Am I too old to learn?
Discussion
Hi,
New to forum so be kind....
For a while I have secretly yearned to play the guitar. Then, last night went for dinner around a friends house only to find that, after the cheese and port, out came the Les Paul and off he went playing a medley of tunes. Perfect....
So now, at the age of 43 with NO musical talent or knowledge I am wanting to learn.
On looking at music sheets, I cannot understand a bloody thing so would need some major help.
Have I left it too late or can someone teach an old dog new tricks?
Would love to play electric but guess acoustic is the way to start?
Kev
Just buy a cheap guitar from Argos (or ebay or a music shop who could advise) plus a tuition book for the basics. It's easy to learn guitar as you can use tabs (rather than a score) which represents the fretboard on the guitar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablature
There are loads of free tabs online, whatever your musical tastes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablature
There are loads of free tabs online, whatever your musical tastes.
ShadownINja said:
Just buy a cheap guitar from Argos (or ebay or a music shop who could advise) plus a tuition book for the basics. It's easy to learn guitar as you can use tabs (rather than a score) which represents the fretboard on the guitar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablature
There are loads of free tabs online, whatever your musical tastes.
Sorry chap, but I disagree with you a bit here, (apart from the tabs of course)...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tablature
There are loads of free tabs online, whatever your musical tastes.
Spend a bit more on a guitar and it'll be SO much nicer and easier to play, it'll stay in tune better, and make you want to play it and practice more...
If you get something like a Pacifica/Squire Vibe, if you end up not enjoying yourself you can always ebay it and get some money back. With an Argos special you may as well throw it in the bin!
To the OP, get down to a good local guitar shop and try a few out. If it's an electric that rocks your boat, then go for it. Add a small practice amp and you're on your way. Don't let people tell you that you have to learn on an acoustic if it's not your thing!
I'd also HIGHLY recommend a few lessons to get you started...
Whatever you do, make sure you have fun. Because if you're not enjoying yourself, it'll end up in the cupboard under the stairs gathering dust!
As long as you are willing to practise you should be fine
i have been 'learning' on and off for like 5 years. if i had even practised for 1 hour a week i could be good by now whereas the guitar has spent so much time sitting in the cupboard.
there are some good learning aids out there and it might be worth going for a couple of lessons for the basics
i have been 'learning' on and off for like 5 years. if i had even practised for 1 hour a week i could be good by now whereas the guitar has spent so much time sitting in the cupboard.
there are some good learning aids out there and it might be worth going for a couple of lessons for the basics
Cheers for the info.
i have taken the plunge and booked a first lesson to see how it goes. I have asked the guy if he is patient and he laughed and said no issues
Will be going for a look at some guitars on Wednesday and will avoid the Argos types.
What are your thoughts of these CAsh Converter places as there is one in town that seems to have a fair few guitars there for sale. I have a friend who plays that will be coming with me to check.
Quite excited about starting now and just hope I can get playing something at some stage....
kev
KevF said:
Hi,
New to forum so be kind....
For a while I have secretly yearned to play the guitar. Then, last night went for dinner around a friends house only to find that, after the cheese and port, out came the Les Paul and off he went playing a medley of tunes. Perfect....
So now, at the age of 43 with NO musical talent or knowledge I am wanting to learn.
On looking at music sheets, I cannot understand a bloody thing so would need some major help.
Have I left it too late or can someone teach an old dog new tricks?
Would love to play electric but guess acoustic is the way to start?
Kev
Never too late to start mate!New to forum so be kind....
For a while I have secretly yearned to play the guitar. Then, last night went for dinner around a friends house only to find that, after the cheese and port, out came the Les Paul and off he went playing a medley of tunes. Perfect....
So now, at the age of 43 with NO musical talent or knowledge I am wanting to learn.
On looking at music sheets, I cannot understand a bloody thing so would need some major help.
Have I left it too late or can someone teach an old dog new tricks?
Would love to play electric but guess acoustic is the way to start?
Kev
Electric will be a lot easier on the fingers to learn and plenty of decent cheap(ish) examples out there. You can get PC/Headphone adaptors so that you can pluck away without disturbing the family
But like all things, it's practice, practice, practice!
KevF said:
Cheers for the info.
i have taken the plunge and booked a first lesson to see how it goes. I have asked the guy if he is patient and he laughed and said no issues
Will be going for a look at some guitars on Wednesday and will avoid the Argos types.
What are your thoughts of these CAsh Converter places as there is one in town that seems to have a fair few guitars there for sale. I have a friend who plays that will be coming with me to check.
Quite excited about starting now and just hope I can get playing something at some stage....
kev
PS. Be warned though, it can be an expensive hobby i have taken the plunge and booked a first lesson to see how it goes. I have asked the guy if he is patient and he laughed and said no issues
Will be going for a look at some guitars on Wednesday and will avoid the Argos types.
