@WhoDatFanMan You’re officially registered with the kennel club John!
Welcome.
Thank you!!!
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75 years old, here. Used to be fairly good when I was young; not enough to make anything of it, though, so when ‘life’ came along and butted in, I put my instruments away. That was for maybe 35-40 years. 10 years ago I retired and picked the guitar up again as an arthritis therapy; woof, that was both painful and depressing. But I did find Justin, and I did realize that this old dog’s old tricks were simply not there anymore. Everything needed to start from the beginning and was, therefore, a ‘new’ trick.
I have always been a left-brain kinda person, but this is opening up my right-brain to where it was when I was much, much younger. I jam with my friends, a couple of whom are Nashville studio musicians. Imagine my fear and apprehension when asked to sit in for the first time. But I recalled Justin’s advice and kept it simple. When they were slinging gulf-grass at 120 bpm, I just cut my strum timing in half and did a 1st / 5th bass note thing with a chord strum on an ‘and’ here and there. Worked out, and my timing was about like Craig’s floor tom. Pretty soon, I was playing simple rhythm to, and with, the drummer.
Age is no real barrier. Speed, dexterity and skill are not barriers. Music is layers, so if I don’t have the chops to shine, I just add a simple strum pattern or bass line, and watch, and listen, and learn.
I’m not ‘good’. Not sure I’ll ever be ‘good’ again. But, I am ‘good enough’ to participate and I might even learn enough to get better. The journey … the journey is all that there is. The joy of being part of it and able to participate, in however limited a fashion, is so emotionally liberating. I feel young again.
Oh, crikey, that was prolix, wasn’t it. Sorry.
Ciao from Gulf coast Alabama.
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Welcome, John, it’s good to feel young again, isn’t it!
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Hi John!
What a great post… really evokes images that appeal to this aspiring guitarist!!! I’m happy for you that you’ve found a “groove” that make you happy in your journey!!! Play on!!!
Tod
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Hi John. What a great story, it’s fantastic you know and are playing with people.
Hi John. THis is a stand out line for me.
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Great story…younger brother 
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Hi, John, I’m only a kid to you ten years younger but I share a very similar story, I love the life came along and butted in mate, because it sure did with me too, the work-family army then bang where did that go however we are here so I hope you truly enjoy this community 
, it is a great place to be I for one am so glad I found it cheers Hec
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Wow, John. If you used to be able to hold your own with Nashville studio musicians, then you were correct in saying that you used to be fairly good on the guitar. If you keep jamming with guitarist that are much better than you are now, then you will definitely get better as time passes and recover some of those old skills.
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I’m an old dog at 57 and just starting my guitar journey. I wish I’d done it 30 or 40 years ago when I probably had more time on my hands plus it’s easier at that age but it’s better late than never.
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Nah! Just a pup! 
nice to see you!
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Hello! This is Jeneé. I’m 62, and a bit overwhelmed and intimidated. Probably because I’m a perfectionist!
Back in 1971, I took guitar lessons for about a year. I was playing pretty crazy classical guitar picking for a 10 year old. Prodigy was their word, not mine. (And one I’m uncomfortable with - way too much pressure!) I was extremely shy, and would only play for my teacher, so I never went back to it when we moved away.
Fast forward 50+ years, and I’ve decided to pull out my gorgeous, 1971 K. Yairi classical guitar and see what I can do. I remember nothing except a few notes of Greensleeves. No notes, no chords, nothing. I look at my old faded sheet music and it looks like a foreign language. Its frustrating. But I’ve been very into music my whole life, and I’m hoping this will be good for my arthritic fingers. Concerts are a favorite hobby of my hubby and I. We still ride the rail and travel all over to see concerts. Probably not a lot of people here that listen to our genre - Cali Reggae. Uplifting, and It keeps us young and moving!
I bought the yearly membership a year ago, but never participated. When I recently received the renewal notice, I decide I better get with the program! I was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer 2.5 years ago, so I know exactly how precious life is - and that time isn’t always promised. I am doing well right now, coming up on 2 years with no evidence of cancer at this point.
I’m a bit confused about app versus website. Which is better to use? What are the pros and cons of using one over the other, since they don’t sync? As far as progress, do most of you just keep practicing the lessons until you are pretty accomplished at it? I’ve completed the lessons in Module 1, and have been spending a couple weeks just practicing the chord changes, strumming and using the metronome. Does that sound like a normal routine? I usually spend about 30 minutes a day, but I really want to be dialed before I move on.
Thanks everyone - happy to be joining this group of wise ones.
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Welcome. I use both. I use the website for watching lessons and song lessons, recording my progress and the Community. I use the App mainly for the karaoke aspect, it has really helped my learning of songs. Occasionally i watch the lessons on the App when i need a refresher while practicing.
As to how long to practice, I spent 6 months on Grade 1 including consolidation. Check out the last lesson in each module for Justin’s recommendation on when to move on.
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Hi Jenee, welcome to the community forum. At 62 you would be considered a younger old dog. There are some in their 70s here. I recommend learning lessons in the website, since you have written TABs and chord charts in the info below the video in the website. Also, each website lesson has a discussion tab link that you can select to ask questions or read others questions about the lesson and the helpful responses. I also like to learn songs in the website song lessons, which are organized by grade level, since each is like an additional lesson by Justin. I’ve learned a lot of strumming techniques from the website song lessons. The app is good for practicing songs, since you can adjust the tempo and practice playing along to an accompaniment. There are several of us in Justin Guitar who also practice classical guitar along with other types of guitar. So you can eventually get back up to speed on reading standard musical notation along with TAB. You might find the GuitarPRO app helpful for that in the future. I hope you have a lot of fun rediscovering your love of guitar without the pressure of others expectations.
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I wonder, just who is the Leader of the Pack? The oldest old dog? I know it’s not me; I’m 75 and I’m certain there are dogs older than that. Check in!
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59 here and just starting. Again. Can’t remember anything I learned before. 
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Welcome Phil! Your memory will be refreshed in no time. 
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Hi Phil ,
Welcome here and I wish you a steep learning curve 
previously acquired knowledge if it had a solid foundation will surface very quickly in those older gray cells… just start at the beginning and you will fly through the first lessons and don’t forget that it should be fun above all 
Greetings,Rogier
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This is Withold (54) from North Rhine-Westphalia/Germany, after 35 years as a great rock and blues lover and miserable three-chord-strummer the time has finally come to develop further. With the help of Justin’s courses, his valuable practical tips and this great community, I’m sure I’ll succeed and maybe we’ll see each other in a few years in ‘Blues Immersion’, it’s nice and important to have dreams even in older age
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