Tell me what to expect learning the guitar later rather than sooner.
September 12, 2007 8:35 AM Subscribe
Tell me what to expect learning the guitar later rather than sooner.
Okay, I'm 50 and have long wanted to learn to play the guitar. Not only is this something I've long hoped to do but I'm coming off surgery on both hands (for Dupuytrens) and both my doc and my hand therapist think guitar will be great for my hands. My 14 year old daughter has returned to lessons with a teacher who impressed me. So, I signed up to join her. So I ask:
• Anyone learn the guitar (or any instrument) later in life and does that make it any more difficult? I know learning young has benefits and is easier. Does that ease taper when you hit the other end of the bell curve?
• What progress can I expect, with say a lesson a week and a half hour practice five days a week?
• My dexterity is fine but my range of motion is about 90% with the bizarre curse of Dupuytren's which will blight me for the rest of my days. Still, I'm heartened by tales of four-fingered guitarists who do just fine.
A couple of notes: I'm going to learn on a fairly decent acoustic guitar checked out and approved by a guitar tech and the teach. But we own an electric guitar as well. I hope to play singer/songwriter kind of stuff with strumming leading to a little pickin' as I get better. I've played the piano for over 40 years and can read music very well.
Am I nuts for doing this in the middlle of a busy life?
Okay, I'm 50 and have long wanted to learn to play the guitar. Not only is this something I've long hoped to do but I'm coming off surgery on both hands (for Dupuytrens) and both my doc and my hand therapist think guitar will be great for my hands. My 14 year old daughter has returned to lessons with a teacher who impressed me. So, I signed up to join her. So I ask:
• Anyone learn the guitar (or any instrument) later in life and does that make it any more difficult? I know learning young has benefits and is easier. Does that ease taper when you hit the other end of the bell curve?
• What progress can I expect, with say a lesson a week and a half hour practice five days a week?
• My dexterity is fine but my range of motion is about 90% with the bizarre curse of Dupuytren's which will blight me for the rest of my days. Still, I'm heartened by tales of four-fingered guitarists who do just fine.
A couple of notes: I'm going to learn on a fairly decent acoustic guitar checked out and approved by a guitar tech and the teach. But we own an electric guitar as well. I hope to play singer/songwriter kind of stuff with strumming leading to a little pickin' as I get better. I've played the piano for over 40 years and can read music very well.
Am I nuts for doing this in the middlle of a busy life?
You'll be totally fine. In my experience, adults who learn an instrument for the first time often struggle with the basics of music theory, note reading, understanding chords, etc. If you're played piano for that long, and you're planning on practicing that much (remember, 30 minutes 5 days a week is better than 2.5 hours all in one day), then you'll do great.
posted by rossination at 8:46 AM on September 12, 2007
posted by rossination at 8:46 AM on September 12, 2007
My Dad picked up the fiddle at the age of 52, with the disadvantage of having a tin ear. Yet, ten years later, he's doing awesome and can play quite well. Some things to point out, based on his learning experience:
1) Practice daily, and don't cop out of practice. But you've learned piano, so you already know this is important.
2) Don't be afraid to work on various aspects of music-making that aren't natural for you. If, like me, you do a lot of things by ear, focus on technique instead. It will not only help you early on in learning a new instrument, but it will expand your abilities as a musician.
3) Know exactly what kind of style you're after, and communicate that to the teacher. Dad actually went to the trouble of photocopying a bunch of fiddle tunes and handing it in a sheaf to his teacher. His teacher then selected from the pile to teach Dad aspects of fiddle technique.
4) Switch it up sometimes by taking an extra lesson or two from another teacher, preferably in a different style. The change in perspective can sometimes be a good thing.
Good luck!
posted by LN at 8:46 AM on September 12, 2007
1) Practice daily, and don't cop out of practice. But you've learned piano, so you already know this is important.
2) Don't be afraid to work on various aspects of music-making that aren't natural for you. If, like me, you do a lot of things by ear, focus on technique instead. It will not only help you early on in learning a new instrument, but it will expand your abilities as a musician.
