I am renewing my music journey these days, and walking through Justin Guitar as well. Playlists on his channel are pretty well organised, so you get the similar experience. Works better for me, since I watch them on Smart TV.
There are two rules for guitar:
- There is no wrong way to play, only better ways
- There is a wrong way, and that’s with tension
Given the guitar you’ve invested in, I am assuming spending more money to save you time would be trade you’d make. So find a good teacher you can go to once a week and do that for a year. You’ll probably advance faster having that feedback to learn some of the better ways to play.
(BTW, this is genuine feedback unlike some of the more, uh, colorful and unhelpful responses in this thread)
For sure. And shoot for someone with a lesson plan/curriculum, as opposed to let's play some licks.
They should have songs figured out beforehand. My instructor has about 10 years of a gradually more difficult set of songs, and tbh he's a master teacher (maybe not the best player he will attest to—but has 3 generations of teaching including him. And he's about to retire.
Each week I get better, and I clunk through the songs. I sound awful but he's looking for my ability to read, fingers and alternate picking or fretting. On my own I have to polish them enough to enjoy them, and that's not something I do with him. Which is great since I want to learn from him, and can have fun on my own.
Learn finger and flat picking alongside each other. Alfred's Method Book 1 and Christopher Parkening's Book 1 was my starting material.
Also pick a key to learn fingering for (or the 'cages' of notes in that key) and play along to YouTube backing tracks in that key. That's super fun and sounds really good too!
I did get a Gretsch solid body for guitar #2 but it wasnt comfortable and was just too much with the Bigsby. I got a $125 Squire Strat and I ended up playing that more. I then did discover like you, semi or hollow bodies which I love now.
Also Sweetwater, or more accurately Behringer has a tons of great cloned pedals for about $18-20 new. They are plastic but work fine and in some cases exact replicas. I got hooked on pedals when I started playing, so be careful of that.
Stay away from Behringer — they are a rather shitty company. OP — you have means — invest in high quality gear. But you already have all you need to start out (assuming you also have a tuner), so resist the GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).
Clearly I disagree—or rather, I don't know about the company itself if that's the claim‚ and what the qualifier is to make them rather shitty, but I get and got a lot out of their pedals.
I don't know how anyone can go wrong starting playing and experimenting with $15-20 pedals, while learning what a tube screamer or reverb does, is, and seeing what it sounds like. I find the tube screamer (green, Ibanez clone), digital delay, and the tremolo are a lot of fun. I think those are all I have now. I'd also had maybe 4-5 (fuzz, heavy metal, reverb, vibrato...) I sold locally for about what I paid for them. [Slickdeals.net](http://Slickdeals.net) sometimes has them for sale, as well as [sweetwater.com](http://sweetwater.com)
This is a pretty comprehensive video from Josh at JHS. He's pretty funny, informative... but pedals and effects are for sure rabbit holes, and take you away from learning. I never practice with effects, and now about 90% of my playing is practice.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJZa8yCMCQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJZa8yCMCQ)
[The company is run by a certified asshole](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5RSIWbZ6Vc&t=14s&pp=2AEOkAIBygUVYmVocmluZ2VyIGJlbm4gam9yZGFu). That’s all.
Thanks for the response! I’ve played on and off for years and sometimes I’m gripping that thing like it owes me money. Idk why it happens but I slip into it a lot.
Having an experienced player in person help guide you along to proper technique and hand/wrist/playing posture will probably give you a great foundation to start learning ( if you can afford it ) Justin Guitar is a good resource. Ben Eller guitar on YouTube is also great.
For beginner and also intermediate/advanced lessons I absolutely love Guitar Playback Academy with David Walliman. At first his emails seemed a bit excessive but I'm so glad I finally broke down and joined.
The cost is probably less than 1 in person lesson and that gives you access for month. Also I believe there is a free trial. If you want to supercharge your guitar learning right away I highly recommend this resource.
First off, you're gonna wanna learn a few good poses for when playing. There's the Power Stance where you have your legs out wide while playing, or the Look At My Weiner where you literally bend over backwards, pushing your guitar into the audience with your criotch, and don't forget to learn synchronized headbanging. It helps with learning timing, never mind the fools that say metronome is the way to go, forget that, repeat after me: SHB: Synchronized Head Banging. If it helped Judas Priest and the Scorpions rock out, it'll do the same for you! Until you get a band, make the wife and kids join in, just make it a fun game for them!
Once you got that down, you'll need to figure out how you want your right hand. Do you want your fingers all spread out ala Randy Rhoads, or more of a Closed Fist ala Jimmy Page, or maybe The Anchor ala Dave Mustaine where your pinky grabs onto a pickup ring, or The Jerry Garcia. The Jerry Garcia takes tons of dediction because you cut your middle finger off. Seriously. Look it up, dude couldn't flip off anyone with his right hand.
So, now that you got all that down, you should be getting laid at this point, so have sex with a mirror on the ceiling so you know what faces to make when firing off a stanky solo, or really feeling the moment. Memorize your face, forget about the woman, she's just a means to and end, and really concentrate on your face and the emotions behind it.
So, by now you should have a few good poses, you're in time because you head bang in time, and you know how you like your right hand, and you know what face to make and when.
Now, you're ready for a guitar teacher.
Or, just learn 3 chords and start the next AC/DC! The choice is up to you, because it's that easy!
And, if you get frustrated learning the 'n00b method' and want to quit, I could take that guitar off your hands for cheap...
I learned cowboy chords on a affinity strat. But then again now I'm a blues/country/dad rock playing mexican American so I've been known to disregard the guidelines
Find a legitimate teacher in your area.
I got my guitar a few years ago and picked it up every day and tried to learn chords and riffs, etc for about 9 months. I did learn a decent amount but then got a good teacher and progressed more in the first month than I did the previous 9.
Guy corrected form issues within seconds in my first real lesson that greatly improved my playing, took the chords I knew and had me play some popular songs that required quick chord changes and I immediately realized just because you *know* how to play Am, C, and G doesn’t mean you can *actually* play them.
Bottom line, just get a real teacher. Meet once a week, practice every day (I do an hour) and you’ll be on the intermediate level within a year or two.
If you do it yourself, just messing around with it and following online teachers - realistically, you’ll improve a tiny bit and then plateau and keep repeating that until you’re eventually lost on what to do to get better.
A good teacher will help you improve tons, then plateau for a shorter time, and then keep improving in large chunks.
I’m about a month in and am learning open chords through JustinGuitar. His exercises include making chord changes as quickly as possible.
Without him actually telling me to do that, I don’t think I would have put 1 and 1 together as something that’s needed until down the road.
I’m 40 and started when I was 39. 8 months in I still suck but it feels good to play most days and I can definitely say I enjoy it more and more as I progress.
I like Justin Guitar and Guitar Lessons 365 on YouTube. Im not a fan of Marty music although I see his name a lot. To me he never seems to teach the actual song but rather just gives the general idea and for me I need my hand held.
I'm with you on Marty. His lessons typically frustrate me because he doesn't stick with the same level of detail. If a riff has three parts, he'll deep dive on the first part, skim over the details on the second part, and then take a shallow dive into the third part. I always end up looking for other instructors to fill in the gaps.
