As much as I love guitar, these principles can apply to any instrument, so don't think you're pegged into learning guitar because you started late.
You can pick up the bassoon or piano just as well.
It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
201–210 of 239 posts
Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#202Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#203I tried picking up a guitar this past week, and was overwhelmed. Just playing a basic chord was a struggle. How do you get your figure to press down just right on the string and not interfere with another. Amazed by people who can play effortlessly. The post encouraged me to try again. 15 min a day sounds like a reasonable practicing goal.
Keep at it. Absolutely everyone started where you are now. 15 minutes is more than enough to start seeing improvement from day to day.
Being relaxed and having a light touch is key to playing effortlessly. Beginners tend to press down way too hard. But don't worry too much about that for now, it'll develop automatically. If you're having trouble angling the fingers right, try moving your thumb around instead.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#204What do experienced guitar players think about apps like Youcisian (which are basically interactive tabs with timing assistance and learning feedback)? Do they actually help in understanding the instrument and music composition?
Whatever helps you get over that initial hump of pain and frustration is a great asset to use.
I've found when learning guitar (and therefore music), that any holes you encounter seem to get filled in later; at one point or another.
Surrounding yourself with enough resources to close these holes is only good for you.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#205Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 on getting good gear from day 1. Being a "guitar guy" people always ask me to recommend a starting kit when their kids are starting to play. I always tell them, look, spend twice as much as a crappy beginner set on a decent used Fender + decent amp. This will make playing much more fun and the chance that they will continue to play is much higher and if they don't catch the bug? No biggie, sell it for the same amo…
I have a different take, I always advise people to get the cheapest guitar they can find, a second hand one if possible (because for the price you'll get better quality). I've bought guitars for 50$ that were really good guitar for myself, so I can't see why you wouldn't be able to start with that.
Not sure that's great advice for someone who doesn't know how to play. Sure you can get a decent guitar for that price, but if you don't know how to play it, it's hard to tell. I would wager at least 60% of those guitars in that price range need to be sent to a tech to be set-up so that a beginner doesn't get frustrated.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#206Earlier quoted context omitted.
I started playing a few years ago, not serious, mostly in support of singing. When I began I thought the A Major chord was witchcraft. How could my three gigantic fingers fit there? I don't know but somehow trying a lot made it work and now it's pretty easy. Muscle memory I guess?
Barre chords are the magic that I can't comprehend. I see people barre those three strings and I can't figure out how to do that and play the chord cleanly.
There's not really any magic to it. Just keep doing it, and after a while it'll start to sound right. And eventually the pain mostly goes away.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#207Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 on getting good gear from day 1. Being a "guitar guy" people always ask me to recommend a starting kit when their kids are starting to play. I always tell them, look, spend twice as much as a crappy beginner set on a decent used Fender + decent amp. This will make playing much more fun and the chance that they will continue to play is much higher and if they don't catch the bug? No biggie, sell it for the same amo…
I have a different take, I always advise people to get the cheapest guitar they can find, a second hand one if possible (because for the price you'll get better quality). I've bought guitars for 50$ that were really good guitar for myself, so I can't see why you wouldn't be able to start with that.
Ugh, no! I love a good bargain guitar myself, but I can also tell what's a diamond in the rough, versus what's just bad. I can tell what repairs are needed, etc. A lot of cheap guitars are unplayable, and can never be made to play well and sound good, no matter how much effort you put into them. Just because usable cheap guitars exist does not mean that all, or even many cheap guitars are usable.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#208Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have a different take, I always advise people to get the cheapest guitar they can find, a second hand one if possible (because for the price you'll get better quality). I've bought guitars for 50$ that were really good guitar for myself, so I can't see why you wouldn't be able to start with that.
Ugh, no! I love a good bargain guitar myself, but I can also tell what's a diamond in the rough, versus what's just bad. I can tell what repairs are needed, etc. A lot of cheap guitars are unplayable, and can never be made to play well and sound good, no matter how much effort you put into them. Just because usable cheap guitars exist does not mean that all, or even many cheap guitars are usable.
> A lot of cheap guitars are unplayable
I don't think that's true for a beginner who can't really tell the difference, and I think that's also a discouraging sentence for people who are wondering if they should try learning guitar.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#209Earlier quoted context omitted.
I completely disagree with the acoustic recommendation as well. They're harder to play, which means it's much easier to give up on. You can get a 1w belt-clip amp if you really need to plug in, or you could just get a semi-hollow and play it unplugged. Learning to sing is unrelated to playing guitar. I'd argue most guitar players do not also sing whilst playing. If someone wants to sing AND play guitar, I'd actually…
Acoustic guitars are only a little harder to play. A decent acoustic guitar (which can be had for ~$250 used, or $500 new) with light strings is a fine learning guitar. If it's got reasonably comfortable action, it's not going to be an impediment to a beginner.
Acoustic light strings are 12 gauge though, compared to electrics which are 9 or 10 gauge. There is definitely a large difference between those to a beginner.
For what it's worth, I actually use 8s on my electrics, so the jump from electric to acoustic is kind of annoying.
Re: It's Never Too Late to Learn Guitar
#210Earlier quoted context omitted.
+1 on getting good gear from day 1. Being a "guitar guy" people always ask me to recommend a starting kit when their kids are starting to play. I always tell them, look, spend twice as much as a crappy beginner set on a decent used Fender + decent amp. This will make playing much more fun and the chance that they will continue to play is much higher and if they don't catch the bug? No biggie, sell it for the same amo…
I have a different take, I always advise people to get the cheapest guitar they can find, a second hand one if possible (because for the price you'll get better quality). I've bought guitars for 50$ that were really good guitar for myself, so I can't see why you wouldn't be able to start with that.
My $90 Ephiphone Les Paul Jr. is still one of my favorite guitars (and I have a Gibson Les Paul Jr.).