3) Know exactly what kind of style you're after, and communicate that to the teacher. Dad actually went to the trouble of photocopying a bunch of fiddle tunes and handing it in a sheaf to his teacher. His teacher then selected from the pile to teach Dad aspects of fiddle technique.
4) Switch it up sometimes by taking an extra lesson or two from another teacher, preferably in a different style. The change in perspective can sometimes be a good thing.
Good luck!
posted by LN at 8:46 AM on September 12, 2007
Django Reinhardt (sp?) created an entire style of guitar playing despite having only three functional fingers. Sure, YMMV, but it's not impossible.
The practice regimen you described sounds fantastic to me. Style's a big issue as there are plenty of things to learn about each, but singer-songwriter stuff should be a piece of cake for someone with your musical background. The first twelve or so chords you'll learn are sometimes called the 'cowboy chords' and are easy, open and immediately useful. Pick a few songs and go to town.
I think you're age really isn't an issue as long as you keep yourself interested in what you're playing.
BTW, why is guitar going to be better therapy than piano?
posted by Pecinpah at 8:49 AM on September 12, 2007
The practice regimen you described sounds fantastic to me. Style's a big issue as there are plenty of things to learn about each, but singer-songwriter stuff should be a piece of cake for someone with your musical background. The first twelve or so chords you'll learn are sometimes called the 'cowboy chords' and are easy, open and immediately useful. Pick a few songs and go to town.
I think you're age really isn't an issue as long as you keep yourself interested in what you're playing.
BTW, why is guitar going to be better therapy than piano?
posted by Pecinpah at 8:49 AM on September 12, 2007
You'll do great. Just don't put a lot of pressure on yourself and try to remember the point (fun). Try to pick up the guitar every day -- if you wind up not doing "homework" but just slip into random noodling, that's good too. It's all about the journey.
Don't stop believin'
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:50 AM on September 12, 2007
Don't stop believin'
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:50 AM on September 12, 2007
Allow for the fact that at the start, and for a while after, your fingers will get quite sore from holding down the strings. Buy some light guitar strings to compensate. The strings that you get with a new guitar could usually be used to anchor ships, so get rid of those if you haven't already.
Also, start out by learning to play something you like. Most of the reasonable guitarists I know never did exercises and can't read music. The one or two great players I have come across however did both. However, if you only want to play for your own diversion, skip the exercises, learn the chords for a song that's dear to your heart, and expand from there.
Finally, keep in mind that you'll probably play the first song you learn so much you will grow to hate it. So don't pick your absolute favourite ever, and don't pick anything that's so difficult you'll get discouraged. Your teacher should be able to recommend something that fits the bill.
Good luck!
posted by StephenF at 8:57 AM on September 12, 2007
Also, start out by learning to play something you like. Most of the reasonable guitarists I know never did exercises and can't read music. The one or two great players I have come across however did both. However, if you only want to play for your own diversion, skip the exercises, learn the chords for a song that's dear to your heart, and expand from there.
Finally, keep in mind that you'll probably play the first song you learn so much you will grow to hate it. So don't pick your absolute favourite ever, and don't pick anything that's so difficult you'll get discouraged. Your teacher should be able to recommend something that fits the bill.
Good luck!
posted by StephenF at 8:57 AM on September 12, 2007
Best answer: Nope, not nuts at all. Not in the least.
I'm a conservatory-trained guitarist, I've been teaching for about 15 years, and I have a student about your age (actually a little older) right now. I'm not familiar with Dupuytren's, so I can't comment on that. I CAN tell you, though, that I've had as many students complain that their hands are too big as I've had complain that their hands are too small. I disregard all of those complaints. Accept the fact that you are asking your fingers to do some things that are initially uncomfortable, adjust your expectations accordingly, and just be patient.
