Welcome, Karen! It’s possible that it is silly to learn to play guitar later in life, but shouldn’t we all have some silly fun sometimes?
I’ve only been doing this for a little over a year, but I can tell you that it’s the most fascinating and fun thing I’ve done since I was in my 20’s. It’s challenging and frustrating and so very rewarding.
You’re among like-minded folks here, so feel free to join in and let us know how it’s going.
Hi Karen,
Welcome here and what a nice thing to do from your husband 
Have fun and see you later 
Greetings,Rogier
Hi Karen, I also thought I was being a bit silly taking up the guitar 8 months ago at 58 years old, having never played before, but it is a great learning experience, and it’s a nice feeling when I manage to play a minute or two of a song that i’ve been singing for years in the shower 
I’m at the end of the JG grade 1 course, but going back over different lessons for the past few weeks before starting grade 2.
Keep enjoying playing as that’s all that matters (at least for me 
).
Hi Karen!
30+ years ago, my wife & I were Christmas shopping at Costco & saw a Yamaha steel string for about ~$70 or so… it was “under” the Christmas tree that year… I still play it since it’s hanging on my office wall at work! I’m 62 & only within the last couple of years have started to truly learn, I found Justin & have gained SO MUCH knowledge since… you’re in the right place & the silliest thing at 60+ is not trying to learn new things! My wife took up riding motorcycles within the last few years & is loving the feeling of freedom - if she hadn’t started (at 60) she’d be missing out on so much!!! 
Embrace your inner Bad-Ass!!! 
Good Luck with your Journey!
Tod from New Mexico
This quote made me laugh…
I was singing one of my “shower” songs on Christmas Eve - my wife mentioned that I was off-key…
I’ve often told her to critique my music since sometimes I’m not the best critic of my performance… I mean, “If it sounds good, it IS good”, right?
Well, apparently this song DIDN’T sound so good, at least to her. I told her that it always sounded good to me when I sing it in the shower… next thing I knew, a bath towel lands in my lap… “Go practice!!!” was all she said!!! 
Since it was Christmas Eve… I granted her wish!!!
Tod
Hello Karen @klentenza - it’s wonderful how your fingers instinctively knew where to go for a D chord. Welcome to the kennel. 
Another 60 year old here. I started just over a year ago, having retrieved the guitar I bought aged 50 from the loft…My 50s involved getting my motorcycle licence and learning to ride (brilliant in every way - to be recommended), whilst my 6os will be the guitar decade. Loving every minute of that too, but finding finger style a challenge. Mind you, I’ve only done the taster bit in level 2. Apparently there’s a whole module to come, so I’m looking forward to that. I’m currently enjoying the level 2 Blues module. I’ve bought an Eastcoast dreadnought to go with my Strat, but should have gone for a parlour, I now realise. I love the sound of the dreadnought, but find it a little on the large side. A perfect excuse to expand the collection I think. All the best, David - Buckinghamshire, England.
Welcome to the kennel David.
Welcome. You have come to the right dog pound… Enjoy the journey
Hi David
Welcome here and I wish you a lot of fun
and you are already completely into it and Oooo there are still so many great things waiting for you in grade 3 because there the blues and fingerstyle are already wonderfully combined to a level that I could only dream of 3 years ago and can keep you company for years 
Greetings,Rogier
David, welcome
I agree with the decision to look at other guitars
I traded my dreadnaught for a 000 sized guitar body. I think OM guitars are similar sized and the 00 guitars are even smaller but bigger than a parlor size
If you can, try out different sizes and see what feels and sounds right to you 
Thanks for the replies all. It seems the dreadnought may be more suited for strumming chords than the smaller sized acoustics, which maybe suit finger style (?). The dreadnought seems to egg me on to play it quite hard - but maybe I need to learn to be a little less aggressive in the way I play it…Thanks for the advice on other sizes - I feel a trip to Andertons coming on.
Hello David & Welcome to the Dog Pound!!!
62, avid motorcyclist, guitarist & hot-air balloon pilot here! This decade can be biker/guitarist for you… when the fingertips get too sore to play any more chords, hop on your bike & give 'em a rest!
