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Is 16 Too Old To Start?
- Thread starter MissChris27
- Start date
Well... maybe for YOU, the board can "grandfather" you in... making the "start" age whenever it was when you started "thinking" about playing...waaaay before reaching that dreaded 'cut-off' age of-no-return: untrainable 16....
Please see 'Pacman' or 'Major Metal' on the way out.. they'll have some age-waiver papers for you to sign.
Please see 'Pacman' or 'Major Metal' on the way out.. they'll have some age-waiver papers for you to sign.
Maybe you could get your folks to take you bass fishin' a few times between now and then? Nah, they probably wouldn't get the joke/irony...
But seriously, 2 things:
1) I'm not voting, since "You're never too old" isn't an option.
I'm 46 and Santa Claus brought me my first musical instrument (An Ibanez GSR200) 5 months ago. I played with my first full band this past friday and impressed everyone, including myself and the guitarist friend I had only been practicing with. Also, I have an aunt who started playing the Dobro in her late 60's and who is doing suprisingly well. As soon as I get as close as I can to an upright sound, we'll be doin' some backporch bluegrass this summer.
2) Being a parent, I can sorta see why they've put an age thing to it. At a young age, it's easier to be obsessed with something than it is to be passionate about something, IMHO. There is a pile in the attic of stuff that my son was obsessed with, but not passionate about. Also, I've tried to limit the "big purchases" to birthdays and Christmas. Who knows, maybe you'll get a gift certificate on you 16th to suppliment your savings to purchase?
My 2 cents worth.....
What are they saying? My dad, (who doesn't seem to understand the difference between a bass and a guitar for some reason, despite been a very smart guy) thought I should learn acoustic guitar before I got a bass for some reason. Managed to talk him out of it though and got mine a little bit before my 14th birthday.
To be honest when I first got my very pretty looking, but not so well playing, royal blue/maple/white tort "rockstar" by hohner jazz copy home, I was confused as to whether all the frets were actually notes cos I could barely play any of the frets. To be honest I almost gave up after the the first year, and hardly touched the thing during 6 months of my first year of playing, but somehow got back into it and actually managed to play stuff.
So my first year or two playing were pretty frustrating, almost pointless, so I might as well have started at 16 anyway seeming though I progressed so little. Basically what I'm trying to say, is just cos someone started playing bass at 5 or whatever, they might not have actually learnt that much during their first few years, and might not have actually played all that much.
I bought my first bass at my 18th birthday, and I never had the feeling it was too late.
But maybe that's because I improved a lot faster than other bassists I know (and outplay now
)
But maybe that's because I improved a lot faster than other bassists I know (and outplay now
)
I didn't vote. It's never too late for music. Never.
I bet the only reason people voted for 79 is because it's the oldest age on the poll. I know 79 must seem ancient to a young person like yourself, but it's really not.
What's your fear? Why would 16 be too old to start? What's the goal you have for yourself?
Peace,
Joe
I bet the only reason people voted for 79 is because it's the oldest age on the poll. I know 79 must seem ancient to a young person like yourself, but it's really not.
What's your fear? Why would 16 be too old to start? What's the goal you have for yourself?
Peace,
Joe
MissChris, my dad turned 80 last year and after not playing violin for about 50 years he recently started again. He's better on his instrument now after a half-century hiatus than I'll probably ever sound on mine and he's kicking butt!
I'm like a lot of other people who posted here already and started pretty late. I was 37 or 38 when I picked up bass. I had played some guitar in college and played and did lead vocals for a band my senior year. I hardly touched guitar after graduating until about a year before I decided to try playing bass.
Bottom line, if you want to do it you can do it. And even at the "ripe old age" of 16 you'll still have a much easier time learning that I did when I started. You'll also have the advantage of having additional musical background that I didn't really have. The only real instruction I had was about 2 years of drum lessons when I was in junior high. I learned guitar from playing with friends in exchange for becoming their singer. However, I'm glad I did because that opened the door to a lot of fun in college as well as real satisfaction doing what I'm doing now.
You'll be fine!
I'm like a lot of other people who posted here already and started pretty late. I was 37 or 38 when I picked up bass. I had played some guitar in college and played and did lead vocals for a band my senior year. I hardly touched guitar after graduating until about a year before I decided to try playing bass.
Bottom line, if you want to do it you can do it. And even at the "ripe old age" of 16 you'll still have a much easier time learning that I did when I started. You'll also have the advantage of having additional musical background that I didn't really have. The only real instruction I had was about 2 years of drum lessons when I was in junior high. I learned guitar from playing with friends in exchange for becoming their singer. However, I'm glad I did because that opened the door to a lot of fun in college as well as real satisfaction doing what I'm doing now.
You'll be fine!
I was kidding around earlier but agree whole heartedly with this:
And, you'll also have lots of years ahead of you to really perfect it. You're really lucky to have this opportunity. Take it. I wish I'd started earlier.
Bottom line, if you want to do it you can do it. And even at the "ripe old age" of 16 you'll still have a much easier time learning that I did when I started. You'll also have the advantage of having additional musical background that I didn't really have.
You'll be fine!
And, you'll also have lots of years ahead of you to really perfect it. You're really lucky to have this opportunity. Take it. I wish I'd started earlier.
Most of us oldsters have forgotten the fact that a year for a 15 year old is a much longer period of time than that same year for us, relatively speaking. 
D*mn, ain't that the truth. Since entering my 40's it feels like years are now starting to fly by like months. What will it be like when I hit my 50's? Oops, looks like another birthday coming up in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6 .....
If I can say anything about getting older, it's that I'm 43 and I listen to harder stuff now than I did in my 20's!
Of course, I listen to a much wider variety of music in general than I did in my 20's so that's only one facet of what rotates in and out of my CD player these days.
If I can say anything about getting older, it's that I'm 43 and I listen to harder stuff now than I did in my 20's!
Of course, I listen to a much wider variety of music in general than I did in my 20's so that's only one facet of what rotates in and out of my CD player these days.
That's a little unfair of your parents, quite honestly. You want me to set them straight? I can have some "friends" pay them a visit.
I'm just kidding! You should respect your parents. I just don't get why they would want to hold you up for a year. Are you a prodigy on the piano or something? Could they be worried it might screw up your piano playing? It won't as long as you keep up your practice.
I'm just kidding! You should respect your parents. I just don't get why they would want to hold you up for a year. Are you a prodigy on the piano or something? Could they be worried it might screw up your piano playing? It won't as long as you keep up your practice.
jeff schmidt
no longer red carded, but my butt is still sore.
you can start playing bass at any age cuz it's such an easy instrument.
I mean, it's got like 4 strings and most songs only use 2 of them.
I mean, it's got like 4 strings and most songs only use 2 of them.
You're not one of them groove-tards, are ya?you can start playing bass at any age cuz it's such an easy instrument.
I mean, it's got like 4 strings and most songs only use 2 of them.
- Jun 25, 2007
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I think I read somewhere that Frank Zappa didn't start on guitar until he was 21...there ya go...
If I can say anything about getting older, it's that I'm 43 and I listen to harder stuff now than I did in my 20's!
I'm with ya, bruthah. I'm 46 and I have a ton of MP3s on shuffle at work that run the gammut from Rollins Band (playing now) to Johnny Cash.
I started out thinkin' Marsha was hot, the her Mom became hot too. I'm not lookin' forward to the time when I get jealous of Sam The Butcher.
