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Am I too old....

#81
rdmjazz said:
If you practice, it will come. Thats the big killer in learning an instrument. Most people don't realize the amount of time and dedication it takes.
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The first couple of years are tough but it gets easier and you have to put the time aside to practice. If you don't and/or are unable to do this you will progress but very slowly. Many people - the majority who take up learning new instruments burn out and stop playing. Don't be oneof the burnouts! Give it some time and a whole lot of effort and soon you won't be a beginner anymore:bassist:
 
#83
bassle said:
There is nothing cooler than an old man playing the bass.
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Well, if that is the case, I'm about as cool as it gets. 75 working on 76. No longer jump around. No longer hang my bass low. There is a stool near by in case I need to rest. But I'm still gigging and jamming on a regular basis. About 7 gigs a month, course most are in the afternoons and early evenings as I don't like to drive after dark........ LOL
 
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#84
pica said:
I'm 41 years old. I've been taking bass lessons about 7 months, every other week. That comes to about 14 lessons so far. I just don't seem to be getting it. I'll admit that I don't practice every day....I know I probably should. Am I to old to learn the bass?
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The good news is that merely trying to learn keeps the synapes firing and will keep you mentally sharp longer, so its totally worth it regardless of outcome,

(I'm creeping up on 55 by the way.)
 
#86
I am so loving this thread, here is my story, i played Saxaphone thru out my Junior high and High school years, after High school i became a cop, got married, had a son and well you get the picture. When i turned 34 i decided i wanted to learn BASS, bought a bass took 3 or 4 lessons and was enjoying it but was not focused and stopped playing (Learning). I inow decided at 43 to get serious about it and joined this forum along with looking at videos on YOUTUBE. I am now semi retired and looking for a good bass teacher to study and really learn BASS from with in the Tri-State Area but i have been playing at home after buying another Bass and Amp and really enjoying it more than when i was 34 and learning alot more. Granted now i get to practice alot more than before and i am more focused so that may be the difference, so i say keep at it, have fun and play on no matter what the age. Remember if it were easy anyone could do it.:bassist:
 
#87
pica said:
I'm 41 years old. I've been taking bass lessons about 7 months, every other week. That comes to about 14 lessons so far. I just don't seem to be getting it. I'll admit that I don't practice every day....I know I probably should. Am I to old to learn the bass?
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As Jaime Escalante said in "Stand and Deliver": You gotta have GANAS...desire!! Age is a non issue, look at Einstein.
 
#88
You are never too old to learn bass. The question may be, what do you intend to do with your new bass skills?

If you want to just have fun, do some local low-drama gigs, go for it. I'm older than you and play almost every week. So, there are gigs to be had if you have the chops.

If you intend to be a rock star however. . . . . . . . you might want to consider lowering the bar a bit. The whole rock star thing only happens in movies now. . . . :-(
 
#89
Lessons every other week is better than no lessons, but that's quite a gap in instruction. Playing every day, even a small amount of time, is of great benefit as well. The consistency and persistence really pays of in the long-run.
 
#90
I started at 60 last October. I feel the same as you in that I am not getting it. But it is way to early in the game to really get anything. The learning process as many have said is a life long endevor. I played with another human being last night for the first time. I think it went okay. He said "see ya next Tuesday at 5?" so I guess I got by. I only hit the root note on most songs. I kinda felt like it sounded lame. I don't know any fills or walks at this time but it sorta worked enough to get a ask back next week.My teacher told me to try to find someone about my speed to jam with and well It felt good I am excited to go on some more.So at this stage of the game push on my friend the folks here on TB are the best. So helpful and encouraging they back us newbes all the way. Thanks all for your support. Billy K
 
#91
You are never too old,my Bass Brother. I was almost as old as you the first time around(37/38)and and now the big FOUR-EIGHT on my 2x as a beginner bassist.