The biggest piece of advice I have for you is to treat your guitar lessons not just as a way to learn a new the guitar but also as a way to develop patience and to think and learn about HOW you learn. Intellectually, there's just not that much involved in playing the guitar, particularly the styles you are talking about. You can memorize a dozen or so chord shapes relatively quickly. After that, it's all about training your muscles. I don't know if younger people are naturally more disposed to these processes, but I do believe that, at your age, you are more likely to be able to UNDERSTAND them, and you can use that understanding to your advantage. So if you are getting frustrated, acknowledge it, dissect it, respond to it - stop playing for the day, if you must, or remind yourself that you are at the beginning of a long learning curve, and maybe the root of your frustration is unrealistically high expectations. Adjust accordingly.
The first hurdles you will have will involve switching from chord to chord. Even if you can play each chord individually just fine, trying to play them in the context of a song, in time, is always a challenge for everyone. And really, I don't think there's any way to speed up the acclimation process - you simply have to do it alot. But bear in mind that your difficulties are not unique, everyone stumbles over this, and just be patient. You'll get it! With the amount of practicing you are talking about, you will make noticeable progress in the week. For example, I would expect that, if you learn a new chord in a lesson, you may have difficulty playing it - in other words, getting every string to sound. By the next lesson, it'll sound fine, you'll be well on your way to being able to USE the chord in a song.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the progress you make, at how quickly you'll be able to play recognizable songs. (Another suggestion - think alot about what kind of music you want to play. No sense in learning songs that you don't like. There are plenty of singer-songwriter songs out there that use only simple chords... work with your teacher to develop repetoire that makes you want to practice more.)
posted by fingers_of_fire at 8:59 AM on September 12, 2007 [3 favorites]
I'm a conservatory-trained guitarist, I've been teaching for about 15 years, and I have a student about your age (actually a little older) right now. I'm not familiar with Dupuytren's, so I can't comment on that. I CAN tell you, though, that I've had as many students complain that their hands are too big as I've had complain that their hands are too small. I disregard all of those complaints. Accept the fact that you are asking your fingers to do some things that are initially uncomfortable, adjust your expectations accordingly, and just be patient.
The biggest piece of advice I have for you is to treat your guitar lessons not just as a way to learn a new the guitar but also as a way to develop patience and to think and learn about HOW you learn. Intellectually, there's just not that much involved in playing the guitar, particularly the styles you are talking about. You can memorize a dozen or so chord shapes relatively quickly. After that, it's all about training your muscles. I don't know if younger people are naturally more disposed to these processes, but I do believe that, at your age, you are more likely to be able to UNDERSTAND them, and you can use that understanding to your advantage. So if you are getting frustrated, acknowledge it, dissect it, respond to it - stop playing for the day, if you must, or remind yourself that you are at the beginning of a long learning curve, and maybe the root of your frustration is unrealistically high expectations. Adjust accordingly.
The first hurdles you will have will involve switching from chord to chord. Even if you can play each chord individually just fine, trying to play them in the context of a song, in time, is always a challenge for everyone. And really, I don't think there's any way to speed up the acclimation process - you simply have to do it alot. But bear in mind that your difficulties are not unique, everyone stumbles over this, and just be patient. You'll get it! With the amount of practicing you are talking about, you will make noticeable progress in the week. For example, I would expect that, if you learn a new chord in a lesson, you may have difficulty playing it - in other words, getting every string to sound. By the next lesson, it'll sound fine, you'll be well on your way to being able to USE the chord in a song.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the progress you make, at how quickly you'll be able to play recognizable songs. (Another suggestion - think alot about what kind of music you want to play. No sense in learning songs that you don't like. There are plenty of singer-songwriter songs out there that use only simple chords... work with your teacher to develop repetoire that makes you want to practice more.)
posted by fingers_of_fire at 8:59 AM on September 12, 2007 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Keep the advice coming. But first ...
Pecinpah, what are these 'cowboy chords'? And okay, why the name 'Cowboy Chords'?
