{"id":46056,"date":"2023-06-20T10:04:33","date_gmt":"2023-06-20T17:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/?p=46056"},"modified":"2023-08-02T11:20:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-02T18:20:33","slug":"drums-vs-guitar-whats-harder-to-learn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/drums-vs-guitar-whats-harder-to-learn\/","title":{"rendered":"Drums Vs. Guitar: Here&#8217;s The One You Should Learn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:33px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TL;DR: Learn drums if you love rhythm and want to rock out with energy. Learn guitar if you want to write songs.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So you want to play an instrument and you\u2019ve narrowed it down to either the drums or the guitar. But how do you make that final choice? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both instruments have the cool factor. And both will give you the freedom to play the music you love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a big decision, so in this article we&#8217;re highlighting the challenges and advantages of learning to play either instrument. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#is-it-harder-to-learn-guitar-or-drums\">Is it harder to learn guitar or drums?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#advantages-of-learning-the-drums\">Advantages of learning the drums<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#advantages-of-learning-the-guitar\">Advantages of learning the guitar<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#challenges-of-learning-the-drums\">Challenges of learning the drums<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#challenges-of-learning-the-guitar\">Challenges of learning the guitar<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#why-you-should-learn-both-drums-and-guitar\">Why you should learn both drums and guitar<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#does-it-cost-more-to-learn-drums-or-guitar\">Does it cost more to learn drums or guitar?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121529\/drumsguitar-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"what&#039;s harder to learn: drums vs guitar?\" class=\"wp-image-46610\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121529\/drumsguitar-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121529\/drumsguitar-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121529\/drumsguitar-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121529\/drumsguitar.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s kick things off by answering the most important question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"is-it-harder-to-learn-guitar-or-drums\">Is it harder to learn guitar or drums?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drums are harder to learn because you need to master three-way coordination just to get started. But any drummer will tell you it&#8217;s worth it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re first starting out, you should be able to play a simple beat on the drums &#8211; even if it&#8217;s just the bass drum and snare drum. However, you may not be able to keep reliable time, which is key for a drummer. It can also take a while to master the coordination of your first three-limb drum beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On guitar, you can get a nice sound without knowing what you&#8217;re doing, and you can start playing a few basic chords and scales relatively quickly. It&#8217;s less important that your rhythm is perfect, but it&#8217;s more important that you hit the right notes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In both cases, there will be times when progress comes quickly and times when progress feels uncomfortably slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both instruments pose a different set of challenges, which results in two distinct learning curves. In the end, one isn\u2019t harder to learn than the other; they\u2019re just two separate paths to musical freedom and fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"advantages-of-learning-the-drums\">Advantages of learning the drums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/31115331\/practice-pad-7-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"diy practice pad\" class=\"wp-image-44556\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/31115331\/practice-pad-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/31115331\/practice-pad-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/31115331\/practice-pad-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/31115331\/practice-pad-7.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Drummers can use practice pads to work on rhythms anywhere.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Developing a good sense of rhythm is helpful for learning other instruments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The drums are a perfect secondary or supportive instrument because they ignore melody and harmony and hyper-focus on rhythm. As you become a better drummer, your sense of timing and feel will also improve when you pick up any other instrument.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mastering one beat opens up a ton of other<\/strong> <strong>options<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like any other instrument, the drums are hard to master. And it can be tough to get your hands and feet to listen to you at first. However, once you nail the initial coordination of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/13-easy-beginner-drum-beats\/\">first drum beat<\/a>, learning other beats will get easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/27124737\/2022-08-24-Drummer-Photoshoot-Private-Lesson-101-copy-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"choosing drumsticks\" class=\"wp-image-37865\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/27124737\/2022-08-24-Drummer-Photoshoot-Private-Lesson-101-copy-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/27124737\/2022-08-24-Drummer-Photoshoot-Private-Lesson-101-copy-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/27124737\/2022-08-24-Drummer-Photoshoot-Private-Lesson-101-copy-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/27124737\/2022-08-24-Drummer-Photoshoot-Private-Lesson-101-copy.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Every new drummer can benefit from a few drum lessons &#8211; either in person or online (with someone like Drumeo).