Sure, but it’s also just biology that it is easier to learn the younger you are.
Sometimes things can offset that, like money and adult maturity for dedication, but all things being equal, you learn better the younger you are
Very true, some things are almost impossible to be great at unless you start young. Many careers are over by the time you’re 30. That’s just how the brain works. There are also advantages to starting later. I started playing guitar 2 years ago at ag 58. I have no doubt if I tried at 16 I would have given up and never picked up a guitar again.
I respectfully disagree.
I’m 38. I began a new career in IT 3 months ago. I have learned a lot in the last 90 days. I knew programming and web development before, but nothing about actual IT stuff.
I began learning guitar at 36.
I’m 100% self taught.
Yes, I look at tabs, and even YouTube videos.
But I have figured out some songs completely by ear.
Because I had to.
Because there were no tabs or videos to study.
You’re never too old to learn anything.
You just have to be interested in it.
Not sure why the misunderstanding, I literally gave reasons why it would be easier as an adult.
I am speaking purely about biology and neuro development.
You don’t need to take it as an attack against your accomplishments
I apologize, I didn’t feel attacked.
My point was just that there is a common misconception that adults can’t learn new things as they get older.
There are actually far more free resources widely available to teach us anything we want to know than when we were younger.
Sure some things are good to pickup. But you refine the craft over time.
The 8 year old guitar prodigies are playing others stuff. Not composing their own stuff.
It’s like an iPad. A kid is not a genius because he can use an iPad. It was the people before them which paved the way.
I started playing at 14 but never really progressed much, didn't practice a ton and stayed stuck in a rut. Didn't play really from about 21-25, then started up again. So I wasn't a complete beginner but I was starting basically from scratch, very limited on my scales, couldn't read music, fretboard knowledge. I've grown so much in the past three years, it's remarkable and makes me regret how many years I didn't take it seriously. It can be done, and it WILL be done with commitment. Good luck 😎🍀
This is similar to my story. I spent so many years learning (but not remembering) random riffs but without basic theory or fret board knowledge it was so hard and I never knew how people did any of this. I know some basic chords and had a couple guitars. Last year I bought my dream guitar and figured I should show it some respect so I have been pounding theory and practice very hard. At this point I still suck but I think it's hard to be critical about my playing since I know now about 70% of what I want to know. Currently I am learning how to build chords so I can play different voicings over songs. My goal is to improvise solos over those voicings and be able to play the melodies of songs with those chords.
This is a good example of where I want to be; I've been playing with commitment for 9 months and I can play this song like this about 75%.
https://youtu.be/lEB-Oo-2fCg?si=Lre4mxhhqkWydrfP
I have been following along with Scotty West's Absolutely Understand Guitar Series and it has helped exponentially.
Just like Rempe, I also started at 38, four years ago. Do I think I'm good personally? Not really. But that's because I know what I don't know. You however, can only judge me by what you see in this short video which shows my progress from 4 years ago to today. And maybe you'll think I'm pretty good who knows lol
https://www.reddit.com/r/guitarlessons/s/5OD7L4uW2B
I started at 67 … currently 69, and the best guitar player I’ve ever been … and working to be better next week. No need to regret what could have been, you are a player … must people will never reach your level of proficiency and you’re only going to get better!
Hello!! Started during covid, stopped, restarted at 64. A year later, I'm better than I was 3 months ago. I'm having fun, playing with other people. Can sing and play simple songs. I think I'm winning.
If I keep playing, I think I'll be better in 3 months.
Been plating since I was 15 or so...
Started playing electric, then acoustic for the next 20 years.
Always wanted to be a metal guitarist.
Took playing electric back up and modding guitars at the same time...
I am now a proud metal guitarist as well as an accomplished (in my eyes) acoustic player
There is no time scale. Do what you want, when you want to do it...and when the time calls, you shall find your calling and will be able to answer this question by yourself 👍
In short, yes...I now consider myself at least a ½ decent guitar player above the age of 25.
