Monumental task

[Myopicvoid]

Hi Jamie, and all fellow musicians. On my 50th Birthday I made the decision to play guitar. Went up to Sam Ash and bought a Strat pak (which has been replaced with a Fender Jaguar and a Les Paul). When I brought it home, my wife thought I was nuts. I'll qoute her "Your too old to play guitar". I knew nothing about Guitar, although many of my friends are very good guitarists, I was a listener. I struggled the first year and almost gave up.

Accidentally, I stumbled on the Guitar Principals website and took a chance and bought Book and dvd. I followed the course and I could see an improvement after I fixed all the wrong things I was doing. And yes My shoulders were raising up and the tension was apparent. I got rid of all that and I started to move forward. It was slow going due to Job and family. I managed to get in 1/2 hr minimum everyday. Took a couple years to get good control of my fingers.

The first song I learned was the melody to Over the rainbow. Ok, yea I thought. I can play guitar! This is so cool. Now it's on to Black Sabbath, Deep purple, UFO etc. . One of my friends that play guitar advised me to learn house of the rising sun. Using The Guitar principals approach and a lot of practice I got it. A couple years ago my good friend Matt took me uder his wing and helped me learn songs. He stressed theory but I was more interested in spending my limited time practicing. Slowly things sunk in. Matt bless his soul told me I was ready to learn the 12 bar blues because then I would be able to Jam. Jam! Way beyond me! I just didn't get it.

He kept on working on me and one day I had an epiphany. That was about 3 /4 weeks ago. I got some really cool Backing tracks from watch and learn. All 12 bar blues stuff. I started playing along and all of a sudden I started doing things that I did not intend to do. As if something took over. I freaked out a little and stopped. I couldn't believe what I just did. It sounded good to me anyway. I thought I'll do that again and record it.

I was amazed at what I was playing. After running thru the backing track a few times. I recorded "Trying to sound good" Posted on the listening post. I was just messing around and that's what came out. It gave me the idea for Wandering around also posted. Please give a listen and tell me what you think.

I think I'm living proof that at 50yrs old you can learn to play guitar as long as you start with Guitar principals.

Thanks jamie for putting me on the right track I don't think I could have come this far without your insite and dedication to guitar playing.

If anybody is interested the recording was done using amplitube 3, Presouns firestudio interface and my new 60's reissue Les Paul studio.

[Average Joe]

When I started to play guitar, I believed skills and abilities begin to deteriorate at around 35 years old, just like a top level athlete. With your story, I realize that progress is not an age thing.
Thank you!

[ndrewoods]

Hi Jamie, and all fellow musicians. On my 50th Birthday I made the decision to play guitar. Went up to Sam Ash and bought a Strat pak (which has been replaced with a Fender Jaguar and a Les Paul). When I brought it home, my wife thought I was nuts. I'll qoute her "Your too old to play guitar". I knew nothing about Guitar, although many of my friends are very good guitarists, I was a listener. I struggled the first year and almost gave up.

Accidentally, I stumbled on the Guitar Principals website and took a chance and bought Book and dvd. I followed the course and I could see an improvement after I fixed all the wrong things I was doing. And yes My shoulders were raising up and the tension was apparent. I got rid of all that and I started to move forward. It was slow going due to Job and family. I managed to get in 1/2 hr minimum everyday. Took a couple years to get good control of my fingers.

The first song I learned was the melody to Over the rainbow. Ok, yea I thought. I can play guitar! This is so cool. Now it's on to Black Sabbath, Deep purple, UFO etc. . One of my friends that play guitar advised me to learn house of the rising sun. Using The Guitar principals approach and a lot of practice I got it. A couple years ago my good friend Matt took me uder his wing and helped me learn songs. He stressed theory but I was more interested in spending my limited time practicing. Slowly things sunk in. Matt bless his soul told me I was ready to learn the 12 bar blues because then I would be able to Jam. Jam! Way beyond me! I just didn't get it.

He kept on working on me and one day I had an epiphany. That was about 3 /4 weeks ago. I got some really cool Backing tracks from watch and learn. All 12 bar blues stuff. I started playing along and all of a sudden I started doing things that I did not intend to do. As if something took over. I freaked out a little and stopped. I couldn't believe what I just did. It sounded good to me anyway. I thought I'll do that again and record it.

I was amazed at what I was playing. After running thru the backing track a few times. I recorded "Trying to sound good" Posted on the listening post. I was just messing around and that's what came out. It gave me the idea for Wandering around also posted. Please give a listen and tell me what you think.

I think I'm living proof that at 50yrs old you can learn to play guitar as long as you start with Guitar principals.

Thanks jamie for putting me on the right track I don't think I could have come this far without your insite and dedication to guitar playing.

If anybody is interested the recording was done using amplitube 3, Presouns firestudio interface and my new 60's reissue Les Paul studio.

You are a great example of that age is really not a factor if you really want to learn how to play the guitar, or at least any instrument. Funny, the first song you learned to play with the guitar was the first song I learned on the piano. But I am more on a guitar playing. And I would say, learning never stops. Even if you reach certain age, there are still things that can be learned and can improve more to your guitar playing skills.

[Ted]

Never too old to play the guitar. This grandmother is now 73 and didn't start picking until she was sixty years old.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhdfNlqRlgs

[Ted]

Apparently, you're never too young to start either. Here's a five year old playing and singing Johnny Cash "Folsom Prison Blues".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en ... DbAxhV2ofM

[DrumBob]

Myopicvoid, huh? Any chance you're a fan of Captain Beyond's first Capricorn album?

It's never too late, as others have told you. I have been a working drummer all my life who always banged around on the guitar for fun until I was past 55. I decided to get serious and began working harder on my guitar playing. I started a band and got gigs, and am still at it. I get better and better all the time, and it's really gratifying. Every gig gets easier. I do practice for a couple of hours running over our set list the day of the gig to prepare, and that really makes a difference.

As long as you have fun playing, that's the most important thing. When you feel comfortable, find some friends to jam with. Interacting with other musicians is always an educational experience. There's nothing like that give and take between people, something you'll never get from solitary practicing, as vauable as that is in its own way.