Many decades, actually. I first learned and had some lessons as a teen in 1970. Owing to the family relocating, the lessons stopped, and then there was college, marriage, kids, career… I kept a guitar through all those years, but my playing didnt advance, just wasnt able to give it consistent focus. Upon retiring at the end of 2022, I picked it up again, working back through old practice books and music that I had kept over the years.
I was practicing with two guitars, an acoustic, and a hollow body electric, which I’ve since discovered is a “vintage Japanese guitar” made in about 1968. I was having a lot of trouble playing the electric accurately. After some frustration and some research, I discovered that the specifications of the neck can vary and can impact playability - specifically the width of the neck at the end (“nut width”), and the size of the frets (I didnt even know frets had sizes). I am friends with a guy who pulls together a group that jams for fun, asked him if I could try one of his guitars. Sure enough, with the wider neck and taller frets used on most modern electrics, the technical playing problems went away. They also asked me to join their jams from time to time - songs from the 50’s-80’s mostly - Beatles, Bee Gees, CCR, others. I joined Justins to put more structure and focus in my practice and hopefully get better, and thus far I’m very pleased with the content and capabilities here.
Walter
12 Likes
Welcome to the forum Walter
Nice to meet you Walter and your story is very similar to others around this community, I think it is a guitar thing but you are in the right place now so just dig your heels in mate cheers HEC
Welcome, Walter! Have a nice guitar journey!
Thats cool you kept those guitars all these years. You knew in your mind you still had that mojo. Welcome to the community. Glad you found you way here.
Hi Walter, welcome to the community forum. There is a lot in Justins lessons to get you from longtime beginner to more advance guitarist. Have fun in the journey.
Hello Walter & Welcome!!!
Enjoy the Journey & keep it FUN!!!
Tod from New Mexico
Hi Walter ,
Welcome here and I wish you a lot of fun and a long time of playing 
Greetings,Rogier
Hello Walter.
I hope you have held on to the 1960s guitar … it will have value and with a little bit of magic from a local guitar tech it could play and sound really good.
Welcome to JustinGuitar and this fantastic community. Please take your time to look around and get to know the wider space. View by Categories.
We are a supportive and encouraging group of students and guitarists from across the world. Essentially, we are all here for music and to improve as players. We truly are a ‘community’. Members help and support one another and a friendly, positive attitude underpins this. We hope that all - young or old, experienced or new players - adopt and foster the pay-it-forward ethos that Justin personifies and embedded all those years ago when he started the website and forum.
Also, please make sure to read the Community Etiquette announcement for some important information and guidance.
If you want to record yourself to show your progress and / or seek feedback there is our ever popular Community Recordings section.
Behind the scenes there is a small and dedicated team who work to make the JustinGuitar experience as good as it can be. Check out the Onboarding sessions provided by Fanny. Justin also has a small group of Approved Teachers he recommends for people wanting 1-to-1 lessons to supplement his courses.
That is plenty to be going on with. It is a vast community space so if you need help as you find your way around just ask.
Cheers. Richard
| Approved Teacher, Official Guide & Community Moderator |
