in front of you. You will also learn music theory more deeply when you play an accompaniment in one hand and a melody in another - you are acting as an entire band or ensemble. No other instrument can accomplish this to the same extent.

You can also play a full chord with hands on the piano, then gradually remove intervals to arrive at an ideal voicing that you can transfer to the guitar - we’ll discuss this in more detail in the next section.

Piano Helps Guitarists Compose Music and Write Songs Easier

Picking out a tune on the piano or keyboard, adding chords, and adding accompanimental elements is much more straightforward on the piano. But you will need to be able to read music on a staff and identify the keys on the piano to do so. Frankly, you may even discover exciting chords “by accident” while you are composing on the piano. And once again, you have the full visual representation in front of you.

One problem with traditionally trained pianists transcribing rock tunes on the piano is that they play too many notes. Rock bands sound great, but they rarely fill in all of the notes - hence the popularity of “power chords,” which leave the third out of the chord. The texture comes from instrumentation.

As a guitarist writing music on the piano, you will have an advantage, since you can already transfer how a chord sounds on the piano into its proper instrumentation.

Record Complete Tracks on Your Own

If you’re a competent keyboard player and guitarist, you’ll be able to record complete songs at home on your own. All that’s left is to add a groove from your music software (or get one from a friend). This is a fun activity, allows you to churn out demo tracks quickly, and more.

This also gives you more artistic freedom. If you are working with a keyboardist, they may become frustrated if you’re constantly asking them to change things, modify a chord, alter an introduction, etc. If you’re in control of both keyboard and guitar, you don’t have to worry about interpersonal dynamics.

Be More Valuable To Your Band

As a dual-threat on the guitar and piano, you can be the go-to musician for your own band or in demand for other bands or recording studios. It’s a great opportunity for you to increase your social, musical, and professional horizons.

You Don’t Always Need a Reason To Learn Another Instrument

Believe it or not, many guitarists take piano lessons in Gastonia out of a sense of obligation. They feel like they have to read music better, understand theory better, or something similar.

The truth is, you don’t need to take piano lessons - do it because you want to! The piano is a beautiful, rewarding, and fascinating instrument, and it will undoubtedly make you a more complete musician. It will unlock new music (classical composers, piano-heavy pop music, and more) that you can now enjoy, and you will be continually energized by what you can accomplish on the piano.

Is It Hard For a Guitarist to Learn Piano?

The piano is challenging, but if your goal is to learn the basics, no, it is not very hard. An experienced guitarist can learn the piano keys fairly quickly, be able to play melodies and chords, and learn to sight read basic music in just over a year if you practice often.

If you want to play Chopin, Prokofiev, or other advanced classical music, you will need to devote several years to intensive piano study. But if you want to play relatively simple piano music (like Rick Wakeman material, which is “busy,” but not complicated), you won’t need as much time.

For the best music lessons in Gastonia or music lessons in Athens, GA, please get in touch! You can also contact the Rogers Music Academy for piano lessons Athens, GA.