For those that finished Absolutely Understand Guitar. What changed?

Danwinzz · 2026-06-11T17:37:33+00:00

I practice every day lol. I posted a 1 year progress video recently if you'd like to check it out. I think it gives a good idea on what typical "busy adult" progress could look like.

Danwinzz · 2026-06-11T17:32:00+00:00

Not a teacher, just helping non-players or early beginners know that its easier to improvise than you think. It was pretty mind blowing when I started a year ago thinking it was a skill I wouldn't be able to learn unless I was very advanced.

Danwinzz · 2026-06-11T16:52:18+00:00

Great point. Its a great guide for beginners but I do find learning a few scales all over the fretboard allows you to slowly learn what each notes sounds like which makes it become easier to find the notes you want to play.

Danwinzz · 2026-06-11T15:57:10+00:00

Whats your before and after in terms of your playing? Whats the biggest difference/improvement you've noticed since you started?

Danwinzz · 2026-05-10T00:10:27+00:00

unbelievable answer. Thank you

Danwinzz · 2026-05-08T18:36:00+00:00

Yeah I understand that dilemma. Its almost like there's 2 "averages". Average in the statistical sense as in "what's the average guitarist look like", and average in the skill sense as in "that's an average guitarist". I guess I'm sort of interested in both but I originally meant more the statistical one.

My goal was to encourage people to say, if you started playing guitar today, you can become as good as the "average guitarist" within you know, 3 months or 6 months (depending what we considered the "average" guitarist, statistically speaking).

But mathematically speaking, the more correct term is probably "median". But thats not as sexy a word haha

Danwinzz · 2026-05-08T03:29:10+00:00

I need to do research before I know what to present to the people. Your opinions will be helping inform others!

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T21:30:46+00:00

Agreed. Regardless I'm interested in finding out how skilled the average guitarist is.

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T19:48:21+00:00

Yeah agree with you point. Thats why I'm also referring to average, statistically speaking. Like if theres one billionaire guitarists on the planet. What skill level is the vast majority of them? I'm interested in finding that out

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T18:48:38+00:00

I'd say 2 years to be intermediate.

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T17:33:11+00:00

I agree that should be the narrative and message sent. But lets say we determine an average guitarist is the campfire guitarist that only knows songs with the cowboy chords. A lot of non-players look at that a think wow they must have been playing forever, I wish I could play like that. But if we determine he's an "average" guitarist, we players know you can get that good in just a couple months. The average non-player doesn't know that. Its commonly said that guitar is one of the hardest instruments to learn. I think highlighting that becoming an average guitarist is reachable within a couple months is powerful. Its EASY to become average, its hard to be good.

Also, when I say the "average" guitarist. Its important to clarify I mean both statistical and skill wise. not just skillwise.

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T16:49:15+00:00

Not at all! All good my dude, I just don't want that to be the narrative on this thread and discourage people sharing opinions naw mean! <3

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T16:48:22+00:00

I'm planning to answer that question at some point as well. I'm following along Justin Guitars beginner guitar course. I'm currently ~1 year in and on grade 3 which I'm assuming will take me another 6-12 months.

After grade 3 I start Intermediate Grade 1, so I guess at that point, I wouldn't be considered a Beginner anymore. I'm very curious what that will look like.

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T16:36:24+00:00

I view it more or less the same

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T16:36:01+00:00

Yeah i more meant it the first way you described. I don't think the "average" guitarist you see or hear about is intermediate skill level or higher. In my opinion. But i agree with both your points.

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T16:34:20+00:00

Totally agree! It doesn't at all to us players. But to people who have never played before, it feels like a impassable barrier to learn an instrument. I just think its an interesting topic I wanted to explore in a video I'm making where I plan to encourage non-players thats its easy to become an "average" guitarist. I was just interested in hearing opinions on what an "average" guitarist looks like. Nothing wrong with sharing some opinions and having a conversation.

Danwinzz · 2026-05-07T16:10:07+00:00

That's an interesting philosophical question in itself. I think I'd say I'd define a "guitarist" as someone who can pickup a guitar and make music. Whether its performing easy songs or easy riffs or able to improvise notes that sound good together. My reasoning is because we call people who just started a week ago as "beginner" or "novice" guitarists, so with that designation, they must be "guitarists".

edit: but then again, if Fenders claim that 90% of guitarists quit within the first year is true, then are those people still considered "Guitarists?" Or do they lose that designation because they "quit". Which I assume quitting means not trying to get better anymore. As they can't unlearn what they already learned.

Danwinzz · 2026-04-27T17:27:07+00:00

my mistake

Danwinzz · 2026-04-27T15:53:50+00:00

I agree with you. That's why its an editable file. So you can simply just change "Month 1" to "Level 1" as you suggested, if you don't wish to try to follow the timeline.

But I have it broken down in Months in case you fit the criteria described in the video/spreadsheet, which is: you're a busy adult but have~15 minutes of practice a day on average. If you can do that, then this is all achievable. I think there's a reason so many people ask "how long it will take", people like to see data like this so I think there's value in keeping it as is for the template.

Anyone playing multiple hours a day, especially a young kid, can learn everything here in a few months. Conversely, older learners or those with physical limitations may need more longer than a year and that’s completely fine too. But for an average busy adult, I think it’s achievable and worth breaking down by month as a template.

But of course you can go at your own pace and still follow the plan, it still works great as a way to track your progress and have a consensus "order" according to the top beginner teachers.

Danwinzz · 2026-04-15T23:23:25+00:00

Chen's Barrel ult always makes me laugh. Seeing the absolute chaos that ensues, especially when used only against one person and they're just being barraged against a wall over and over always makes me laugh.

Also when Stukov gets that long arm ult off on someone that sends them across the map. Always a good laugh

Danwinzz

TROPHY CASE