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playing guitar after...10? years?

GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
edited March 2008 in Musicians and Gearheads
I wasn't very good back then either...


any suggestions on what to start with? should I try to play some songs or should I start with just exercises and whatnot?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    If you're new try to take a few lessons. You have to get the basics down. I have a friend who just bought a guitar that wants to be Dave Mathews after one lesson. I myself took lessons for a few years when I first started playing. It helped but then I stopped playing for about 5 years. I picked it back up about 6 months ago and have progressed more in the last six months than any other time prior. I still take a few lessons to this day. I do better when I can see what a person is doing rather than reading just tabs.

    You also need to practice, that's the only way you get better.

    Once you play your first song you'll be hooked and it'll all be downhill after that. :)
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    Stone Is God wrote:
    If you're new try to take a few lessons. You have to get the basics down. I have a friend who just bought a guitar that wants to be Dave Mathews after one lesson. I myself took lessons for a few years when I first started playing. It helped but then I stopped playing for about 5 years. I picked it back up about 6 months ago and have progressed more in the last six months than any other time prior. I still take a few lessons to this day. I do better when I can see what a person is doing rather than reading just tabs.

    You also need to practice, that's the only way you get better.

    Once you play your first song you'll be hooked and it'll all be downhill after that. :)

    well I took 6 years of lessons as a teenager. I don't want to take any lessons now cuz I don't have the $$$.
  • StuffnJunkStuffnJunk Posts: 896
    learn the basic open chords and try to play songs that use them

    A, Am, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, G

    you can play approximately 10 trillion songs using just these chords

    the chords i left out (B, Bm, etc) are barre chords and harder to play.....stick to these for now
    "I'll tell you what: If all I had was Pearl Jam, and I didn't have another band in the world, I would not be worried. Because in there is the essence of making great music. You don't have to use it all at once, but it's there." - Neil Young
  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    well I took 6 years of lessons as a teenager. I don't want to take any lessons now cuz I don't have the $$$.

    Touche. I guess it just comes down to what you feel comfortable with. I think once you get the proper technique down, though, it makes things easier with playing songs. That's just my opinion though.

    There are probably a lot better players on here than me that could give you some good advice. You can't go wrong with the people on this board. Very helpful and knowledgeable.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    Stone Is God wrote:
    Touche. I guess it just comes down to what you feel comfortable with. I think once you get the proper technique down, though, it makes things easier with playing songs. That's just my opinion though.

    There are probably a lot better players on here than me that could give you some good advice. You can't go wrong with the people on this board. Very helpful and knowledgeable.

    I have all the stuff from my old lessons as a kid, I just don't know what I should do first.

    actually, I shouldn't do it at all maybe. I was really, really bad. it takes too much patience and concentration- I never played a song all the way through because I start over whenever I screw up (I'm a perfectionist). Maybe it will make me too nervous. Maybe this was a stupid idea...
  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I have all the stuff from my old lessons as a kid, I just don't know what I should do first.

    actually, I shouldn't do it at all maybe. I was really, really bad. it takes too much patience and concentration- I never played a song all the way through because I start over whenever I screw up (I'm a perfectionist). Maybe it will make me too nervous. Maybe this was a stupid idea...

    It's never a stupid idea. The whole thing is to get through a whole song even if you screw up. Most people don't know the difference.

    Stuff had the right idea. Once you know those cords you can play countless songs.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • AnonAnon Posts: 11,175
    Stone Is God wrote:
    It's never a stupid idea. The whole thing is to get through a whole song even if you screw up. Most people don't know the difference.

    Stuff had the right idea. Once you know those cords you can play countless songs.

    exactly..
    GTD, do you really WANT to play? No one here can make you want it. Playing guitar is not like learning to ride a bike. It's lots of hard work, lots of practice and you need to be passionate about it, because no one ever just picked up a guitar and was awesome straight away, No one.

    Confidence comes with practice and believing in yourself. Send me a PM if you are interested and i can help you with excercises and things to start off. It doesn't have to be hard, but you do have to be committed.