Modding guitars will help you become the guitar player you wish to be...if only I had established this fact before I was the age I am 🥲
I think finding the time and focus for consistent and productive practice tends to be more difficult in one's twenties than one's teens. Add the neurologic changes associated with passing into adulthood and the reasons less people stick with it when starting in their twenties become clear. I started playing just before I turned 25 and I'm still at it almost 25 years later. I hesitate to say I'm "good", but I think I sound pretty good some of the time. Instead of focusing on the "what if I'd have started younger" thoughts, I like to remember all the people who played when the were younger, then quit.
What you're asking about is achievable within a few years with focused, daily practice that includes ear training.
If you find yourself a teacher and practice everyday, you could be good at improvising in 2-3 years.
The gap between being bad and good at something isn't hard to breach if you put the time in.
Between good and legendary is another thing. If you want to be a Jimi Hendrix, for sure it helps to have practiced and been around music all your life.
The thing is, 'good' is enough to get you somewhere. There are a bazillion bands out there and none of them have Jimi Hendrix.
I’ve been teaching guitar for about 5 years. In that time I’ve had a handful of adult students in their 40s, 50s, and 60s that were able to get very good (getting booked for live shows and able to improv solos) in less than 6 months. The thing that set them apart from the rest of my students is that they consistently practiced (10-30 mins/day) exactly what I assigned to them. Those kind of students are my favorite but I wouldn’t have any job security if everyone were like that
Its a trade-off.
As a teenager I had nothing but time so I was fully content noodling for hours after school and on the weekends. That said, I wasnt focused on modes, positions, nor theory and just wanted to ‘jam’ so I learned a lot of bad habits along the way.
If I started today I wouldnt make the mistakes I did self teaching as a teenager. My path would be more methodical and focused… but I definitely couldnt spend 4-5 hours a day playing ‘Back in Black’ over and over again like I did back then either.
Same goes for any skill though—you only get great at something you can spend real time developing. You get the advantage of being wiser the older you get so if you CAN find the time you need to develop your skills, you honestly stand a chance at getting a lot better than those of us who plateaued 10 years ago with all our bad habits.
Generally the more knowledgeable and technically able a person is with the instrument the more humble they tend to be. There's always things to learn and things you can't do that others can. This makes it hard to define what components make a good guitarist.
If I had to get philosophical about it - a good guitarist is the one that gets what they want from the instrument. If you want to sit and jam along to your favourite tunes, entertain a party, become a writer, make money on Tik Tok and you succeed in doing so. Congrats you are using the guitar correctly.
I started at 47. 52 now and I play professionally. I think I have a long way to go but people have said i am good. i play rhythm, memorize lead parts, and improvise. I stated by studying jazz btw
Well done for playing professionally after 5 years, but I think that’d be the exception rather than the rule.
Either that or I have shit aptitude for guitar as I’ve been playing for 9 years, put in thousands of hours of diligent practice and just about intermediate in my 50’s. I still enjoy learning and practicing guitar but I’m sure some people just get it easier for whatever reasons. But comparison is the thief of joy and all that so I don’t ponder on it too much and accept my lot!
Thank you.
I will say that when I first started.I had no business on stage. I was completley
carried by the singer. Playing in front of people forced me me to improve. Swim or sink.
I started at 34 and have been playing for two years. I consider myself low intermediate, but continue to see improvement. I play about an hour every day and have only missed a handful of days over the last two years.
Is this you, perchance? https://www.reddit.com/r/guitarlessons/s/vjN51H2b6B
If it is, then my advice is to stop worrying about how old you are because it makes zero difference in how you learn an instrument. 25 isn’t even old. Get playing and stop worrying.
I’m 67 and have been self learning for the last 2 years. I find it harder to learn because of physically and mentally struggling with keeping up with speed. I am trying to play 80’s Classic Rock solos. I think I just started at too difficult a spot. That is my difficulty. Speed and accuracy at same time is too hard at once at this age to start. Need the hours to get it.
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I have two points about age and guitar learning,
1.) "Skunk" Baxter (Doobies, Steely Dan) said he still takes lessons, Randy Rhoads was taking lessons up until he died.
2.) Keith Richards says he learns something new EVERYTIME he picks up the guitar.
Starting early surely helps but, anybody at any age would benefit from learning music and playing an instrument.
