Is it to late to start?

[Lazerrus]

So I had friend ask me if it to late to start playing and get to any good quality caliber and style starting off at 41 years old? I explained it's all about the passion for the instrument. What do you all think?

[SactoBass]

Originally Posted by Lazerrus

So I had friend ask me if it to late to start playing and get to any good quality caliber and style starting off at 41 years old? I explained it's all about the passion for the instrument. What do you all think?

Sheesh! That's young!

I'm 54. So when he is my age, he would have 13 solid years of playing experience, and if he really loves playing and applies himself, he could be waaaay better than I am now (and I have been playing since I was 16).

It's never too late to start. The next 13 years will go by even faster than the last 13 years did. And how fast was that??

[Bigmouth]

Female bass learner here. Started about 5 months ago in my 50's. Tell your friend to think about all the bass lines he has stored in his head after 30 or so years if he's always liked bass like I have.

[anonymous122511]

It's not like it's a project you ever really finish....given that it doesn't matter much when you start.

[JimmyM]

if your goal is to become a famous rock and roll musician, it might be too late for that, but it's never too late to do something you love because you love it.

[Marton]

It's never too late to start playing !

[fearceol]

There was a recent thread on this subject. You could try a search. As far as I can remember, there were about 50 or more replies, all saying that it is never too late to start. I think you might get the message from that

[Downunderwonder]

My Mum started playing ukulele a year or so ago at age 65. She's pretty good on it now. She only played piano until then.

[hrodbert696]

Never too late to learn and have fun with it, and get going with a bar band or such. Not likely to start a second career as a rock star at that age, but then the odds of becoming a rich and famous rock star are not that good in the first place.

[Rockmusician]

It's never too late to start anything that you want to do.

[MalcolmAmos]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

if your goal is to become a famous rock and roll musician, it might be too late for that, but it's never too late to do something you love because you love it.

I took up music when I retired at 65. I'm now 76 play in two bands and average 8 gigs a month. Why? I love it.

Kids have the time. When you start later you have to carve out the time - and as Jimmy says might be a little old for the road - everyone in our band is on Medicare. Don't like to drive after dark and fall asleep around 9:30 PM.

But, there is a need for afternoon and dinner time entertainment so we fill that need and have fun doing what we love. There is some money, not a lot, but, that is not the number one priority.
.

[dave64o]

I started taking lessons when I was 44. I was three times the age of my instructor's next oldest student - and more than twice the age of my instructor. You'll have challenges the average 13 year old beginner won't have, but it's certainly not impossible.

It *can* be done!

[Zeb Norris]

I sure hope not! I'm just getting started... at 55.

[Headless Llama]

I say go for it!

[lowendfriend]

I restarted at 58....Like Jimmy said, not likely you'll be touring, playing albums like Seven Moons by Jack Bruce and Robin Trower, but if that's what you want, why stop?

All about passion and interest...

[wemmick]

I started last summer at 42. My wife (singer) and I are in a band now made up of parents from our kids' elementary school. None of us has delusions of quitting our day jobs and being rock stars, but we're having a blast.

Some people have a poker night, we play in a band.

[slybass3000]

I don't think it is too late.

You might consider do a lot of stretching for your shoulders and arms before playing or practicing. And try to play everyday if possible to keep the pace.

Good luck

[mambo4]

yeah go for it.
age only matters if you are foolishly comparing yourself to young rock stars or virtuosos who started playing very young. Getting reasonably competent for an average band in all but the most demanding genres can be done in a few years -but of course its a continuous journey.

[progmanjum]

44 yr. old noob here. I find the biggest obstacle is time. There's more commitments and responsibilities the older you get. Should have started in my teens when I 'wasted' my time away. But I'm having fun and it's really just for my pleasure. My dog certainly doesn't appreciate it.

[essentre]

One word sums this up...

NEVER!