    If you really want to learn, then i am more than happy to help you. Stay positive and work hard and you will get there!
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    Pj_Gurl wrote:
    exactly..
    GTD, do you really WANT to play?

    I don't know, but I do I know I am 30 years old and I can't do ANYTHING, I need to learn how to do something. I just know I couldn't do it before, after trying for many years, and I am bad at small motor skills, details, patience, and I don't understand music very well. also, I'm not sure what the point of it would be, since I'm not about to go join a band or play in front of anyone at my age.
  • senninsennin Posts: 2,146
    I'd just start playing....strum around a bit....see what kind of stuff you still retained....then you'll know what you have to work on. It will also start you off building up hand strength and get your fingers callused up again.
  • StuffnJunkStuffnJunk Posts: 896
    having given lessons for a few years, i hate to say it but there are people who truly are hopeless.....i had a guy in his twenties who took lessons with me for a YEAR and he still could not play the stuff i taught him in his first lesson - could not form chords for his life or get through "old mcdonald"

    maybe guitar is not for you....how about drums, harmonica, or even singing? or getting into recording music? playing bongos at open mic nights?

    if you have an interest in music maybe there is somewthing else that would be a better fit

    but of course, you can stick with guitar as a hobby, just don't let it get you so frustrated that you end up hating it
    "I'll tell you what: If all I had was Pearl Jam, and I didn't have another band in the world, I would not be worried. Because in there is the essence of making great music. You don't have to use it all at once, but it's there." - Neil Young
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    StuffnJunk wrote:
    having given lessons for a few years, i hate to say it but there are people who truly are hopeless.....i had a guy in his twenties who took lessons with me for a YEAR and he still could not play the stuff i taught him in his first lesson - could not form chords for his life or get through "old mcdonald"

    maybe guitar is not for you....how about drums, harmonica, or even singing? or getting into recording music? playing bongos at open mic nights?

    if you have an interest in music maybe there is somewthing else that would be a better fit

    but of course, you can stick with guitar as a hobby, just don't let it get you so frustrated that you end up hating it

    Yeah after so many years of lessons, I couldn't make sound come out of barre chords. I would just sit there for hours for years trying make some damn sound come out! It was so frustrating, because I couldn't play any songs that include barre chords, which is pretty much all of them! I am just hoping that somehow I am different now than I was between the ages of 14 and 21...maybe I am magically better??

    I've often thought of drums (not as many fine motor skills involved, more active, and I have decent rhythm), but they are pretty much out. 1) what's the point of playing drums if you're not in a band and 2) even if I could eventually procure a kit, my whole neighborhood would hate me! I've thought of singing too, but for that I'd NEED lessons but they are EXPENSIVE and it's REALLY hard to find a truly legit voice teacher who would take someone off the street who just wanted to sing for fun.
  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I don't know, but I do I know I am 30 years old and I can't do ANYTHING, I need to learn how to do something. I just know I couldn't do it before, after trying for many years, and I am bad at small motor skills, details, patience, and I don't understand music very well. also, I'm not sure what the point of it would be, since I'm not about to go join a band or play in front of anyone at my age.

    I'm 30, I don't play in a band and I don't think I'll ever play in one. I have about $5000.00 worth of gear in my living room. If I had the dough I'd go buy myself a $3000 guitar. Tell me that's not insane. LOL. I came home and played for an hour tonight. It's a good way to get rid of stress.

    PJ Gurl is right, you really have to want to do it. The thing though is once you get going and get better you find yourself wanting to play more and more. It's like a snowball effect.

    It's kind of cool to know how to do something that your friends don't know how to do. I was hanging with a few of my friends and I was playing Alive and one of them thought it was the coolest thing that I could actually play a song that we both liked. It's also cool to play and have a bunch of people sing along with you. Very cool.

    I think the whole point of it is satisfying yourself. It's frustrating at first but as you play more you get better and better. It's worth it.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    Stone Is God wrote:
    I'm 30, I don't play in a band and I don't think I'll ever play in one. I have about $5000.00 worth of gear in my living room. If I had the dough I'd go buy myself a $3000 guitar. Tell me that's not insane. LOL. I came home and played for an hour tonight. It's a good way to get rid of stress.

