Welcome Everyone From An Old Fart

This is a quick message for all the beginners that are getting into guitar. I played garage band rock and roll, basically 3 chord rock and roll in the mid 60's, and I am 64 in two weeks March 15th. For the beginners, I can say that Guitar Tricks is amazing. Here is my suggested plan for going to Core Fundamentals if you are an absolute beginner. First be ready for your fingers to hurt, even if your guitar has a low action, it might take a month to build up calluses. Lisa McCormick is great at getting you started, but here's a little trick. Once you learn and master a few open chords such as C D E A G Am etc, leave the fundamentals and go into songs, grab a few songs and practice playing them. Mike Olekshy is amazing at teaching songs slow and going over it and over it until you get it. This way, you will have fun as well as learn at a pace that works. Then you can go back and forth Fundamentals, Songs. etc Although I was able to complete fundamentals 1 in 5 days, that's because I played 48 years ago, and the hands picked it back up again. Good luck to all the beginners and keep at it!!

So you're birthday is coming up soon and you'll be 63 years old. Awesome and Happy Birthday! I'm slightly younger 59 (ha ha not much) with about the same story although I played at playing the guitar for periods off and on through the years. I'm new here and just wanted to say hello to another old fart.
Kip

Originally Posted by: johnv31552This is a quick message for all the beginners that are getting into guitar. I played garage band rock and roll, basically 3 chord rock and roll in the mid 60's, and I am 64 in two weeks March 15th. For the beginners, I can say that Guitar Tricks is amazing. Here is my suggested plan for going to Core Fundamentals if you are an absolute beginner. First be ready for your fingers to hurt, even if your guitar has a low action, it might take a month to build up calluses. Lisa McCormick is great at getting you started, but here's a little trick. Once you learn and master a few open chords such as C D E A G Am etc, leave the fundamentals and go into songs, grab a few songs and practice playing them. Mike Olekshy is amazing at teaching songs slow and going over it and over it until you get it. This way, you will have fun as well as learn at a pace that works. Then you can go back and forth Fundamentals, Songs. etc Although I was able to complete fundamentals 1 in 5 days, that's because I played 48 years ago, and the hands picked it back up again. Good luck to all the beginners and keep at it!!

Welcome to the forum!

Nice to have you! Happy early birthday and thanks for posting this! I'm an advanced player, but this advice still helps me even after 13 years (minus 4 that I went without playing) of playing!

I'm 45 and I've picked up and messed around with guitar on and off over the years. I've never really stuck with it, due to frustrations, but this website has given me hope to finally follow through with learning guitar.
Thanks to everyone here sharing stories and advice!

Welcome to Guitar Tricks John!

We know that learning guitar can be tricky and test your patience sometimes.

That is why we have made sure to find great instructors who are known for their abilities to motivate and teach those who want to play guitar!

Determination is important when learning something as we all have to practice anything we do before we excel at it.

We hope to see you around the forum more often!

Thank you for the warm welcome! I must admit, after doing a lot of research online, I'm really glad I made the decision to sign up for a full year of Guitar Tricks. Between the instructors, the community and the sheer depth of options/lessons on this site, I have never felt more motivated and more positive about my chances of actually learning this amazing instrument.
Even though I currently suffer with rudimentary open chords (let alone trying to change between them), your videos have truly inspired me to believe that practice will pay off at some point. It may take me longer than some, but I feel now, that I WILL eventually get there with the help of Guitar Tricks.

Thanks again, and I plan to be an active member in the forums...hopefully I don't annoy anyone with what will probably be rookie questions/concerns.

-John

Feel free to ask away! Guitar Tricks members love to collaborate and give tips!

This is a great thread. I am 62 in a week or so and I am having the time of my life. I played as a kid and hated it. Then I took it up again because the internet made it easier for me to go at my own pace. The advise about learning some basics and then jumping into a song is a good one. I suggest however to stick to the easy songs until you build your theory and your fingers. After I took beginner courses here and elsewhere I had a good working knowledge of open and barre chords and the neck in general. Before I started boring myself with too much theory I jumped into some songs from back in the day that I loved to hear but would love to learn to play. So I learned Stairway to Heaven including the solo, Fire and Rain, Texas Flood and others. I figured that I can't go wrong learning them. I picked them up, (it was hard and tedious), but I found out that they are doable for a guy like me. Now I can play against the recordings and backtracks. That's when it really gets to be fun. Enjoy the journey, man. Who woulda thunk.

Richray01,

Thank you for sharing your experience! Sometimes you will blow yourself away with what you are capable of! It's all about unlocking that potential!

Hi guys and gals. I am also 64 and picked up a guitar a few years ago. I used this site for a couple of years but had to leave for a while.I am now back and hope that I can overcome my problems with learning. I have seem to have no discipline when it comes to practice. I usually end up just noodling, lol. I love to come here and get encouragement from the post. You guys have fun and keep up the good work. btw I do like the new core system from Lisa, good work.

Hi John. I am in precisely the same boat as you. I slso share your optimism about hard work.

Jeff