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New player too old?

#21
Maiden_fan said:
I am too damn old to learn this lol..
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Dats crazy talk! :rollno:

I didn't get serious until I was 41. Now I'm playing in my second band and do solo gigs in bookstores and coffee shops. With the technology available today for learning an instrument and all the great teachers who can really communicate whats important to learn, there's no excuse for anyone not to learn to play any instrument they want to play. You can even take serious lessons online.

Learn some simple blues songs (like Mustang Sally or I Got a Woman) find a blues jam, sign up, tell em you want to play a couple of songs, and rock the hell out of em, everybody will have a good time and you'll be hooked.

And don't ever look back...
 
#22
My buddy at work decided to pick up drums and he is around 45. He's taking a few lessons. Done a few books. And is presently with a group that does an occasional gig. There were some sales people at a local store that copped an attitude on him in the beginning because he was so old. Big mistake on their part.

And play what you like and don't worry about the guys with better chops. I wish I had done that sooner.

Dave
 
#23
I love these threads about "old" guys learning to play. I'm 39 and started playing about 3 years ago. I sometimes get discouraged when I show up for my weekly lesson, and I'm older than some of the parents that brought their kids in. But, I get a great deal of satisfaction from sitting down with my bass and a few pages of sheet music to a song that I really like, and practicing it over and over until I get it right. Like everyone else has already said, Go for it! Have fun! Challenge yourself!
 
#24
HI

Try to find someone local who teaches. Talk to them and see if you feel comfortable. If so, take lessons with them. Once your ear develops, you can ween off or continue. Its a start. You might like it!!!!

Rob
 
#25
40! I thought you said you were old. I didn't start until I was 45, and now I'm 51, and getting pretty good at it. Not greats chops, but solid timekeeping and few mistakes. The best is yet to come. I can learn new songs fairly quickly, and the band is just starting to play out regularly. cool fun....
 
#26
Although I did take some lessons at the local music store, finding guys to jam with and learning a bunch of songs was the best teacher. This current band had me learn over 40 songs in 5 months, with weekly practices, so it is kind of like going to school.
 
#28
54 and you have a guitar background, I think it'll be fine. I started playing bass at the age of 30 and six months after starting we had our first show, granted it's punk and it's easy. But I have tons of fun playing and coming up with stuff, what I lack in theory I make up for in creativity, and the guys in my band were really patient. I learned the basics and the rest I learn as I go. Your never too old, go for it.
 
#31
OK Im 18 and some people told me that Im too old, but then I play for them and they shut the ____ up. Ive never had any kind of instruction at all. Here is what Ive figured out.

1.Think of your right hand as your rythm hand, because that is what it does, the faster it gows the faster you play, its pretty simple there.

2.On your left hand hit lets say your trying to play a tab. dont worry about form that much, just keep 1 finger to a fret and play the song however you want. If you hit all the correct notes in rhythm its good enough.

3.When your trying to create something original youlll notice on your fretboard that certain places have dots or stars on them, playing notes between those dots in diferent orders usually sounds good, I think its because they are in key, but I really have no idea. I just know that it works.
 
#33
SBassman said:
Please tell. :)
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I don't attract anyone hitting on me, not with this body :) , but once, last year, a woman Did hit on me while we were playing. Well, hit on me would be a strong phrase, but she was paying entirely too much attention to me - dancing next me, and rubbing her tooshie against me, etc. My wife was in the front row of tables. Rather than fume, she was Hysterical.

Everybody got entertained.

P.S. Tooshie girl was very, very, very, very - did I say very? - drunk.
 
#34
Im 31 and just started to learn to play myself. No musical background at all ... been trying to drill timing into my head over the past month. Down side is I get about an hour tops a night to practice ... getting there, but Im realistic and thinking it will be at least two years before I feel comfortable enough to play with some people. But this is a goal in my life, and hopefully one I will accomplish.

Aaron
 
#37
I'm 42 and just picked the bass up 10 months ago. Dunno why just seemed to call to me like Neo in The Matrix lol. I told my shrink I was pissed off because I couldn't play like Sting yet! She told me not to bother if it wasn't fun. So I took her advice and now I try to relax and 'play' - it's a good way to unwind after a hard day at the office anyhow.
 
#39
I started playing bass at 17, and I'm 37 now, so thats about 20 years.

You're 40, so you've still got AT LEAST 20 years of gigging left in you, maybe another 40 or more. Just don't wait until you're 60, and then post again wishing you'd started 20 years ago.

A friend I jam with regulary took up drums at 38. He (with a little pushing) set himself the goal of playing a gig for his 40th birthday party - we booked a hall, and roughed our way through 3 original tracks in front of his friends and family. We couldn't get him off staqe, and he ended up sitting in with the other band who were playing the rest of the night.

I'll be honest - he's not a great drummer. Starting older makes it hard, as you're more conscious that you're not GOOD, but he's having a blast, finding loads of opportunities to play, and getting better. At his 50th birthday party he'll be a pretty decent drummer.

Just book some lessons, find some like minded friends who want to learn/get back into drums/guitar, and get on with having fun.

Ian
 

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