New to the guitar at 69 years old.

I live in th UK am retired and wanted to learn guitar since I was about 18 years old. Any advice would be welcome at my age from you.

Hey saab400,

Welcome to Guitar Tricks! Have you gotten started on the Core Learning System yet?

Let us know if have any questions! We are always here to help.

Best Regards
GT Admin

Welcome Saab400!

I agree The Core Learning System is a great place to start on the site. It will prepare you for the mountain of material that's made available.

Good luck! :eek:

Thanks for your encouragement. I have started today on the "Core Learning System" my fingers are getting in the way and beginning to hurt. How long does it take to harden up.

Peter

Peter congrats on starting! It will take about 3 weeks for your fingers to toughen up....
I would suggest playing in short sessions 10-15 min several times a day...gradually play longer and you'll be fine
Andy

Thanks for your reply I look forward to my fingers toughing.

Peter

I'm new as well. I started at 41 and have only been playing maybe 8 months.

Although I do not have your years I did discover a physical issue due to my age and physical condition.

I deleloped a severe pain in my left thumb (fretting hand) due to my tendency to play without a strap. Trying to navigate to fretboard and support the weight of the guitar caused my thumb to drag sideways. This resulted in tendonities. It took 2 months of rehabilitation and rest to recover.

I recommend always using a strap even when sitting so your frethand can move more freely.

My fingers developed calluses in a few weeks of playing 2 to 3 hours a day.

Hope this info helps and good luck with your new life as a guitarist :-)

Thank you for this info.

What are you working on?

I am Hoping to learn the acoustic guitar, at the moment that is my only ambition.

super - you've come to the right place.
Let us know how we can be of help.

-Lisa

I'am glad to say my fingers have now toughened up and I am able to play for a longer time. It took about 3 weeks and I am about a third of the way through the Core learning.
Thanks for your help and encouragement.
Peter

Keep up the Great Work My Friend! "Patience, Desire and Practice" is Eddie Van Halen's Autograph Intro, which He used when signing guitars back in the 1980's through the mid 2000's. And that is "IT" in a nutshell. Also from My Own experience, be forgiving when You make mistakes as they are necessary to get You to the next level, BUT maybe go slower and Imprint the various chords and scale patterns so that they become converted Muscle Memory. When it is time to SOLO, it is a GASS when You don't think of what You are about to play, rather than just allowing it to 'HAPPEN' naturally from Your Spirit. That also goes for Rhythm playing as well as trying to think of regimented articulation takes away from Spontaneous Flow.

Good Luck, DJ.

DJ Thank you.
Peter

Hello - good luck with your learning. If you ever need any help about anything feel free to send me a post. Best wishes - Johno

Hello Johno
Thanks for your offer, everybody has been very kind offering in their help whilst i'am learning to play the guitar.
Peter