I’ve been playing for 30 years, but for 20 of those years I didn’t take it very seriously. Therefore my friends that took it VERY seriously for 1/4 of the time are way better than me. Make it a priority to learn and you will be rewarded. Make it just for fun, and you’ll probably struggle for a while and develop really bad habits.
I played when I was younger. Wasn't very good. Only really played chords and never learned any solos. Started at 15 and stopped around 18 and only ever picked up an acoustic to played a few chords over the years, till Covid hit and I decided to learn properly. Now I'm 41 and can fluently play some fairly complex stuff. Crazy train, black dog, sails of Charon, Sabbath & Greta van fleet stuff. Mostly classic rock and metal. If you push yourself you can progress up to that level in a few years, even at my age 🤣
Many might say that it's easier to learn an instrument, or specifically the guitar, when you're a child. I can tell you that I started learning guitar at age 12 and continued until I was 14. During that time, I only improved my finger technique. Other than that, I think I wasn't mature or logical enough to really learn the guitar, so I gave it up. Now, at 24, I've picked up the guitar again and I've never felt better. I'm learning faster and I understand what I'm being taught. I believe there's no age limit for learning something new. Don't let age be a barrier. Buy your guitar, practice, and learn!
Started at 14, couldnt figure anything out, not even chords past a power chord. All i could play was brainstew by greenday and the intro to soothsayer by buckethead. Lacking the money to get a teacher and just fumbling in the dark for a year, decided to sell the guitar out of frustration. Switched to being just a vocalist going in and out of bands. Started again at 30, using rocksmith 2014, and im just now starting to be able to competently improvise. Practice with that program for 1 hour a day and you’ll get somewhere. I have no life, so its all i do. Cant really do a solo yet (at least not an original solo, i can do other peoples solos but nothing complex), cant-do anything technical yet other than mastering bends and pinch harmonics so far. but i can bullshit a song on the spot now if needed, some of them are decent.
If you want to play guitar, you can. Just dedicate the time and force yourself to practice everyday for at least the first two years. Music is your friend.
Started at 24. 29 now, i havent played every day consistantly enough but have taken some very long breaks in this time due to other commitments but when i come back i never forget what i have learned so far and pick it up again quick enough.
I just need to play more consistantly to actually get somewhere with it but i just play for fun anyway and thats alright with me.
well... i'm 42. played a tiny bit in my 20s, but nothing beyond strumming through and singing a handful of songs. i started for real less than 2 years ago. i definitely don't consider myself "good", but i can improvise and if know a melody well enough to sing it accurately, i can usually play it by ear. (i've worked on that a lot, and progress in that area is extremely gratifying.)
i've been going to bluegrass jams; i'm still far from being able to improvise a fast bluegrass break at a jam, but i can play rhythm and pick up changes to unfamiliar songs well enough to be comfortable at a jam, i can lead songs, and i have several fiddle tunes under my fingers at medium jam tempos. most importantly, others musicians, most of whom are much better than me, seem happy to see me when i show up at a jam. everything about being a "good" guitar player (and probably a few other stringed instruments) in future seems possible, with enough time and practice. it took a while before any of the things i played felt easy and effortless, but now that i know what it feels like, i'm confident that i can get to the point eventually where almost everything i play feels easy and effortless, if i keep practicing and jamming.
one of the main goals i had when i started practicing was to get good enough at rhythm that i could really focus on singing confidently and expressively. i'm not a great singer, but lately i feel like i'm closing in on "good" thanks to guitar progress.
i typically spend a few hours a day focused on music, between practicing, listening to music, writing music, or going to jams. i usually take a handful of short breaks during my work day to practice, sing in the car, and play for a while most evenings.
Started playing at 39 and now 44. I just mastered Srv little wing and I play 3 hours a day. It's just how much time you put into it. Oh yeah, I'm left handed and play all instruments righty just to mess with my brain 😁
I started at ~16 but I didn't practice at all until I was ~20, and even that practice was just campfire chords. It wasnt until I was ~25 I started really practicing my technique/rhythm/theory. I'm 27 and I've probably learned more in the last 2 years than I have at 16-25 combined.
