UK-based ‘old dog’ of 61 (next week) here with a similar tale (tail?) of learning a bit as a teenager - in my case, classical guitar - and returning to the instrument after 40+ years, as a now very mature student.
I got inspired to play again about 3 years ago after watching a friend’s son (professional guitarist) playing with a band at a small venue in London and thought “…why on earth didn’t I keep playing?”. But there was no internet back then and I’m sure I lacked motivation from some pretty poor teaching and limited resources.
Anyway, when I decided I really wanted to get back into playing, I jumped around on the internet for a bit, like I’m sure so many have and then stumbled upon JustinGuitar about 18 months ago. What a revelation to find such a well-structured site with all free lessons, taught in a really clear and friendly way. I decided to start completely from stage 1 and work through, taking my time and making sure I get it as right as I can. Now at stage 3 and still loving the content and Justin’s great approach to teaching.
I joined a local Meetup group and now go to a regular monthly acoustic ‘jam’ session and love it. I’m also really enjoying learning the theory side for the first time and am fascinated in how it all fits together. Just about got the circle of 5ths memorised now and getting faster at finding the notes on the fretboard! Overall, I’m so pleased that I got back into playing guitar, it’s like learning a new language and has become my favourite pastime and a great way to stay positive in a sometimes depressing world.
As an aside, I went to see Mike Dawes in a really small, intimate local venue last night in the town he grew up in. He was incredibly engaging and was leaving for America this morning to start an East Coast tour with the great Tommy Emmanuel. What an incredible talent, so generous with his time and super-inspiring to see, up close and personal.
Good grief I’ll be 66 next week. Young old dog to some…but anyway I’ve been following J (yep J is what I’ve always called him since his store helper [oldtimers forgot his name] used to call him and maybe still does) ever since he started making youtube videos. There was no forum or a store just youtube videos. I’ve paid for most all of his apps through the years and ordered something and have a couple of his old picks around here someplace.
So anyway back to my story. I’m a lefty and trying to play righty just never worked. My older brother was in a few bands years ago (late 60’s) and I always flipped their guitars upside down but the strings were upside down. Lefty guitars in the small town never had one so I never pursued getting one till the early 80’s after I moved to Kansas City in the mid 70’s and found one. Yup a lefty Japanese Fender strat and a white one. So I got it. So when the Beatles and Stones were on the Ed Sullivan show the guitar necks were always pointed to the right on TV except for Paul’s bass. I have used Justin’s videos and used the mirror trick in my mind. Thank you so much J for your videos all these years. Without you I would have never learned how to play guitar!
I’ve had several lefty guitars through the years and sold a few because of money problems. No I don’t have the original lefty strat but I do have a replacement one from the mid 80’s and I still have 6 or 7 from GAS in the last few years. I finally got a lefty Martin acoustic I waited for 1 1/2 years to be made because of covid with the factories shut down.
Keep at it old dogs. J is the greatest and so says a lot of pros too!
It is always good to hear from so many mature learners like me. I find it awesome to be among older and younger dogs.
I agree that neuro plasticity still exists and we are all doing our brains and well being a favor by engaging in this task.
If you were to ask me for a list of reasons I chose to start playing guitar last year at 55, one of them (not the main one) was (is) to keep my mind string and delay age related and neuro degenerative cognitive loss. In fact, I advise many of my patients (neurologist) to engage in cognitive motor tasks to maintain cognitive resilience. This can be a lot of things, but needs to be both cognitively involving and use our motor system. Playing an instrument and learning music is an excellent way to do this.
Aside from this, I think an advantage we have as older dogs is the maturity to have chosen to do this for ourselves. The agenda is less pressing and we can love the process without pressure to become something. We have reached a point in our lives where we can be comfortable doing something like this for ourselves, our own enjoyment.
I have days, weeks of frustration when for unclear reasons my fingers don’t work right, I stall out or seem to have forgotten most of what I know. But there are also many days of progress, focus and just fun.
To me, I don’t worry about “can I do this” or think “maybe I should give up” simply due to slow progress or technical difficulties. I only worry about if I am enjoying this, engaging in this complex and difficult task and feel good about it. Besides, it keeps me off the streets.
Giving up would only be because it isn’t for me and I choose to move on to something else.
Really nicely outlined Jamolay and I can very much relate to everything you’ve said there.
My parents (now in their mid 80’s) have got, individually, Parkinsons and early-onset dementia, so I’m all too aware of keeping the awful degenerative health issues at bay.
This was very much part of my reason for starting to play again in my late 50’s, but also because, as you say, we can do it for ourselves more than anything else now. And yes, it certainly keeps us off the streets - until we decide to go busking!