    PJ Gurl is right, you really have to want to do it. The thing though is once you get going and get better you find yourself wanting to play more and more. It's like a snowball effect.

    It's kind of cool to know how to do something that your friends don't know how to do. I was hanging with a few of my friends and I was playing Alive and one of them thought it was the coolest thing that I could actually play a song that we both liked. It's also cool to play and have a bunch of people sing along with you. Very cool.

    I think the whole point of it is satisfying yourself. It's frustrating at first but as you play more you get better and better. It's worth it.

    It's interesting to hear this last sentence. one thing I always had trouble with was just having to listen to myself play badly when I could just turn on the stereo and hear someone else play the song correctly. How does one get past that?

    oh and also, I find it interesting you say it relieves stress. I think I've always wanted to play because I hope it will have this effect. but I know that as a kid, it used to stress me out to no end (I came extremely close to smashing some very expensive guitars...)
  • GreenTeaDiseaseGreenTeaDisease Posts: 3,359
    sennin wrote:
    I'd just start playing....strum around a bit....see what kind of stuff you still retained....then you'll know what you have to work on. It will also start you off building up hand strength and get your fingers callused up again.

    This is what I was going to do, but I'm afraid I'll procrastinate. what should I use as goals if I don't have a lesson every week?
  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    It's interesting to hear this last sentence. one thing I always had trouble with was just having to listen to myself play badly when I could just turn on the stereo and hear someone else play the song correctly. How does one get past that?

    oh and also, I find it interesting you say it relieves stress. I think I've always wanted to play because I hope it will have this effect. but I know that as a kid, it used to stress me out to no end (I came extremely close to smashing some very expensive guitars...)

    Don't expect perfection. Everyone screws up and plays badly. You're not going to hit every single note everytime. The more you play the better you get to start sounding like what you want. Everyone is bad when they start, you just have to ignore it and keep playing.

    I find it a stress relief because I like to come home and play for an hour to detox from the day. I kind of just zone out and play and I forget about the trials of the day.

    Now you don't want to smash your guitar. One of my friends dropped my Les Paul Studio once and I almost punched him in the face.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
  • lucylespianlucylespian Posts: 2,403
    Jeez, call me a grynch, but what a load of self-pitying bellyaching.

    Most of us don't play in bands, and the few who do probably have no illusions about the importance in the big picture, but do it as part of their playing, not the sole reason.

    Get a grip man, either play or don't play.
    If you play, accept that it will be hard work, and you might still wind up crap.
    I can't boast any great skill, but it's on my terms and I'm content with that.
    Music is not a competetion.
  • Jam10Jam10 Posts: 654
    I think you should set a plan and a goal and determine how far you want to take this. There are the very serious players who practice a lot of technique and theory and there are players who just want to strum along have fun and play songs. You have to determine what you want out of the guitar because one things for sure.....you get out of it what you put into it. If you practice everyday and you practice the RIGHT things you will get better. It's so true what people have been saying about the snowball effect. The better you get the more you want to play. I started playing guitar at 26 years old, never ever played before that, I just turned 28 and have been playing for about a year and a half. I can play barre chords open chords and I am now starting to play a little bit of lead. I am about 95% of the way through Yellow Ledbetter including the solo. That was my first goal when I started playing the guitar. That is the song that inspired me to play. The guitar to me is all about feeling and Yellow Ledbetter has got lot's of feeling. I never thought a year and a half ago I would be able to play Yellow Ledbetter but I set a goal and I work everyday to achieve it. You have to do the same thing. I think it's much more beneficial to practice every single day even if it's a little bit than to practice say....4 hours one day, miss 2 days, play 2 hours another day miss 1 day play for an hour another day miss 3 days etc. Even if you can get 30 - 60 mins. every single day you will progress dramatically. The biggest thing is staying disciplined and having a plan of attack everytime you pick up the guitar. Most importantly have FUN. If your not having fun than most likely you won't want to play. I think scales are extremely important, so maybe try to do scales everyday. Another tip would be to always work on your weak points first because even if that's all you had a chance to do for that day , at least you worked on your weakest points. You won't improve by always playing the same stuff that you already know everytime. Anyways I hope this helps. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum who would be more than willing to help you!
  • AnonAnon Posts: 11,175
    Jam10 wrote:
    I am about 95% of the way through Yellow Ledbetter including the solo. That was my first goal when I started playing the guitar. That is the song that inspired me to play. The guitar to me is all about feeling and Yellow Ledbetter has got lot's of feeling. I never thought a year and a half ago I would be able to play Yellow Ledbetter but I set a goal and I work everyday to achieve it.
    That's exactly what i'm talking about. The passion. Awesome stuff.
  • ianvomsaalianvomsaal Posts: 1,224
    Just memorize your basic chords and go from there.
    I created this chart for all my students - these are my
    favorite fingerings (because I feel they sound the best).
    Here you go, just print this out: click: CHORDS
    Cheers . . .