And yes, piano is good therapy but I imagine the guitar will work different muscles. Also, Dupuyten's contracts your fingers in weird ways. On my left had, my little finger had contracted beyond 90 degreees before the surgery. It's around 20 degrees now. But the tissues are malleable and the vertical stretching of making chords will stress it differently than the more horizontal stretching of the piano.
posted by lpsguy at 9:05 AM on September 12, 2007
Pecinpah, what are these 'cowboy chords'? And okay, why the name 'Cowboy Chords'?
And yes, piano is good therapy but I imagine the guitar will work different muscles. Also, Dupuyten's contracts your fingers in weird ways. On my left had, my little finger had contracted beyond 90 degreees before the surgery. It's around 20 degrees now. But the tissues are malleable and the vertical stretching of making chords will stress it differently than the more horizontal stretching of the piano.
posted by lpsguy at 9:05 AM on September 12, 2007
"Cowboy Chords" are chords played in the open position on guitar, employing some open strings. They're called that because they are typically/often used in folk music to sing to.
I'm not as old as you (I'm 30) and I've *owned* guitars for a while but I'm just starting to learn seriously. I don't think it's that much harder for older folks, honestly. I think you're also more prepared to really understand music theory.
I have an injury on my right hand (I'm left handed so this is my fretting hand) that prevents me from being able to do certain things (mostly, straightening my ring finger which makes certain things difficult). My teacher has really been able to help me figure out ways around this. I also started playing a lot a few years ago as therapy for this (I had tendon repair surgery and regaining full movement is easier if you do stuff like this)
posted by RustyBrooks at 9:19 AM on September 12, 2007
I'm not as old as you (I'm 30) and I've *owned* guitars for a while but I'm just starting to learn seriously. I don't think it's that much harder for older folks, honestly. I think you're also more prepared to really understand music theory.
I have an injury on my right hand (I'm left handed so this is my fretting hand) that prevents me from being able to do certain things (mostly, straightening my ring finger which makes certain things difficult). My teacher has really been able to help me figure out ways around this. I also started playing a lot a few years ago as therapy for this (I had tendon repair surgery and regaining full movement is easier if you do stuff like this)
posted by RustyBrooks at 9:19 AM on September 12, 2007
For the first few months, maybe a year or more, it's going to be really difficult, and you will get frustrated. You'll be absolutely terrible, really. No coordination at all.
Then, after a while, you'll notice that you don't suck quite so badly anymore. Ah, sweet, sweet adequacy. At this point, you can decide whether to go on and become a virtuoso, or to sit back and strum. (As someone already pointed out, the deciding factor here is often the ability to read music.)
And just to add to the list of guitarists with screwy hands: Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath revolutionized guitar playing, mostly on account of the fact that he's missing the tips of a couple fingers. Jerry Garcia lost a finger too.
posted by Reggie Digest at 9:52 AM on September 12, 2007
Then, after a while, you'll notice that you don't suck quite so badly anymore. Ah, sweet, sweet adequacy. At this point, you can decide whether to go on and become a virtuoso, or to sit back and strum. (As someone already pointed out, the deciding factor here is often the ability to read music.)
And just to add to the list of guitarists with screwy hands: Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath revolutionized guitar playing, mostly on account of the fact that he's missing the tips of a couple fingers. Jerry Garcia lost a finger too.
posted by Reggie Digest at 9:52 AM on September 12, 2007
Cowboy chords. Also I'll see your Jerry Garcia and raise you Django Reinhardt, whose 3rd and 4th fingers on his fretting hard were partially paralyzed. He was able to play solos with only two fingers and could use the other two only for some chords.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 10:11 AM on September 12, 2007
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 10:11 AM on September 12, 2007
I started learning to play at 34. I had no musical background at all. I never learned any instrument, I was never involved with singing. In fact, in grade school we were supposed to learn the recorder but I wasn't allowed to practice. I was never allowed to sing.
