Too Old to Learn....

IowaTele · February 8th, 2008, 09:19 PM

Too old to learn HA!

First post here. Been lurking for 8 months. Here is my story.

Back in June, I was listening to Walk Don't Run, and I thought to myself I wish I did learn how to play. Then, I thought, maybe I should do it now. For the first time in my life my thought was: too old!! I was 47 at the time. That hit me like a lightning bolt as I never ever had that thought before. Rather than give up and wait to die, the next day I went to the local Guitar Center and purchased a standard Tele. The sales guy was young and thought it was cool that some old dude wanted to learn how to play. I asked him if he knew of a good teacher for an old man beginner. He referred me on to a fantastic teacher, a guy my age who has been teaching for many years.

So, here I am 8 months later, still excited about learning, have a long way to go but am not going to give up. Maybe I will quit someday, a long time from now when I really am too old.

Oh, why a tele? Went to High School in Fullerton. Had to get a Fender. Was friends with a kid who lived across the street from Leo. Got the tele because I liked the look better than a strat. I have since learned to appreciate the tele twang.

Mark

Trimmed&Burnin · February 8th, 2008, 09:29 PM

Welcome man,,,

Ronkirn · February 8th, 2008, 09:47 PM

To Old.. heheh. . HHahaHaha.. Buhahahah Wahahahha... 48... Heheh you kids... just wait.... You go to bed feelin great.. all these plans for the next day,,, you wake up and go " Woah" what the shi* is that... why can't I walk........ what the heck it that"...... whud I do....?"

But...it still beats the alternative....

Now where's that Router bit....

Ron Kirn

HOBBSTER01 · February 8th, 2008, 09:52 PM

Nuff said.

Flat357 · February 8th, 2008, 09:52 PM

Hi Mark .

You got here just in time .
If you had been a single day older , you would definitely have been much too old to learn how to play the guitar , and would have been relegated to the dark side of the bass or banjo

There is enough info on this site to keep you busy for a while , and certainly enough kind hearted folk to help you out along the way .

Good to see you taking the plunge .
It's never too late to experience the magic you are about to experience

buddywayne · February 8th, 2008, 09:53 PM

Young man, I'm sure you'll have fun. Enjoy!!!

pchilson · February 8th, 2008, 10:05 PM

Hi Mark, your story could be my story only the names and locations have changed. You're never to old but there will be a day it will be too late...I didn't feel like waiting around for that.

Buckocaster51 · February 8th, 2008, 10:21 PM

Welcome aboard.

I'm up by L&D 10.

How far south are you?

webb3201 · February 8th, 2008, 10:34 PM

grats on picking it up, even later than some. I started playing again after 20 years off (dont ask why I stopped, not sure) and realize I am much more disciplined and interested in learning than I was back in my teens.

The best thing is....I can buy my own gear now which is a lot of the fun.

Just think when you retire in 20 years, youll have 20 years playing under your belt!

JohnnyCrash · February 8th, 2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IowaTele

Too old to learn HA!

First post here. Been lurking for 8 months. Here is my story.

Back in June, I was listening to Walk Don't Run, and I thought to myself I wish I did learn how to play. Then, I thought, maybe I should do it now. For the first time in my life my thought was: too old!! I was 47 at the time. That hit me like a lightning bolt as I never ever had that thought before. Rather than give up and wait to die, the next day I went to the local Guitar Center and purchased a standard Tele. The sales guy was young and thought it was cool that some old dude wanted to learn how to play. I asked him if he knew of a good teacher for an old man beginner. He referred me on to a fantastic teacher, a guy my age who has been teaching for many years.

So, here I am 8 months later, still excited about learning, have a long way to go but am not going to give up. Maybe I will quit someday, a long time from now when I really am too old.

Oh, why a tele? Went to High School in Fullerton. Had to get a Fender. Was friends with a kid who lived across the street from Leo. Got the tele because I liked the look better than a strat. I have since learned to appreciate the tele twang.

Mark

Hell yeah!

I live near Fullerton myself.

You give us youngsters hope we'll never slow down... keep it up man!

boris bubbanov · February 8th, 2008, 10:39 PM

Welcome, young 'un!

You might have it just right. There are other activities best learned earlier, but you should be fine. I know lots of guys who started from scratch OR stopped thrashing around and finally learned some real techniques just about your spring age.

They stay with it, seems like, more than students of either younger or older age.

Good luck with your Tele. Best choice for learning, she never lies to ya.