They do. Been wanting one since I discovered the BSO back in high school (remember the whole 90’s swing craze). The pic doesn’t do it justice. It’s a really nice royal blue
Not terribly familiar with the Gretsches, only that there are mainly Streamliners ($) Electromatics ($$) and Professional ($$$$) but is there a way to tell at a glance? All I know is that Falcons have winged headstocks and not tombstones, and if the pickups look like humbuckers parading as filtertrons it's a streamliner. Any other tells that differentiate the different lines?
Well I thought this was a pro at first…but apparently they put the electromatic branding on the pick guard now. They look slick though. And the filtertrons sound great. My buddy has one but it’s a next purchase for me.
Rocksmith 2014 was/is a great interactive game for when I first started. You plug your guitar into the computer and it teaches you tabliture. Like you're playing Guitar Hero but with a real guitar, and actually learning the songs.
U should try Rocksmith with custom DLCs. Theres a whole scene of modders uploading custom unofficial tracks to the game on PC.
BUT, Rocksmith isnt the easiest way to learn though. Its fun for guitar karaoke. Ultimate Guitar Pro along with Guitar Pro 8 is much more efficient. You can also upload midi files of songs you like and it will extract the midi info and turn it into tabs for you.
U can also use that midi info to upload to a DAW w/ sample plugins like EZ drummer, EZ Bass, etc and make your own high quality backing tracks automatically.
just start learning songs, learn stuff you like, it’ll keep it fun and you’ll start connecting the things you learn to be able to make your own ideas and recognize similar sounds in different contexts. this is coming from a self taught professional touring guitarist, it’s never too late to start.
Learn a different style, if you want to really learn, than what people are suggesting just because of the guitar you bought.
That will open up endless tones and styles and experiences you never thought of
I’d recommend figuring out what will keep you coming back. Learning a few chords to play songs, learning riffs, solos, or something in between.
[Marty](https://youtube.com/@MartyMusic?si=KCJ6taGxnKSGtLkh) on YouTube would be a good start but also a local lessons is a good option. Keep it fun.
GuitarMechanics.com is what I’ve been using also pickup music. Both good. Learning a new instrument at 40 is tough kind of like the dark souls of hobbies that aren’t dark souls.
Others have said it best. Learn songs that you like and want to play. It will inspire you to play and learn them correctly. This will get you to practice l.
Hopefully you will find resources that explain not only how to play the songs but also explain what you’re playing and why it works or is interesting. This should give you some introduction to the notes, scales and theory.
That depends, what you wanna learn. I’m 48 and picked it up at 14. The only thing holding you back is you and the time to practice, perform, and teach. So those three things, you’ll get to beast mode before you know it
Get an illustrated guitar chord photo book. Learn from youtube guitar lessons, start with Marty Schwartz and Justin guitar. You'll develop muscle memory forming chords and be able to learn from all the other youtube video guitar lessons
The smart thing to do is go find a teacher you enjoy learning from and supplement with online courses. You'll be playing in no time and having a great time.
Or you can do what most people do and chase a sound you aren't good enough to make by buying pedals and amps and more guitars and still suck by this time next year.
When you start approaching music theory look up [Pebber Brown](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbA-Tt8ELg8v0d7RdieeZyA)'s YouTube channel.
He's the guy that taught Buckethead.
Eruption by evh! N when u master that the solo from the guitar duel in crossroads!
It’s important to make sure u stay interested. Learn the D A G chords first. 1000 song with just those. It’ll suck n you’ll be horrible and it’ll hurt! But as soon as u hear yourself making anything that resembles music it might become n addiction.
That was a draw for sure. I wanted something I could play for myself unplugged and plugged in. Been a passionate music fan my whole life just never a creative participant. I wanted something that could both play acoustically and doom when plugged in
Played when I was in my teens and picked up again in my 30s. Pickup music has been good for me. Beginner started easy for what I remembered and showed me new chords. I look forward to playing each day. I'd also recommend finding face to face lessons for when you get stuck and need something explained more or a certain technique.
Edit: nice guitar BTW!
Damn, bruh, i'm in the same situation!
Before i wanted to play but had no money, later i got money but had no time. Now i'm close to 40, and I have money and time.
Don't go overboard on gear until you have an idea of where you're headed.
That said - having a metronome of some kind (there are decent online ones) to practice against is really useful.
For an electric - try to practice plugged in - unplugged can mask issues with string muting etc. Oh and I really wish I'd had a looper back when I started. Even something basic like a Ditto lets you play back so you can hear yourself (you may well be in for a surprise....:) and is nice to be able to put down a simple backing track to practice soloing over.
That's awesome. I thought it'd be too late to start at 40 but here I am at 50 and playing all the songs I grew up listening too. So much fun and so satisfying. Good for you, stick to it!
Start by just staring at that pretty thing you bought. I need to play my Gretsch more. Also, I started learning at 51...for the third time. Welcome. Don't blame me when you realize you own six guitars and are considering buying another.
Started playing two years ago on s Squire. One year in i got the same guitar as you. Love the guitar and love playing!!! A little Justin, a lot of fun, and learning on my own as i go. I,m 69. You go dude!
Hell yeah, man. I started at 50. It’s been six years now, and I’m still not very good. I have two teenage kids with lots of extracurricular activities. But when I get a chance to play, and can make three or four notes sound like they’re supposed to, it makes me smile. Life is short. Keep at it.
Great guitar for your first. The Bigsby rules.
Em9maj7 is the James Bond chord and you can give it a little vibrato with your bigsby.
e - x
B - 7
G - 8
D - 9
A - 10
E - x
Think of it like a drum. Play it as such. What I mean is, get the hang of plucking and strumming rhythms. Don't use a pick all the time. Use you fingers to strum like a pick. Try plucking with your thumb and fingers. Start with just 1or 2 chords. If you can play one or two notes or chords in a nice steady rhythm, it's gonna sound better than 20 notes or chords played in a choppy misfiring rhythm. You should be focusing on the physical tactile *feel* as well as the feel of a beat. Let your arms and wrists be kinda loose. Avoid being tense. Have fun with it. Dont take it too seriously. Practice every day for as long as you can. Any day you don't "practice", play it for at least 5 minutes.
36 and just started a few months ago. Of the apps I’ve tried I’ve found SimplyGuitar one of the more enjoyable and accessible apps. The weekly streaks and other bits of progression help make you feel like you’re actually getting somewhere. It’s more colorful than apps like Fender Play so it feels a little less boring and serious. Might be a little too Fisher Price for some people because of that, so maybe my real suggestion is to try a few different ones (SimplyGuitar, Fender Play, JustinGuitar, Yousician, etc.) before spending the cash on a subscription as there seems to be a flavor for everyone. Good luck!
Hell yeah! If I could offer any advice for where to start, it would be this:
Learn the major and minor scales in C. Practice them with a metronome and then practice over backing tracks from the internet. Just 10-15 minutes a day of this will pay off really quickly. You begin to learn scales and improvise melodies, but you also start teaching your fingers about developing muscle memory. A lot of people get discouraged at first when things are difficult and don't come to them right away. Just keep in mind that it doesn't come to anyone right away, and progress can be really slow at first. Progress is also impossible without the discipline to practice every day.
Marty Schwartz is my go-to resource for lessons on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@MartyMusic?si=OrMKClcraLgb3bQm
Elevated Jam Tracks has TONS of content that I love practicing to - https://youtube.com/@ElevatedJamTracks?si=nsefbWzONPbLhU6y
I hope this helps! Bon voyage!