Just thought I’d add my guitar story to this forum. Being a senior citizen for too long (late seventies !!) I never thought I’d still be interested in playing the chords to Parisianne Walkways but, one major difference to the motivation of keeping going is having a jam partner to chat about music and throw in ideas.
Which is what happens when my mate comes round and he plugs his Fender into my amp, mostly on a Monday , Covid isolation excepted of course. Been doing this for just a couple of years and we’ve both moved on from wondering what to do with a pentatonic scale to seriously tackling the above song to both get some dynamics into our solo efforts. Thanks to Justin for those lessons by the way.
Essentially, it’s all about having fun as we both know we’re not moving out of my back room to play at the ‘O2’ !
Nevertheless, having seen ‘The Band That Rocks’ on tv recently I secretly yearn to get together with some other old farts and have one last blast!
Just another old dog here. I picked up the guitar during COVID and did a great job of working through Justin’s material until about 5 months ago when I put it down. Even retirees get busy with other stuff. I jumped on the website last night and started to get up to speed with the way things look now. Got the guitar back out today. I’m amazed I’m not rustier! Now…time to put new strings on and get back with the program!
I’ve missed this feed before, so must join the “Old Dog” crew we have here! Some of this is a bit paraphrased from the beginning of my Learning Log.
I started my first time around 1989/90 in my 40’s (No, wait! I just did the Math and I was actually 32 or 33 back then!) Anyway, I bought a Sears Harmony guitar. I ordered a 50-lesson guitar course from the U.S. School of Music, plus a couple of Mel Bay Books. This was before the days of Internet. That lasted two years and then I gave up and quit until around Apr 2015. I was 57. Seven years later, here I am. Sixty-four and still strumming along. Back to 2015, I was inspired by a simple thing. A woman I know showed a group of friends and me a video of her daughter who had started lessons and her performance was so good; it really made me want to play. From there, I started looking around and pretty quickly discovered Justin on YouTube. And now, here I am a proud member of Justinguitar and now jumping in here a part of the “Old Dogs” crew!
I’ve made it through the Intermediate Course - almost. I’ve gone through the end goals. I’ve checked off most of the Bullets from the Intermediate Method Consolidation. A few of those Bullets I’ve checked off still need a little practice and a little more work but I’m ready to move forward to see what comes next; which are three Bonus lessons and then introductions to Folk Fingerstyle, Jazz and Blues. This should help me decide which direction I want to go from there.
A couple more quick comments as to the gear I have acquired since I began again: A Takamine Acoustic, which I still love. Then last summer, I bought a Sterling by Music Man electric and a Boss Katana 50 MK II.
I agree, Joshua - the individual stories here are both comforting and inspiring. I was a little shocked to learn just how many oldsters are stringing up again, but then I remembered that folks around my age (70) who were teens in the 60’s, were all wanting to be like the Beatles et al. So,here we are; I love the sense of camaraderie.
Your post resonated with me on so many levels, and suspect the same is true for others. Yes, as with most everything, there are good and bad days, and learning a complex task can be really, really frustrating at times, but in something like this, having fun should be always the end goal. Besides, as you suggest, it tests character!
I thought it was an excellent ramble…
That is a great story. Inspiration comes when you least expect it and can have life altering effects. You were so lucky to find Justin early in the process. It seems that you’ve come a long way and, most importantly, have a good plan, too!
I’ve said so in other places but I’m 55. I started playing when I was about 40 but just playing songs from tab, no theory, no structure, no practice routine. It got boring and then we sold our house along with my guitars to travel full time in our motorhome. That came to an end thanks to COVID and my dad’s health and we bought a house last year.
Some of that previous stuff stuck with me and some of it comes back quick. Some of it, I never learned, like strumming. But my focus is different. I want to learn guitar, not just play it. I want to be creative. I’ve pretty much passed Grade 1 but I’m letting it all soak in before moving on. I’ve learned a lot and it’s exciting. I can’t wait to learn more.
I should have noticed this thread a while ago. My wife gave me an acoustic at age 60 (4 years ago) for Christmas. I was fortunate enough to find Justin’s site or I am not sure if I would have done anything with it. It was a great passion (addiction?) to take into retirement.
I’m now 4 years into retirement and it just keeps getting better. Justin’s courses keep me moving forward developing new skills while I learn new songs. Enjoy!
Hey! Essie from Maryland. My son-in-law to be introduced me to guitar. He loaned me his acoustic Alvarez from the 90’s and it is beautiful and fun. I am 73, never played before, and am currently still roughing up my fingers! Just started and began first lesson with Justin. It is FUN! Doesn’t matter how old you are, you need to learn something every single day. Enjoy!
Absolutely, I’ve been learning for nearly 60 years now and still learning, there’s always something more to learn with guitar because it’s such a versatile instrument. Keep playing and have fun - fun isn’t exclusive to the younger generations!