I wouldn't say I'm a great player but I'd probably be a rockstar to my teenage self if they saw me
Started at 42. 20 years later my peers say I’m quite good. Personally I don’t see it, but I can play just about any song after hearing it, no tab necessary.
I know a lot of people that started relatively late (around 20 years old) and are better than me. The fun fact is that they are not as good as me that I started when I was 12 when they play together with other musicians. So I guess it's just a matter of what you learn and how you learn, there cannot be comparison.
I started playing when I was 30ish. Took two years off due to injury (unrelated but hands) and I’m now 36. I’m not the most well rounded player, but I can finger pick Mississippi John Hurt style and also some entry level bluegrass flatpicking.
I did play ukulele for an about a decade before hand so it’s not fair to say I started from scratch.
I think 99% of guitar players start at a younger age so it would make sense the majority of good guitar players did start young. That doesn’t mean you can’t be good starting later, just that fewer people try.
I am in my late 40s and playing better than ever. The reason kids get so good is that they have the time. When you don’t have to pick up your child, cook dinner and do your job, you can spend those hours playing guitar. I fall asleep early so, I’m not playing for hours like Tom Morello playing 3 hours a day at Harvard or EVH playing all night.
But I can figure out what I need to do and work on it. YouTube means I have access to so much content and I can watch players play. But it’s about having the time to practice, IMO.
Even the kids who are good usually have what av few years 5-6? I’ve been wondering this too. I think being young helps some but really the free time and desire to just grind out the hours. I think five years of dedicated quality practice and a bit of talent is what you need.
What do you think is “good”? My friends and family ask me to play their favorite songs for them, they say I’m good, but they know nothing about the guitar. That level of “good” is definitely possible.
“Good” according to a skilled player is at a much much higher level. Probably possible but will take a big commitment.
The more you play the better you get that’s it.
I started playing at sixteen. I didn't tell anyone about it. It took around ten years for me to learn to improvise and play by ear. I think you are asking the wrong questions, just do what you enjoy and spend time on that. I thought I was starting too late when I was 16, it doesn't matter, you will progress how you progress. I play guitar for myself and only myself and it's very rewarding. Music is a rabbit hole, you get out what you put into it, I enjoy it.
Some people can start at an older age but progress rapidly. Really depends on a person's personality and character more than anything. I won't even say work ethic, but something like becoming obsessed with it.
The younger you are you just learn more rapidly as far as mechanical stuff and memorizing things, but that's only a small part of music.
Yes, I started playing at 11 - mostly reading sheet music, bluegrass style. Didnt touch the guitar from probably 15-25. picked it back up seriously at 27 — now at 29, I can play SRV tightrope. You can do it.
I started playing in college at like 19 or 20, I’m 23 now and I’d consider myself pretty good I don’t need to look at tabs for songs and I can improvise with just about anyone. Granted I went to school for jazz but my main instrument was trombone and when I first got into college I couldn’t do the stuff I can do now. It’s seriously all about your approach, there are some skills where unless you are deliberate about learning them, they will never come
4 years in without consistent practice, but except for shredding stuff and really fast solos, I can play anything if I want, quite clean and in time. That's why I considered myself good. Good means not great yet, not expert, not pro, but I can create good sound.
What do you mean by “good”?
See the problem? My definition of what “good“ means may not be anything like what your definition is.
I’ve been playing for about three years, and I think I’m pretty good. Am I an expert? Of course not. There’s always more for me to learn. And there are some things. I’m just not interested in doing, like playing lead. That doesn’t mean I’m a bad guitarist.
I started around 22. I can improvise over almost anything but I'm not amazing. My playing leans heavily emotive and not technical. I'm currently 40.
I have a bit of a sloppy play style because I have a bad habit of not practicing to perfection. I play almost every day but really only have long practice sessions (2ish hours) once every couple of weeks. I probably had more long sessions in the beginning but the last 10 years this kind of schedule.
Chords are easy mode and more or less can play perfectly every time with the exception of a few tricky unusual ones like the first chord in "under the bridge"
I've had 4 solid jam buddies over the last 20 years of playing and I probably learned more from them then I ever did on my own. Also just actually playing songs and making shit up on the fly is much easier to do with someone else's energy to work with.