The hardest part as an adult is finding the time to practice. When you're a kid and you become enthusiastic about something you can pretty much practice at it to the exclusion of everything else. Sure, you might flunk out of math, history, geography and science but you can shred. Because of this I see teenagers blow past me at my guitar teacher's in terms of progress. It's been 4 years for me and I still have a lot to learn, but I don't care because I enjoy it.
If I take the same approach as an adult I'll have lots of time to practice once I get fired from my job, my girlfriend dumps me and I'm living beneath an overpass.
You have a huge head start though, you already read music and know the theory plus you probably understand at least some music theory.
Progress is sometimes hard to see when you pay too much attention to "now". I notice it most when I go back and look at an old piece I struggled with and notice that I struggle with it a lot less or have certain parts down and have moved on to struggling with others.
posted by substrate at 10:13 AM on September 12, 2007
The hardest part as an adult is finding the time to practice. When you're a kid and you become enthusiastic about something you can pretty much practice at it to the exclusion of everything else. Sure, you might flunk out of math, history, geography and science but you can shred. Because of this I see teenagers blow past me at my guitar teacher's in terms of progress. It's been 4 years for me and I still have a lot to learn, but I don't care because I enjoy it.
If I take the same approach as an adult I'll have lots of time to practice once I get fired from my job, my girlfriend dumps me and I'm living beneath an overpass.
You have a huge head start though, you already read music and know the theory plus you probably understand at least some music theory.
Progress is sometimes hard to see when you pay too much attention to "now". I notice it most when I go back and look at an old piece I struggled with and notice that I struggle with it a lot less or have certain parts down and have moved on to struggling with others.
posted by substrate at 10:13 AM on September 12, 2007
My wife bought me a guitar pretty much out of the blue when I was 38, three years ago. I can echo all of the advice above. Get light strings, so you can practice long enough to develop some proficiency; I like Martin Silk & Steel. Keep the guitar out so you can play on a whim--I got a String Swing for mine, since we don't have much floor space.
I also have a ukulele, and find that I can usually continue to practice on it once my fingers are too sore to practice guitar any more, which extends my practice time. I got a few guitar instruction DVDs, but have never had a formal lesson.
It was about 2 years before I could play along with songs on the radio by ear, but now that's a lot of fun, and I take the guitar along on camping trips and such; I'll definitely have it here. My 12-year-old daughter is getting interested, which I think is fantastic!
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:16 AM on September 12, 2007
I also have a ukulele, and find that I can usually continue to practice on it once my fingers are too sore to practice guitar any more, which extends my practice time. I got a few guitar instruction DVDs, but have never had a formal lesson.
It was about 2 years before I could play along with songs on the radio by ear, but now that's a lot of fun, and I take the guitar along on camping trips and such; I'll definitely have it here. My 12-year-old daughter is getting interested, which I think is fantastic!
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:16 AM on September 12, 2007
RustyBrooks nailed the description of "Cowboy Chords" for you*, but I'll add that I know plenty of people who can only play G, C and D and get along just fine with the play-some-songs-in-your-livingroom crowd. If you like Old-Timey music (Carter family and the like) and have a capo, the news gets even better; G, C abd D are pretty much all you need to know for about half their repetoir. Anyway, those are probably the first three chords you'll learn and there is no shortage of songs in which to use them. Yay for you!
If your goal is to 'shred', however, you'll quickly move beyond your "Cowboy Chords" and onto much more noodly stuff. That's cool, too, and probably more theraputic, but don't forget to nail the rudiments before moving on (you know this from piano, I'm sure).
Reggie Digest - I didn't know that about Tony Iomi. Interesting!
*I think the name "Cowboy Chords" comes from their prominence in early country music and the pastoral image of the lone cowboy sitting by an open fire, crooning to the cows.
posted by Pecinpah at 10:31 AM on September 12, 2007
If your goal is to 'shred', however, you'll quickly move beyond your "Cowboy Chords" and onto much more noodly stuff. That's cool, too, and probably more theraputic, but don't forget to nail the rudiments before moving on (you know this from piano, I'm sure).