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Drummers are in demand<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s hard to find a good drummer. Not only is it less popular than the guitar, but drummers have less room for error in a band setting. When the guitarist makes a mistake, barely anyone will notice. But when the drummer makes a rhythmic mistake, it&#8217;ll be more obvious. Because of this, the standard for drummers is set a little higher.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many drummers play in multiple bands because they&#8217;re in such high demand (and because it&#8217;s fun).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-solid fa-question\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n                    <strong>Read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/drumming-questions\/\">The Most Common Drumming Questions (Solved)<\/a>\n                <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"advantages-of-learning-the-guitar\">Advantages of learning the guitar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Guitar is an adaptable instrument<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guitar gives you access to almost every aspect of Western music. It&#8217;s primarily a rhythm instrument, but you can also play single-note melodies and create harmony with chords. On top of all that, you can bend notes, allowing you to access all the in-between notes as well. Guitar ultimately gives you the flexibility and freedom to do just about anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It\u2019s a great songwriting tool<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rivaled only by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-song-on-the-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">piano<\/a>, the guitar is the most popular instrument among songwriters. This is because it\u2019s so easy to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/play-guitar-and-sing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">play guitar while singing<\/a> and it\u2019s not cumbersome to move around or travel with one. By using a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/5-guitar-accessories\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">capo<\/a>, you can also access every chord in any key while only knowing how to play the most basic open chords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/write-songs-on-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">write songs on guitar<\/a>, you don&#8217;t need to be a virtuoso to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16125329\/guitarist-1-1024x678.jpg\" alt=\"guitarist focused on learning guitar\" class=\"wp-image-46629\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16125329\/guitarist-1-1024x678.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16125329\/guitarist-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16125329\/guitarist-1-768x508.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16125329\/guitarist-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The guitar is a perfect songwriting instrument.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It\u2019s easy to learn to sing while playing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As previously mentioned, when compared to other instruments, the guitar is fairly easy to play while singing. Since many of the movements you\u2019ll make while playing the guitar are small, you won\u2019t likely find yourself out of breath or struggling to keep your voice steady. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that while it poses less of a challenge than other instruments, learning to sing while playing the guitar still requires dedication and practice to master.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Music theory can be transferred to other instruments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/riff\/theory-crash-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Music theory<\/a> is a language that can be shared between multi-instrumentalists. This makes it especially useful as a communication tool. But it\u2019s also the foundational \u201ccode\u201d or \u201coperating system\u201d around which instruments are built. This shared code makes it possible to transfer your knowledge from one instrument to another \u2013 giving you an advantage over those learning from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19141643\/world-class-teachers.jpg\" alt=\"guitar teachers at guitareo\" class=\"wp-image-46681\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19141643\/world-class-teachers.jpg 640w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19141643\/world-class-teachers-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Some of the world-class guitar teachers you can learn from at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guitareo<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"challenges-of-learning-the-drums\">Challenges of learning the drums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The drums are physically demanding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing the drums is a full body experience. You\u2019ll need to engage your arms, legs, fingers, toes, and everything in between to get the most out of your instrument. While some prospective players might see this as a benefit, it does mean that a baseline level of physical fitness is required to play the drums effectively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, while serious <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/drummers-are-athletes-drummer-lab-year-1\/\">drummers are athletes<\/a>, the drums could be the tool you need to help you get in shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Acoustic kits are loud<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Technology advances every year, and with that comes some major improvements to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/the-ultimate-guide-to-buying-electronic-drums\/\">electronic drum kits<\/a>. However, nothing beats the real thing. And the real thing is <em><strong>loud<\/strong><\/em>. If you live in an apartment or shared dwelling and don\u2019t have an isolated space to practice, an acoustic kit is usually out of the question.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are ways to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-play-drums-in-an-apartment\/\">play drums quietly in an apartment<\/a>, but it will take some effort!