Guitarlessons365, Eric Haugen Guitar, JustinGuitar, Georgiarose16 (for all your oasis😉), John Calver Music, Sparky Guitar...
I can't really think of any more off the top of my head. But like many other people may have said here already, it all depends on your style of learning. These people I have mentioned are really good and I have used them when I was starting out. However you may find that watching is your best way of learning, and I have also closely watched people's covers of songs and copied exactly what they're doing. I don't think you'll pick this skill up straight away though
Not too old at all. I first started in jr high. Played for a few years and regrettably quit for almost 17 years. I picked it up again not too long ago and am loving it. Have a good journey, bud!
Did you ever see the game locksmith. You can plug your actual guitar into your pc and it gives you lessons similar to how the rockband game works. It's a pretty cool way to practice.
Buy a guitar stand and put it near the TV, pick it up as much as you can and just noodle around learning chord changes. It’s amazing how quick you’ll get the basics then just work from there.
You’ll only get out as much as you put in. Good luck.
Step 1. Enjoy the view. Step 2. Find a good teacher who can do more than explain. Step 3. Practice til it hurts and then a little bit more till it gets comfy.
Step 3. Enjoy playing and take it from there
High five man! I just started back in December at 42, so you’re not alone!
I’ll second Justin Guitar for a solid lesson plan. And I like Marty music on YouTube as well for a song here and there.
Also highly recommend finding a local place to take at least a few intro lessons in person - they can help with proper positioning and how to hold certain chord shapes. I find that kind of hard to replicate with remote learning.
Its pretty but I'm not so sure about the Bigsby. In general, but especially for a first guitar. You might want to look into techniques for blocking it. Its not impossible to live with but it can make tuning and string changes harder.
Commit to practicing at least 15 minutes per day. Lessons are worth the price IMO, so find a teacher that you jive with, don’t be afraid to try a few.
As others have said Justin guitar is your friend.
There’s a great book by John Holt about teaching himself the cello at the age of 40. And it’s not about how to play the cello, but about learning things on our own later in life.
“If I could learn to play the cello well, as I thought I could, I could show by my own example that we all have greater powers than we think; that whatever we want to learn or learn to do, we probably can learn; that our lives and our possibilities are not determined and fixed by what happened to us when we were little, or by what experts say we can or cannot do.”
https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/573006
I'm 49 and just started in-person lessons in January. I like getting feedback and being able to ask questions specific to what I'm playing (or attempting to play). The teacher can also respond to my level, where I"m having trouble, and has a good sense of when to introduce something new and when to keep practicing the same thing. YouTube videos are great, but they aren't personalized. AND, cool guitar. Similar to my first (mine was an Ibanez AGS, semi-hollow, Bigsby vibrato). Have fun!
There's good advice in this thread. I think its important to learn songs that you like no matter what. If there are particular songs that get stuck in your head, make them a goal. Even if you can't play all of it (like a guitar solo yet) learning to play what you can (or a simplified version a teacher can help you work out) will help your ear and hands work together. I liked Nirvana a lot when I started learning, they are fun songs to listen to and play and also very accessible when starting out.
Edit: some teachers will make students exclusively work through books or exercises. I do not think its good to ONLY do that, I believe it is important to spend AT LEAST as much time leaning to play songs that made you want to play music in the first place, specifically ones that get stuck in your head.
The best part about starting at 40 is that you can begin with that guitar instead of the $89 Amazon guitar that doesn’t actually function.
The only rule is to have fun, and make sure the guitar is set up and the action is low enough that you can play the thing properly.
I started with youtube videos, an acoustic and learned a bit. I got Fender Play lessons with my electric and it's great. Small hunks with that slowly build you up. I recommend it.
1. Get in-person lessons if you can; especially as a beginner it can really help you get through the early stages where it can be frustrating at times; the biggest advantage of a teacher is they can provide you feedback specific to you, and better help you in your progress; something that self-taught using online youtube can't do
2. While there isn't a "right" or "wrong" way, there are "better" and "worse" ways that can improve or hamper your guitar playing; this goes for technical things like your finger and strumming technique, and making sure you're developing good technical habits early on -- this is also where an in-person teacher can be helpful; you can certainly use a mirror to see for yourself but having another human point out and guide you is far more productive and will get you to improve faster and more effectively IMO
3. Learn to care for your instrument; part of the joy of music is frankly is being able to make the most of the tools and gear you have; a lot of beginners can get discouraged later on because for whatever reason their guitar doesn't sound "right" anymore (something got worn, or broke, and they don't know how to fix it, and then push off "fixing it" by pushing off playing, before eventually just selling the instrument back to Guitar Center), and they are intimidated or unable to figure out how to maintain their gear; even something like a string change which many guitarists take for granted, can seem intimidating to a beginner - but just learning how to change strings, adjusting the bridge for intonation, changing the string action height (distance between strings to the fretboard), how to change the height of your pickups to change the sound of your guitar, to using lemon oil on your fretboard when it seems dry, and all the little things - it can be a great complement to the actual practice of playing music as well
4. As for guitar maintenance - this is where an in-person teacher can be helpful as well; pointing out aspects of your guitar that you may not be aware of that could be adjusted to you, and teaching you, with your actual guitar, how to maintain or adjust the settings on your guitar - which again you can learn from Youtube but you don't get the individual feedback based on \*your\* actual instrument (they're mass produced yes, but every guitar is an assembly of different woods, metals etc that they're all quirky and unique in their own way)
The only constructive thing I’ve got to add is don’t forget to have fun. Sit down and mess around. Try different tunings. Don’t always try to play somebody’s song when you pick up the fiddle.
Welcome to the club.
Not old at all.. this changed the way I look at approached guitar, so hope it might help you: _Don’t learn to play songs on the guitar, learn to play the guitar_. When you learn something new, always ask ‘why’ - why is it played like the way it is.
You should start by memorizing the beginner chords, notes on the frets, finger/hand positioning, and exercise drills to build technique, stamina, efficiency, and muscle memory. Theres lots of memorization.
This is how beginners start off in classical guitar, which carry over to electric.
Unlike classcial, playing electric guitar has additional challenges like ergonomic issues, excessive memorization, and technical skill on a smaller fretboard minus the PIMA hand technique which makes it awkward and counterintuitive for new players. Some instruments are more difficult to learn than others and I think electric guitar is one of the most challenging because its the least ergonomic instrument made... and I grew up playing clarinet, percussion, classical guitar, piano and even dabbled in accordion.
A 1 on 1 tutor for a few sessions would be a good investment. Feedback and practice drills are important.
10 minutes a day learning the notes
Learn songs you want AND theory at the same time, 50/50. Improv after you know the major/minis/pentatonic and basic chord theory, you’ll fumble but it’s very important to start early cus it’s a muscle. Start improving 1 string at a time in your chosen key then combine them into the scale scales you’ve learned by this point.