What type of bike do you ride? I’m primarily a Harley guy but also have a 2015 Indian Chief Vintage in Indian Red & Cream coloring! Nothing like a little wind in the face to clear out the mental cobwebs… especially if you can put the bike away & noodle a bit on your guitar!
When it comes to guitars, you’ll not be getting a whole lot of advice around these parts to avoid GAS (Guitar/Gear Acquisition Syndrome)!!! I do advise, however, to take some time to evaluate why you’re wanting another instrument… what gap are you trying to fill? As far as acoustics go, there are many sizes & shapes. Each of them presents it’s own pros & cons… in your case, the dread feels too big & you’re thinking of something smaller…
my personal favorite size is the Grand Auditorium with a cutaway… an Orchestra is also nice but IMO doesn’t seem to “project” quite as well as a larger guitar. That being said, there’s always exceptions… one of my neighbors recently purchased a PRS Parlor… it’s pretty amazing how much volume comes out of that tiny little guitar!!! He’s a big guy & it looks like he’s holding a uke!
Anyhow, good luck along your guitar Journey… don’t forget that when you get stuck along the way this Community is here with helpful ideas & comments!
Tod from New Mexico USA
I’m just getting started and learning about the JG Community. I just turned 70, I can play saxophone - and I know some music theory. So far, I’ve made it to JG Grade 2, Module 8. At that point, I took some time to mainly focusing on all my chord types and chord-switching speed …Open, Barre, Power - and am now ready to jump back into lessons. This is kinda how I approached learning saxophone (learn chords first) and it paid off for me there - so that is the approach I was using here. However, at this point I feel the need to get back into the real JG lessons. Playing guitar has always been on my bucket list …and soooooo, here we go….
Hello Ralph & Welcome!!!
What part of “Joisy” do you call home? I’ve spent a bit of time in the Egg Harbor area near the Atlantic City airport for work… the FAA has a Technical Center in that area & my wife & I spent a couple of months there while I was on a detail… weekends in beautiful Cape May (which is where our son went to Basic Training for the Coast Guard), lots of lighthouse tours while there & just enjoying the seafood & the green countryside! We are so ready to go back the next time the FAA sends me!
Good to hear that you’ve found Justin when you decided to pick up the guitar… we’re a bit biased here, but Justin is the best teacher out there on the internet (the price is right, too!!!) with his laid-back methods. If you haven’t already, take a look at the Justin Guitar App… it’s a great tool for learning & the guitar karaoke is a fantastic way to help with chord changes & timing!
Best of luck to you in your guitar Journey… reach out here if you need help!
Tod from New Mexico
Yes indeed …I’m about 40 minutes from Cape May, NJ - in Sewell. Looking forward to jumping back into JG Lessons - after a one-month ‘pause’ to focus on getting my chord-switching down a bit more. Ready to go now.
Sewell…
We were staying at a Bed & Breakfast in Cape May the last weekend we were there & met a couple from Sewell, we talked to them at length about New Jersey but I don’t remember their names… wouldn’t that be funny if we met each other then!!! Have you ever stayed at the Queen Victoria? Beautiful old Victorian style home built in the mid 1800s that’s now a B&B.
Module 8 has a unit/lesson - I think it’s the 2nd one in the module - about practicing your OMCs but “perfecting” them also… to quote Justin “Practice makes Permanent, so Practice Perfectly”! That Module had one of the most lasting impacts on my learning… don’t rush through it, and/or go back to it periodically to keep what you learn there fresh! My 2 cents!
Tod
The calluses are building up and I’m averaging about 20-30 minutes per day, and having a blast. Actually seeing a bit of progress and can play 3 chords. I will say the D chord has been the most difficult for me so far - finger flexbility can only get better from here!
Thanks - I’m really hoping my background in (basic) music theory and playing saxophone will give me a head start. I have my OPEN chords down now, and can play thru all Major and minor scales, using finger-style. So, now pushing hard (literally) on BARRE chords. It’s good to be retired with lots of time available too 
.