Midlife crisis guitar newbie

Hi all,

Amid the covid 19 crisis and subsequent lock down I've decided to make use of the time at home to learn guitar at the age of 47.

Bought a secondhand Yamaha 2 days ago and been working my way through a few beginner tutorials on YouTube.

Only discovered this site today and watched the introductory videos and will probably sign up for full membership tomorrow. It is worth it right??

After a couple of days trying to play a few chords and a few basic one string songs, it feels like I'm going to be the one person who's fingers are just not going to get it. [br]I know it's a bit early to be having so much doubt but I just can't seem to imagine my hands and fingers one day doing what a competent guitarist can do?

Any words of encouragement ?

Any other newbies out there wanting to inspire each other and track each other's progress?

Hi Dan

I joined last March and renewed in March of this year.

The guitar is a very frustrating instrument for most of us. If it helps how you are feeling you can check this out, I made it for a fellow forum member struggling as we all do.

In terms of how good you will be, who knows, personally I am pretty bad but I continue to play anyway.

Good luck, hope you stick with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOUvhMRed-g

Hello Dan!

It's never too late to start learning a new skill!

Learning to play the guitar (or any instrument) is one of the most frustrating but at the same time invigorating and rewarding things out there. You've signed to learn for life. But at the same time, you will pretty soon start finding fun things to play. Just open your mind and tastes a bit and leave the Satriani songs for a while; you will find many easy and fun things to play that you may not have even considered listening to.

Good luck!

PS: You got a Pacifica? 112? That's a very nice starter!

HI I'm 58 much the same idea in the lock down, I dusted of my acoutic guitar and decided to learn it properly. Yeah the fingera are a bit stiff but find just doing the spider warm up for 10 mins,means i can get to the 4th fret with my pinky already....so I'll just keep at it :)

P.S i only started yesterday lol

"Guitar is easy." Said nobody who ever picked up a guitar.

Welcome to the Forum. Good luck, have fun.

I went with Yamaha acoustic FG-402 for about $200. I thought acoustic is just easier to pick up and put down whenever I feel the urge to practice for 10 mins. [br]I'm sure I'll venture into playing the electric guitar at some point in the future. Also my twin 8 year old boys are going to learn at the same time so I'm sure they will definitely want to go electric at some point

quote=Captain_Crunch]

Hello Dan!

It's never too late to start learning a new skill!

Learning to play the guitar (or any instrument) is one of the most frustrating but at the same time invigorating and rewarding things out there. You've signed to learn for life. But at the same time, you will pretty soon start finding fun things to play. Just open your mind and tastes a bit and leave the Satriani songs for a while; you will find many easy and fun things to play that you may not have even considered listening to.

Good luck!

PS: You got a Pacifica? 112? That's a very nice starter!

thanks, I'll check out the link.

i did sign up this morning for a years membership so now I'm committed.

quote=William MG]

Hi Dan

I joined last March and renewed in March of this year.

The guitar is a very frustrating instrument for most of us. If it helps how you are feeling you can check this out, I made it for a fellow forum member struggling as we all do.

In terms of how good you will be, who knows, personally I am pretty bad but I continue to play anyway.

Good luck, hope you stick with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOUvhMRed-g

Hey there,

thanks for the message. Yes, I've just signed up for a full year so it's time to get serious. [br]just finished watching the spider legs warm up lesson so I'll give that a practice today.

good luck with your journey!

quote=kevinjarratt]

HI I'm 58 much the same idea in the lock down, I dusted of my acoutoc guitar and decided to learn it properly. Yeah the fingera are a bit stiff but find just doinf the spider warm up for 10 mins,means i can get to the 4th fret with my pinky already....so just keet at it :)

P.S i only started yesterday lol

it's time to learn something new

Originally Posted by: danv66

I went with Yamaha acoustic FG-402 for about $200. I thought acoustic is just easier to pick up and put down whenever I feel the urge to practice for 10 mins. [br]I'm sure I'll venture into playing the electric guitar at some point in the future. Also my twin 8 year old boys are going to learn at the same time so I'm sure they will definitely want to go electric at some point

Hey!

I always forget there is an acoustic world out there too.

And yeah, whatever pushes you to practice more is the better choice. In a little time, come back to tell us about your jams with your kids!

Have fun,

I'm a 63-year-old retired newbie and also have a Yamaha (FG700S). I am making slow progress but I am very impressed with the quality of the Guitartricks lessons. I don't expect I'll ever be a great player but I'm confident I can develop enough skill to strum simple songs and entertain myself while learning to appreciate great guitarists that much more.

Believe in yourself and be patient. You can do it.

Don

Hi Don, welcome. You sound like you have a great attitude, it should serve you well. Good luck to you![br][br]

Dave...

The best thing I can say is write down what you are going to practice and do those. Dont wander off and do something else or noodle around during practice time. This way ur practice time isn't wasted. Next thing is when doing chord changes, don't focus on speed but rather accuracy. Slow down when ur changing from one chord to another and try to observe what your fingers are doing. Try to remember the space your fingers make from one chord to another.

HANG IN THERE!!

I have a Fender Strat that I purchased used. Then a friend let me borrow his old Yamaha acoustic and unfortunately my bass is now being neglected. I just purchased a new Orangewood acoustic. What a difference sound can make in the way you feel about a guitar and playing it.

I would recomend this program to anyone who wants to learn guitar.

Hi there.

I.. like others have started again after having the guitar hanging on the Wall for 20 years.

I realy just wanted to be able to improvise some blues over a backing track at first or put on an AC/DC album and jam along.

Then I learned the pentatonic scale, minor and major scale, intervals and CAGED system, playing by numbers etc.. and now things and ideas kind of flows more natural and I feel more confidant.

During the time learning this theory however I felt the opposite of confident.

But if you know what you want to learn there is so mutch resourse on GT to learn from.

I learn from different sources since I find some put more focus on what I am learning.

Like Joseph Alexander who has some realy great books on blues for ex.

The CAGED system combined with the petatonic scale and visualising chords in major/minor scale took me 4 different books to get the hang of.

It all is alot to learn but for me it is a long term hobby and development and Im so glad there will always be things to learn along the way.

when theory gets to overwhelming I just play some easy songs by the clash or whatever to shake things of abit then start again.

The most important thing is to do it all with joy.