Beginner at age 66

Hi I am a beginner at age 66, taking lessons and loving it. :)

Hey! we're both the same, beginner and age. but I gained 1 year a few weeks back.
Welcome to the site. An enjoyable place.

jeeez..... I'm only 50 but don't let that interfere with my ability to learn new things.
I only started guitar about 5 years ago and just basically pretended as I was 15. I listened to all the current music and learned a hell of a lot from this forum.


Age is all in your mind.

I'll be 52 on the 19th. Reading your posts made me wonder... do you guys ever feel like contests dog us due to our age. Its like you have to be in your teens or twenties to win anything. As soon as I put my age on an entry, I feel like I've kinda excluded myself from winning.
Funny thing is... when WE were growing up, all the greats were right there with us.... REAL music, not the processed, overdubbed, pedal induced stuff so "popular" today.
Anyone agree?

I'm always surprised when I see age limits on things. Like... contest is open to those 18 to 50. Like what the frilly hell... I'm not that old.
It's just weird.... I don't feel any different now than when I did in my 20's.

Hi guys,

Bravo for adult beginners!

Hey, you guys are all spring chickens compared to a lovely gentleman I worked with a couple of years ago in my studio. At age 76, he was just taking his very first guitar lessons. His daughter, knowing that he had always wished he could play the guitar, bought him one for a gift. He loved old-style country music, and we worked on some old Hank Williams tunes. He was tickled to learn some songs to take home and play for his wife.

How romantic!
Play on, spring chickens.
Best wishes, Lisa

Speaking as a 48 year old, I think that this says it all:

"Age is not important unless you're a cheese."

Helen Hayes

I have to admit, at 40 I never thought I would pick up a guitar again. I don't think my brain was ready when I was younger, but for some reason things are coming back to me, and I am learning much easier. I love the site and the lessons are encouraging and great fun.

Am I the oldest among us? If I make it :), I'll be 81 on the 29th of this month. I still enjoy the party, it just takes me longer to get there.
I'm a new subscriber and am enjoying GT very much. I recommended the site to one of my young friends (he's just 75) and he told me that he is not 'computer literate'. I think that's sad. He could be if he would give it a little effort. He can build an automibile engine, yet he would have me believe that he can't learn to click a couple of keys on a computer! Wow!

Hi,

RC here at 54. Do you all have techniques for coping with your aging issues and guitar? I used to play when I was a teen, and have picked up guitar again and noticed quite a change in:

1. General fatigue
2. Specific fatigue
3. Large muscle limits
4. Arthritis and related
5. Stretching considerations
6. Instruments against the body

1. General Fatique - I seem to be better with this when I exercise - walk, jog, weights of course. But I notice that I avoid songs that I know that exhaust me (Heart/Crazy on You, Misfits/Where Eagles Dare). Besides avoidance and exercise, any other tips out there?

2. Specific Fatigue. I just can't keep up some fast movements. I've noticed this in scales and arpeggios, pull-offs and repeated quick riffs, like so in Mood for a Day... I wonder about how to avoid repetitive stress syndrome

3. If I remove the guitar and pretend to hold it, boy, my arms are just hanging - that yanks at muscles in my shoulders, neck and sides. Any good specific exercises people have found to strengthen those areas?

4. Arthritis and related - this is similar to the specific fatigue and can relate to it, but I'm thinking more here about chronic pains and limitations due to arthritis like conditions. I don't like to prescribe for others, but CoQ seems to be helping me with this a little. "warming up" seems to help as well, playing scales slowly and carefully for a few minutes. I've tried aspirin, but I find that negatively impacts my recall on complex pieces like Bach's Bouree or Allman Bros Jessica.

5. Stretching considerations: Just how much stretching is good and how much takes us into more problems? I use some Johnny b Goode like chording for stretching, open to some other ideas.

6. Instruments against the body. Just sitting with that guitar digging into my leg has created a problem over the last year. I resorted to a pillow and standing up with a strap. I'm looking around for a nice square of leather, I think I could take that with me outside the house and not feel too embarrased.


Looking forward to other ideas, suggestions, warnings, considerations....

Thanks,

RC

Hi RC
I hear you loud and clear regarding guitar playing and increasing age.
I have found a lot of comfort in backing off a bit from the more difficult pieces. I play mostly country classics. I put on a CD and Jam with the stars.
Since I don't play the circuit anymore, I find this a wonderful pasttime. I Had trouble with the weight of my guitar on my neck, (especially my electric guitar) so I adjusted the strap so that it is evenly balanced between my neck and my leg. The strap just more or less just holds it in place.
Happy picking
Jim

Hi Jim,

Good idea - balance the two.

That strap reminded me I sometimes use a back support for long-term fatigue. I like them better while standing, while I'm a little too fat to use them sitting for very long.

Originally Posted by: Jim BlakeHi RC
I Had trouble with the weight of my guitar on my neck, (especially my electric guitar) so I adjusted the strap so that it is evenly balanced between my neck and my leg. The strap just more or less just holds it in place.
Happy picking
Jim

I'm 70 & enjoying the course. Wish I started younger.

Hey all,
I thought i'd be the oldster here, being 47 but im happy to see that im not alone...or the oldest!!...lol.
I just finished from suffering from G.A.S (GUITAR AQUISITION SYNDROME)
I currently have 21 pedals, 7 guitars (PRS, Les PAul, Fender Strat, G&L tele, Dillion strat, Takamine accoustic and a Larrivee accoustic.) Plus 2 amps.
Now all i need is to learn a few songs to justify my arsenal!!
Looking forward to learning from and with all of you :D
Ernie

Originally Posted by: maddogmattI'll be 52 on the 19th. Reading your posts made me wonder... do you guys ever feel like contests dog us due to our age. Its like you have to be in your teens or twenties to win anything. As soon as I put my age on an entry, I feel like I've kinda excluded myself from winning.
Funny thing is... when WE were growing up, all the greats were right there with us.... REAL music, not the processed, overdubbed, pedal induced stuff so "popular" today.
Anyone agree?

I haven't entered any contests yet, but I'm 36 and just got into music seriously two years ago. (I played piano when I was little, sang some here and there, but gave it up for corporate life for 10+ years.) That is not right about contests being open only to people up to 50 years old!! That makes me mad!!

I know I'm way younger than most of y'all who posted here, but I'm a female vocalist primarily, drummer second, piano player third. Guitar is a far, far fourth instrument for me. Being a female vocalist I sometimes fight against feeling like my time is already past, but I keep telling myself, like you guys: age is in the mind! I'm not trying to be a pop star.

Anyway, kudos to all of you who started in your 40's or later! I know a drummer in a good local cover band who didn't start playing until his 40's. I've heard of female vocalists who didn't launch their careers until their kids were grown or almost grown.

And of course... regardless of how good you are or you get, you're never too old to simply enjoy making music. It's all just a journey anyway. Enjoy it. Even the greatest musicians can't take it with 'em....

Time is short, regardless of your age. Enjoy it while you can. Music is one great way to do that.
Rock on.
Jim

Hi all,

What a wonderful conversation. I've been teaching guitar for over 20 years, and my very favorite students to work with are adult beginners. (or in some cases, re-beginners, or chronic intermediates).

There's such courage and heart to engaging in the guitar learning process when you're not a kid anymore.

It sounds like we have a bit of a clan here - would any of you be interested in keeping this discussion going amongst other adult players with similar interests and issues?

If so, shoot me an email. I'll see if somehow we can set up our own little discussion corner.

Best wishes - Lisa

Thank you Lisa.
What a nice thing for you to say. I for one, love the exchange.
I'll be watching for the influx of comments.
Keep happy!
Jim

Sure Lisa. Have a preferred subject line for the email?

I'm trying to figure out if I am a "re-beginner", "chronic intermediate" or something else in-between.

Adrienne,

Great story.

Anyway, kudos to all of you who started in your 40's or later! I know a drummer in a good local cover band who didn't start playing until his 40's.

A friend of mine started singing in a decent cover band. He did some back up singing when he was younger, and with family life stopped. I guess the kids were at the age where he could get out of the house a few nights a week. I think he still wishes he was a rock star, but he is doing what he loves.

When I get frustrated at progress, or lack of, I tell myself that I have chosen to make guitar a lifelong endeavor. We learned to speak for years before we ever learned how to read and write. I'm sure if I stick with it long enough, guitar can be just as natural.