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122622\/drummer-on-stage-with-guitarist-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Acoustic drum kits are loud - this drummer is wearing headphones\" class=\"wp-image-46622\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122622\/drummer-on-stage-with-guitarist-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122622\/drummer-on-stage-with-guitarist-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122622\/drummer-on-stage-with-guitarist-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122622\/drummer-on-stage-with-guitarist-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Drummers need proper hearing protection when playing loud acoustic drum kits.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It\u2019s hard to be a songwriter if you only play the drums<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to write your own songs, you\u2019ll probably have to get out from behind the kit. Since drums don\u2019t produce melodies or harmonies like what you\u2019d get from a guitar or piano, you won\u2019t be able to write music in the traditional sense. So if you see yourself wanting to compose a song or two down the road, this is one reason <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/why-drummers-should-learn-other-instruments\/\">why drummers should learn another instrument<\/a> (like guitar or piano) along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there&#8217;s nothing stopping you from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/how-to-notate-drum-ideas-quickly-and-creatively\/\">writing drum beats<\/a> and then asking other musicians to compose over top!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You\u2019re the backbone of the band (no pressure)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a drummer, it\u2019s your job to serve as the backbone of the band. It\u2019s on you to decide on the tempo, dynamics, and feel. While many drummers love this aspect of the instrument, it can bring a lot of pressure when you\u2019re first trying to play with other musicians.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It can be challenging to sing while playing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/the-genius-of-phil-collins\/\">Phil Collins<\/a> might beg to differ, but because of the physical nature of playing the drums, it can be tough to control your voice as you play. If singing is something you want to do, you\u2019ll need to work on keeping your body steady as you drum so your voice doesn\u2019t sound shaky.&nbsp;You&#8217;re already coordinating three or four limbs &#8211; imagine five-way coordination!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"623\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19143739\/heather-thomas-1-1024x623.jpg\" alt=\"heather thomas singing while drumming\" class=\"wp-image-46684\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19143739\/heather-thomas-1-1024x623.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19143739\/heather-thomas-1-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19143739\/heather-thomas-1-768x467.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19143739\/heather-thomas-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">If you thought drumming was hard, try singing <em>while<\/em> drumming!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You won\u2019t learn music theory as it relates to other instruments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Music theory is one of the most important parts of music. But as a drummer, a large portion of it &#8211; namely melodic theory &#8211; doesn\u2019t apply to you the way it applies to other musicians. This causes many drummers to neglect ever learning these missing pieces, which makes it harder to communicate ideas with collaborators or bandmates.<\/p>\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n<\/p><p><iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"challenges-of-learning-the-guitar\">Challenges of learning the guitar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Your fingers will hurt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you first start learning to play the guitar, your fretting fingers will feel like they\u2019re on fire. It takes weeks (if not months) to develop strong callouses so the metal strings on the guitar don&#8217;t have such a severe effect on your fingertips. It\u2019s important to note that if you take breaks from playing your guitar, this pain will return, and you\u2019ll have to rebuild that thicker skin all over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"806\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121732\/guitardrums2-1-1024x806.jpg\" alt=\"It can be hard to learn guitar. This is an image of a guitarist and drummer jamming together\" class=\"wp-image-46613\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121732\/guitardrums2-1-1024x806.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121732\/guitardrums2-1-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121732\/guitardrums2-1-768x604.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16121732\/guitardrums2-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Learning guitar can be rewarding, but like the drums, it can have its setbacks at the beginning.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It takes a while to develop freedom<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike many other instruments, playing guitar requires you to sync up two dissimilar movements to produce a note or chord. Striking the string(s) while you place your fretting hand in the correct position requires a lot of dexterity. And since you\u2019ll need to perform these actions in tandem every time you want to play something, it can take a while before you start producing anything musical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Guitar players are a dime a dozen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the <a href=\"https:\/\/orchestracentral.com\/what-is-the-worlds-best-selling-musical-instrument\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">guitar is the most popular instrument in the world<\/a>, there are many great guitar players out there. This means there&#8217;s a lot more competition when it comes to scoring a spot in a band or project. So if your goal is to break out of your basement, it\u2019s important to do what you can to make yourself stand out from the crowd!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"742\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122220\/guitarchallenge-1-1024x742.jpg\" alt=\"Is it hard to learn guitar? This guitar player looks concerned\" class=\"wp-image-46616\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122220\/guitarchallenge-1-1024x742.