Eric Clapton , Jimi Hendrix etc all started just like that so don’t get discouraged, it takes time.
I’m 70 and have realised what a teenager can learn in a week takes me months. This is because the brain does not establish new neural connections so quickly as you get older. The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the journey with no end.
Please stick with the course. What helped me was setting goals and a practice schedule (as advised by Jason). For example change 5 open chords smoothly. Seemed impossible at the start. Couple of months later you look back at your goals and realise you have progressed after all.
Revising and setting new goals was key for me. Tackling bar chords seems impossible but many people have achieved it, including the guitar gods at the beginning of this, so it must be possible. Just taking me longer than most
I’m 70, too. I played when I was a teenager but eventually gave it up because I didn’t understand what it took to get good and wasn’t willing to put in the time to learn. Over the years, unrelated to guitar playing, I learned about skill development, being a better student, patience, and tenacity. In short, I’m older but wiser AND I have the time to apply that accumulated experience to learning to play the guitar and make music.
“I love it when a plan comes together” – Hannibal Smith
If you are just starting this gig but the numbers are ramping up, look at it this way, we’re all young pups, as you are just starting out. Its just the body that’s maybe getting old, Age is just a number, how old do you feel ?
Enthusiasm and passion keeps you young,
I might be the equivalent age of a famous US long distance boulevard and on my 66th solar orbit but my brain still thinks I’m in my 30s. When I jump on my bike I’m still in my 20s and that’s where my music is at. Where do I get my kicks ? The minute I pick up and play.
Never too old to rock n roll. Ain’t no fool like and old fool, rock 'til you drop.
Sounds like you’re doing great for just starting 5 days ago!
When I started taking lessons again, my fingers became so painful I couldn’t practice very long and it became frustrating. I play acoustic guitar and what helped me was changing to a lighter gauge string at first. It made all the difference in my ability to practice longer
The pain will get better over time, but starting with a lighter gauge string in the beginning may be helpful.
Hi Ernie @21Sandpipper12, welcome to the community. What’s your guitar story? Have you been using JustinGuitar long?
I grew up in Westfield, MA in the 50s/60s.
So this thread came up for me as a suggested topic. Hmmm - how did the algorithms know I was an old dog? Anyway, good suggestions here. I do have to agree with my neurologist that learning new skills at 65 is a bit like chipping away at concrete as opposed to the “ molding putty” experience of youth. On the other hand, as so many have pointed out, with retirement comes the time to devote to this. Also, especially if you’re into song-writing, life experience is a huge plus in my view.
Don’t have much of a guitar story, been plagued with one thing after another ever since I purchased it almost a year ago. I’ve wanted to play for some time now but never got serious. Bought a new guitar and joined JustinGuitar shortly after, but not steady. Seams I’m always starting over.
I’m 77, retire and I can’t start over too many more times.
I grew up in Leeds and lived in Hampshire County all my life.
Nice to meet you.
I was 61 a month ago and grabbed a guitar after being away from it for 7+ years. It’s like starting all over again, but I’m loving the sore fingers. I found this site and it’s exactly what I need to get me learning again. Hopefully this time I’ll get to a level that I’m happy with; I have nothing but time on my hands, so I can get stuck in
Hello Carl and a warm welcome to the Community. From the words you’re writing I think you already are at a level where you’re happy with it I love my sore fingers too Enjoy your journey!
Hello there and welcome to the Community! I agree with what you’ve been writing, even if I’m younger (42) I quite often feel the challenge for my brain to keep working to learn new things on the guitar…but love the journey nevertheless and wish you a great journey too
, welcome and i wish you a lot of fun 
