the 5-years rule of guitar learning...

[Telarkaster]

I started at 15. I was much better at 25 than I was at 20. Even better at 30. I've probably learned more in the last 5 years than I have in the previous 25, with the bulk of my theory knowledge acquired in the last two.

As long as you play with different people, play different styles of music, love the music you play and have a thirst for knowledge you will continue to improve, baring injury or arthritis.

You're never too old to start learning!

[Guit-jitsu]

I did get in a rut for 8 or 9 years, but then I started taking lessons again. My playing has had some definite improvements in the past year! It just depends on how much you work at it. You will definitely not improve after five years if you rarely practice or study.

[telleutelleme]

Originally Posted by Bones
I disagree strongly with the luthier

+1 - I think the 5 year rule blew past a lot of us a long long time ago. Maybe without a love of it, or if it becomes a boring job after 5 years, then not wanting to learn might be the case.

Check your Luthier's work, it might be his setups discouraging his clients.

[WaylonFan76]

I disagree too. I was basically playing Blues Rock type of guitar for most of my playing life, got in a cover band for 3 years that had me learn a bunch of different styles, and now I formed my own band, I'm tackling Country lead and rhythm guitar. I'm playing and creating leads now that I would have never been able to play before.

[Boblets]

I guess the luthier's idea is OK for a generalisation but I'm sure many people would fit outside the bell curve. I agree with the notion that it takes a lifetime to master the guitar, or any instrument for that matter.

The continuous learning thing is important to me because I am now at an age when I need to maintain brain stimulus to ward off senile dementia. It is good for me to force my brain to work at things such as learning more about playing guitar and I don't see this lessening as the years go by until such time as my motor skills deteriorate.

[TJNY]

Disagree. I started in my late 30's and was self taught. I did reach a plateau but started taking real lessons a year ago this month. I am improving steadily. Unless you have unlimited time to play, play and play some more, it will take time. I'm raising a family and have a full time job. I also play out with a band. 45 years young now and see no signs of stopping!! Stick with it!

WE ALL LEARN AT A DIFFERENT PACE!!

[imwjl]

I'll temper that by saying diminishing returns.

I never got beyond occasional rounds of cowboy chords from 1977 - 2006. I'm well beyond that now but know I'll never be great based on the time I have to work at it and what I was born with.

Even so any plateau should not be a reason to stop or have any less pleasure. I love the guitar passion whether it's learning a new song, working on or making gear or just hitting an E chord if I'm dead tired and that's all I can do for the moment.

[Buckocaster51]

I don't think I would agree with that.

[kingfish]

I think you progress as you will - being who you are.

5 year rule?

Pul-eeze.

What BS.

[acalan]

ok so after 5 years you're all done. I'm 57 yrs old I must be well done then . I don't think so , Get another teacher

[Danno]

I've knocked around for close to 25 years I guess. Started playing bass 2.5 years ago every Sunday with our church and my playing has improved greatly on the 6 stringer in the process.

Maybe it's a 25 year rule.

[Pinball_Wizard]

Lol. That's the complete wrong way to look at things. Very pessimistic.

Music is music, only 12 notes but infinite.
Same goes for skill, skill is infinite there are no such things as best/worst.

Here are my philosophies;
-Diligently practice the guitar for nine months and you will become good.
-Once you've gotten to the good zone, you can always get back quicker than the first time.

It'd be honest to say after five years you'll be very stylized and less likely to deviate from your style, but there's nothing wrong with that. It's not a plateau, it's just being yourself.
Also if you practice the basics and rudiments regularly you will have no problem switching between diverse styles of music.

[l2yz]

what a foolish luthier

he mad

[Zillinois]

FYI you can't be taught the blues, you gotta feel the blues

[RodeoTex]

Well I hope that theory is wrong, but it would explain a lot.
I'm a 30 year beginner.

[P Thought]

Yeah, no.

[basher]

Adding my extreme disagreement to the pile. I started at 12, at 46 I'm a zillion times the guitarist I was when I was 17, and I plan on being another zillion times better when I'm in my 70s. Maybe it's just that your luthier hasn't improved since his first five years of learning.

[tele2313]

That's *********. I've played for twenty years and in the last few I've got better than I did in the previous 5 years.

[jackal]

Patience good sir, the so called 5 year rule is a load. Some folks never get better than they were 6 months in, some improve all their lives. Sure, most everyone plateaus sometimes, but keep playing and practicing, and work your way through it. You may play the same lick a thousand times, then add a new twist on the thousand and one. Keep listening to new or different things, it will work it's way into your playing. Don't burn out with too much at one time, I would finish with one instructor before going to another.

[beep.click]

I hit a plateau at 3 years. Since then (and it's over 30 years total now), there have been various periods of intense and accelerated growth. Many good things happened to my guitar playing when I started teaching myself piano. Many other good things happened when I started doing a lot of open mics -- nothing like songwriting to broaden your horizons. Ditto for doing a lot of recording.

So, 5 years and you're locked in? No way.