Learning to play guitar - mid life crisis?
Discussion
Or at least that's what my wife said when I mentioned it 
Every few years I get an urge to learn to play the guitar, mostly as a result of watching a film or reading a book, this time it's the Stone Roses' story which has done it for me.
As I've ticked over the other side of 40 is it too late to teach this dog a new trick?
TBH I'd be happy at being able to play the usual acoustic suspects such as Wonderwall.
How hard can it be armed with a YouTube video and cheap Amazon guitar?
Every few years I get an urge to learn to play the guitar, mostly as a result of watching a film or reading a book, this time it's the Stone Roses' story which has done it for me.
As I've ticked over the other side of 40 is it too late to teach this dog a new trick?
TBH I'd be happy at being able to play the usual acoustic suspects such as Wonderwall.
How hard can it be armed with a YouTube video and cheap Amazon guitar?
I took up the ukulele for similar reasons.
Easier and still satisfying for me.
It might be a good place to start even if you do then go onto guitar because I think a lot of the strumming patterns are the same which can be just as hard to learn as the cords.
The ukulele may give you quicker results which helps with motivation.
Check out the offspring, self esteem ukulele for how good they can sound.
Easier and still satisfying for me.
It might be a good place to start even if you do then go onto guitar because I think a lot of the strumming patterns are the same which can be just as hard to learn as the cords.
The ukulele may give you quicker results which helps with motivation.
Check out the offspring, self esteem ukulele for how good they can sound.
TheFungle said:
Every few years I get an urge to learn to play the guitar, mostly as a result of watching a film or reading a book, this time it's the Stone Roses' story which has done it for me
Spike Island? I enjoyed that film!But no, never too late. Ideally I'd get a tutor or fellow player for the first few hours to get you holding everything good and how to set up your amp and tones, but after the basics you'll be able to do as much or as little as you want from youtube or similar.
Learning to read guitar tabs is insanely easy too once it clicks in your head
Great vid!
If you want to play wonderwall, sounds like you will be singing. So you could learn how to play five or six chords in one key you are comfortable singing with. Online song sites can transpose any song into your chosen key.
Probably start with C or G.
That’s 95% of popular song right there. There are simplified voicings for other chords that will muddle you through.
Edit. This is terrible teaching advice. But shortest path to fun imo especially if you like to sing.
If you want to play wonderwall, sounds like you will be singing. So you could learn how to play five or six chords in one key you are comfortable singing with. Online song sites can transpose any song into your chosen key.
Probably start with C or G.
That’s 95% of popular song right there. There are simplified voicings for other chords that will muddle you through.
Edit. This is terrible teaching advice. But shortest path to fun imo especially if you like to sing.
Edited by LimJim on Sunday 3rd January 22:22
Haven't done it myself but my dad decided to learn and if I recall he was pushing 60 when he started properly learning, he turned 70 in November and still plays.
He got professional lessons as part of a group I think once or twice a week for an hour and the rest of the time practiced on YouTube stuff. He started off with a fairly basic 6 string electric guitar and also plays bass now in a band locally. He has a fairly large collection of guitars, most of which mean very little to me but they look good.
His are all electric except one Acoustic but I have never seen him use that.
Anyway the moral of my tale is that its definately not too late to start.
He got professional lessons as part of a group I think once or twice a week for an hour and the rest of the time practiced on YouTube stuff. He started off with a fairly basic 6 string electric guitar and also plays bass now in a band locally. He has a fairly large collection of guitars, most of which mean very little to me but they look good.
His are all electric except one Acoustic but I have never seen him use that.
Anyway the moral of my tale is that its definately not too late to start.
coppernorks said:
At your age it's pointless, if you've no aptitude for or shown any interest in musicality of any sort
it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
Turns out my mum is on pistonheads!it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
coppernorks said:
At your age it's pointless, if you've no aptitude for or shown any interest in musicality of any sort
it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
And there was me hoping to play a perfect rendition of Caledonia.it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
i never started until I was twenty, ended up in loads of bands in my thirties & forties, had a great time playing live & wouldn't change a thing.
Do it, you'll never know unless you give it a go. But be clear, giving it a go & getting somewhere with it aren't the same thing. It takes effort, lots of effort. I've known a fair few people who bought guitars, amps, the full bit & then threw it in because they didn't turn into Jimi Hendrix within a month.
And John Squire is no slouch either!
Do it, you'll never know unless you give it a go. But be clear, giving it a go & getting somewhere with it aren't the same thing. It takes effort, lots of effort. I've known a fair few people who bought guitars, amps, the full bit & then threw it in because they didn't turn into Jimi Hendrix within a month.
And John Squire is no slouch either!
Yes it is your MLC, but embrace it, buy an MX5 and a motorbike too.
My O/H has just started it too. Originally she dragged out her basic cheap guitar she'd done a bit with years ago before giving up (back then). She got some one to one tuition via Skype and got better and better. Next came a more expensive guitar as a birthday present from me and she's quite enjoying it.
Give it a go, I can think of plenty more expensive hobbies.
My O/H has just started it too. Originally she dragged out her basic cheap guitar she'd done a bit with years ago before giving up (back then). She got some one to one tuition via Skype and got better and better. Next came a more expensive guitar as a birthday present from me and she's quite enjoying it.
