• Jace
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-09-17
  • Posts: 33

Topic: Can someone help a old newbie?

Hi, I used to play alot when I was young although I never could read music. I just played what I was taught by friends. But I could do barre chords and play simple things on my classical guitar which had a very wide neck. At 54 I decided I wanted to play again and I also now have an acoustic guitar (from Estebans infomercial..a pretty cutaway black one) Anyway, I've found I can no longer play barre chords even though the neck is much more narrow than my other guitar. What I would like to know is, is this because I'm old now and my strength isn't the same? Also, is this something I can build back up or should I not expect too much because of my age. Also trying to do Estebans chromatic scale is really hard because my fingers don't seem to reach that far..(I'm a short female..LOL does that make a difference too?) Can someone give me some hope? Thanks so much...Jace

  • upyerkilt
  • upyerkilt
  • Unofficial king of Scotland
  • Offline
  • From: Balloch, Scotland, UK, Earth
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 3,290

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

Hi Jace


I am a young 36 year old and I still cant bar chords, but i work my way round it by just playing all the easy chords ,lol


I think you rpobably could build the strength back up if that is what is needed, or maybe the action on your guitar is too high?

or try lighter gauge string?


KEn

ye get some that are cut out for the job and others just get by from pretending
  • Jace
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-09-17
  • Posts: 33

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

Thank you for taking the time to make me feel a bit better. I've never played on steel strings before and maybe I just need to build up my strength. Best to you..Jace

  • Kahuna
  • Kahuna
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-07-12
  • Posts: 290

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

Jace,


I don't think you're ever too old to play a guitar or learn something new.  I too, have recently started to play guitar again, from my teenage years.  Going back to steel strings will take some time, as you go through the process of builidng calluses on your fingers. 


Regarding the barre chords, I had the same issue. But, I was told that squeezing a tennis ball or one of those spring-loaded squeeze grips will help build your hand strength.  And, it's true!  I bought one of those spring-loaded grips and been using it now for a month. It really helped built my hand.  Now, I can hold the barre chords more easily without cramping.  You might want to give that a try before giving up playing those chords.  There are many great songs that will have at least one barre chord in them.




<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>Jace wrote on Mon, 18 September 2006 02&#58;40</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Thank you for taking the time to make me feel a bit better. I've never played on steel strings before and maybe I just need to build up my strength. Best you..Jace
</td></tr></table>

  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

There seem to be a few of us older folk picking up the guitar again. I also found it hard to get back into barring but it gradually comes good. Just practice and a wee bit of tecknique. I kinda slant my hand towards the nut and lean my fingers on the barring finger. It kinda gives you a wee bit more strength(i think).


I also have small hands(no jokes about small handed guys please) so find some things a bit of a pain in the ass but there are usually ways round these things.


Keep at it, and if you're having half as much fun as me then you'll be having a great time.

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • Jace
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-09-17
  • Posts: 33

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

Hi all. Thank you so much. I feel very encouraged. I'll keep trying. BTW I've heard that men with small hands have very big hearts.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif" border=0 alt="Razz"> Jace

  • Kahuna
  • Kahuna
  • Senior Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-07-12
  • Posts: 290

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

I thought that has changed to shoe size now!  If so, my shoes are 9 1/2. LOL!


<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>Jace wrote on Fri, 22 September 2006 22&#58;32</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Hi all. Thank you so much. I feel very encouraged. I'll keep trying. BTW I've heard that men with small hands have very big hearts.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_razz.gif" border=0 alt="Razz"> Jace
</td></tr></table>

  • From: Camden, SC
  • Registered: 2006-03-19
  • Posts: 95

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

Yes it will get better with practice. Also you might want to have the guitar set up and the action lowered as far as it will go this way it will be easier to finger the chords.

  • Jace
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2006-09-17
  • Posts: 33

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

Hi, I'm afraid that although I can play some, I never learned much about the guitar so I don't know what a set up or action is. I did find a wonderful site that shows strength and speed building exercises though. Here is the url if anyone wants to try some of the exercises:


<a href="http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/f/p/fpm108/glw/exercises/exercise1.htm" target="_blank"> http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/f/p/f … xercises/e xercise1.htm</a>


Thanks again all..Jace

  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

Thanks for that Jace. Now, not only do I have small hands, but they also hurt.


Seriously guys, have a go at that. It's definitely not as easy as it sounds.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_confused.gif" border=0 alt="Confused">

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • Registered: 2006-09-23
  • Posts: 2

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

Help you with what? exactly.

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Can someone help a old newbie?

When you first start, your hands will feel like they are made of concrete, and your fingers will disobey every order your brain gives them.   The only way out of that is practice.  Lots of practice.  Right now you probably have it in your mind to sit and play some songs.   Instead, practice with the goal of increasing your hand's strength and agility.  Treat yourself like a body builder right now, instead of a musician.   Play scales.  Lots of them.   Play simple chord progressions over and over and over.


There is a little song my daughter taught me, and when I am practicing with conditioning in mind, it's the only one I allow myself to sing, as you can play it to anything.


"Practicing is just the same thing over and over and over and over...."   Practice every day, if only for a few minutes.


It will take a few months before your hands are in any kind of condition to play even remotely well.


Good luck!

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website