Topic: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

Any coments or Suggestions will  be apreciated

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

Hi, well I started learning 18 months ago at the ripe old age of 45 and I for one haven't looked back. I have always loved the sound of the accoustic guitar and I don't think the capacity to learn declines so much after 30, sure there is a lot to learn and I will never know it all but who does ?

OK 18 months ago people were asking me to take it to another room ( or planet preferably ) but now My Mrs sings along with me and I am confident enough to play stuff in front of family and friends, and believe me my lot would say if it was total rubbish, and have done. It's the old saying "never too late". I read last week about a 101 yr old man who has started to learn keyboard. He says it brngs him a great deal of pleasure and it's fun, and that's what it's all about really isn't it ?

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

I'm 44 and just started, (December) I intend to still be playing guitar (and probably still learning) when I'm 80+.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

I suppose it does help if your younger, you will probably progress quicker and take alot more in.


Not only that but If I started learning when i was 14 instead of 24 like i am now, I could probably follow instruction better without thinking "I know better".


But what the heck, your not going to learn it by asking questions like this on the internet!! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">


Get your finger(s) out and start strumming!!

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

Being over 30 can be an advantage. You know you're doing it because you want to.

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

45 isn't old.i started at 47.Can't get enough.learning more all the time.even started a guitar collection.your never to old to start something.my advantage was quitting smoking cigerettes.i needed something to do and what better thing than to learn guitar.chordie is a great site.with lots of tips you can use along the way.dont give up it gets better. i know. ha ha  badeye

one caper after another

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

It's hard, my arthritus is making it a real

learning experience. I wish I would have started

a lot sooner; but hey, at 60 I still feel

young sometimes, especially with my my lessons

and my best buds, my son and my  horse!

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

wow i made member.

one caper after another

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

I used to wonder the same thing.  I'm 40 and just decided to start in December.  I'm banging out some clunkers still but I'm having fun.  If it's something you want to do then do it regardless of how old you are.

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

i second the motion   badeye

one caper after another

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

i started playing february last year an i`m 44 and loving it, i`m the youngest in the class but i`ve made some good friends and even been camping (with a real fire and all that) and looking forward to the next one. I really sucked when i started but now i bash out a half good sound and i`m even picking up the fingerpicking as well, so i don`t think there is any time limit on learning,so go for it!!!!!!!!

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

It is never too late to learn to play. You learnned English and thats got 26 letters. Music only has about 12 (of course those letters make a lot of different words[that is to say chords] ya know). So go for it!!!

Good luck!!!

                                 - Mike

"Nobody paints by ear so why would I play guitar by sight?" hmm

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

I teach guiatar to anyone who wants to learn.  It is never too late.  Keep on truckin.  Joseph Cormier

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

I started when I was 43 two years ago on a whim walking past a shop one xmas and they had a sale on. I bought a Fender Squire Acoustic and a chord book. Have played virtually everyday since then and now play and sing in the local wine bars and jam with my friends etc.


You are never too old to learn and I actually think that being somewhat older you have an advantage in having heard many different music types and appreciate wider genres.


Anyway, enjoy your guitar and the friends that inevitably come with it.


Adios

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

Hi

Reading these posts got me thinking.

I wonder how many enthusiastic teenagers inspired by watching their faviorite giuitarist play and making it look oh so easy, rushed out and bought a guitar thinking with the blindness of youth that "whats so hard about that then?" Only to find when they got it home that Shit there's more to this than I thought. Then after a few attempts at the beginners guide getting desponent and giving up.

This happen to me (rushed out and bought a Telecaster copy and amp.) and did the above. Many years later when I was over 30 I was struct with the bug again. This time being older and maybe wiser with more perseverance was able to get over the various hurdles of guitar playing.

I have now played for over 20 years. The Telecaster gets used occasionally but I mainly play Acoustic.


Now I'm not saying this true of all teenages. we have some on here with alot of guitar knowledge.

Ark.

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

I learned the basics back in the 60's and could just strum along to songs that didn't contain any 'difficult' chords. My guitar then spent the next 30 years on top of the wardrobe.

A few years ago I bought myself a good guitar (USA Strat) and, with the help of sites like this one, have gone from strength to strength and play every day. I even enrolled on a 3 month guitar-making course and built myself a beautiful unique electric guitar!

So as someone in their late 50's, I'd say you're never too old. (I just wish there were some like-minded oldies in my area to form a band with.)

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

I started 4 days ago and I'm 34.  Unfortunatly I am self studing as I dont really have the money for lessons, but I bought a software program for 20 dollars.  Thus far I have been soaking in everything I can off the software in hopes that I can learn enough to make my professional lessons more valuable when and if I ever decide to go to them.  My only fear is that I will be forced to learn techniques that must be done in a certain manner and I wont learn them correctly.  Kind of like a gold swing.  Anyone can teach themselves to swing a club and hit the ball 50 yards.  A bad swing will never let you hit any further then that though.  A good swing, will let you hit 250 yards but only after years of practice. 


I think the thing that seperates us mature students, is that most of us have probably wanted to play for more then 10 or 15 years but for whatever reason havent.  We have a desire that most young people dont have and although we may suffer in terms of ability or longer lesson times, we will enjoy our new skills much more I think.


My two cents.

Re: Is It too late to start to learn guitar after 30?

I'm 41 and just bought my guitar and also purchased the Learn and Master Guitar system from Legacy Learning Systems.  I can't waite ro get started.