Give it a go, I can think of plenty more expensive hobbies.
coppernorks said:
At your age it's pointless, if you've no aptitude for or shown any interest in musicality of any sort
it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
It’s not though. I started at 45 over 6 years ago and despite not having much initial aptitude and practicing as much as I should do, can now knock out a few tunes.it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
More importantly though I,ve found it a great stress reliever. I,d say give it a try. You can pick up equipment cheaply and you might discover you’re a natural.
Ok, so it's not a completely mad idea 
Electric or acoustic I guess is the question, acoustic would seem to be the simpler option or I'm I totally wrong?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kmise-Beginner-Acoustic-M...
This looks decent value.
Electric or acoustic I guess is the question, acoustic would seem to be the simpler option or I'm I totally wrong?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kmise-Beginner-Acoustic-M...
This looks decent value.
Edited by TheFungle on Sunday 3rd January 21:53
Go for it. To start it's not THAT hard, just playing some open chords. Then learn some basic bar chords and you can play almost anything within reason. I found the best way to learn was to choose a song, preferably a slow blues, and learn that.
I wouldn't get a cheap Amazon acoustic though. While I'm sure they're ok, personally I'd start with something like a Squier Affinity Telecaster. They come out of the box pretty playable, and with a cheap headphone amp you can practise in private. If you have a guitar-playing mate who can check it out when it arrives it should avoid the usual problems with new cheap guitar build quality. I'd buy from somewhere reputable like Andertons, couple of hundred would see you with something great to learn on that won't limit your progress.
If you want an acoustic this will get you started with everything:
https://www.andertons.co.uk/best-acoustic-guitars-...
(I don't work or have an affiliation to Andertons, but their youtube channel is good and I've always had good service and advice. Same for Gear4Music. Thomann is good too, but harder to return stuff)
I wouldn't get a cheap Amazon acoustic though. While I'm sure they're ok, personally I'd start with something like a Squier Affinity Telecaster. They come out of the box pretty playable, and with a cheap headphone amp you can practise in private. If you have a guitar-playing mate who can check it out when it arrives it should avoid the usual problems with new cheap guitar build quality. I'd buy from somewhere reputable like Andertons, couple of hundred would see you with something great to learn on that won't limit your progress.
If you want an acoustic this will get you started with everything:
https://www.andertons.co.uk/best-acoustic-guitars-...
(I don't work or have an affiliation to Andertons, but their youtube channel is good and I've always had good service and advice. Same for Gear4Music. Thomann is good too, but harder to return stuff)
Er...have to check I didn’t write this thread as in exactly the same position!
Bought a guitar when I was 18 with the intention of learning but didn’t. When my daughter was born bought one (but again it didn’t amount to much). Recently pulled guitar out of garage with intention of learning again (need to change strings as they don’t look right).
I don’t think you are ever too old to learn anything. You probably won’t learn as well as a young person but if you aim is to have fun and you enjoy learning go for it.
In the last few years I’ve just taught myself to read Japanese (from scratch). I’m far from perfect but have read some books already.
Bought a guitar when I was 18 with the intention of learning but didn’t. When my daughter was born bought one (but again it didn’t amount to much). Recently pulled guitar out of garage with intention of learning again (need to change strings as they don’t look right).
I don’t think you are ever too old to learn anything. You probably won’t learn as well as a young person but if you aim is to have fun and you enjoy learning go for it.
In the last few years I’ve just taught myself to read Japanese (from scratch). I’m far from perfect but have read some books already.
coppernorks said:
At your age it's pointless, if you've no aptitude for or shown any interest in musicality of any sort
it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
If anyone wonders why we're developing into a nation of passive consumers and overweight couch potatoes, it's this attitudeit will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
Give it a go, but use a metronome at an early stage
Bought an electric guitar when i was 60, never held one or played a note on anything before. Age is definitely a problem, memory retention is not so good now , dexterity not so good, ability to concentrate not so good. Time to practice is difficult. I know for sure i will never be any good . Do i regret it ? certainly not. I know my limitations
Pick my guitar up every day and play something badly, I love it. Dont care what anybody else thinks.
If you are thinking about trying then do it you will not regret it.
Working now on Jessica and can do a passable rendition. ( at least for me)
I would definitely recommend lessons, I have tried lots of different tunes as suggested by my tutor.
Just do it!
Pick my guitar up every day and play something badly, I love it. Dont care what anybody else thinks.
If you are thinking about trying then do it you will not regret it.
Working now on Jessica and can do a passable rendition. ( at least for me)
I would definitely recommend lessons, I have tried lots of different tunes as suggested by my tutor.
Just do it!
I was in the same boat. Brought an electric guitar a couple of years ago at age 47, and using YouTube and a few proper lessons could soon bash out simple chords. I have kept practising and had some more lessons over zoom during lockdown which corrected bad habits. It is slow steady progress but also great for my mental health. Justin guitar and marty music are good places to start 9n youtube, and ultimate guitar gives easy access to tabs and chords of almost any song you can think of. I have a Yamaha Pacifica 112 which has been perfect to start with.
TheFungle said:
coppernorks said:
At your age it's pointless, if you've no aptitude for or shown any interest in musicality of any sort
it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
And there was me hoping to play a perfect rendition of Caledonia.it will be a mammoth struggle to learn even the rudiments of picking, strumming and chord placement.
Take up su doku or crosswords or summat.
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff