Too Old??

Hi,
I am new to this Guitar Tricks. In fact im new to playing the guitar. i have been playing for almost a year now and i love it, im sure im not learning like most but i am enjoying it.

I wanted to ask a few questions. I am 37 and have just started playing guitar. am i too old to start? i have been told that you need to start playing younger because you will retain more at a younger age.

my other question is why do the instructors seem to think it only takes a week or so to learn to play certain cords or learn certain techniques. is it because im really bad at playing the guitar? its taken me almost a year to learn to play most of the open chords (with confidence). i am just now starting on learning the barre chords. its taken me 3 days to get that (horrible) f chord that seems so easy for everyone else.

last question, when i hear the words sharp, flat, major, minor, then all those diff scales i feel like a 1st grader walking into college. i get so confused. is it just me?

anyways i love this site its been very helpful. just wanted to hear what everyone else has to say and if anyone else has had the same problems i do, just seems to me it takes most people a year to master the guitar and here i am learning barre chords... thanks

Just wanted to add a HUGE THANKS, i so appreciate all the comment. You guys ROCK.... to 180 when i first started playing my hands would ache so bad the next day i would just continue to play thru the pain.. as time progressed i noticed my hands would hardly get tired and the pain went away. Anyways.... thanks so much everyone.

i might have missed it but they should start a section to help those battle discouragement. for those to leave stories of those who battled thur.

thanks all :D

well if that's the case i shouldn't have started at 48 just over a year ago. I also have severe carpal tunnel in both hands but playing guitar has forced me to work with stretching and hand exercises which has helped my hands tremendously. so keep at it.

Todd

You are never too old to start anything! Everyone learns at a different pace so if it takes a little longer then you would like dont sweat it. When I first started I had trouble with the open chords but after practicing it for hours it started getting easier for me. Do not worry about being confused with the scales and all that. After some time you will understand all that. Keep practicing and you will improve!

Originally Posted by: MadebitterbyluvI wanted to ask a few questions. I am 37 and have just started playing guitar. am i too old to start? i have been told that you need to start playing younger because you will retain more at a younger age.

welcome to the site Madebitterbyluv.
yes, maybe and youner age we retain more but defintely is never too late to start playing. Just enjoy it. It takes time but with Guitar Tricks you can take all the time you want to practice a lesson (I know the older we get the less time we have!!!)

Carmine (43 and some months)

Of course you aren't too old for playing guitar. First of all, the F barre chord is something EVERYONE struggles with. It takes time to get your hand to get used to it, but also takes time to build up strength to actually play it well. Even I and most pro's mess up the F chord with not every string fully ringing out the way it should.

So again: THE F CHORD IS SOMETHING EVERYONE STRUGGLES WITH, PERIOD. That would be rather called a fact.

Secondly I think it is really useful to practice chord progressions and THINKING about your move. So how can I easily change my fingers to make up the next chord. This is something you should take time to practice. Look what the purpose of each finger is and the way it should be set up to form the next chord. Sometimes you can slide a bit or move fingers up and down. That should get you confident with every chord. Also I would recommend taking it slowly and perfectly and after that speeding it up. Doing something fast and wrong is a very bad habit. Your brain will somewhat re-do the proces, because unlearning something is harder then learning something new.

JJ

Originally Posted by: 180pittswell if that's the case i shouldn't have started at 48 just over a year ago. I also have severe carpal tunnel in both hands but playing guitar has forced me to work with stretching and hand exercises which has helped my hands tremendously. so keep at it.

Todd

I found playing has helped a lot with my wrists. An added bonus to the joy of music!

I just turned 61 last week. I bought my first guitar 8 monyhs ago. Playing guitar was on by bucket list of things to do and realized I as runjing out of time. I practice every day and I am having a blast. you are never too old
andy

I'm 43, turning 44 next month. I just started two years ago. I find that I'm probably in a better position to learn now than I was 20 years ago. More money for guitar toys. :D

I have a 52 years old student who is a complete beginner. It's never too late to reach your goals!

yep your too old

Just kidding, I'm a few years younger and I started playing about 2.8 years ago. I want(ed) to learn because it's fun and it's more constructive than watching tv and any thing that might become of it will just be a bonus. Plus we look cool when were playing lol

(edit) and don't get discouraged if something is taking a long time to figure out it all takes a long time to figure out

I started guitar at 59 and am now 61. I picked up a cheap Yamaha that my son left lying around the house. I already played harmonica and sang a bit so I thought I would do some Dylan stuff and I just fell in love with it. Being realistic I ain't never going to be a maestro but I derive so much pleasure and satisfaction through the whole process I am determined to go as far as I can. After two years of regular practice I can see that I have come a long way but sometimes day to day it is not always immediately obvious. At my age you have to be patient even if time is running out. Enjoy the experience. I now have three other guitars alongside the Yamaha which I use as a travel guitar. I have an acoustic and electric amp, a condenser mic for my laptop and a dynamic for my bedroom concerts. ha ha. So to you young man of 37 I say that if you enjoy the whole experience then stick at it and good luck to you.