What are your thoughts of these CAsh Converter places as there is one in town that seems to have a fair few guitars there for sale. I have a friend who plays that will be coming with me to check.
Quite excited about starting now and just hope I can get playing something at some stage....
kev
What everyone else has said, never too late and you're still only a boy.
I played for bucks for many years and stuck my instruments on the shelf in 1981 and picked my guitar up again about 6 months ago, now at the age of 62 I am about to go into the studio and record a single with some mates.
Just do it, and spend the extra few bucks and get something that your mate thinks is good value and you feel comfortable to hold and play.
Here in Oz I can get a s
t Tele copy for less than $100 or a pretty good one for maybe less than $300 so the difference between cheap and reasonable ain't all that much.
I have a Shergold a Maton and a Yamaha all from the 1960 - 75 period and all pretty good quality and so happy I never sold them.
Did however sell a 59 Tele, L Series P bass a 63 Fender VI and an 60 SG LP, all are now
I don't even want to think about it.
I played for bucks for many years and stuck my instruments on the shelf in 1981 and picked my guitar up again about 6 months ago, now at the age of 62 I am about to go into the studio and record a single with some mates.
Just do it, and spend the extra few bucks and get something that your mate thinks is good value and you feel comfortable to hold and play.
Here in Oz I can get a s
t Tele copy for less than $100 or a pretty good one for maybe less than $300 so the difference between cheap and reasonable ain't all that much.I have a Shergold a Maton and a Yamaha all from the 1960 - 75 period and all pretty good quality and so happy I never sold them.
Did however sell a 59 Tele, L Series P bass a 63 Fender VI and an 60 SG LP, all are now
I don't even want to think about it.Go for it! My dad recently started to learn to play and is really enjoying it.
As for what guitar to buy, I would buy an acoustic to learn on. Yes they are harder to play at first but your hands will strengthen up over time, then when you pick an electric up it'll be really easy to play.
I agree with one of the previous posts and avoid buying too cheap as they wont sound great, be hard to play and keep in tune. Ask your guitar teacher he/she will be able to show you what to look for when buying a good guitar, might even know of one for sale too.
As for what guitar to buy, I would buy an acoustic to learn on. Yes they are harder to play at first but your hands will strengthen up over time, then when you pick an electric up it'll be really easy to play.
I agree with one of the previous posts and avoid buying too cheap as they wont sound great, be hard to play and keep in tune. Ask your guitar teacher he/she will be able to show you what to look for when buying a good guitar, might even know of one for sale too.
)God no.
My missus is a woodwind teacher and her oldest beginner saxophone student is well into his sixties and she has several in their forties and fifties.
It depends on your character and what sort of stuff you want to play, but for me I found the best thing was learn a few basics (you can teach yourself this based on information on the web) and then get playing along to some simple songs. You only need about three chords to pick up some basic rock riffs and actually get playing along to something you actually enjoy rather than some mind-numbing scale exercise or whatever.
My missus is a woodwind teacher and her oldest beginner saxophone student is well into his sixties and she has several in their forties and fifties.
It depends on your character and what sort of stuff you want to play, but for me I found the best thing was learn a few basics (you can teach yourself this based on information on the web) and then get playing along to some simple songs. You only need about three chords to pick up some basic rock riffs and actually get playing along to something you actually enjoy rather than some mind-numbing scale exercise or whatever.
Just started at 39.5 yrs old and have been learning for 7 months now. I started on an electro accoustic.Its a bit more narrow than most normal accoustics and allowed me to learn more about what was going on with my hands, rather than trying to straddle a full size accoustic. There was a thread recently about beginners guitars and starting. I borrowed an electric from a mate and learnt for a couple of months before taking the plunge.Electrics are lighter to play, but always wanted an accoustic after I had decided thats what I wanted to do. Just get a few notes on a sheet and practice changing from D's to G's etc and others and maybe a few easy chords.After 6 months I am now having lessons to stop my bad habits and progress. I thought that starting from nothing and having lessons, might waste money in a way.A mate that can play is a big bonus too to help. Good luck and do stick with the first couple of months. It is frustrating at times and at the start more so................
Do get a 'nice' guitar and look at music shops. I bought mine for a one man band and he would set it all up and basically wouldnt sell it unless he was happy, not something being lobbed down a conveyor belt.
Justin guitar is good ,although I found it a bit fast for beginners and still find his teaching a bit quick still.
Do get a 'nice' guitar and look at music shops. I bought mine for a one man band and he would set it all up and basically wouldnt sell it unless he was happy, not something being lobbed down a conveyor belt.
Justin guitar is good ,although I found it a bit fast for beginners and still find his teaching a bit quick still.
Stig said:
KevF said:
Hi,
New to forum so be kind....