If you are receiving formal lessons than you are way ahead of the curve,sir.What does your instructor say about your progress? You should be able to confide in him with your concerns.Besides,you may be doing fine and dandy for your given situation,my friend,as most of us are ueber critical of our own efforts and/or abilities. Remember,learning and playing the bass guitar should be fun,enjoyable and an ongoing challenge(but in a positive way).If you aren`t having fun...at least for part of the time,then you`ll find it gets old in a hurry.

What lit the fire under me and made me feel like I was "playing" was just learning a few simple songs from tab.Notation is always the better option but sometimes for us rank ameutures it really pays dividends in our attitude and our bass esteem (my term there :P ). Baby steps,baby steps,baby steps...and you`ll be improving quicker than you realise.

Hang in there and make learning/playing FUN!
HosMan
 
#92
Hi pica,

I too started this year the wrong side of 50 as a never played anything before player, and I too find it slow going especially as I have a 13 year old nephew that's quite good on a 6 string, his 10 year old cousin has recently bought a junior bass and had 4 lessons, his dad plays drums, so they can get something going together quite easily.

I live two hours away from them so my main aid is the CD player. I've done some walking basslines OK, but find it much harder to play all the way through anything more than basic. I can pick up the main riff OK, say 'come as you are' or 'money' that I trying to do right now, but struggle to do the other fill bits. My teacher says it will slot into place in it's own time. He appreciates that all his over 40 pupils are slower than his school age ones and is very patient with us:hmm:
 
#93
Not "getting it" has nothing to do with your age and all do to with the fact that you don't practice everyday and you've only had 14 lessons. Forty-one isn't too old to do anything except date teenage girls.

Don't get discouraged. Remember you'll get out of it what you put into it (like everything else in your life). You reap what you sow, more than you sow, and later than you sow.
 
#95
Iam 59yrs old and started playing one, got me a couple books. I go to a teacher once a week, and now play in a small band and in church on sunday. All I can say is keep at it. But I have to say I was a guitar player before playing bass. What got me playing bass was out of need for one and know one else would try. I found out I really like and enjoyed it. I still play guitar but would rather play bass now. I cant read music but can use tabs. Like I said keep at at it, what you got to lose beats getting numb headed looking at a TV thats not going to get YOU nowhere.
 
#96
i have 10 years on you, and i'm going on my 11th month of playing (got a bass as a midlife crisis/christmas present). and from the time i've spent here, i know i'm far from the oldest "beginner".

two tough things are finding the time to practice (life gets in the way more at our age) and it seems to take me longer to get a grasp on theory than it might have several decades ago. i try to get in some practice time every day, even if it's as little as 10 minutes on my really busy days. 5 out of 7 days is probably my average, though, 30-60 minutes a pop.
 
#97
I'm not as old as some, I'm 37 haven't played since the early 90's but the itch has come back. I am going into this full force to be the best I can be.

Yes, the time I can put into it has changed (kids etc.) but the love of music is still there. You have a love of music obviously and don't let your age decide what you can or can't do. Hell yeah you can do it brother, I plan on doing the same if (hopefully I get to your age)

You're never too old to do anything!

Learning never stops my friend.
 
#98
To everybody starting the bass late: You can do it! You can work around your limitations. I'm 69 now and I've learned to read this past year. Don't let anything stop you, just keep at it.

Sure it might take longer to get things - it does for me. But that's ok, you accept that and persevere on. It's worth every effort you make.
 
#100
So you're 41...when you're 61 you'll be able to say you've been playing bass for 20 years!

Just curious...how many hours total have you spent practicing? Just like learning to read and write...it's a slow process where the most progress is made when it's done everyday.

Put in a 1000 hours of practice and then come back and let us know how it's going. :D :bassist: Having some goals is also helpful.

Also spend time singing along with songs that you hear. Maybe join a choir. Singing on key is a great help with any instrument you learn. Training your brain to "hear" the music/melodies, etc. is the key. The more you do it, the better you get.

Check out the link in my sig. below for some great TB info that may help you out along the way.

Good luck.
 

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