Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

I would have to agree with all the others who have said it's never to late. I have been playing off and on now for 30 odd years and I am in my 50's and still learning. I have put it down, picked it up, put it down ect.. I have finally found a guitar that fits my body and I can't seem to put it down. I think the best advise that I can give is to find a guitar that is comfortable for you and plays easy. Then practice, practice, practice.  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_smile.gif" border=0 alt="Smile">

                   Dennis

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

I started to learn to play about 2 years ago.  My daughter's interest in it got me thinking that maybe it's time for me to get off my rump and just do it.  I'm 51 and like some of the others my fingers ain't as nimble as I'd like.  Some of the Blues Chords progressions that my teacher has shown me are hard as hell, but, hey, this is for my own pleasure.  I have a great teacher, he suits me perfectly.  A lot of times our lessons are more like "therapy" than lessons.  Especially if I'm feeling in a funk or ticked off.


I have always loved acoustic guitar and it's been a blast to finally be able to realize that, "Yeah, I can do this." <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">


The big secret for anybody, and this is the philosophy of my teacher.  Is that it makes a big difference in having the right teacher for you.  His own website makes that point very clearly.  Especially at our age(s). <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">   I'll be doing this for the rest of my life! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">


Peace

"I don't have pet peeves...I have whole kennels of irritation."  --Whoopi Goldberg

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

I had a horrible guitar when I was about 16 which gave me nothing

I started playing again when I was 30 (now 46) not the best player in the world by any stretch of the imagination but it gives me and my childrten a great amount of pleasure.

It is never too late to learn.

I always loved the idea that If I didn't know about numbers then how old would I feel?

Play on man and enjoy it

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

no not really guitar is fun if i was 300 id start playing even if im ugly cause its fun and its one thing u dun need to look good with

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

I'm going to go out on a limb a bit... and disagree with every one. 


Yes, it is too late to learn guitar...if you want to be a speed metal, groupie-groping guitar God/Hero.


If music maters to you...do it anyway. I'm 47, played a bit when young, learned nothing, and started over at 40. Since then I've developed a bit of style, played in 2 bands and helped cut a CD. In some ways I still suck but, who cares? I'm having fun.


Go for it.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Hi, i have a list of things to do in life! As they happen i tick them off.

Guitar was always tops. Only got the chance in my early fifties  {love love love it } Always go with your feelings ! If others jeer ? Then thats their problem !!

Music and Playing the guitar for me, helps me understand Im a spiritual being,

having a human experience !  Go for it and enjoy the emotional rollarcoaster ride !! Good luck.

Why Blend in with the Crowd ? When you were made to stand out !

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

I'm 47 and started properly at 45. I did play a little when I was a teenager but I had other things on my mind.

Unless your dedicated when your younger you don't practise enough. I practise for 1 hour each night.

Being older your fingers may not be as quick as someone younger and they may hurt more, but in time you get used to it.


I always wanted to play again and it was my son who encouraged me to start again.


OLdsoulman

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Like a song by "Steppinwolf"

"It's never too late to start all over again".At 47 I would love to learn piano.learning guitar is a blast eh.


...Badeye.

one caper after another

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Oh man...it's never too late. I'm 47 and it is my oasis in a crazy world. I only started playing seriously in the past 2 years or so. Keep picking and you won't have any regrets.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

At first I sounded horrible but I practise every night for 1 hour, and in 2 years you start to be able to play better, switching chords becomes easier and the best is when someone else recognises what your playing.

A great feeling is when I could play one simple chord, Fmaj7. At first I hadn't heard of and couldn't play it. Now its so easy and it is such a great smooth sounding chord.

I know that sounds sad.

Where I work I'm not the only one having a mid-life crisis who are playing guitar again. There must be 6 or 7 of us, plus a few really good guitarists. Who knows maybe a band ?


But you've got to practise and enjoy it.


Oldsoulman

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

No it's never too late to start, but only start if you have lots of time to devote to playing. Its a great hobby and you shoul give it a start.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Ohmygosh, NO!!  Don't give it another thought!  Pick up a guitar right now and start in...my father-in-law just decided to give it a go after quad-bypass surgery (since he's got plenty of time on his hands now, no pun intended!) and he's 81 years old!


Just remember, when you "hit the wall" (and we all do) don't ever give up.  You'll always get by it.  And, have lots of fun.  As one of the other posts said, get with others that also enjoy playing guitar, drums, anything.  It's really a lot of fun to hear what you can create!


