I have a customer of mine who retired from teaching at 55 years old. He'd dabbled in guitar, but never really took lessons or learned how to play. Upon retirement, he committed to truly learning the guitar and started taking lessons. He's now 63 and a VERY good guitar player. He still takes weekly lessons and jams with friends whenever he can. I'd always assumed that you had to have some of it in your youth to make you a good player, but he's proven me wrong. It's never too late.

The one piece of advice I always give people is to find an instructor you like. It's hard enough to make yourself practice that you don't need to the stress of an instructor you don't like making you dread your lessons. You should like the person enough that you look forward to it every week. If you don't like your teacher, find another.

my 2¢...kdd

Philco...

It's never too late to strive for, and enjoy, something that you feel is a passion within yourself. Although my first guitar was purchased in 1970 (a Yamaha FG-180) and a couple other guitars. I never really took it seriously. I got married, had a child (my wife did anyway), & bought a house. I sold all my guitars and never touch a guitar for 15 years.

Then, like you one day, at 47, I got the bug to buy another guitar and start over again, but this time w/ more intent. With the help of some friends (in the form of lessons), & lots of practice, I was committed to being in a band, & being up on a stage before I hit 50. I managed to do that, as a rhythm player in a R&B band. We cut a couple of demo CD's, and even made it to the 1/4 finals of Star Search w/ a country-western tune.

Now at 60, I haven't lost any of my desire to keep playing. Although, I don't gig anymore, I still practice & play w/ my amigos when they come over. And...BTW, I'm still learning!

Rich

Wow...thanks for all of the advice, stories, words of encouragment, etc. This is such an interesting forum, especially in comparison to most of the junk on the internet. I didn't pose this question looking for even more inspiration but got that along with some good advice!

Off to work on some moveable arpeggio shapes and a couple of cool blues etudes...

Philco

Hey Philco,

I played for a year as a 13 year old on a cheap classical and it died on me becaues I didn't understand how to learn how to play. 18 months ago at 47 I walked into a guitar store to look for a guitar for my son and it hit me between the eyes, the passion for guitar.

I initially bought a larrivee and six months later, a true beginner I bought a Collings. I have played 15 hrs a week for 18 months and am now beginning to see some notable improvement. Have played fingerstyle from beginning. I love playing and having just past my 1 year collings purchase anniversary, can truthfully say that I bought a hell of a guitar.

I do the bay street (Toronto) thing too and life is busy, but I'm up at the crack of dawn and get two hours in before commuting. So I know where you're coming from. I have every intention of becoming a strong intermediate player - which to me is all about playing the songs I love very well.

Still a long way to go of course. But it wouldn't be worth as much if it came easy. That said, I have been surprised at how difficult it is to learn guitar. It takes allot of fortitude.

Ain't life grand.

Stuart

PS, the advantage in starting late is that one can only afford these guitars later in life.

Well, IMHO you are already doing two things right.
1. You are learning on a Collings.
2. Playing guitar will relieve some of that stress.

I played from 7th - 12th grade, quit for 15 yrs due to college and job. Started back a few years ago after needing some stress relief and actually growing fingernails for the first time.

I have found that learning a difficult song makes it easier to learn the next one. It kind of builds on itself. It might be hell learning it, but sooner or later the light will go on.

So don't get discouraged. And work on songs that you like, otherwise the motivation may not be there.

Welcome to the forum !! don't be a stranger.

A few years ago, at age 45, never having played a single chord, I decided it was time to try to play guitar. Between a busy work schedule, a wife, 2 teenagers, and the general time suck that is life, I practice less than 10 hours most weeks. For me, it is rather slow going.
I didn't get a teacher until I'd been strumming for over 2 years. Becuase I don't have enough time to practice, I felt that I would be wasting time to get a teacher. However, he is very understanding of my limits. I am learning finger picking.
I own a Martin OM, a Mike Long Dred and have a Collings 12 fret 00 on order.
I'll never be great but can't imagine not playing. I keep a cheap Chinese guitar in the office for occasional practice or impromptue sing-a-longs.
Good luck. I think that as long as you enjoy it, it is never too late to play.
I dont worry too much about how fast I'm improving or if I'll ever be a star. I worry about finding time to play as much as I want and need to.

Music is integral to life. It heals, it brings joy, expresses sorrow, lifts the heart yet can evoke brokenheatedness. Yes, it's never to late to play, and start where you are and don't get lost comparing yourself to others. It's not a contest. I started playing in 65 when I was 18, had my first gig within six months, and have been in and out of 'the biz' for decades. Family came first, so no road, no groupie ego trips, no rehab. foolishly, I tried to stop performing at least a half dozen times. No more. I'm in two bands, and the third started practicing last week. As long as these two hands are fit to use (as brother Merle said), I'm gonna play. We have a granddaughter who just turned three, and has been miming on her uke for a year and a half every time I get a guitar out. She's right there in front of me, copying every move. So it'll go on long after I'm taking my dirt nap, and some pretty good guitars will get handed down. thank God for music, and the guitar!

I bought my first guitar at 10. I learned three chords and quit. Then I bought a Martin at 31 and have been an addict ever since.

I think you can get good enough to really enjoy playing if you do two things:

1) Play a little bit everyday.
2) Put yourself in "stretch" positions. For me, that was a praise and worship band at church that forced me to learn some new chords and to get my playing up to a level that others could rely on, at least in a rhythm/support mode.

These things have made me a better player than I thought I would be in five years, and have highlighted the things I need to work on. My ears are a real weaknes. And closed chords...I have to learn more closed chords. Maybe a jazz/swing bug will bite me one day.

Don't compare yourself to others or beat yourself up for lost time. If you are a better player tomorrow than you were today, then you are light-years ahead of most "players".

--David

This message has been edited. Last edited by: emandnatesdad,

Hey, I haven't read all the replies to your question, so I may duplicate someone else's reply. My suggestion: learn songs. Sing 'em if you can, but even if you don't sing, learn a repertoire that you're comfortable with. It seems obvious, but I have met a lot of folks who just kind of noodle and don't have a body of work that they really know. Songs are the coin of the realm, and if you can play tunes decently, you'll likely find other, probably more experienced players to join you in playing them.