Hi there, JG community. My name is Carroll Wills and I’m a 68 year old retired dude who is ready to get serious about having fun on the guitar.
At various times, most recently in my early 40s, I have picked up the guitar and taught myself basic chords and played along with songs. At one point, I even took lessons for about a year or two. Judging from the old lesson sheets, I must have gotten pretty good, but it’s as if the Men in Black came along with their flashing memory eraser and took a lot of that away.
So I’m back starting with JustinGuitar in Grade 1. Most of the open and basic barre chords I learned are still there, but I’m learning a lot of basics about strumming and rhythm from scratch, and it’s great. Breaking loads of bad habits and getting the structured foundation that I must have missed.
So far, resisting the urge to rush ahead, but it’s tough - I am still fairly dexterous but I know the clock is ticking …
Looks like a welcoming community and look forward to getting acquainted and swapping info and stories.
I think you’re in a great place for learning with JustinGuitar and this amazing community, wherever you’re at in your guitar journey.
I also started teaching myself before I discovered JustinGutiar and started right from the first lesson in Grade 1 when I did. I agree, it’s great getting the structured foundation, and breaking loads of bad habits (and still some )
I say, just marinate in the process and soak up enjoying what you’re doing. I think things actually take longer when you try to rush them anyway
Great advice about savoring the process. The strumming practice, using a metronome, working on chord changes. After just kind of sawing away for so long, just working on these kinds of basics have been game changing already.
Welcome Carroll, you’ll love it. Be patient, practice often, and it’ll all come in time. Your background will show up when you least expect it, and old ‘tricks’ will surface and end up in your playing. Leave the guitar where you have to pass by it often. It’ll call out to you and you’ll pick it up, and suddenly, ‘poof!’ an hour or two are gone. Beats TV by a long shot. Recording yourself now, and again in a month, and then again later and comparing’s a great tool. Don’t forget to post a video of you playing as soon as you’re ready. Enjoy the journey!
You can also watch yourself playing, and see how well your fingers move, your facial expressions which are always a dead giveaway if you’re enjoying it or struggling and happy with your playing, and if you’re “cheating” and watching what you’re doing on the guitar vs. looking at the camera/crowd. All good. It’s a great motivator and self-rewarding when you notice the vast improvement over time. Don’t be too critical of the small mistakes. Learn from them and reward yourself with pats on the back for what you do well too.
Welcome to our Community Carroll! Breaking the bad habits from the past took more time than I wished in my case…but there was no other good option and it really pays off in the long run.
So…keep on
go as much slow as you need to be able to observe yourself doing well enough in not repeating the bad habits over and over…
Hi Carroll, welcome to the community forum. Have fun filling in the gaps of your previous self-taught learning and rediscovering what was lost from your memory over the years. I’m 70 and had the same problem when I started Justin 3 years ago. I sometimes joke to myself that all the guitar that I have forgotten over the years is still greater than what I have learned in the last 3 years, but since I am practicing more consistantly now I know that will change for the better.
Hello Carroll. Bravo to you for re-building your skills from the ground up.
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 - of which I am privileged to be one.
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