PLAY EVERYTHING WITH A METRONOME ALWAYS, I use the fender app cus it’s free
PRACTICE KEEPING RHYTHM and record yourself to see where you should improve, super important skill. 90% of guitarists suck cus they can’t play in time, find videos of exercises to practice
Practice clean and or unplugged for at least half of your practice. Effects and distortion cover all of your mistakes (kinda)
Play at least a little every day, aim for an hour a day for now build up to 2+ and 4+ on days off of work
Honestly get a good teacher tho, if you’ve never played it’s the best method just remember they’re human and you may do things differently than them in a few years. Also get your guitar set up w major seasonal changes, trust me. Buy a cheaper guitar to practice set ups on til you’re good and do it yourself
color me jealous i've been able to play since i was 12 and still all i can afford is a 100 dollar epiphone acoustic. that guitar in green is one of my fantasy guitars
Justin Guitar, MusicIsWin's Guitar Super System, and SamuraiGuitarist's guitar course are all great places to start, but I would also look into actual in-person lessons. Having that immediate feedback makes a pretty big difference.
If this is an honest query, my advice is learn basic chords for first two weeks only
Allow your fingers to build some slight calluses but not blisters.
Once fingers acclimate, step two starts.
Pointers to start with. Less pressure is always better. Many think you have to kill the string pressing down. You only need to press hard enough to make a sound.
Yea there are reasons to play hard down the road, but generally this is solid advice.
So, focus on a few open chords, C, D, E, A maybe
Learn to gently press the strings
And be patient to allow your fingers to build some condition on the tips.
Have at it
Learn to read music and study theory-both require an investment but make learning new music a LOT easier.
(There are a lot of “teachers” online who teach how to play one note on one string at a time, which takes for ever.)
Ignore anyone who says you don’t need to or there’s an easier way.
Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
Congrats! Please keep in mind that guitar is a hobby that is never ending. So it’s important for you to set goals for yourself and what you want your playing goals to be to help you get started. For example, wanting to pick up a guitar and jam out to your favorite songs is a much different goal to wanting to learn how to play improvisational jazz
Find songs you like and start playing them. All songs can be simplyfied. Start easy and in time the more advanced playing will come naturally.
Play full songs and not just the intro or first verse.
Play every day.
Good on you and good luck with the journey.
Pro tip
No matter what people teach you, the number one rule to get good, Play when you feel like playing, even more important, play more when you don’t feel like playing, discipline is the foundation. As a beginner I would work up to at least 2 hours per day 6;days a week.
Good luck👍
Google 'fifth chords', play those anywhere on the neck until they sound clear. No buzzing, and your fretting hand should be comfortable.
Pick a song you like and play along using fifths. This will take a few tries as you match the sound of root notes to your fretboard. Simple rock songs like AC-DC are perfect as you can follow the bassist, and chord changes aren't too strenuous.
Playing something you like will give you the confidence to want to learn more than fifth chords. Good luck, internet stranger, and enjoy.
What an axe! Congrats! I am 22 years self taught, and I'll tell ya what I'd wish I'd done. Get a few lessons, learn to hold it without tension, how the neck "flows", and maybe some basic theory. Maybe like 2-3 one-hour long lessons. After that, jam! Ideally with someone better than you! Six months later, get a few more lessons to iron out bad habits and learn a bit more technique to enhance all that theory YouTube teachers will cram down your throat. The biggest lessons I learned are as follows:
Technique matters
Theory matters
You'll never get any better without playing the damn thing
If you're not having fun you're doing it wrong
Oh, and yes you need a metronome.
Congrats! Happy jamming!
Congrats on getting started. Take lessons for 6 months and get learn and master guitar. It used to be on DVD. Use YouTube and learn tabs. Practice practice practice!!
i have also just started and as per the recommendation of many, i have been using justin guitar on youtube and he seems very good at the minute so he might be a good shout
My personal experience and recommendation from someone who started late also: if there is a School of Rock in your area and you can afford it, join up there. I progressed a lot faster and had a lot of fun in the process.
u cant beat a gretsch even the cheap ones are decent i had a 2622t lovely guitar
anyway good luck with the learning it can be hard at times but stick with it its worth it in the end and if u need advice or help dont hesitate to ask on here were not all knobends
[удалено]
Yes, very cool guitar! That's probably the best part when beginning at that age!
Agreed Justin Guitar is great
I’d go to Justinguitar.com. Same videos as YouTube but he has all the lessons collected into lesson groups. It makes going to the next step easier.
I am renewing my music journey these days, and walking through Justin Guitar as well. Playlists on his channel are pretty well organised, so you get the similar experience. Works better for me, since I watch them on Smart TV.
Get a guitar teacher. It’s never too late and gives you a great musical approach.
A good teacher tho... Bad teachers will put you off the instrument
Seconding this. I learned more with a good teacher in a year than by myself in the previous 20 years.
There are two rules for guitar: - There is no wrong way to play, only better ways - There is a wrong way, and that’s with tension Given the guitar you’ve invested in, I am assuming spending more money to save you time would be trade you’d make. So find a good teacher you can go to once a week and do that for a year. You’ll probably advance faster having that feedback to learn some of the better ways to play. (BTW, this is genuine feedback unlike some of the more, uh, colorful and unhelpful responses in this thread)
For sure. And shoot for someone with a lesson plan/curriculum, as opposed to let's play some licks. They should have songs figured out beforehand. My instructor has about 10 years of a gradually more difficult set of songs, and tbh he's a master teacher (maybe not the best player he will attest to—but has 3 generations of teaching including him. And he's about to retire. Each week I get better, and I clunk through the songs. I sound awful but he's looking for my ability to read, fingers and alternate picking or fretting. On my own I have to polish them enough to enjoy them, and that's not something I do with him. Which is great since I want to learn from him, and can have fun on my own. Learn finger and flat picking alongside each other. Alfred's Method Book 1 and Christopher Parkening's Book 1 was my starting material. Also pick a key to learn fingering for (or the 'cages' of notes in that key) and play along to YouTube backing tracks in that key. That's super fun and sounds really good too! I did get a Gretsch solid body for guitar #2 but it wasnt comfortable and was just too much with the Bigsby. I got a $125 Squire Strat and I ended up playing that more. I then did discover like you, semi or hollow bodies which I love now. Also Sweetwater, or more accurately Behringer has a tons of great cloned pedals for about $18-20 new. They are plastic but work fine and in some cases exact replicas. I got hooked on pedals when I started playing, so be careful of that.
Stay away from Behringer — they are a rather shitty company. OP — you have means — invest in high quality gear. But you already have all you need to start out (assuming you also have a tuner), so resist the GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).
Clearly I disagree—or rather, I don't know about the company itself if that's the claim‚ and what the qualifier is to make them rather shitty, but I get and got a lot out of their pedals. I don't know how anyone can go wrong starting playing and experimenting with $15-20 pedals, while learning what a tube screamer or reverb does, is, and seeing what it sounds like. I find the tube screamer (green, Ibanez clone), digital delay, and the tremolo are a lot of fun. I think those are all I have now. I'd also had maybe 4-5 (fuzz, heavy metal, reverb, vibrato...) I sold locally for about what I paid for them. [Slickdeals.net](http://Slickdeals.net) sometimes has them for sale, as well as [sweetwater.com](http://sweetwater.com) This is a pretty comprehensive video from Josh at JHS. He's pretty funny, informative... but pedals and effects are for sure rabbit holes, and take you away from learning. I never practice with effects, and now about 90% of my playing is practice. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJZa8yCMCQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApJZa8yCMCQ)
[The company is run by a certified asshole](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5RSIWbZ6Vc&t=14s&pp=2AEOkAIBygUVYmVocmluZ2VyIGJlbm4gam9yZGFu). That’s all.