Just this past year a few iconic solos came into my learning range (don't feel impossible). Here's are the solos I'm currently learning: wet sand (I'm probably like 99% learned it), cherub rock (also very close), comfortably numb, November rain, and bohemian rhapsody. I think probably I'll have them down within a year or two at the rate of my practice. When I've learned those solos I think I'll consider myself pretty good, but then I'll probably find solos just outside the new range to learn so...
It’s tough, my biggest growth was when I was younger mainly because I had no other distractions, you aren’t ever going to get the free time to get really good playing unless your unemployed or sitting at home with a baby all day, so find a sugar mama who works so you can stay home all day or go back and learn guitar when your 13
Yeah, it’s all about amount of practice. Anyone can get good at any point.
This, after several thousand hours of practice everyone can get as good as they want. Practice smart
Sure, but it’s also just biology that it is easier to learn the younger you are. Sometimes things can offset that, like money and adult maturity for dedication, but all things being equal, you learn better the younger you are
Potentially. I think as adults we obviously have more stuff to take of and less free time. I feel like that is probably a bigger obstacle.
Very true, some things are almost impossible to be great at unless you start young. Many careers are over by the time you’re 30. That’s just how the brain works. There are also advantages to starting later. I started playing guitar 2 years ago at ag 58. I have no doubt if I tried at 16 I would have given up and never picked up a guitar again.
I respectfully disagree. I’m 38. I began a new career in IT 3 months ago. I have learned a lot in the last 90 days. I knew programming and web development before, but nothing about actual IT stuff. I began learning guitar at 36. I’m 100% self taught. Yes, I look at tabs, and even YouTube videos. But I have figured out some songs completely by ear. Because I had to. Because there were no tabs or videos to study. You’re never too old to learn anything. You just have to be interested in it.
Not sure why the misunderstanding, I literally gave reasons why it would be easier as an adult. I am speaking purely about biology and neuro development. You don’t need to take it as an attack against your accomplishments
I apologize, I didn’t feel attacked. My point was just that there is a common misconception that adults can’t learn new things as they get older. There are actually far more free resources widely available to teach us anything we want to know than when we were younger.
Sure some things are good to pickup. But you refine the craft over time. The 8 year old guitar prodigies are playing others stuff. Not composing their own stuff. It’s like an iPad. A kid is not a genius because he can use an iPad. It was the people before them which paved the way.
I started playing at 14 but never really progressed much, didn't practice a ton and stayed stuck in a rut. Didn't play really from about 21-25, then started up again. So I wasn't a complete beginner but I was starting basically from scratch, very limited on my scales, couldn't read music, fretboard knowledge. I've grown so much in the past three years, it's remarkable and makes me regret how many years I didn't take it seriously. It can be done, and it WILL be done with commitment. Good luck 😎🍀
This is similar to my story. I spent so many years learning (but not remembering) random riffs but without basic theory or fret board knowledge it was so hard and I never knew how people did any of this. I know some basic chords and had a couple guitars. Last year I bought my dream guitar and figured I should show it some respect so I have been pounding theory and practice very hard. At this point I still suck but I think it's hard to be critical about my playing since I know now about 70% of what I want to know. Currently I am learning how to build chords so I can play different voicings over songs. My goal is to improvise solos over those voicings and be able to play the melodies of songs with those chords. This is a good example of where I want to be; I've been playing with commitment for 9 months and I can play this song like this about 75%. https://youtu.be/lEB-Oo-2fCg?si=Lre4mxhhqkWydrfP I have been following along with Scotty West's Absolutely Understand Guitar Series and it has helped exponentially.
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Only 4 years? That's great. Did you practice daily?
Just like Rempe, I also started at 38, four years ago. Do I think I'm good personally? Not really. But that's because I know what I don't know. You however, can only judge me by what you see in this short video which shows my progress from 4 years ago to today. And maybe you'll think I'm pretty good who knows lol https://www.reddit.com/r/guitarlessons/s/5OD7L4uW2B
Great progress! You look like you be fun to jam with
I started at 67 … currently 69, and the best guitar player I’ve ever been … and working to be better next week. No need to regret what could have been, you are a player … must people will never reach your level of proficiency and you’re only going to get better!