    - Ian
    ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
    <b><font color="red">CONTACT ME HERE</font>: www.myspace.com/ianvomsaal</b>
    ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
  • Jam10Jam10 Posts: 654
    Thanks Pj Gurl! Yeah I just love to play. I hope to one day play in a band. I wish I started when I was like 10 but I can't change the past. Your never too old for music.
  • SBC03SBC03 Posts: 502
    GreenTeaDisease wrote:
    I don't know, but I do I know I am 30 years old and I can't do ANYTHING, I need to learn how to do something. I just know I couldn't do it before, after trying for many years, and I am bad at small motor skills, details, patience, and I don't understand music very well. also, I'm not sure what the point of it would be, since I'm not about to go join a band or play in front of anyone at my age.

    teaching myself at 35

    you got 5 yrs on me
    See this needle...a see my hand...
    Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
    Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
    Turn me up...won't turn you away...
  • SBC03SBC03 Posts: 502
    lucylespian wrote:
    Jeez, call me a grynch, but what a load of self-pitying bellyaching.

    Most of us don't play in bands, and the few who do probably have no illusions about the importance in the big picture, but do it as part of their playing, not the sole reason.

    Get a grip man, either play or don't play.
    If you play, accept that it will be hard work, and you might still wind up crap.
    I can't boast any great skill, but it's on my terms and I'm content with that.

    my bro has been playing for 25 yrs and as far as i know he has never played with a group

    shit he only plays to his family
    See this needle...a see my hand...
    Drop drop dropping it down...oh so gently...
    Well here it comes...I touch the plane...
    Turn me up...won't turn you away...
  • Drew263Drew263 Posts: 602
    Stone Is God wrote:
    I'm 30, I don't play in a band and I don't think I'll ever play in one. I have about $5000.00 worth of gear in my living room. If I had the dough I'd go buy myself a $3000 guitar. Tell me that's not insane. LOL. I came home and played for an hour tonight. It's a good way to get rid of stress.

    PJ Gurl is right, you really have to want to do it. The thing though is once you get going and get better you find yourself wanting to play more and more. It's like a snowball effect.

    It's kind of cool to know how to do something that your friends don't know how to do. I was hanging with a few of my friends and I was playing Alive and one of them thought it was the coolest thing that I could actually play a song that we both liked. It's also cool to play and have a bunch of people sing along with you. Very cool.

    I think the whole point of it is satisfying yourself. It's frustrating at first but as you play more you get better and better. It's worth it.

    lol..you and I sound alike. I'm 34, have two les pauls and will probably never play in front of people besides friends. But I play every single day and kinda wig out if I don't. After two years of it I'm hooked and still go to my instructor every friday.

    You gotta be passionate about it...
  • Stone Is GodStone Is God Posts: 1,331
    Drew263 wrote:
    lol..you and I sound alike. I'm 34, have two les pauls and will probably never play in front of people besides friends. But I play every single day and kinda wig out if I don't. After two years of it I'm hooked and still go to my instructor every friday.

    You gotta be passionate about it...

    Tell me about it. Same way. I have a lesson today, actually. I have to get better at my lead work. My rhythm work isn't too bad.

    My girlfriend gives me the death ray look when I tell her it'll be a tough choice between buying her engagement ring or a Les Paul 57 Gold Top.
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me.
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