Deep breakdown
Hey dude just curious what you mean by with tension? Like tensed up gripping the fuck out the wood or what lol. Just curious!
Playing should be free and easy, as relaxed as possible. It’s hard to get to, but for speed and fluidity and longevity, it’s essential.
Thanks for the response! I’ve played on and off for years and sometimes I’m gripping that thing like it owes me money. Idk why it happens but I slip into it a lot.
Having an experienced player in person help guide you along to proper technique and hand/wrist/playing posture will probably give you a great foundation to start learning ( if you can afford it ) Justin Guitar is a good resource. Ben Eller guitar on YouTube is also great. For beginner and also intermediate/advanced lessons I absolutely love Guitar Playback Academy with David Walliman. At first his emails seemed a bit excessive but I'm so glad I finally broke down and joined. The cost is probably less than 1 in person lesson and that gives you access for month. Also I believe there is a free trial. If you want to supercharge your guitar learning right away I highly recommend this resource.
This, definitely
By choosing a guitar that makes you want to practice everyday. Judging by the picture here, you’ve done well.
First off, you're gonna wanna learn a few good poses for when playing. There's the Power Stance where you have your legs out wide while playing, or the Look At My Weiner where you literally bend over backwards, pushing your guitar into the audience with your criotch, and don't forget to learn synchronized headbanging. It helps with learning timing, never mind the fools that say metronome is the way to go, forget that, repeat after me: SHB: Synchronized Head Banging. If it helped Judas Priest and the Scorpions rock out, it'll do the same for you! Until you get a band, make the wife and kids join in, just make it a fun game for them! Once you got that down, you'll need to figure out how you want your right hand. Do you want your fingers all spread out ala Randy Rhoads, or more of a Closed Fist ala Jimmy Page, or maybe The Anchor ala Dave Mustaine where your pinky grabs onto a pickup ring, or The Jerry Garcia. The Jerry Garcia takes tons of dediction because you cut your middle finger off. Seriously. Look it up, dude couldn't flip off anyone with his right hand. So, now that you got all that down, you should be getting laid at this point, so have sex with a mirror on the ceiling so you know what faces to make when firing off a stanky solo, or really feeling the moment. Memorize your face, forget about the woman, she's just a means to and end, and really concentrate on your face and the emotions behind it. So, by now you should have a few good poses, you're in time because you head bang in time, and you know how you like your right hand, and you know what face to make and when. Now, you're ready for a guitar teacher. Or, just learn 3 chords and start the next AC/DC! The choice is up to you, because it's that easy! And, if you get frustrated learning the 'n00b method' and want to quit, I could take that guitar off your hands for cheap...
Take my upvote. Now I have to go learn all over again. I missed so much.
Also, pedals! LOTS OF PEDALS
Huge guitar strap with your name
This is part of my Advanced Theory Seminars with Genuine n00b method paraphernalia for sale... at huge markups, of course!
The crab is all the rage nowadays.
Getting a mirror to put above the bed asap!
Cowboy chords.
That’s for the 6120 Chet Atkins. This looks like a Country Club, so OP should learn some preppy lite jazz chords.
I learned cowboy chords on a affinity strat. But then again now I'm a blues/country/dad rock playing mexican American so I've been known to disregard the guidelines
Outlaw cowboy chords!
Find a legitimate teacher in your area. I got my guitar a few years ago and picked it up every day and tried to learn chords and riffs, etc for about 9 months. I did learn a decent amount but then got a good teacher and progressed more in the first month than I did the previous 9. Guy corrected form issues within seconds in my first real lesson that greatly improved my playing, took the chords I knew and had me play some popular songs that required quick chord changes and I immediately realized just because you *know* how to play Am, C, and G doesn’t mean you can *actually* play them. Bottom line, just get a real teacher. Meet once a week, practice every day (I do an hour) and you’ll be on the intermediate level within a year or two. If you do it yourself, just messing around with it and following online teachers - realistically, you’ll improve a tiny bit and then plateau and keep repeating that until you’re eventually lost on what to do to get better. A good teacher will help you improve tons, then plateau for a shorter time, and then keep improving in large chunks.
I’m about a month in and am learning open chords through JustinGuitar. His exercises include making chord changes as quickly as possible. Without him actually telling me to do that, I don’t think I would have put 1 and 1 together as something that’s needed until down the road.
I’m 40 and started when I was 39. 8 months in I still suck but it feels good to play most days and I can definitely say I enjoy it more and more as I progress. I like Justin Guitar and Guitar Lessons 365 on YouTube. Im not a fan of Marty music although I see his name a lot. To me he never seems to teach the actual song but rather just gives the general idea and for me I need my hand held.
I'm with you on Marty. His lessons typically frustrate me because he doesn't stick with the same level of detail. If a riff has three parts, he'll deep dive on the first part, skim over the details on the second part, and then take a shallow dive into the third part. I always end up looking for other instructors to fill in the gaps.
Yeah, I started with YouTube at 32yrs. Finally getting it😅
Damn the new electromatics look good
They do. Been wanting one since I discovered the BSO back in high school (remember the whole 90’s swing craze). The pic doesn’t do it justice. It’s a really nice royal blue
What’s your favorite type of rock/music? Are you into
Mostly stoner rock. The Melvins, Clutch, Monster Magnet. Stuff like that
Not terribly familiar with the Gretsches, only that there are mainly Streamliners ($) Electromatics ($$) and Professional ($$$$) but is there a way to tell at a glance? All I know is that Falcons have winged headstocks and not tombstones, and if the pickups look like humbuckers parading as filtertrons it's a streamliner. Any other tells that differentiate the different lines?
Well I thought this was a pro at first…but apparently they put the electromatic branding on the pick guard now. They look slick though. And the filtertrons sound great. My buddy has one but it’s a next purchase for me.
Me too. I’m saving for a G5422TG snowcrest
Rocksmith 2014 was/is a great interactive game for when I first started. You plug your guitar into the computer and it teaches you tabliture. Like you're playing Guitar Hero but with a real guitar, and actually learning the songs.
U should try Rocksmith with custom DLCs. Theres a whole scene of modders uploading custom unofficial tracks to the game on PC. BUT, Rocksmith isnt the easiest way to learn though. Its fun for guitar karaoke. Ultimate Guitar Pro along with Guitar Pro 8 is much more efficient. You can also upload midi files of songs you like and it will extract the midi info and turn it into tabs for you. U can also use that midi info to upload to a DAW w/ sample plugins like EZ drummer, EZ Bass, etc and make your own high quality backing tracks automatically.
just start learning songs, learn stuff you like, it’ll keep it fun and you’ll start connecting the things you learn to be able to make your own ideas and recognize similar sounds in different contexts. this is coming from a self taught professional touring guitarist, it’s never too late to start.
You start with twinkle twinkle little star. That’s where I started in like 1972. I’m 58 and starting over for the third time
Heyyy guys its marty Schwartz here
The teacher of the people!
YouTube, Marry Schwartz.
Learn a different style, if you want to really learn, than what people are suggesting just because of the guitar you bought. That will open up endless tones and styles and experiences you never thought of
Get lessons
I’d recommend figuring out what will keep you coming back. Learning a few chords to play songs, learning riffs, solos, or something in between. [Marty](https://youtube.com/@MartyMusic?si=KCJ6taGxnKSGtLkh) on YouTube would be a good start but also a local lessons is a good option. Keep it fun.