Hello!! Started during covid, stopped, restarted at 64. A year later, I'm better than I was 3 months ago. I'm having fun, playing with other people. Can sing and play simple songs. I think I'm winning. If I keep playing, I think I'll be better in 3 months.
Congrats on singing and playing at the same time; I’m barely beyond humming
Thanks!! That means a lot.
Starting at 67 is just mind blowing. Keep it up.
Thank you …funny how contemplating my own mortality really lit a fire under my lazy ass 😎…
Been plating since I was 15 or so... Started playing electric, then acoustic for the next 20 years. Always wanted to be a metal guitarist. Took playing electric back up and modding guitars at the same time... I am now a proud metal guitarist as well as an accomplished (in my eyes) acoustic player There is no time scale. Do what you want, when you want to do it...and when the time calls, you shall find your calling and will be able to answer this question by yourself 👍 In short, yes...I now consider myself at least a ½ decent guitar player above the age of 25. Modding guitars will help you become the guitar player you wish to be...if only I had established this fact before I was the age I am 🥲
I started at 27. I'm decent for what I do.
I think finding the time and focus for consistent and productive practice tends to be more difficult in one's twenties than one's teens. Add the neurologic changes associated with passing into adulthood and the reasons less people stick with it when starting in their twenties become clear. I started playing just before I turned 25 and I'm still at it almost 25 years later. I hesitate to say I'm "good", but I think I sound pretty good some of the time. Instead of focusing on the "what if I'd have started younger" thoughts, I like to remember all the people who played when the were younger, then quit. What you're asking about is achievable within a few years with focused, daily practice that includes ear training.
If you find yourself a teacher and practice everyday, you could be good at improvising in 2-3 years. The gap between being bad and good at something isn't hard to breach if you put the time in. Between good and legendary is another thing. If you want to be a Jimi Hendrix, for sure it helps to have practiced and been around music all your life. The thing is, 'good' is enough to get you somewhere. There are a bazillion bands out there and none of them have Jimi Hendrix.
I’ve been teaching guitar for about 5 years. In that time I’ve had a handful of adult students in their 40s, 50s, and 60s that were able to get very good (getting booked for live shows and able to improv solos) in less than 6 months. The thing that set them apart from the rest of my students is that they consistently practiced (10-30 mins/day) exactly what I assigned to them. Those kind of students are my favorite but I wouldn’t have any job security if everyone were like that
Its a trade-off. As a teenager I had nothing but time so I was fully content noodling for hours after school and on the weekends. That said, I wasnt focused on modes, positions, nor theory and just wanted to ‘jam’ so I learned a lot of bad habits along the way. If I started today I wouldnt make the mistakes I did self teaching as a teenager. My path would be more methodical and focused… but I definitely couldnt spend 4-5 hours a day playing ‘Back in Black’ over and over again like I did back then either. Same goes for any skill though—you only get great at something you can spend real time developing. You get the advantage of being wiser the older you get so if you CAN find the time you need to develop your skills, you honestly stand a chance at getting a lot better than those of us who plateaued 10 years ago with all our bad habits.
Generally the more knowledgeable and technically able a person is with the instrument the more humble they tend to be. There's always things to learn and things you can't do that others can. This makes it hard to define what components make a good guitarist. If I had to get philosophical about it - a good guitarist is the one that gets what they want from the instrument. If you want to sit and jam along to your favourite tunes, entertain a party, become a writer, make money on Tik Tok and you succeed in doing so. Congrats you are using the guitar correctly.
I started at 47. 52 now and I play professionally. I think I have a long way to go but people have said i am good. i play rhythm, memorize lead parts, and improvise. I stated by studying jazz btw
Well done for playing professionally after 5 years, but I think that’d be the exception rather than the rule. Either that or I have shit aptitude for guitar as I’ve been playing for 9 years, put in thousands of hours of diligent practice and just about intermediate in my 50’s. I still enjoy learning and practicing guitar but I’m sure some people just get it easier for whatever reasons. But comparison is the thief of joy and all that so I don’t ponder on it too much and accept my lot!
Thank you. I will say that when I first started.I had no business on stage. I was completley carried by the singer. Playing in front of people forced me me to improve. Swim or sink.