For a while I have secretly yearned to play the guitar. Then, last night went for dinner around a friends house only to find that, after the cheese and port, out came the Les Paul and off he went playing a medley of tunes. Perfect....
So now, at the age of 43 with NO musical talent or knowledge I am wanting to learn.
On looking at music sheets, I cannot understand a bloody thing so would need some major help.
Have I left it too late or can someone teach an old dog new tricks?
Would love to play electric but guess acoustic is the way to start?
Kev
Never too late to start mate!New to forum so be kind....
For a while I have secretly yearned to play the guitar. Then, last night went for dinner around a friends house only to find that, after the cheese and port, out came the Les Paul and off he went playing a medley of tunes. Perfect....
So now, at the age of 43 with NO musical talent or knowledge I am wanting to learn.
On looking at music sheets, I cannot understand a bloody thing so would need some major help.
Have I left it too late or can someone teach an old dog new tricks?
Would love to play electric but guess acoustic is the way to start?
Kev
Electric will be a lot easier on the fingers to learn and plenty of decent cheap(ish) examples out there. You can get PC/Headphone adaptors so that you can pluck away without disturbing the family
But like all things, it's practice, practice, practice!
On a whim and for similar "I've always wanted to..." type reasons bought a How to play Guitar book in cheapo shop The Works around Easter and got a cheapo electro-acoustic off ebay from these people- http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Cranes-Music-Store, was abit of a gamble but amazingly its not too pikey and holds tune between practicing (ie- long gaps :-)
Anyway, the book and guitar are probably crap but its been fun, lessons will probably have to come at some point and may have prevented some habits I've no doubt picked up.
Found lots of quick and easy "lessons" on YouTube, little 5min practice things to improve skills and easy tunes to learn, the minute you can play something (anything) you seem to feel like your getting somewhere!
I am still a super novice but the one thing that helps most is practice, if I leave it a few days (ok a week or more) I am back to square one, if I practice one day and try again the next I learn so much more.
I guess as a grown up I shouldn't be surprised but practice really does work!
Anyway, the book and guitar are probably crap but its been fun, lessons will probably have to come at some point and may have prevented some habits I've no doubt picked up.
Found lots of quick and easy "lessons" on YouTube, little 5min practice things to improve skills and easy tunes to learn, the minute you can play something (anything) you seem to feel like your getting somewhere!
I am still a super novice but the one thing that helps most is practice, if I leave it a few days (ok a week or more) I am back to square one, if I practice one day and try again the next I learn so much more.
I guess as a grown up I shouldn't be surprised but practice really does work!
Started learning at 59.... I just wish I had done it years before. Yes, some have talent but most just work at it, even Clapton just practiced till he was God. Start with a guitar that suits what you like, if you like Clapton then go electric if its strum along, sing along stuff then go for an accoustic. I go for lessons and played something after the first. I find I dont remeber or pick stuff up as well as I did when I was younger or sharp but I totaly enjoy it, will never be any good but cannot describe how good it feels to get a riff right or for my wife to just know what i am playing and sing along. Just go for it....great fun. Drop me a line if you need a totally usless players advice!!!
Rae
Rae
I started the thread recently - I acquired an acoustic and really enjoyed it. Have just (today!) bought my first electric, a Yamaha Pacifica.
it feels a lot easier to play initially - the neck is narrower and the strings closer together. Also, you don't seem to have to fret them too hard.
Plus there is the added fun of the amp and silent practice (a novelty to me - as a pro brass player that would have been handy in the past!)
In my experience cheap beginner instruments are a false economy - a half decent guitar isn't that expensive in the grand scheme of things (certainly not in comparison to my french horns or my wife's violin!), and there's always a market for it if you want rid.
I would definitely go for a lesson or two, I certainly will, as I know how easy it is to get into bad habits that can take a lifetime to shift...
For anybody wanting to learn any musical instrument - DO IT! You are never too old to learn. It will take hard work and perseverence, but keep at it. Regular practice is the key. Playing a musical instrument is the best thing in the world!
it feels a lot easier to play initially - the neck is narrower and the strings closer together. Also, you don't seem to have to fret them too hard.
Plus there is the added fun of the amp and silent practice (a novelty to me - as a pro brass player that would have been handy in the past!)
In my experience cheap beginner instruments are a false economy - a half decent guitar isn't that expensive in the grand scheme of things (certainly not in comparison to my french horns or my wife's violin!), and there's always a market for it if you want rid.
I would definitely go for a lesson or two, I certainly will, as I know how easy it is to get into bad habits that can take a lifetime to shift...
For anybody wanting to learn any musical instrument - DO IT! You are never too old to learn. It will take hard work and perseverence, but keep at it. Regular practice is the key. Playing a musical instrument is the best thing in the world!
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