Reggie Digest - I didn't know that about Tony Iomi. Interesting!
*I think the name "Cowboy Chords" comes from their prominence in early country music and the pastoral image of the lone cowboy sitting by an open fire, crooning to the cows.
posted by Pecinpah at 10:31 AM on September 12, 2007
Allow for the fact that at the start, and for a while after, your fingers will get quite sore from holding down the strings. Buy some light guitar strings to compensate. The strings that you get with a new guitar could usually be used to anchor ships, so get rid of those if you haven't already.
Please note that you'll need to adjust your entire guitar in order to compensate for the different tension if you're going to change the string gauge.
And you'll be fine. Good luck.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:00 AM on September 12, 2007
Please note that you'll need to adjust your entire guitar in order to compensate for the different tension if you're going to change the string gauge.
And you'll be fine. Good luck.
posted by ludwig_van at 11:00 AM on September 12, 2007
Please note that you'll need to adjust your entire guitar in order to compensate for the different tension if you're going to change the string gauge.Can you explain this to a newbie (like me)? I've changed my string gauges several times with no other adjustments, but, then again, I can't claim to be any sort of authority.
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:42 PM on September 12, 2007
Get someone with more experience to do it for you and watch what they do. A guitar shop will probably do it for $40 or so. You'll want to check the neck and adjust the intonation if necessary (i.e. ensure that the tuning is as accurate as possible across the guitar neck). It's also a good time to clean the fretboard.
posted by ludwig_van at 12:48 PM on September 12, 2007
posted by ludwig_van at 12:48 PM on September 12, 2007
One minor note, (!) I suspect you may find the Baby Taylor guitar suitable for your fretting. It is a travel guitar, with a smaller fretboard, which may mean that you may be able to form some of the chords that you couldn't with a full scale guitar.
Plus, because its a travel guitar, you can leave it in the room out of its case (which I wouldn't recommend doing with an expensive or quality guitar) and it can take the hits and dings.
I posted a review on this site. (I receive no recompense from this other than karma.)
Also, I really, really like the Elixir strings, but the Silk and Steels mentioned above are a good choice as well.
Good luck! and good on ya!
posted by fox_terrier_guy at 1:33 PM on September 12, 2007
Plus, because its a travel guitar, you can leave it in the room out of its case (which I wouldn't recommend doing with an expensive or quality guitar) and it can take the hits and dings.
I posted a review on this site. (I receive no recompense from this other than karma.)
Also, I really, really like the Elixir strings, but the Silk and Steels mentioned above are a good choice as well.
Good luck! and good on ya!
posted by fox_terrier_guy at 1:33 PM on September 12, 2007
Practice, Practice, Practice! If you make it a point to play for 30 minutes a day, in 6 months you will be amazed at your progress. If you can work that into your schedule, I'd say go for it. If you can't, I would maybe lower expectations a bit, but still go for it! Rock on!
posted by zackola at 1:45 PM on September 12, 2007
posted by zackola at 1:45 PM on September 12, 2007
You're not nuts at all. Second the advice to have something in mind that you want to play. For example, I'm 41 and I had bought an acoustic guitar when my daughter was born to play music for her, but while I can play Sultans of Swing or Satch Boogie, babies don't like Mark Knopfler/Joe Satriani. I soon found out that my Polly Wolly Doodle was Polly Wolly Crappy so my playing languished. I just didn't have the musical and muscle vocabulary to play folk.
Mrs. Plinth signed me up for lessons and the teacher respected my existing musicianship and taught me the skills and musical vocabulary I needed in short order.
I practiced for about 30-40 minutes a night at a point where I already knew the chord positions. I would expect that you will be a month or two away from playing something recognizable to your satisfaction. Any decent teacher could get you playing a song in a single lesson - but the muscle memory takes time and practice.
The same way that you know to tuck your right thumb under on a scale up on piano, you have to learn to be able to really pop your fingers into place on the fretboard. It will become muscle memory over time.
