learning to play guitar at 35??
Discussion
too old?
It is something that I guess I have always wanted to do, but just never got round to.
I cannot read a note, wouldn't know one end of a guitar from another, but I know what sounds good and what doesn't (IMO).
My brother is a good guitar player and I have thought I could do that.
But at 35? Surely I have missed the boat?
Anyone done the same?
It is something that I guess I have always wanted to do, but just never got round to.
I cannot read a note, wouldn't know one end of a guitar from another, but I know what sounds good and what doesn't (IMO).
My brother is a good guitar player and I have thought I could do that.
But at 35? Surely I have missed the boat?
Anyone done the same?
justin220 said:
I'd love to learn guitar, and I've told myself every year I'll do it but never have.
How much would a half decent starter guitar cost? I presume acoustic is the best place to start?!
acoustic? havn't got time for that, plug in and rock! How much would a half decent starter guitar cost? I presume acoustic is the best place to start?!
this is my inspiration, the legendary ricky warwick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2rzMKinagE
I'm 36, I brought my first musical instrument at Christmas, an electric guitar, doing about 2hrs a week in 30min slots with the justinguitar beginners course which is available online free, but I brought the DVD.
The guitar is a yahama pacifica 112v (very well recommended beginner electric strat), I have a peavey 15w vyper amp which has some good features and is more than loud enough for home practice and has a headphone socket.
I got it in a pack from Guitarbitz.com for about £330 together with a tuner, gig bag, stand and a few other essentials.
So far I've managed to get chords A, E, D,(& Minors) C, G, Dsus2, Fm7 to level where I can change between them and get a clean sound at around 60 BPM or higher.
Two songs I'm learning at the moment are the simple rhythm versions of Wild thing by the troggs (very easy) and One from U2.
I'm finding it challenging and I'm not progressing as fast as I'd like, but when you do something and it sounds right it kind of spurs you on. It is certainly something I'm really enjoying and my two kids (3&4) love to dance along and help daddy practice if I do anything with it during the day. It is certainly something I intend to keep at for the rest of my life.
The guitar is a yahama pacifica 112v (very well recommended beginner electric strat), I have a peavey 15w vyper amp which has some good features and is more than loud enough for home practice and has a headphone socket.
I got it in a pack from Guitarbitz.com for about £330 together with a tuner, gig bag, stand and a few other essentials.
So far I've managed to get chords A, E, D,(& Minors) C, G, Dsus2, Fm7 to level where I can change between them and get a clean sound at around 60 BPM or higher.
Two songs I'm learning at the moment are the simple rhythm versions of Wild thing by the troggs (very easy) and One from U2.
I'm finding it challenging and I'm not progressing as fast as I'd like, but when you do something and it sounds right it kind of spurs you on. It is certainly something I'm really enjoying and my two kids (3&4) love to dance along and help daddy practice if I do anything with it during the day. It is certainly something I intend to keep at for the rest of my life.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 8th February 10:27
I'd say it rather depends on what type of music you're into. If you're into twiddly folk-esque music then you'd need a good accoustic and some proper lessons. However, if you're into punk rock then get a cheap electric and an amp with lots of fuzz, plug in and bang away to the Pistols or Nirvana (et al). I took the latter route when I started and a) have never got technically any good (never needed to) but b) have been playing in bands for years. Depends what you want out of music.
Im 38 and I bought myself a guitar late last year. I'd always wanted to pick it up, but other things got in the way.
I really enjoy playing wth the guitar, it might not be hugely enjoyable to listen to, but i find it fun and relaxing.
Im starting to put a couple of chords together and am picking up some basic little riffs. I realise its very hard and Ive got a lot to learn.
The justinguitar site is very good too.
I really enjoy playing wth the guitar, it might not be hugely enjoyable to listen to, but i find it fun and relaxing.
Im starting to put a couple of chords together and am picking up some basic little riffs. I realise its very hard and Ive got a lot to learn.
OneDs said:
I'm finding it challenging and I'm not progressing as fast as I'd like,
I fell a bit like this, but my fater in law, who is very good, tells me I wont play anything that sounds any good for the 1st year. Im going to stick with it. I dont want to join a band or get on stage. Its just for my enjoyment.The justinguitar site is very good too.
Edited by supermd on Tuesday 8th February 11:45
I've been playing electric guitar for almost 17 years - it makes me laugh when mates have come along over the years, seen me play, then think to themselves I can do that, then wonder why they get absolutely nowhere quickly.
The comment made about it taking a year to play something recognisable, is oh so true - and even that depends on what you want to play.
When I started I had lots of spare time to practice and I was putting in over three hours a day in the early days.
Like any instrument, you have to be patient and that's probably the most frustrating thing I've noticed in people who start learning at an older age.
Make sure you stick at it tho, or else you'll join the ranks of all those who've had the spare cash without the spare time, and end up chucking their almost-new gear into the loft or even worse - ebay!
Good luck
The comment made about it taking a year to play something recognisable, is oh so true - and even that depends on what you want to play.
When I started I had lots of spare time to practice and I was putting in over three hours a day in the early days.
Like any instrument, you have to be patient and that's probably the most frustrating thing I've noticed in people who start learning at an older age.