Tele Fan · February 8th, 2008, 11:01 PM

Welcome to a lifelong addiction that you'll enjoy greatly! Great to have another picker aboard.

chabby · February 8th, 2008, 11:18 PM

You picked a great time to start as there has never been so much great gear so readily available at reasonable prices. Same can be said for learning resources. There is stuff available to learn with that would have taken a few lifetimes of playing to come by not all that long ago. So you will get much, much more bang for the buck in terms of getting out of it what you put in.
There aren't really any shortcuts I have found - it really is proportional to what your willing to put in. Once you become dextrous, that's when things start to really take off. Certainly , you could have all the knowledge in the world, but if you don't have the coordination and dexterity to execute - it ain't good. Practicce alot of limbering up and scales to gain unlimited movement to implement what you learn. Guitar is easy from a conceptual and intellectual standpoint, it's the execution that makes it so difficult.

Welcome to a truly special and gratifying, soul cleansing endeavor and to the TDPRI community too.

Taipan · February 8th, 2008, 11:37 PM

IowaTele - Welcome aboard and welcome to playing. Have fun !

Solcat · February 9th, 2008, 12:45 AM

Yeah I started at age 47. I'm 48 now. I think that you are ok if you start before they hammer the lid down on your coffin.

Scotland · February 9th, 2008, 12:55 AM

Starting to learn at your age is no problem, just don't get caught up in the death metal scene.

Everyone is still learning, whoever they are and however long they have been playing, that's one of the great things about playing guitar. Welcome aboard,.

Bob Marlec · February 9th, 2008, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webb3201

grats on picking it up, even later than some. I started playing again after 20 years off (dont ask why I stopped, not sure) and realize I am much more disciplined and interested in learning than I was back in my teens.

The best thing is....I can buy my own gear now which is a lot of the fun.

Just think when you retire in 20 years, youll have 20 years playing under your belt!

My story is the same. It's never too late, just find some old and young friends to play with you.

Soldano ROS · February 9th, 2008, 03:49 AM

The desire to play is a good thing at any age. I am 47 from Cedar Rapids and just got in from a gig. We do 7 - 10 shows a month. Best of luck to you in learning.

Markocaster · February 9th, 2008, 04:24 AM

great , there is hope for me learning... 40 this year

Fatmanstratman · February 9th, 2008, 05:08 AM

I love it when folks come here and say "I'm too old at 48".

Makes me feel like reserving my "plot" right now, before I start p*ss*ng my pants and forgetting where I put my teeth....

48? If ONLY......

Big John · February 9th, 2008, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IowaTele

Oh, why a tele? Went to High School in Fullerton. Had to get a Fender. Was friends with a kid who lived across the street from Leo. Got the tele because I liked the look better than a strat. I have since learned to appreciate the tele twang.
Mark

Obviously a man of taste and style then !!, welcome aboard, wish i was still 48 !

shades · February 9th, 2008, 05:09 AM

I had played when I was young then took an extended leave of absence from guitars until the age of 47. Why? Who knows...it's something that I regret.
One thing for certain, I enjoy playing now more than ever before.
Be determined and patient to learn, it's a fun ride along the way.
Good for you man.

Old dogs are able to learn new tricks after all, hahahaa.

imwjl · February 9th, 2008, 08:51 AM

Welcome from a fellow middle ager.

On Walk Don't Run: I made it my song to get down this week because my kids love every version in the house - Ventures, Herb Alpert & Duo Tones (acoustic). I won't be on stage with it but I had my 3 kids and niece dancing to it last night.

On Fender: I sold my Squire HSS Strat for my Tele, and don't shoot, but a magnet is pulling me toward a shop with a mint used American Deluxe Strat at a good price.

I've rec'd a lot of good tips and inspiration here and hope the same for you. I played an acoustic on and off for decades, but only got serious and only got my first electric a little more than a year ago so there's hope.

Good luck and have fun with it all!

skydawg · February 9th, 2008, 09:24 AM

On a more serious note; do any of you fellow old fellas (i'm 54) find it harder to remember new licks? it seems i'll learn a new chop, lick, etc. and 2 weeks later i have to relearn it a bit. sort of a 2 steps forward one step back routine. anyone else or am i in the early stages of hardening of the arteries?

6942 · February 9th, 2008, 10:15 AM

skydawg:

I'm also a member of the Club 54!!
My problem isn't remembering new licks....it's whether my arthritic right shoulder (on a day-to-day basis)....will allow me to play new licks!?

IowaTele:

Never too old to learn!
I started to hang glide....at age 51.
No injuries.........yet!