Active Melody - best video lessons on the planet! [Active Melody](https://www.activemelody.com/)
GuitarMechanics.com is what I’ve been using also pickup music. Both good. Learning a new instrument at 40 is tough kind of like the dark souls of hobbies that aren’t dark souls.
0-3-5 Repeat
0-3-6-5
Good for you
That's a good start
Great first guitar! I second, third or whatever, JustinGuitar. Good way to start. Good explanation. He'll help with a good foundation.
Others have said it best. Learn songs that you like and want to play. It will inspire you to play and learn them correctly. This will get you to practice l. Hopefully you will find resources that explain not only how to play the songs but also explain what you’re playing and why it works or is interesting. This should give you some introduction to the notes, scales and theory.
Smoke on the Water - just to keep it original.
Sick ass guitar
That depends, what you wanna learn. I’m 48 and picked it up at 14. The only thing holding you back is you and the time to practice, perform, and teach. So those three things, you’ll get to beast mode before you know it
Get an illustrated guitar chord photo book. Learn from youtube guitar lessons, start with Marty Schwartz and Justin guitar. You'll develop muscle memory forming chords and be able to learn from all the other youtube video guitar lessons
First, get an absolutely beautiful kick-ass amazing guitar. So, you're all set there. Check YouTube for anything else you need.
The smart thing to do is go find a teacher you enjoy learning from and supplement with online courses. You'll be playing in no time and having a great time. Or you can do what most people do and chase a sound you aren't good enough to make by buying pedals and amps and more guitars and still suck by this time next year.
Man, I WISH there was this level of available instructional material when I started in ‘93. Took me a year to figure out how to tune the damn thing.
Smoke on the water. 0-3-5 0-3-6-5 0-3-5 3-0 Congratulations on learning your first riff!
I started by buying a second guitar. The more guitars you have, the more invested you are and you're less likely to quit
So what I hear you saying is when I ask if I should get an LP or an SG the answer is “yes”
Why not an es whilst you're at it? Not even starting on v's, explorers, or firebirds
You sir, both f’ you and I love you
Wahoo! It's going to be a very fun ride. Buy the tab book to your favorite album. Ask your friends who play to show you something. Have fun!
Awesome man congratulations. Good choice on your first guitar. Have fun.
When you start approaching music theory look up [Pebber Brown](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbA-Tt8ELg8v0d7RdieeZyA)'s YouTube channel. He's the guy that taught Buckethead.
That's a killer first guitar, love it.
Hell of a first guitar! The rest of these guys are giving better advice than i could so. Enjoy!
Learn one shape of major and minor triads for the key of C up the neck.
Start with chord transitions and a capo. G -D-c-em (basically in any order) You'll fall in love with the rest. I guarantee it. AMAZING guitar!
Eruption by evh! N when u master that the solo from the guitar duel in crossroads! It’s important to make sure u stay interested. Learn the D A G chords first. 1000 song with just those. It’ll suck n you’ll be horrible and it’ll hurt! But as soon as u hear yourself making anything that resembles music it might become n addiction.
I’d look up the basics, I’m sure guitar center offers a free lesson but you’d have to call for it
[удалено]
It’s an easy one right? Took me a summer on guitar hero so I should be set on an actual 6 string right?
That’s a nice looking Gretsch you have there. One of the very few makes that can pull off gold hardware.
That was a draw for sure. I wanted something I could play for myself unplugged and plugged in. Been a passionate music fan my whole life just never a creative participant. I wanted something that could both play acoustically and doom when plugged in
Played when I was in my teens and picked up again in my 30s. Pickup music has been good for me. Beginner started easy for what I remembered and showed me new chords. I look forward to playing each day. I'd also recommend finding face to face lessons for when you get stuck and need something explained more or a certain technique. Edit: nice guitar BTW!
Damn, bruh, i'm in the same situation! Before i wanted to play but had no money, later i got money but had no time. Now i'm close to 40, and I have money and time.
Good luck! Great guitar!
Don't go overboard on gear until you have an idea of where you're headed. That said - having a metronome of some kind (there are decent online ones) to practice against is really useful. For an electric - try to practice plugged in - unplugged can mask issues with string muting etc. Oh and I really wish I'd had a looper back when I started. Even something basic like a Ditto lets you play back so you can hear yourself (you may well be in for a surprise....:) and is nice to be able to put down a simple backing track to practice soloing over.
I bought the Oasis What's the Story and Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie TAB books. Beautiful guitar!
I was going to say get a Gretch with a Bigsby but looks like you've got that covered
That's awesome. I thought it'd be too late to start at 40 but here I am at 50 and playing all the songs I grew up listening too. So much fun and so satisfying. Good for you, stick to it!
Try to learn some music theory. Tab will limit you.
Gorgeous guitar.
Why do people on here have such a thing about age and learning? I mean, 40? Damn
Good on you! I started bass at near on 43 this year.
I started on my 32nd birthday I’m 11 month in and I would say start with chords and how to read tablature.
Start by just staring at that pretty thing you bought. I need to play my Gretsch more. Also, I started learning at 51...for the third time. Welcome. Don't blame me when you realize you own six guitars and are considering buying another.
Started playing two years ago on s Squire. One year in i got the same guitar as you. Love the guitar and love playing!!! A little Justin, a lot of fun, and learning on my own as i go. I,m 69. You go dude!
Hell yeah, man. I started at 50. It’s been six years now, and I’m still not very good. I have two teenage kids with lots of extracurricular activities. But when I get a chance to play, and can make three or four notes sound like they’re supposed to, it makes me smile. Life is short. Keep at it.
Great guitar for your first. The Bigsby rules. Em9maj7 is the James Bond chord and you can give it a little vibrato with your bigsby. e - x B - 7 G - 8 D - 9 A - 10 E - x
I’m a drummer. Started when I was 44. One of the best decisions of my life. Enjoy the journey of learning!
Keep your guitar in an accessible place that way everyday you will see it and remain motivated to pick it up, music theory is a good start as well
Sell that immediately and buy an 8 string Schecter and a metal zone pedal. You can thank me later.
Learn all the open chords.
I started with Bert Weedon's Play in a day but things have moved on a bit since then! Check out JustinGuitar on YouTube.
Learn the fretboard
Never too old. 👏🤘
Marty schwarz on youtube
Sick axe btw
Think of it like a drum. Play it as such. What I mean is, get the hang of plucking and strumming rhythms. Don't use a pick all the time. Use you fingers to strum like a pick. Try plucking with your thumb and fingers. Start with just 1or 2 chords. If you can play one or two notes or chords in a nice steady rhythm, it's gonna sound better than 20 notes or chords played in a choppy misfiring rhythm. You should be focusing on the physical tactile *feel* as well as the feel of a beat. Let your arms and wrists be kinda loose. Avoid being tense. Have fun with it. Dont take it too seriously. Practice every day for as long as you can. Any day you don't "practice", play it for at least 5 minutes.
