Hi All

Been playing for about 4 months and at 46 years of age was starting to think I was wasting my time but slowly getting there.
Anyone got any suggestions to easy songs to learn with good strumming patterns?

Allreet Geordy boy !

Im originally from Wylam just out side the Toon ! Im living in Iowa USA at the moment. I can still get "The one and only" so it is not so bad !

Can you play bar chords ?

Check out some of my lessons and instructors page (may be helpful).

One of the things that helped me out was getting hold of a song book (with chords and lyrics) by a band I liked and going from their. I borrowed a KISS song book from a friend but I don't tell many people about that as I have never been a huge kiss fan! It did teach me about strumming (making an approximation of the songs rhythm) and a bunch of new chords which was very helpful at the time.

Learning bar chords will also help a lot.

[font=trebuchet ms]Well done! First time in, and you've got replies from two of [font=tempus sans itc]Ye Moste Anciente & Respekted Gits![/font] :D

For strumming, don't bother with trying to co-ordinate the fretting hand with your strumming hand at first. Just drape your fretting hand loosely across all the strings to mute them. Then have at it with your strumming hand until you get used to the feel of stroking the strings. You will soon find it's easy to emphasise some of the downstrokes more than others in order to give some accent to the beat. Add upstrokes for the off-beats.

chuffa-chuffa-chuffa-chuffa-chuffa-chuffa-chuffa-chuffa

You should angle the pick slightly so that the [u]edge[/u] of the pick meets the strings, not the flat. One common indication of a beginner is the frown of concentration on their face as they gamely try to pound the strings into submission! It sounds like a piece of card flapping on the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Stroke - don't thump.[/font]

Originally Posted by: Dr_simonAllreet Geordy boy !

Im originally from Wylam just out side the Toon ! Im living in Iowa USA at the moment. I can still get "The one and only" so it is not so bad !

Can you play bar chords ?

Check out some of my lessons and instructors page (may be helpful).

One of the things that helped me out was getting hold of a song book (with chords and lyrics) by a band I liked and going from their. I borrowed a KISS song book from a friend but I don't tell many people about that as I have never been a huge kiss fan! It did teach me about strumming (making an approximation of the songs rhythm) and a bunch of new chords which was very helpful at the time.

Learning bar chords will also help a lot.

Thanks for the help.
Will try the bar chords but thinks I will have bother.....
After 4 months of trying I can play house of the rising sun which belive it or not I am over the moon with.
Wylam man lovely village often go walking around there...nearly moved there last year.
I live in Benton.
Am I to old to learn at 46?

Originally Posted by: Stan Toon... Am I to old to learn at 46?

[font=trebuchet ms]If you use the search icon at the top of the page to dig through the old threads, you'll find some interesting comments on that subject.

BTW: I'm 52, been playin' since '68, and I'm still learning things![/font] :D

Yep as LATS says we are not all spotty adolescents here !

I am about to hit 35 and have been playing on and off since the early 80s.

Too late / too old to start ? Never, just keep at it and as long as you enjoy it , well who cares what anyone else thinks !

Welcome Stan, it's nice to have another old fart, I mean new member around here,
I'm 46 myself, been playing 26 years and am sure that I'm wasting my time, but what the heck, everybody needs an obsession,

Are we too old too learn at 46, well yes, but thankfully we are also too stubborn to accept the fact ;)

Enjoyment shouldn't come with an age. If it makes you happy that's all that matters. Keep at it and you'll amaze yourself. My Dad's 56 and I'm getting him to learn a little bit. He's happy just playin' around with open "cowboy" chords.

My dad is a cowboy!

you're old enough to remember "mrs. brown" by the hermits. C Em Dm G7

Originally Posted by: mark wellsyou're old enough to remember "mrs. brown" by the hermits. C Em Dm G7

She has a lovely daughter! :)