Enjoy! <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">

38 (edited by Detman101 2007-05-17 17:24:19)

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

WTF!?! my posts keep getting blanked out.
What the heck is going on?

Dm

"Talent instantly recognizes genius,
but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

-Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

40 (edited by Shreddi 2007-05-09 07:29:37)

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

No way.  Check this out and its True.  I tried at 13 and got sidetracked all over and put it away.  Borrowed my brothers strat at age 25 and was lucky enough to find Steve Vai in the recycler giving lessons when he was just starting out.  I said Im starting too late and he said im lucky because its new and there is so much to be excited about and learning new things and so much to look forward to.  Im over 50 now and I remember the excitement of learning new and the new stuff.  When you start the little things are cool.  Steve was playing with Zappa after 5 - 6 years of playing.  Granted he played 16 hours a day straight but the deal is if ya like it do it.  Never too late.  If you want to be real real good play a real real lot, but no matter what its (as someone else here put it) very good for the soul.  I still play for therapy.  Its better than video games and I love them too haha.   Hell my Mom is in her 70's and started taking piano lessons.   Try it and see if ya like it.   Best of Luck.  Hope you do it.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Happy days are here again. Retired at 71 and four months ago  started with a used Martin D15 and loving it. Bring back the 60's.

Once you get basic chords down just pluck what sounds right and listen in every music store and blue grass jam that you can. Good luck and hard caluses.

Al (aropanda1@aol.com)

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

As one who started poking around guitar at age 16 and never got much farther than a few sing along chords and a bit of single note melody picking, I would advise putting the "hard yards" in as early as possible. At the age of 60, I suddenly discovered that 4 of my mates also buggerised about with guitars, we got together for a jam and the result has been the most productive in my musical wanderings. In the last couple of years I suddenly discovered barre chords, chord inversions and scale positions all the way up the board. If you can, get together with other budding musos, your combined efforts will make it so much easier, it even sounds better.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Thank you all, you guys had just answered the question in my mind. I am 57 and was a crazy rock fans in my old schoolboy days. I played electric guitar when I was 16, at that time my dream was being a guitar player in a band or something. At the age of 19, I had to go out to work due to my family's finance problem. Now, I am a owner of a business and semi-retired. I want to spend sometime to re-catch my old day dream, this time is just for pleasure not for making a living. I bought a electric guitar 3 weeks ago and started learning from the DVD's. I am shy to let my son knows what I am doing as he plays very good music including guitar. I encouraged him to pick up quitar when he was at high school, he had a band and was playing lead, he was very crazy about the Eagles. He is now a CPA.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Yea Your all Set.  Very cool.  Just keep doin it.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

dont be daft life starts at 50 i aint born yet

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

are you nuts?!!??  i put my guitar away after college and let it gather a lot of dust.  i took it up again at the age of 53, and i have never been happier.  had to almost start from scratch again, but i love it!  can't put it down. only wish i could sing well -- then i'd be on the road.  I bought guitars for both my kids (14 & 19) and i'm teaching them to play too.  good luck.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Reply to #25:

No, now your more focused and dedicated as needed to put the time in for practicing amongst your other daily responsibilities.

Bootlegger.

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Like one out of two posters replied: it's important to practice a lot, that's the key. But the thing is, you can't see it as some boring homework you HAVE to do. Try to practice a lot but stop it when it's beginning to get boring. As time passes, and you get better, you'll see that your practice sessions will get longer and longer. You wont want to put down your guitar unless you really have to. Welcome to the wonderfull world of guitar playing.

Dave

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

I picked up a guitar for the first time when I was 40. I started taking lessons with my 10 year old daughter. I figured since I was kicking myself for not starting at a young age I would get her started. She has since moved into singing and drums, but I am still rocking out the blues on my guitar. I have even started writing my own songs. It's never to late to start!

Re: Is it to late to start playing guitar, after 30? please serious answers:-)

Never ever too old my friend, I'm 45 and am very happy (I should say my wife is very happy, she has to listen to me) with the progress I'm making.

My two boys used to make me look so bad, as the guys picked up guitar in no time at all but as long as you don't set your targets too high too soon you will have no problem at all.
Just keep at it, try to get some mates into it and you will amaze yourself.
I taped my earliest efforts and re tape every so often, then play them back at times ....
I have definitely progressed. Still get stuck but thats what Chordie is for.

It doesn't really matter what you have just pick it up and play it.