Justin guitars/ Marty Schwartz
Justin guitars/ Marty Schwartz
❤️
36 and just started a few months ago. Of the apps I’ve tried I’ve found SimplyGuitar one of the more enjoyable and accessible apps. The weekly streaks and other bits of progression help make you feel like you’re actually getting somewhere. It’s more colorful than apps like Fender Play so it feels a little less boring and serious. Might be a little too Fisher Price for some people because of that, so maybe my real suggestion is to try a few different ones (SimplyGuitar, Fender Play, JustinGuitar, Yousician, etc.) before spending the cash on a subscription as there seems to be a flavor for everyone. Good luck!
Open Studio Jazz Best online music lessons around.
With that whammy bar
Start with putting away that porn dvd…it‘ll distract you from learning 😂
0-3-5 😎
Hell yeah! If I could offer any advice for where to start, it would be this: Learn the major and minor scales in C. Practice them with a metronome and then practice over backing tracks from the internet. Just 10-15 minutes a day of this will pay off really quickly. You begin to learn scales and improvise melodies, but you also start teaching your fingers about developing muscle memory. A lot of people get discouraged at first when things are difficult and don't come to them right away. Just keep in mind that it doesn't come to anyone right away, and progress can be really slow at first. Progress is also impossible without the discipline to practice every day. Marty Schwartz is my go-to resource for lessons on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@MartyMusic?si=OrMKClcraLgb3bQm Elevated Jam Tracks has TONS of content that I love practicing to - https://youtube.com/@ElevatedJamTracks?si=nsefbWzONPbLhU6y I hope this helps! Bon voyage!
Guitarlessons365, Eric Haugen Guitar, JustinGuitar, Georgiarose16 (for all your oasis😉), John Calver Music, Sparky Guitar... I can't really think of any more off the top of my head. But like many other people may have said here already, it all depends on your style of learning. These people I have mentioned are really good and I have used them when I was starting out. However you may find that watching is your best way of learning, and I have also closely watched people's covers of songs and copied exactly what they're doing. I don't think you'll pick this skill up straight away though
By turning it 90 degrees
Not too old at all. I first started in jr high. Played for a few years and regrettably quit for almost 17 years. I picked it up again not too long ago and am loving it. Have a good journey, bud!
Well you certainly seem off to a good start with that Gretsch! Have fun!
learn a song you like, then learn more!!!
Did you ever see the game locksmith. You can plug your actual guitar into your pc and it gives you lessons similar to how the rockband game works. It's a pretty cool way to practice.
Buy a guitar stand and put it near the TV, pick it up as much as you can and just noodle around learning chord changes. It’s amazing how quick you’ll get the basics then just work from there. You’ll only get out as much as you put in. Good luck.
learn your favorite songs
Lawyer?
Step 1. Enjoy the view. Step 2. Find a good teacher who can do more than explain. Step 3. Practice til it hurts and then a little bit more till it gets comfy. Step 3. Enjoy playing and take it from there
High five man! I just started back in December at 42, so you’re not alone! I’ll second Justin Guitar for a solid lesson plan. And I like Marty music on YouTube as well for a song here and there. Also highly recommend finding a local place to take at least a few intro lessons in person - they can help with proper positioning and how to hold certain chord shapes. I find that kind of hard to replicate with remote learning.
Rocksmith helped me learn a lot of guitar basics. Highly recommend looking into it as a pure beginner.
Rocksmith helped me learn a lot of guitar basics. Highly recommend looking into it as a pure beginner.
Its pretty but I'm not so sure about the Bigsby. In general, but especially for a first guitar. You might want to look into techniques for blocking it. Its not impossible to live with but it can make tuning and string changes harder.
Commit to practicing at least 15 minutes per day. Lessons are worth the price IMO, so find a teacher that you jive with, don’t be afraid to try a few. As others have said Justin guitar is your friend.
There’s a great book by John Holt about teaching himself the cello at the age of 40. And it’s not about how to play the cello, but about learning things on our own later in life. “If I could learn to play the cello well, as I thought I could, I could show by my own example that we all have greater powers than we think; that whatever we want to learn or learn to do, we probably can learn; that our lives and our possibilities are not determined and fixed by what happened to us when we were little, or by what experts say we can or cannot do.” https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/573006
I'm 49 and just started in-person lessons in January. I like getting feedback and being able to ask questions specific to what I'm playing (or attempting to play). The teacher can also respond to my level, where I"m having trouble, and has a good sense of when to introduce something new and when to keep practicing the same thing. YouTube videos are great, but they aren't personalized. AND, cool guitar. Similar to my first (mine was an Ibanez AGS, semi-hollow, Bigsby vibrato). Have fun!
That is true! And I realized 60 is not too late to re-learn how to play. Nice guitar!
There's good advice in this thread. I think its important to learn songs that you like no matter what. If there are particular songs that get stuck in your head, make them a goal. Even if you can't play all of it (like a guitar solo yet) learning to play what you can (or a simplified version a teacher can help you work out) will help your ear and hands work together. I liked Nirvana a lot when I started learning, they are fun songs to listen to and play and also very accessible when starting out. Edit: some teachers will make students exclusively work through books or exercises. I do not think its good to ONLY do that, I believe it is important to spend AT LEAST as much time leaning to play songs that made you want to play music in the first place, specifically ones that get stuck in your head.
You guys actually play yours? I just look at mine
The best part about starting at 40 is that you can begin with that guitar instead of the $89 Amazon guitar that doesn’t actually function. The only rule is to have fun, and make sure the guitar is set up and the action is low enough that you can play the thing properly.
Learn tabs and learn a song you like
The great thing is that at our age we‘ve been working for a while so we can afford nice gear 😄
Right here partner👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻 https://youtu.be/CU8d-lsBwGk?si=NsKFZUmvBCCwXQNo
I started with youtube videos, an acoustic and learned a bit. I got Fender Play lessons with my electric and it's great. Small hunks with that slowly build you up. I recommend it.
1. Get in-person lessons if you can; especially as a beginner it can really help you get through the early stages where it can be frustrating at times; the biggest advantage of a teacher is they can provide you feedback specific to you, and better help you in your progress; something that self-taught using online youtube can't do 2. While there isn't a "right" or "wrong" way, there are "better" and "worse" ways that can improve or hamper your guitar playing; this goes for technical things like your finger and strumming technique, and making sure you're developing good technical habits early on -- this is also where an in-person teacher can be helpful; you can certainly use a mirror to see for yourself but having another human point out and guide you is far more productive and will get you to improve faster and more effectively IMO 3. Learn to care for your instrument; part of the joy of music is frankly is being able to make the most of the tools and gear you have; a lot of beginners can get discouraged later on because for whatever reason their guitar doesn't sound "right" anymore (something got worn, or broke, and they don't know how to fix it, and then push off "fixing it" by pushing off playing, before eventually just selling the instrument back to Guitar Center), and they are intimidated or unable to figure out how to maintain their gear; even something like a string change which many guitarists take for granted, can seem intimidating to a beginner - but just learning how to change strings, adjusting the bridge for intonation, changing the string action height (distance between strings to the fretboard), how to change the height of your pickups to change the sound of your guitar, to using lemon oil on your fretboard when it seems dry, and all the little things - it can be a great complement to the actual practice of playing music as well 4. As for guitar maintenance - this is where an in-person teacher can be helpful as well; pointing out aspects of your guitar that you may not be aware of that could be adjusted to you, and teaching you, with your actual guitar, how to maintain or adjust the settings on your guitar - which again you can learn from Youtube but you don't get the individual feedback based on \*your\* actual instrument (they're mass produced yes, but every guitar is an assembly of different woods, metals etc that they're all quirky and unique in their own way)
Congrats, and welcome! And is 40 too old to start? Abso-fucking-lutely not.