Steve

cband7 · February 9th, 2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solcat

Yeah I started at age 47. I'm 48 now. I think that you are ok if you start before they hammer the lid down on your coffin.

Coffin? Is it alder or ash? What's the grain like? Thinline or solid? Oh, man, you know you're hooked when you start thinking like that! I've been a 'beginner' for about 15 years; I SWEAR I'm going to learn this year!

February 8th, 2008, 09:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
IowaTele NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Eastern Iowa Age: 48 Posts: 3	Too Old to Learn.... Too old to learn HA! First post here. Been lurking for 8 months. Here is my story. Back in June, I was listening to Walk Don't Run, and I thought to myself I wish I did learn how to play. Then, I thought, maybe I should do it now. For the first time in my life my thought was: too old!! I was 47 at the time. That hit me like a lightning bolt as I never ever had that thought before. Rather than give up and wait to die, the next day I went to the local Guitar Center and purchased a standard Tele. The sales guy was young and thought it was cool that some old dude wanted to learn how to play. I asked him if he knew of a good teacher for an old man beginner. He referred me on to a fantastic teacher, a guy my age who has been teaching for many years. So, here I am 8 months later, still excited about learning, have a long way to go but am not going to give up. Maybe I will quit someday, a long time from now when I really am too old. Oh, why a tele? Went to High School in Fullerton. Had to get a Fender. Was friends with a kid who lived across the street from Leo. Got the tele because I liked the look better than a strat. I have since learned to appreciate the tele twang. Mark

February 8th, 2008, 09:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trimmed&Burnin Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bellingham Wa Age: 54 Posts: 807	Welcome man,,, __________________ Keep your lamp Trimmed And Burnin Shannon,

February 8th, 2008, 09:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ronkirn Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jacksonville, FL Age: 62 Posts: 2,411	To Old.. heheh. . HHahaHaha.. Buhahahah Wahahahha... 48... Heheh you kids... just wait.... You go to bed feelin great.. all these plans for the next day,,, you wake up and go " Woah" what the shi* is that... why can't I walk........ what the heck it that"...... whud I do....?" But...it still beats the alternative.... Now where's that Router bit.... Ron Kirn __________________ Lord, give me a sense of humor. Give me the grace to see a joke, To get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folks. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing......

February 8th, 2008, 09:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
HOBBSTER01 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: North GA. Posts: 353	Playin' beats the hec outta listnin' Nuff said. __________________ The Hobbster

February 8th, 2008, 09:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
buddywayne Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: missouri Age: 62 Posts: 555 6 Photos	Young man, I'm sure you'll have fun. Enjoy!!! __________________ 51 luv!!

February 8th, 2008, 09:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 40 Posts: 2,769	Hi Mark . You got here just in time . If you had been a single day older , you would definitely have been much too old to learn how to play the guitar , and would have been relegated to the dark side of the bass or banjo There is enough info on this site to keep you busy for a while , and certainly enough kind hearted folk to help you out along the way . Good to see you taking the plunge . It's never too late to experience the magic you are about to experience

February 8th, 2008, 10:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
pchilson Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Loveland, Colorado Age: 50 Posts: 668	Hi Mark, your story could be my story only the names and locations have changed. You're never to old but there will be a day it will be too late...I didn't feel like waiting around for that.

February 8th, 2008, 10:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Buckocaster51 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Iowa USA Age: 56 Posts: 4,966 1 Photos	Welcome aboard. I'm up by L&D 10. How far south are you? __________________ "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." - Thumper the Rabbit "An awfully lot of time can be wasted waiting for the right time." - Gunsmoke's Doc Adams

February 8th, 2008, 10:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
webb3201 TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Dallas Posts: 90	grats on picking it up, even later than some. I started playing again after 20 years off (dont ask why I stopped, not sure) and realize I am much more disciplined and interested in learning than I was back in my teens. The best thing is....I can buy my own gear now which is a lot of the fun. Just think when you retire in 20 years, youll have 20 years playing under your belt!

February 8th, 2008, 10:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,154	Welcome, young 'un! You might have it just right. There are other activities best learned earlier, but you should be fine. I know lots of guys who started from scratch OR stopped thrashing around and finally learned some real techniques just about your spring age. They stay with it, seems like, more than students of either younger or older age. Good luck with your Tele. Best choice for learning, she never lies to ya. __________________ Bubban0v

February 8th, 2008, 11:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tele Fan Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Louisville, Ky Age: 29 Posts: 1,335	Welcome to a lifelong addiction that you'll enjoy greatly! Great to have another picker aboard. __________________ Life is better when you just make it up as you go along.