Last night, I played my daughter to sleep upon her request. I played/sang a few kiddie songs until her breathing got heavy, then in pitch dark played the right hand part to Bach's 2 part invention in G major. That's the muscle memory - my left hand knows where the frets are on its own and in sequence, and both the kiddie music and the Bach are immensely satisfying.
Guitar was my third class of instrument (ie, brass, keyboard, fretted-stringed) and the more I've played, the more I realize that there really is pretty much only one instrument, and learning a new class is practice.
posted by plinth at 1:45 PM on September 12, 2007
Mrs. Plinth signed me up for lessons and the teacher respected my existing musicianship and taught me the skills and musical vocabulary I needed in short order.
I practiced for about 30-40 minutes a night at a point where I already knew the chord positions. I would expect that you will be a month or two away from playing something recognizable to your satisfaction. Any decent teacher could get you playing a song in a single lesson - but the muscle memory takes time and practice.
The same way that you know to tuck your right thumb under on a scale up on piano, you have to learn to be able to really pop your fingers into place on the fretboard. It will become muscle memory over time.
Last night, I played my daughter to sleep upon her request. I played/sang a few kiddie songs until her breathing got heavy, then in pitch dark played the right hand part to Bach's 2 part invention in G major. That's the muscle memory - my left hand knows where the frets are on its own and in sequence, and both the kiddie music and the Bach are immensely satisfying.
Guitar was my third class of instrument (ie, brass, keyboard, fretted-stringed) and the more I've played, the more I realize that there really is pretty much only one instrument, and learning a new class is practice.
posted by plinth at 1:45 PM on September 12, 2007
The first hurdles you will have will involve switching from chord to chord. Even if you can play each chord individually just fine, trying to play them in the context of a song, in time, is always a challenge for everyone.
Heed these words :)
When I was learning guitar, this was the single most frustrating aspect. Sure I can play a G chord but ask me to switch between a G and D? Fuggetaboudit! It took me about a month of practicing (using an old Mel Bay chord book) to be able to switch chords proficiently but man, once I did? Look out world! Seriously, once you get chord switching down, you'll feel like a million bucks AND like Hendrix.
Re: Age. I'm 44 and still learning cool things on the guitar. Sometimes I like to blame my age for how long it seems to take for me to learn something new. Soon enough, I'm playing something difficult, rather easily. You'll do fine.
Re: guitars. I wouldn't worry too much about string gauges., etc. The electric will feel easier to play because of the inherently low action. I've always found it better in terms of developing strength, to practice on an acoustic. It builds my dexterity and strength so that by the time I pick up and electric, I can play the hell out of it or at least feel like I can.
Enjoy!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:03 PM on September 12, 2007
Heed these words :)
When I was learning guitar, this was the single most frustrating aspect. Sure I can play a G chord but ask me to switch between a G and D? Fuggetaboudit! It took me about a month of practicing (using an old Mel Bay chord book) to be able to switch chords proficiently but man, once I did? Look out world! Seriously, once you get chord switching down, you'll feel like a million bucks AND like Hendrix.
Re: Age. I'm 44 and still learning cool things on the guitar. Sometimes I like to blame my age for how long it seems to take for me to learn something new. Soon enough, I'm playing something difficult, rather easily. You'll do fine.
Re: guitars. I wouldn't worry too much about string gauges., etc. The electric will feel easier to play because of the inherently low action. I've always found it better in terms of developing strength, to practice on an acoustic. It builds my dexterity and strength so that by the time I pick up and electric, I can play the hell out of it or at least feel like I can.
Enjoy!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:03 PM on September 12, 2007
Hope you have a lot of fun!
Something to consider: Get a Ukulele.
Pros are that a uke is way easier on your fingers than a guitar (but still a good workout for your dexterity and muscle building), four strings instead of six, total portability, smaller initial financial investment for a decent instrument, currently on the upswing in coolness factor, and everything you learn on the uke will translate to guitar.
