Picking up the guitar finally at 55! Finding rhythm challenging! About 3 weeks into Beginner 1. Playing MIM Fender Strat HH. Cheers.
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Welcome. It’s a long road ahead but fun too—good luck
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Welcome, Brian, glad you found us!
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Welcome to the forum. I’ve got a brother that lives in the country somewhere near Raleigh. I started playing at the young age of 53, and now well over 10 years later so glad I did. The reward of being able to pick up a guitar and belt out a tune whenever you feel like it is great. Look forward to hearing more from you.
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Hey Brian,
Welcome to the group. I just started this August myself, at 65. I’m not musically gifted, so it’s a slow but rewarding process (5 months and just now in the home stretch of 1st grade). It’s so cool when something finally “just happens” without having to think about it. My newbie advice is to be nice and patient with yourself, practice a lot, and follow Justin’s advice–plus that of the sage of the page, Richard_close2u (who also happens to be the moderator). He’s got helpful advice beyond what’s in the lessons.
After going it web lessons only for 2months, I sprang the $100/yr for the app, with zero regrets. I use both the web and the app. For me the app is great because I can practice songs w/accompaniment and/or vocals–but especially because the speed can be slowed down to a point where I can make the chord changes. Then, as changes become more fluid I bump up the speed again. That dopamine hit of actually playing along can bring a smile [and make time fly–you are forewarned!] [NOTE: it does require a live internet connection to work–there are a number of threads in the community about how to follow the lessons off line should that be a desire].
Finally, if you get stumped/bothered/frustrated/joyful about some aspect of playing this community, both former posts and online responses, is very helpful. If you’re struggling with something, there are very strong odds that there’s a post, with many helpful replies, to move you through the challenge.
My 2bits on rhythm:
For me, rhythm goes out the window when I’m struggling with chord changes.
I work on the rhythm on its own (air strum and foot tap to a recording/the app), and the chord changes on their own–this is also where the app comes it: it won’t slow down while you hunt for the correct finger placement, really forcing your brain to reference those “changes in a minute” neural pathways you’ve been developing. Same goes for strumming patterns, develop those neural pathways in isolation, then they’re more readily accessed when you’re under stress of finding the chord.
Again–welcome to group,
Bruce
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Welcome to the forum Brian
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Nice lots of us 50+ in here. Rythem is good stuff and you can practice rythem with just one note. Richard one of the instructors did a great Club session on rythem maybe cheak it out.
You will get more instruction as you advance as well. Glad you found your way to justins ship of minstrels. Enjoy the ride and keep strumming.
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Hi Brian,
Welcome here and I wish you a lot of fun 
Greetings,Rogier
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Welcome Brian!
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Welcome to the community Brian!
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Hello Brian.
Welcome to JustinGuitar and this fantastic community. Please take your time to look around and get to know the wider space.
https://community.justinguitar.com/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.
Richard | JustinGuitar Approved Teacher & Moderator & Official Guide |
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Hi Brian, welcome to the community forum. You will have a lot of practice with rhythm in Grade 1. I have gone through grade 1 three different times to focus on rhythm 
If you need more help Justin has a rhythm course that you can buy. Have fun playing songs and the rhythm will happen naturally.
Steve, 69, from Raleigh, NC
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