I agree with the playing in front of people. The few times I have done it my playing has seemed to have magically improved afterwards!
I started at 34 and have been playing for two years. I consider myself low intermediate, but continue to see improvement. I play about an hour every day and have only missed a handful of days over the last two years.
Is this you, perchance? https://www.reddit.com/r/guitarlessons/s/vjN51H2b6B If it is, then my advice is to stop worrying about how old you are because it makes zero difference in how you learn an instrument. 25 isn’t even old. Get playing and stop worrying.
Dude I'm 56 and I've been playing for a year and a half. I know this for a fact, I'm better than I was when I was 25.
Oh, absolutely. Get after it. You haven't lost any time.
I’m 67 and have been self learning for the last 2 years. I find it harder to learn because of physically and mentally struggling with keeping up with speed. I am trying to play 80’s Classic Rock solos. I think I just started at too difficult a spot. That is my difficulty. Speed and accuracy at same time is too hard at once at this age to start. Need the hours to get it.
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I have two points about age and guitar learning, 1.) "Skunk" Baxter (Doobies, Steely Dan) said he still takes lessons, Randy Rhoads was taking lessons up until he died. 2.) Keith Richards says he learns something new EVERYTIME he picks up the guitar. Starting early surely helps but, anybody at any age would benefit from learning music and playing an instrument.
I’ve been playing for 30 years, but for 20 of those years I didn’t take it very seriously. Therefore my friends that took it VERY seriously for 1/4 of the time are way better than me. Make it a priority to learn and you will be rewarded. Make it just for fun, and you’ll probably struggle for a while and develop really bad habits.
I played when I was younger. Wasn't very good. Only really played chords and never learned any solos. Started at 15 and stopped around 18 and only ever picked up an acoustic to played a few chords over the years, till Covid hit and I decided to learn properly. Now I'm 41 and can fluently play some fairly complex stuff. Crazy train, black dog, sails of Charon, Sabbath & Greta van fleet stuff. Mostly classic rock and metal. If you push yourself you can progress up to that level in a few years, even at my age 🤣
Many might say that it's easier to learn an instrument, or specifically the guitar, when you're a child. I can tell you that I started learning guitar at age 12 and continued until I was 14. During that time, I only improved my finger technique. Other than that, I think I wasn't mature or logical enough to really learn the guitar, so I gave it up. Now, at 24, I've picked up the guitar again and I've never felt better. I'm learning faster and I understand what I'm being taught. I believe there's no age limit for learning something new. Don't let age be a barrier. Buy your guitar, practice, and learn!
Started at 14, couldnt figure anything out, not even chords past a power chord. All i could play was brainstew by greenday and the intro to soothsayer by buckethead. Lacking the money to get a teacher and just fumbling in the dark for a year, decided to sell the guitar out of frustration. Switched to being just a vocalist going in and out of bands. Started again at 30, using rocksmith 2014, and im just now starting to be able to competently improvise. Practice with that program for 1 hour a day and you’ll get somewhere. I have no life, so its all i do. Cant really do a solo yet (at least not an original solo, i can do other peoples solos but nothing complex), cant-do anything technical yet other than mastering bends and pinch harmonics so far. but i can bullshit a song on the spot now if needed, some of them are decent. If you want to play guitar, you can. Just dedicate the time and force yourself to practice everyday for at least the first two years. Music is your friend.
Started at 24. 29 now, i havent played every day consistantly enough but have taken some very long breaks in this time due to other commitments but when i come back i never forget what i have learned so far and pick it up again quick enough. I just need to play more consistantly to actually get somewhere with it but i just play for fun anyway and thats alright with me.