Cons are that it's not a guitar. But it's a good way to check out if guitar is something you really want to pursue.
posted by quarterframer at 2:55 PM on September 12, 2007
Something to consider: Get a Ukulele.
Pros are that a uke is way easier on your fingers than a guitar (but still a good workout for your dexterity and muscle building), four strings instead of six, total portability, smaller initial financial investment for a decent instrument, currently on the upswing in coolness factor, and everything you learn on the uke will translate to guitar.
Cons are that it's not a guitar. But it's a good way to check out if guitar is something you really want to pursue.
posted by quarterframer at 2:55 PM on September 12, 2007
Hey, I'm wearing a uke right now! Seriously, I've been strumming along this whole time as I read this thread.
Ok, that sounded vaguely creepy, but the uke is a heck of a lot of fun, and very easy to learn and play. I don't know whether the smaller neck would be a plus or a minus for the Dupuytrens, though. If the guitar neck is too large for any reason, by all means try the uke. Heck, try it no matter what. You'll see why they're so popular when one jumps into your arms.
I'm 40 and have been playing since the end of June, and it hasn't stopped being fun yet. Fun is a great motivator!
posted by bink at 3:51 PM on September 12, 2007
Ok, that sounded vaguely creepy, but the uke is a heck of a lot of fun, and very easy to learn and play. I don't know whether the smaller neck would be a plus or a minus for the Dupuytrens, though. If the guitar neck is too large for any reason, by all means try the uke. Heck, try it no matter what. You'll see why they're so popular when one jumps into your arms.
I'm 40 and have been playing since the end of June, and it hasn't stopped being fun yet. Fun is a great motivator!
posted by bink at 3:51 PM on September 12, 2007
Congratulations for having the guts to pick up an instrument later in life! My dad started playing piano around age 50. He was pretty tone-deaf in the beginning but was very persistant and became quite good at it.
I played the guitar some in college, and I'll warn you that your left fingertips will be sore in the beginning until you build up calluses. It's just something you have to get used to. Guitar can be frustrating in the beginning until your fingers get used to making the shapes of the chords and quickly switching positions, but if you're persistent it is a really fun instrument.
posted by radioamy at 8:39 PM on September 12, 2007
I played the guitar some in college, and I'll warn you that your left fingertips will be sore in the beginning until you build up calluses. It's just something you have to get used to. Guitar can be frustrating in the beginning until your fingers get used to making the shapes of the chords and quickly switching positions, but if you're persistent it is a really fun instrument.
posted by radioamy at 8:39 PM on September 12, 2007
I learned when I was young but the way I did it was to buy a Beatles chord book and just go from there. So I would say find a songbook of someone you really like (and one that hopefully uses a lot of basic chords i.e. don't start with Paul Simon!) and take it slow. You'll initially learn the common chords like A, G, E, C, etc. and will feel like a guitarist when you get the B7 down!
Also, there are lots of different kinds of teachers out there. My friend doesn't read music at all but is a good rhythm player and advertises himself as a teacher for people who simply want to learn basic chords, proper strumming and be able to accompany themselves when they sing. If that's what you want to do, make sure you have a teacher who is happy to teach you these things from the start rather than teach you guitar theory, etc.
posted by gfrobe at 6:06 AM on September 13, 2007
Also, there are lots of different kinds of teachers out there. My friend doesn't read music at all but is a good rhythm player and advertises himself as a teacher for people who simply want to learn basic chords, proper strumming and be able to accompany themselves when they sing. If that's what you want to do, make sure you have a teacher who is happy to teach you these things from the start rather than teach you guitar theory, etc.
posted by gfrobe at 6:06 AM on September 13, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
One little tip for your hands: there's this device called a Gripmaster that has 4 little buttons that you push down with your fingers for the purpose of making them stronger. You can get special caps for the buttons that feel like guitar strings so that you build callouses, which makes playing easier. You might find this useful because the stronger your hands are (both in strength and callous-ness) the easier it will be to play.
Good luck!
posted by DMan at 8:44 AM on September 12, 2007