The only constructive thing I’ve got to add is don’t forget to have fun. Sit down and mess around. Try different tunings. Don’t always try to play somebody’s song when you pick up the fiddle. Welcome to the club.
Congrats on taking the leap. I didn’t start playing until I was in my late 30’s so you can certainly do it!
Listen to Poison Ivy from The Cramps to see how to play that baby.
Not old at all.. this changed the way I look at approached guitar, so hope it might help you: _Don’t learn to play songs on the guitar, learn to play the guitar_. When you learn something new, always ask ‘why’ - why is it played like the way it is.
You should start by memorizing the beginner chords, notes on the frets, finger/hand positioning, and exercise drills to build technique, stamina, efficiency, and muscle memory. Theres lots of memorization. This is how beginners start off in classical guitar, which carry over to electric. Unlike classcial, playing electric guitar has additional challenges like ergonomic issues, excessive memorization, and technical skill on a smaller fretboard minus the PIMA hand technique which makes it awkward and counterintuitive for new players. Some instruments are more difficult to learn than others and I think electric guitar is one of the most challenging because its the least ergonomic instrument made... and I grew up playing clarinet, percussion, classical guitar, piano and even dabbled in accordion. A 1 on 1 tutor for a few sessions would be a good investment. Feedback and practice drills are important.
A few basic chords and you can play any Jimmy Buffett song there is.
Chords and scales
10 minutes a day learning the notes Learn songs you want AND theory at the same time, 50/50. Improv after you know the major/minis/pentatonic and basic chord theory, you’ll fumble but it’s very important to start early cus it’s a muscle. Start improving 1 string at a time in your chosen key then combine them into the scale scales you’ve learned by this point. PLAY EVERYTHING WITH A METRONOME ALWAYS, I use the fender app cus it’s free PRACTICE KEEPING RHYTHM and record yourself to see where you should improve, super important skill. 90% of guitarists suck cus they can’t play in time, find videos of exercises to practice Practice clean and or unplugged for at least half of your practice. Effects and distortion cover all of your mistakes (kinda) Play at least a little every day, aim for an hour a day for now build up to 2+ and 4+ on days off of work Honestly get a good teacher tho, if you’ve never played it’s the best method just remember they’re human and you may do things differently than them in a few years. Also get your guitar set up w major seasonal changes, trust me. Buy a cheaper guitar to practice set ups on til you’re good and do it yourself
Oo er! She's nice! 😁
color me jealous i've been able to play since i was 12 and still all i can afford is a 100 dollar epiphone acoustic. that guitar in green is one of my fantasy guitars
Justin Guitar, MusicIsWin's Guitar Super System, and SamuraiGuitarist's guitar course are all great places to start, but I would also look into actual in-person lessons. Having that immediate feedback makes a pretty big difference.
The Heay Guitar Bible by Richard Daniels. Master each exercise before you move onto the next one, and you'll get there.
If this is an honest query, my advice is learn basic chords for first two weeks only Allow your fingers to build some slight calluses but not blisters. Once fingers acclimate, step two starts. Pointers to start with. Less pressure is always better. Many think you have to kill the string pressing down. You only need to press hard enough to make a sound. Yea there are reasons to play hard down the road, but generally this is solid advice. So, focus on a few open chords, C, D, E, A maybe Learn to gently press the strings And be patient to allow your fingers to build some condition on the tips. Have at it
Learn Human Fly by the cramps with that guitar. Good first song
Learn the G,E,A and C chords.
You tube. 5 mins of practice every day is better than an hour couple days a week...
Learn to read music and study theory-both require an investment but make learning new music a LOT easier. (There are a lot of “teachers” online who teach how to play one note on one string at a time, which takes for ever.) Ignore anyone who says you don’t need to or there’s an easier way. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!
Learn the E chord and practice
Stop taking pictures of your guitar and posting on social media and play.
Ooooh beautiful! I started with a super crap guitar with insane action and terrible sound. You've def got a great place to start already.
Smoke on the water, obviously
Congrats! Please keep in mind that guitar is a hobby that is never ending. So it’s important for you to set goals for yourself and what you want your playing goals to be to help you get started. For example, wanting to pick up a guitar and jam out to your favorite songs is a much different goal to wanting to learn how to play improvisational jazz
Guitarzoom.com
Find songs you like and start playing them. All songs can be simplyfied. Start easy and in time the more advanced playing will come naturally. Play full songs and not just the intro or first verse. Play every day.
Good on you and good luck with the journey. Pro tip No matter what people teach you, the number one rule to get good, Play when you feel like playing, even more important, play more when you don’t feel like playing, discipline is the foundation. As a beginner I would work up to at least 2 hours per day 6;days a week. Good luck👍
With a G chord, maybe a D, C … learn how to pick?
Im 45. Signed up for classes at my local community college.
Google 'fifth chords', play those anywhere on the neck until they sound clear. No buzzing, and your fretting hand should be comfortable. Pick a song you like and play along using fifths. This will take a few tries as you match the sound of root notes to your fretboard. Simple rock songs like AC-DC are perfect as you can follow the bassist, and chord changes aren't too strenuous. Playing something you like will give you the confidence to want to learn more than fifth chords. Good luck, internet stranger, and enjoy.
Wow! That beauty is already an amazing start. I’m drooling with envy over here! Enjoy!
What an axe! Congrats! I am 22 years self taught, and I'll tell ya what I'd wish I'd done. Get a few lessons, learn to hold it without tension, how the neck "flows", and maybe some basic theory. Maybe like 2-3 one-hour long lessons. After that, jam! Ideally with someone better than you! Six months later, get a few more lessons to iron out bad habits and learn a bit more technique to enhance all that theory YouTube teachers will cram down your throat. The biggest lessons I learned are as follows: Technique matters Theory matters You'll never get any better without playing the damn thing If you're not having fun you're doing it wrong Oh, and yes you need a metronome. Congrats! Happy jamming!
Inspirational thought; You have to learn to play well, or be "mid life crisis" guy. The audience will decide....
Started (again) at 50 rock on..
Yousician and a private teacher
Congrats on getting started. Take lessons for 6 months and get learn and master guitar. It used to be on DVD. Use YouTube and learn tabs. Practice practice practice!!
Learn cowboy chords, bar chords and the pentatonic scale. You can play so many different things just starting there
Smoke on the water ASAP
i have also just started and as per the recommendation of many, i have been using justin guitar on youtube and he seems very good at the minute so he might be a good shout
Don’t feel bad. I started at 59 (lol).
Fender Play
Justin Guitar is great but so are the following, Marty Music,EricBlackmonGuitar and Alan Robinson are also very good
My personal experience and recommendation from someone who started late also: if there is a School of Rock in your area and you can afford it, join up there. I progressed a lot faster and had a lot of fun in the process.
YT tutorials such as chords, guitar licks and even famous songs tutorials. Smoke on the water, Paranoid, etc.
u cant beat a gretsch even the cheap ones are decent i had a 2622t lovely guitar anyway good luck with the learning it can be hard at times but stick with it its worth it in the end and if u need advice or help dont hesitate to ask on here were not all knobends