Learning the guitar in your 30s?
Discussion
I'm going to check out some online tutorials this weekend but really looking forward to my lesson next week, I'm going to try and have a lesson per week and fit 4-5 hours practicing in between lessons.
If I can pick it up reasonably then I will treat myself to a decent setup in a year.
If I can pick it up reasonably then I will treat myself to a decent setup in a year.
Be very careful though, i started with just a squier affinity telecaster a year and half ago at 36.
I know have a les paul deluxe, martin ed sheeran acoustic, a Surh Classic pro on order, and have just got off the phone registering my interest on the Mark Knopfler les paul.
And i still have the Telecaster! It can get expensive quickly if like me you have an addictive personality.
I know have a les paul deluxe, martin ed sheeran acoustic, a Surh Classic pro on order, and have just got off the phone registering my interest on the Mark Knopfler les paul.
And i still have the Telecaster! It can get expensive quickly if like me you have an addictive personality.
I have returned to playing after a 40 year break ,it's a bit frustrating as having had a minor stroke 7 years ago a lot of memory has vanished .
The great thing is my original guitar mentor has given me an Epiphone Sheriton exactly like I had back in the day ,I also have an Epiphone special II and a 6 string jumbo acoustic. I somehow seem to have acquired 3 amps !
I am enjoying re learning stuff and wonder where I picked up my knowledge when younger and pre inernet .
String choice and proper set up will make a huge difference to your enjoyment so get some help with this early on ,it will depend on your playing style and the sound that you are hoping for ,as the variety is endless some expert help is a must .
The great thing is my original guitar mentor has given me an Epiphone Sheriton exactly like I had back in the day ,I also have an Epiphone special II and a 6 string jumbo acoustic. I somehow seem to have acquired 3 amps !
I am enjoying re learning stuff and wonder where I picked up my knowledge when younger and pre inernet .
String choice and proper set up will make a huge difference to your enjoyment so get some help with this early on ,it will depend on your playing style and the sound that you are hoping for ,as the variety is endless some expert help is a must .
Well thought I would come back to this thread, I've had a few lessons now, I picked up reading tab ok, although when I put it into practice I'm still rather slow!!, I've been learning a Grade 1 song which I've pretty much picked up now and I'm onto chords and chord progression which is akwaward but I'm slowly getting it- I can go between D minor, A, G and C although I do often make lots of mistakes doing so.
I'd like to say I'v ebeen practicing every day but unfortunately I've had a lot on recently so try and pick up my guitar for 5 minutes here 10 minutes there but every day, and have spent a couple of hours practicing at the weekend.
It definitely feels like it isn't this insurmountable task that I thought it would be and that one day, I might just about get the hang of it.
I know that I said I wouldn't as soon but I'm strongly considering getting myself a Christmas present in the form of a new Guitar and don't know wether to go for it or not.
I'd like to say I'v ebeen practicing every day but unfortunately I've had a lot on recently so try and pick up my guitar for 5 minutes here 10 minutes there but every day, and have spent a couple of hours practicing at the weekend.
It definitely feels like it isn't this insurmountable task that I thought it would be and that one day, I might just about get the hang of it.
I know that I said I wouldn't as soon but I'm strongly considering getting myself a Christmas present in the form of a new Guitar and don't know wether to go for it or not.
I have 20 years on you and and am still learning....
What I have found,is that even a two week break is enough for the muscle memory to lapse, let alone the mental memeory......
Play as much and as often as possible and the rewards will flow. Become erratic in practice and you pay the price.
What I have found,is that even a two week break is enough for the muscle memory to lapse, let alone the mental memeory......
Play as much and as often as possible and the rewards will flow. Become erratic in practice and you pay the price.
True story. I know loads of riffs, not many real songs all the way through "properly". I'm crap at impro. I know all the major and minor chords (but am crap at going to and from "b
d F".) bd F. My guitar tutor is a lovely lad but he teaches stuff different to Justin/andy guitar which can be confusing.
Getting to grips with Brothers in Arms just now which is possibly "The Song". As in, the song I always wanted to be able to play. I recognise it when I play it but others may not
OP, buy a nice guitar or 7 and have fun. It's bloody awesome.
d F".) bd F. My guitar tutor is a lovely lad but he teaches stuff different to Justin/andy guitar which can be confusing.Getting to grips with Brothers in Arms just now which is possibly "The Song". As in, the song I always wanted to be able to play. I recognise it when I play it but others may not
OP, buy a nice guitar or 7 and have fun. It's bloody awesome.
Lefty said:
OP, buy a nice guitar or 7 and have fun. It's bloody awesome.
!00% ^ thatI bought a new Ibanez a few months ago, with the thought of selling my PRS to balance the budget.
Erm. No.
Still got the PRS, and will hopefully be investing in another amp on the weekend (Fender Princeton Chorus) provided it's still for sale. And I've still got the Jellycaster itch to scratch as well at some point.
I'm 44 and started learning 10 years ago, but just never put in the practice. It would be a case of pick it up for a few months, then something else would come along and I'd forget about it for a few months, really taking me back to square one each time.
I too have followed Marty Schwartz and Justin Sandercoe, both great guys with massive followings, but I have found I have progressed much faster with a good teacher.
I emphasise the word teacher because I'm on my third one now. The first was a young lad who was the son of a local tutor, who clearly 'got' guitar from an early age. He has since become a mate, but we stopped lessons because he couldn't understand how I wasn't picking it up so quickly. The second guy was a great guitarist, and really frustratingly, completely self-taught. Lessons at his place largely involved him showing off about how great his latest lick was, and me progressing nowhere fast. My current tutor is a professional musician and tutor who teaches an age range from 6 to 70. He really understands the learning process, and pitches it at the level I am at. My playing has come on abundantly since I started lessons with him at the start of 2015. He's 30 quid an hour, I have one lesson a week, but it is money well spent, I enjoy the lessons and am encouraged to practice a bit each day, which is the real secret to making progress.
I too have followed Marty Schwartz and Justin Sandercoe, both great guys with massive followings, but I have found I have progressed much faster with a good teacher.
I emphasise the word teacher because I'm on my third one now. The first was a young lad who was the son of a local tutor, who clearly 'got' guitar from an early age. He has since become a mate, but we stopped lessons because he couldn't understand how I wasn't picking it up so quickly. The second guy was a great guitarist, and really frustratingly, completely self-taught. Lessons at his place largely involved him showing off about how great his latest lick was, and me progressing nowhere fast. My current tutor is a professional musician and tutor who teaches an age range from 6 to 70. He really understands the learning process, and pitches it at the level I am at. My playing has come on abundantly since I started lessons with him at the start of 2015. He's 30 quid an hour, I have one lesson a week, but it is money well spent, I enjoy the lessons and am encouraged to practice a bit each day, which is the real secret to making progress.
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