I am getting up in my years as well but have been playing for a long time. My suggestion is just practice at a steady consistent pace. Take one thing at a time and learn it.

I have found over the years that skill levels tend to advance Plato’s, which means we practice the same thing for a while and then one day you will just get it , and you will be onto something new for while, and then one day perhaps weeks or even months you will just get it again and so on.

Don’t let your age scare you, if anything we are more focused than say a typical teenager , we old guys know how to set a goal and achieve a goal.

I would suggest that you be open minded when learning and try a little of every style I know you will find your path to being a great player. At least that is what I keep telling myself :)

Jamie

Originally Posted by: RickBlackerI'm 43, turning 44 next month. I just started two years ago. I find that I'm probably in a better position to learn now than I was 20 years ago. More money for guitar toys. :D

I had said earlier in a few posts back about me kicking out the $120 for the Strat type and small Peavey amp.. Shocked the wife a few days back when my son and I went out shopping...

"Honey... I bought a $1700 guitar!"
"No you did not!"
my son looks at her and nods.. "Yes, he did"
"You're just pulling my leg"
Ta Da... Washburn Custom.. had to get me something along the lines of a Gibson Les Paul so the only thing the guitar store had along those lines that i could afford...
Wait till next month when I bring that Crate Amp and Head home for $2500 :D

NEVER too old!! It's great that you are enjoying it!! That's the main thing! I'm 44 and started a couple of years ago on guitar and I wish I would have started as a teenager but you can't change the past. Try not to feel intimidated if it takes you a little longer than what is expected for you to learn. So long as you are learning and enjoying!! Music theory and learning an instrument is like learning another language. All the sharps, flats, major, minor etc will be like second nature to you over time. Good Luck!!

Hey all,
There's no such thing as too old IMHO. With the exception of a few riffs while goofing off on electrics, I was only performing with an acoustic until 94. I got my first tele in 93, but was just flatpicking on it mostly. I really got serious about learning techniques mid 95, and took my first road gig in June of 96. Being on the road gave me more of an opportunity to play, and when the show was over learn knew licks at the bandhouse, or hotel we were staying in. Anyone else that was doing what we were doing, I wanted to pick their brain. I tried to get some pickers to show me stuff, but they played no signatures, but in 6 months they were asking me to show them signature licks. I'm very proud of that, and I tell everyone I'm still learning too.

If I would have said I was too old to learn, I'd still be running a wire extruder, or making vinyl, or driving a delivery truck in Nashville. I was cofounder, and frontman for a professional bluegrass band for almost 10 years. We played in Nashville, and on the festival circuit, even done 6 months playing at Hooters, lol. We played all over town, and worked through Opryland which opened a lot of doors. Learning the techniques, and hanging with players like Forrest Lee Jr., Eugene Moles, and I could name a hundred more, allowed me to go back through those doors and play other styles of music.

I think doing this at a later age really helped me focus on what I wanted to do. Setting goals for myself, and reaching them because I knew how to listen. As I learned more I could recognize what was being played when I heard it. It's great to hear Brent mason play a hot lick on a song, and know exactly what he's doing. Just takes a lot of practice, and be sure to set some goals. I definitely agree with learning other styles too, because these days it's all about versatility. Best of luck to all of you, and remember if you really want to learn how to play, then you're never too old.

First time I have used the Forum so I don't even know what to put in the "Title" Anyway, I am learning to play guitar because I am old. I think you need to keep putting new patterns into your brain, least you lose the ability to do so. I am 68 and yes it takes time but that is the beauty of it for me. I just love doing it. I have gotten over thinking that everyone else just pucks the thing up and plays. I have been working for five days on the first bar of Oh Dannyboy, go figure. That F Barr chord is a wonderful thing as it is the E Form that opens up so many other chored for you. F at the first and G at the third and A at the 5th and so on. House of the Rising Sun is a good Song for the F barr chord.

I find I am plucking the wrong strings. I go throught the scales but many times I am one string up or one string down from my left hand placement. I am also having trouble with timing. I started 4 months ago should I be further along. I can play and change chords. My fingers finnaly stopped hurting!

Originally Posted by: George E.I find I am plucking the wrong strings. I go throught the scales but many times I am one string up or one string down from my left hand placement. I am also having trouble with timing. I started 4 months ago should I be further along. I can play and change chords. My fingers finnaly stopped hurting!

I still do this occasionally when I do I slow it WAY down till it's right. It's just muscle memory. Maybe try Metro dome slow enough till you get it right every time then bring the speed up slowly. If you do it too fast a bunch a times wrong it will normally not become right until u slow it down and learn it right.

I find I am plucking the wrong strings. I go throught the scales but many times I am one string up or one string down from my left hand placement. I am also having trouble with timing. I started 4 months ago should I be further along. I can play and change chords. My fingers finnaly stopped hurting!

I've played for years and still need to look at the strings when playing a solo or end up playing the wrong string.

You can do this...it may have already been said but everyone learns at their own pace......hang in there.
Doug

I know I frustrate myself wanting to be able to do more. I don't know what time frame is realisic. I have been playing since Dec. 2010. About three months. It took awhile just to not be overwhelmed. Now I want more all the time.