If you’ve ever heard someone say it was too late to learn the guitar, don’t listen to them. This sort of defeatist thinking is a self-fulfilling prophecy. It doesn’t matter when you start. Anyone can play guitar if they are sufficiently motivated. There is no reason that a seventy-year-old or a ninety-year-old should avoid starting a musical instrument. Moreover, playing can help with everything from dexterity to memory, so it’s beneficial for people of all skills and life stages. Simply putting on background music can help keep some parts of the human mind engaged. However, playing activates even more. I will share everything you need to know for late-blooming guitar players, plus some helpful tips and equipment suggestions as well.
When is it too late to learn guitar? It is never too late to learn the guitar. Anyone, at any age, can pick up a guitar and begin playing. Although younger learned tend to be quicker studies, that doesn’t mean you’re too old to get started. Especially if you have a background in music, you’ll love the challenge and satisfaction of playing.
Guitarists Who Started Late
There are numerous guitarists who ‘started late,’ but most of the stories you’ll find are talking about the practically retired age of about twenty. Hopefully, you laughed at that, but it is seriously never too late to start playing guitar. There are other, later beginning artists who you don’t hear about as often. Mostly that’s because they were more known for their songs than their ages.
The legendary Chuck Berry, aka “The Father of Rock and Roll,” didn’t start playing until he was almost thirty. Likewise, Johnny Ramone of The Ramones didn’t start playing until his mid-twenties. These two incredible musicians both changed music’s history, and neither one started playing as a child. Still, we can do better than that for truly late-blooming famous guitar players.
James Lewis Carter Ford, aka “T-Model Ford”
If you don’t know James Lewis Carter Ford’s music, please add it to your next to-listen list! Going by the name T-Model Ford as a play on the first affordable commercial car, James was probably born around June of nineteen twenty-three. I say probably because he didn’t know his true birthdate.
Telling the whole story of this incredible musician would take a novel. However, I can tell you T-Model Ford was over seventy when he got his first guitar. He didn’t start playing until he retired. Before he died in twenty-thirteen, James Ford released eight blues albums.
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Guitar Tips For Older Beginners
Starting to play the guitar when you are older is not the same as growing up with one in your hands. However, the journey is just as rewarding. Plus, you have real-life experience to draw on for your passion rather than hormones. That can make for some incredible music.
Anything that a younger person considers a disadvantage is more like a superpower. If you are slow, take your time, and you will learn thoroughly. Got hearing problems? Then you need to listen carefully. If your back hurts, you are getting a bonus lesson in posture that will only make life easier.
Older Guitar Player Tips
For many older players, patience with the self is a huge challenge. Luckily, playing the guitar will help you build that. Don’t overtax yourself. Breathe deep, and keep these seven pointers in mind to help you learn.
- Start Small- Begin with five to fifteen minutes per day. Set a timer and build up as your hands become more acclimated to playing.
- Watch Your Posture- As our bodies age, we get fatigued, and pain comes faster. Ensure you are using a footrest if you sit to play and hold your guitar correctly to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your body.
- Consider Going Electric For Peace And Quiet- Especially if you share a wall with neighbors, an electric guitar might seem like the wrong choice. However, you can unplug and play quietly or use headphones if you have hearing difficulties. This is great for people with kids or late schedules as well.
- Use A Capo- Your fingers will thank you for taking advantage of this accessory. As Midlife Guitar points out, “By putting a capo on your guitar you can do two things, one you can reduce the action height from the saddle height down to the fret height which a significant change and also you can shorten the fretboard.”
- Work Your Hands- Hand and finger strength are vital. If you take a few minutes per day to toughen up your fingers, stretch your hands, and exercise them, you will play better.
- Choose The Right Size And Style- Make sure you get the right size guitar for your body. More than that, look at the shape and width of the neck. A wide neck is easier for most people, but small hands do better with a narrower guitar.
- Get A Kit- Don’t shop around for every fiddly accessory. Instead, get a guitar beginners kit, so you have all the necessities. You can always upgrade the parts you want to change later.
Check out the high-quality Best Choice Products 41in Acoustic Guitar Starter Set to get started right away. A foam-padded gig bag helps keep your instrument safe between practice sessions. Meanwhile, you get a great guitar, shoulder strap, replacement guitar strings, capo, digital tuner, guitar pick, and cleaning rag. With no assembly required, you can play right out of the box. To read the outstanding Amazon reviews, click here.
What Is The Best Starter Guitar For Adults
Classical guitars are large and unwieldy, but electrics tend to be heavy with sharp corners. Once you’ve realized it’s not too late to learn how to play guitar, grab an acoustic. The combination of size and weight is ideal for older learners. Plus, this is the most versatile style.
Some acoustic guitars come with a more electric feel. You get the classic, lighter-weight hollow body, but thinner, and it comes with pickups for an amp. Meanwhile, traditional acoustic guitars are great for relaxed playing in a seated position.
When you’re ready to start playing, consider the JMFinger Full Size 41 Inch Cutaway Acoustic Guitar Kit. Available in three stunning color choices, this kit has everything you need to play. Not only is this guitar easy to tune, but it comes with four picks so you can get to playing right away. Best of all, you get a one-month money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty. Click here to choose your favorite color on Amazon and get started sooner.
Is It Harder To Learn Guitar When You Get Older
The cheesy saying about old dogs and new tricks has never been true. This is especially important to remember when you wonder if it’s too late to start learning guitar. That said, I won’t lie to you. It is harder to learn as you get older.
Note that I didn’t say it’s harder to play guitar. Learning, in general, is easier the younger you are because that is how the human mind works. Babies learn more in their first five years than most people learn in the rest of their lives. Moreover, your reflexes and mental flexibility tend to be greater as a youth.
So, what’s the secret to keeping your mind and hands functioning like a younger person? You’re already considering it. Playing music, whether in person or even merely in the background, helps improve mental acuity. Furthermore, you’ll be working out your hand and arm muscles as you practice.
The benefits don’t stop there. Playing music can reduce stress and blood pressure. Music even helps with better sleep, mood, and memory. In short, playing music is the key to keeping your mind young.
Sure, it would be great to go back in time and learn to play guitar earlier. Until science makes that possible, work with what you’ve got. Starting now is the best time in your life to improve the rest of your life.
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Final Thoughts
Don’t let something as arbitrary as age define what you can or should do. Music is more than just good fun. Playing will help your body and mind stay active and learn in new and engaging ways you never realized before.
It doesn’t matter whether you start slow or fast. Any amount of practice is good, just as any amount of learning is good. Once you start playing the guitar, you’ll see just how much it does for you. Better still, the sense of accomplishment has no limit.
People who say you’re too old to learn are too young to know what they’re talking about. Playing the guitar is for everyone, and anyone who says otherwise is being rude, not honest.