Make sure you stick at it tho, or else you'll join the ranks of all those who've had the spare cash without the spare time, and end up chucking their almost-new gear into the loft or even worse - ebay!
Good luck
Ha!
Did the theory stuff early doors while trying to learn the piano - sailed through the theory and floundered on practical!
Tried learning guitar at about 15 - was useless
Bought a Flying V and tried to learn at 35 - failure
Now aiming to pick it back up at 55
Eric, Carlos, Andy and Joe watch out!
Then if that fails, 75 I'll be brilliant..... or I might even be able to stumble through "Smoke on the Sunshine of your Stairway" between staggering along on my Robert Zimmerman frame and deciding to go back acoustic.......
Don't let ANYTHING stop you going for it!
Did the theory stuff early doors while trying to learn the piano - sailed through the theory and floundered on practical!
Tried learning guitar at about 15 - was useless
Bought a Flying V and tried to learn at 35 - failure
Now aiming to pick it back up at 55
Eric, Carlos, Andy and Joe watch out!
Then if that fails, 75 I'll be brilliant..... or I might even be able to stumble through "Smoke on the Sunshine of your Stairway" between staggering along on my Robert Zimmerman frame and deciding to go back acoustic.......
Don't let ANYTHING stop you going for it!
At 35 your biggest enemy is probably time.
Sure the fingers take longer to warm up and they don't stretch as well, but the biggest advantage a 14 year old kid will have over a typical adult is that the kid has no problems locking themselves in a room for 4 hours at a time and playing the guitar. Time and practice is what it takes, if you can afford that, then you can do it. If you can only play a half hour a week, it will take a long time to get any good.
Sure the fingers take longer to warm up and they don't stretch as well, but the biggest advantage a 14 year old kid will have over a typical adult is that the kid has no problems locking themselves in a room for 4 hours at a time and playing the guitar. Time and practice is what it takes, if you can afford that, then you can do it. If you can only play a half hour a week, it will take a long time to get any good.
Alfanatic said:
At 35 your biggest enemy is probably time.
Sure the fingers take longer to warm up and they don't stretch as well, but the biggest advantage a 14 year old kid will have over a typical adult is that the kid has no problems locking themselves in a room for 4 hours at a time and playing the guitar. Time and practice is what it takes, if you can afford that, then you can do it. If you can only play a half hour a week, it will take a long time to get any good.
You've got it in one. It's all about the time you can invest so even if you are a quick learner you'll get good quite quickly if you can spend hours every evening learning which as Alfanatic pointed out kids have the time to do this. I notice that sometimes my standard slips if I haven't had some practice in a while. Sure the fingers take longer to warm up and they don't stretch as well, but the biggest advantage a 14 year old kid will have over a typical adult is that the kid has no problems locking themselves in a room for 4 hours at a time and playing the guitar. Time and practice is what it takes, if you can afford that, then you can do it. If you can only play a half hour a week, it will take a long time to get any good.
I started playing at Uni so had a reasonable amount of time to hang around with friends and learn things from them, this also spurred me on as there were a few of us at similar stage of ability so it was encouraging to see my mates progress and know that it was possible for me to do the same.
I would not say any age is too late to learn an instrument, you don't even have to be a great player to get a lot of enjoyment from it. Persistence is key though and it does take a fair amount of practice until you get to sound good.
Bumping this topic as I'm really keen to start learning guitar again (at almost 35!)
I had a few lessons at school but got frustrated as my teacher wanted me to learn theory and classic / acoustic guitar and all I wanted to do was learn chords and play along to some of my favourite music.
I'm still in that frame of mind, so I was wondering whether there were any websites / systems where you can get tracks that are missing the main guitar track and learn to play alongside them - does that even make sense?!
Cheers in advance for any help or info you can provide
Phil
I had a few lessons at school but got frustrated as my teacher wanted me to learn theory and classic / acoustic guitar and all I wanted to do was learn chords and play along to some of my favourite music.
I'm still in that frame of mind, so I was wondering whether there were any websites / systems where you can get tracks that are missing the main guitar track and learn to play alongside them - does that even make sense?!
Cheers in advance for any help or info you can provide
Phil
Backing tracks are everywhere. Youtube, Google & above all, the monthly guitar mags.
I would echo what others have said. I started when I was 20, mucked about for a few years & then I spent a couple of years practising seriously, at least two hours a night consistently, five nights a week. It took me two years to become an overnight sensation!
The number of people I've seen pick up a guitar & then put it down again because they coudln't crack it in a week...The three secrets of learning an instrument are practise, practise & above all, practise.
I would echo what others have said. I started when I was 20, mucked about for a few years & then I spent a couple of years practising seriously, at least two hours a night consistently, five nights a week. It took me two years to become an overnight sensation!
The number of people I've seen pick up a guitar & then put it down again because they coudln't crack it in a week...The three secrets of learning an instrument are practise, practise & above all, practise.
With a left middle finger pinned and less nimble than it should be (top joint fused) I'm checking out learning the Uke. Hoping playing only 4 strings is possible 
Will report back tomorrow after visit to shop and trachy person. Being stuck at home unable to work I have time on my side and need to stretch my brain doing something I will have to work at!
Will report back tomorrow after visit to shop and trachy person. Being stuck at home unable to work I have time on my side and need to stretch my brain doing something I will have to work at!
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