Originally Posted by: dbrewerolatheFirst, are there any other 40 somethings out there trying to learn from scratch? Or am I just insane?

Secondly any tricks to be tried on the f major chord. 2 weeks of practice and I am not getting it better?

55 here, been working on and off at learning from scratch for a year..you get
significantly better progress with more on time...practice til your hand and arm
aches...then put it down until tommorow...one of those tommorows you will
pick up your guitar and be barreing all up and down the neck and be asking
yourself..."What was all the fuss about?"

A little trick until your left hand strength is amped up....lock your guitar up
against your body with the inside forearm of your picking arm and pull towards
you with your fretting hand..pull the whole guitar into your chest..you get to
utilize your biceps which is significantly more developed than the small muscles
of the hand....

Have fun..