February 8th, 2008, 11:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
chabby Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,258	You picked a great time to start as there has never been so much great gear so readily available at reasonable prices. Same can be said for learning resources. There is stuff available to learn with that would have taken a few lifetimes of playing to come by not all that long ago. So you will get much, much more bang for the buck in terms of getting out of it what you put in. There aren't really any shortcuts I have found - it really is proportional to what your willing to put in. Once you become dextrous, that's when things start to really take off. Certainly , you could have all the knowledge in the world, but if you don't have the coordination and dexterity to execute - it ain't good. Practicce alot of limbering up and scales to gain unlimited movement to implement what you learn. Guitar is easy from a conceptual and intellectual standpoint, it's the execution that makes it so difficult. Welcome to a truly special and gratifying, soul cleansing endeavor and to the TDPRI community too.

February 8th, 2008, 11:37 PM	#14 (permalink)
Taipan Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Western NY State Age: 49 Posts: 411	IowaTele - Welcome aboard and welcome to playing. Have fun !

February 9th, 2008, 12:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
Solcat Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 180	Yeah I started at age 47. I'm 48 now. I think that you are ok if you start before they hammer the lid down on your coffin.

February 9th, 2008, 12:55 AM	#16 (permalink)
Scotland Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Aberdeen, Scotland, Yewrup Age: 54 Posts: 6,377 3 Photos	Starting to learn at your age is no problem, just don't get caught up in the death metal scene. Everyone is still learning, whoever they are and however long they have been playing, that's one of the great things about playing guitar. Welcome aboard,. __________________ All those who believe in psycho-kinesis, raise my hand !

February 9th, 2008, 03:49 AM	#18 (permalink)
Soldano ROS TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Age: 48 Posts: 73	The desire to play is a good thing at any age. I am 47 from Cedar Rapids and just got in from a gig. We do 7 - 10 shows a month. Best of luck to you in learning.

February 9th, 2008, 04:24 AM	#19 (permalink)
Markocaster TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern CA Age: 40 Posts: 61	great , there is hope for me learning... 40 this year

February 9th, 2008, 05:08 AM	#20 (permalink)
Fatmanstratman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Fatmanville, Cambs., UK Posts: 2,755	I love it when folks come here and say "I'm too old at 48". Makes me feel like reserving my "plot" right now, before I start pssng my pants and forgetting where I put my teeth.... 48? If ONLY...... __________________ . . . *"Behind every argument is someone's ignorance."*

February 9th, 2008, 05:09 AM	#22 (permalink)
shades Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pittsburgh,Pa. Age: 51 Posts: 1,135 8 Photos	I had played when I was young then took an extended leave of absence from guitars until the age of 47. Why? Who knows...it's something that I regret. One thing for certain, I enjoy playing now more than ever before. Be determined and patient to learn, it's a fun ride along the way. Good for you man. Old dogs are able to learn new tricks after all, hahahaa. __________________ A.S.N.F.

February 9th, 2008, 08:51 AM	#23 (permalink)
imwjl Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 1,127	Welcome from a fellow middle ager. On Walk Don't Run: I made it my song to get down this week because my kids love every version in the house - Ventures, Herb Alpert & Duo Tones (acoustic). I won't be on stage with it but I had my 3 kids and niece dancing to it last night. On Fender: I sold my Squire HSS Strat for my Tele, and don't shoot, but a magnet is pulling me toward a shop with a mint used American Deluxe Strat at a good price. I've rec'd a lot of good tips and inspiration here and hope the same for you. I played an acoustic on and off for decades, but only got serious and only got my first electric a little more than a year ago so there's hope. Good luck and have fun with it all!

February 9th, 2008, 09:24 AM	#24 (permalink)
skydawg Removed Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: GREATER CHICAGOLAND AREA, USA Age: 55 Posts: 1,158	On a more serious note; do any of you fellow old fellas (i'm 54) find it harder to remember new licks? it seems i'll learn a new chop, lick, etc. and 2 weeks later i have to relearn it a bit. sort of a 2 steps forward one step back routine. anyone else or am i in the early stages of hardening of the arteries?

February 9th, 2008, 10:15 AM	#25 (permalink)
6942 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,441	skydawg: I'm also a member of the Club 54!! My problem isn't remembering new licks....it's whether my arthritic right shoulder (on a day-to-day basis)....will allow me to play new licks!? IowaTele: Never too old to learn! I started to hang glide....at age 51. No injuries.........yet! Steve