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122220\/guitarchallenge-1-300x217.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122220\/guitarchallenge-1-768x556.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/16122220\/guitarchallenge-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are tons of guitarists out there. How can you stand out?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-you-should-learn-both-drums-and-guitar\">Why you should learn both drums <em>and <\/em>guitar<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>They get you developing skills that support each other<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Playing the drums is a great way to support the rhythmic aspect of your guitar playing &#8211; and the guitar can be an awesome secondary instrument for drummers looking for a songwriting tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learning both can make you a more versatile musician<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It goes without saying that being able to play multiple instruments makes you much more versatile. And when you\u2019re looking for gigs, being able to fill different roles opens you up to even more opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You\u2019ll be able to communicate more effectively<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having knowledge of how different instruments are played makes it much easier to communicate your ideas with other band members &#8211; just another way to keep the creative process moving smoothly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"606\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121118\/drummer-guitarist-1-1024x606.jpg\" alt=\"rob scallon and jessica burdeaux - a drummer and guitarist jamming\" class=\"wp-image-46649\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121118\/drummer-guitarist-1-1024x606.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121118\/drummer-guitarist-1-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121118\/drummer-guitarist-1-768x454.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121118\/drummer-guitarist-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">If you learn both drums and guitar, you&#8217;ll be an unstoppable musician.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"does-it-cost-more-to-learn-drums-or-guitar\">Does it cost more to learn drums or guitar?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the long run, both drums and guitars end up costing about the same. It\u2019s just as easy to spend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/drumming-questions\/#11-how-much-do-drums-cost\">thousands of dollars on a drum kit<\/a> as it is to spend thousands of dollars on a guitar, amp, and pedals. And any veteran of these instruments will tell you that just one guitar or drum kit is never really \u201cenough.\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to beginner gear, a guitar usually comes in a couple hundred dollars cheaper than a full drum kit. This won\u2019t always be the case, but it\u2019s typically easier to find a decent beginner guitar for less.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that no matter what stage you\u2019re at, you\u2019ll need to factor in consumables like guitar strings and drum heads as well. Guitar strings are cheap but will need to be changed every month or two. Drum heads are a little pricier but can be changed 1-3 times per year if you aren&#8217;t a full-time gigging\/recording drummer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121959\/drums-vs-guitar-1-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"should you learn drums or guitar?\" class=\"wp-image-46654\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121959\/drums-vs-guitar-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121959\/drums-vs-guitar-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121959\/drums-vs-guitar-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/19121959\/drums-vs-guitar-1.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Instruments aren&#8217;t cheap &#8211; and drums and guitars aren&#8217;t exempt from that.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Try learning both!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you choose drums or guitar, playing music is one of the most fulfilling things someone can do with their time. If you still aren&#8217;t sure which instrument you want to learn, get a free 7-day trial to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Musora<\/a> (home of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/\">Drumeo<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guitareo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guitareo<\/a>) and get access to thousands of drum and guitar lessons, play-along songs, world-class lessons and more.<\/p>\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"join blue\" href=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Start Free Trial<\/a><\/p>\n<p><video src=\"https:\/\/drumeoblog.s3.amazonaws.com\/beat\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/20144242\/Screen-Recording-2023-06-20-at-2.37.26-PM.mp4\" autoplay=\"autoplay\" loop=\"loop\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\" height=\"150\"><\/video><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><em>Edited by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/authors\/#sam-landa\">Sam Landa<\/a>, Content Marketing Manager at Drumeo<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We break down all the pros and cons of learning drums vs. learning guitar. Let&#8217;s settle it once and for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":174,"featured_media":46666,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4015],"tags":[4014],"class_list":["post-46056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-beginner-lessons","tag-beginner"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46056","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/174"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46056"}],"version-history":[{"count":68,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46056\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48081,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46056\/revisions\/48081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46666"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46056"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46056"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.drumeo.com\/beat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}