Older guitar students - can 'old dogs' learn new tricks?

Welcome to the group. I started at 67, a year after I retired. I’m now 74 and still plugging away at it. Have fun with it!

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Welcome Ron. you never know, you might right some alternative music, other beginners already have written songs. :smiley:

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Hello Ron and welcome to our community. :slight_smile:

Yes, it’s best to get rid of any bad habits before they become the norm.

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Hello Ron :slightly_smiling_face:

Welcome to the community! Great that you’ve started to take lessons.

Have lots of fun on your musical journey, and soon you’ll be able to play and sing along to George Gershwin’s lovely song …

:musical_score: :musical_note: :notes:

"Days can be sunny, with never a sigh,
Don’t need what money can buy.
Birds in the trees sing their day full of song
Why shouldn’t we sing along?

I got rhythm, I got music, …
Who could ask for anything more?"

Cheers
Gunhild :smiley:

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Hiya Ron… man are you OLD!!! I’m only 60 (nearly 61)! Just kidding!!!
Welcome to the Community! This is a really great resource for learning guitar… just follow along with Justin’s curriculum & practice regularly. You will see a lot of people here recommend keeping the guitar easily accessible, on a stand or hanging on the wall… if it’s in easy reach, you’ll be much more likely to pick it up and strum for a few minutes here & there! The most important thing to remember is to keep it fun!!
Good luck with your journey & have a blast!!!

Tod

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Welcome! I’m a 60-something Arizonan, beginner like you. I love Justin’s lessons and also doing an occasional in-person class for the same reason as you.

PS Rhythm is my weakest skill, too. I’m a lefty playing right handed and don’t know if that’s the reason, or if it’s my age, or ??

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Hi Luna,

I wanted to let you know that I added the app per your suggestion, and you are right. It’s really a great practice resource.

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Hi everyone! My first post here. (edited: Whoops, my second post and I had a question answered. I forgot about both). I’m 72 years young. When I was dating my wife (who is younger than I am) I asked her if she was Ok with my age. I mentioned that “I may be older, but I’m still very immature”. She laughed, so I married her. I bought my first guitar in 2009, learned to play “As the Saints Go Marching In” and could play 80% of “Dust In The Wind”. I couldn’t, and still can’t read music very well, but with great effort I could figure out the frets and strings. Well, that was the end of learning guitar. I just couldn’t figure it out beyond that, got frustrated and quit. I’m retired now (and hate retirement) and thought I’d give it another try. So fortunate for me, I found JustinGuitar.com. Wow, having the time of my life now!! So, that’s a little bit of my journey. The main reason for this post is to encourage others, young or not so much, that you might just be amazed at your abilities, if you just practice and hang in there… don’t quit. I just finished up most of grade 4 and decided to learn “Layla”. Lots of bar chords, and new stuff for me. I remember looking at Layla a few months ago and thinking, OMG no way could I play that!! Well, my wife stuck her head in my office a couple of days ago as I was practicing, and told me "Wow, that sounds just like “Layla”. Ok, my chest is still a little puffy. :grinning: Oh, and did I mention that my fretting hand is somewhat deformed and my middle finger has been broken (and healed poorly). Fretting chords now just requires a little ingenuity, but I refuse to accept “I can’t”. As I said, I’m having the time of my life!! Playing better than ever and learning what I didn’t know I didn’t know. Enjoy!! And don’t get frustrated!! It’s a (fun) journey!!

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Hi Russ,
A warm welcome here from a young puppy who is in his kuch…kuch 40’s.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted something here because what are 40+ doing here??? (is my own rule :smile:) …
Good story from you and I wish you a lot of fun with your guitar and a nice time here and hear more from you,
Greetings ,Rogier

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Thank you, Roger!

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Welcome Russ. A couple of times my husband has said similar things to me. Makes one feel good. :smiley:

Gade 4, wow you’re moving right along! Maybe there’s hope for me, yet!

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Hi Luna. Thanks for the reply! Never lose hope. I’m amazed (not because I have any talent), at my progress. Music has always been a mystery to me. Justin’s guitar course has helped me a lot! Best of luck on your journey!!

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Hello there,
I just saw your post. I started when 63, I’m now 67, and I wouldn’t worry about the speed. Whenever you practice you are feeding your muscle memory, and gradually this goes better and quicker. One thing I think is really important is that you could figure out how to make sure your progress is recorded for yourself. The most motivating thing I did (besides having Justin regularly in front of me on the computer screen) is to dedicate a logbook to everything which comes on my way regarding my guitar playing progress. I found a scheme in which I wrote down all exercises I (should) do, and then on 1 page I can see my activity spread over a month. I think Justin talks about keeping such a register somewhere. So I did that, and it is extremely motivating for me, now after 4 years, I can see what exercises and when etc. with comments and all (for me) important elements, milestones, etc. and it is (also for me) becoming a very valuable booklet which I use daily. So don’t worry too much, but keep a record of what you are doing. Later (one month, 6 months, 1 year) you can reflect on where you come from and there’ll be a smile on your face :wink:

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Hi Ron,

Just 67 here, from Belgium, and having the time of my life with those six strings. Joined a band, and with some other folks we will also start up another small band, our purpose is to play for the elderly in the local communities so they can sing along with the songs they know and have a nice afternoon. Quite exciting for me too, I started when I was 63 and it means I’m now really busy, my singing needs some …ahum… development too, and playing in front of others is also a new game I need to improve upon, …

all this to just welcome you here, once your cobwebs are gone, the word ‘retirement’ will wash off as well and that alternative music composer will emerge from the rocks in Arizona :wink: . Enjoy the journey!

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Hi Russ & welcome!!!

Are you still there in Palm Desert? Hope all is ok after Hilary made life interesting (and wet & windy) for all you desert dwellers! Unbelievable footage coming out of the region on the news & internet of lakes where golf courses were and rivers instead of streets… wow!

Welcome to the Community, I hope you find it a friendly & supportive place to visit and find help!

Tod

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I look around this thread and I feel like I’m a youngster at 55 :stuck_out_tongue:

glad I’m not the only one pursuing music later in life :beers:

keep it grindin guys/gals!!

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Hi Tod,
Yes, we’re still in Palm Desert and thanks for the welcome. The recent storm didn’t produce any significant problems for us, but other parts of the Valley weren’t as lucky!

Thanks again for the welcome!

Russ

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I’m a 60-something Nevadan, about to reach my one year anniversary learning with Justin. Also a lefty (one of my finest qualities!) playing right, and trying to get rhythmic with my somewhat clumsy right hand. Getting there, but I’ll never play fast and that’s OK. I do know using my left hand for fretting is an advantage. One thing I’ve been doing to improve my right hand coordination is trying to do everyday things with might right hand (kitchen work, shaving, etc.). Anyway, good luck. BTW, did you know that only 11% of people are left handed but nearly 25% of U.S. Presidents were left handed?

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Welcome Michael.

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Hello and welcome to our community. :slight_smile:

Loving the attitude towards your guitar learning.

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