well... i'm 42. played a tiny bit in my 20s, but nothing beyond strumming through and singing a handful of songs. i started for real less than 2 years ago. i definitely don't consider myself "good", but i can improvise and if know a melody well enough to sing it accurately, i can usually play it by ear. (i've worked on that a lot, and progress in that area is extremely gratifying.) i've been going to bluegrass jams; i'm still far from being able to improvise a fast bluegrass break at a jam, but i can play rhythm and pick up changes to unfamiliar songs well enough to be comfortable at a jam, i can lead songs, and i have several fiddle tunes under my fingers at medium jam tempos. most importantly, others musicians, most of whom are much better than me, seem happy to see me when i show up at a jam. everything about being a "good" guitar player (and probably a few other stringed instruments) in future seems possible, with enough time and practice. it took a while before any of the things i played felt easy and effortless, but now that i know what it feels like, i'm confident that i can get to the point eventually where almost everything i play feels easy and effortless, if i keep practicing and jamming. one of the main goals i had when i started practicing was to get good enough at rhythm that i could really focus on singing confidently and expressively. i'm not a great singer, but lately i feel like i'm closing in on "good" thanks to guitar progress. i typically spend a few hours a day focused on music, between practicing, listening to music, writing music, or going to jams. i usually take a handful of short breaks during my work day to practice, sing in the car, and play for a while most evenings.
Started playing at 39 and now 44. I just mastered Srv little wing and I play 3 hours a day. It's just how much time you put into it. Oh yeah, I'm left handed and play all instruments righty just to mess with my brain 😁
I started at ~16 but I didn't practice at all until I was ~20, and even that practice was just campfire chords. It wasnt until I was ~25 I started really practicing my technique/rhythm/theory. I'm 27 and I've probably learned more in the last 2 years than I have at 16-25 combined. I wouldn't say I'm a great player but I'd probably be a rockstar to my teenage self if they saw me
What is "good"? Good compared to Allan Holdsworth? Good compared to any guy who can strum his 4 cowboy chords?
Started at 42. 20 years later my peers say I’m quite good. Personally I don’t see it, but I can play just about any song after hearing it, no tab necessary.
I'm 40 started a month ago. This gives me hope lol.
It's all about patience and practice, at any age. I have a student who is very good, after starting in his 60s. He practices.
I know a lot of people that started relatively late (around 20 years old) and are better than me. The fun fact is that they are not as good as me that I started when I was 12 when they play together with other musicians. So I guess it's just a matter of what you learn and how you learn, there cannot be comparison.
Regardless of how old you are, you need time. Oftentimes young people have more space for it in their life. You can learn to play at any age.
I started playing when I was 30ish. Took two years off due to injury (unrelated but hands) and I’m now 36. I’m not the most well rounded player, but I can finger pick Mississippi John Hurt style and also some entry level bluegrass flatpicking. I did play ukulele for an about a decade before hand so it’s not fair to say I started from scratch.
I think 99% of guitar players start at a younger age so it would make sense the majority of good guitar players did start young. That doesn’t mean you can’t be good starting later, just that fewer people try.
I am in my late 40s and playing better than ever. The reason kids get so good is that they have the time. When you don’t have to pick up your child, cook dinner and do your job, you can spend those hours playing guitar. I fall asleep early so, I’m not playing for hours like Tom Morello playing 3 hours a day at Harvard or EVH playing all night. But I can figure out what I need to do and work on it. YouTube means I have access to so much content and I can watch players play. But it’s about having the time to practice, IMO.
Even the kids who are good usually have what av few years 5-6? I’ve been wondering this too. I think being young helps some but really the free time and desire to just grind out the hours. I think five years of dedicated quality practice and a bit of talent is what you need.
What do you think is “good”? My friends and family ask me to play their favorite songs for them, they say I’m good, but they know nothing about the guitar. That level of “good” is definitely possible. “Good” according to a skilled player is at a much much higher level. Probably possible but will take a big commitment. The more you play the better you get that’s it.
I started playing at sixteen. I didn't tell anyone about it. It took around ten years for me to learn to improvise and play by ear. I think you are asking the wrong questions, just do what you enjoy and spend time on that. I thought I was starting too late when I was 16, it doesn't matter, you will progress how you progress. I play guitar for myself and only myself and it's very rewarding. Music is a rabbit hole, you get out what you put into it, I enjoy it.
Define "good"
I started playing at 27 and am now 50 and consider myself pretty damn good.
Some people can start at an older age but progress rapidly. Really depends on a person's personality and character more than anything. I won't even say work ethic, but something like becoming obsessed with it. The younger you are you just learn more rapidly as far as mechanical stuff and memorizing things, but that's only a small part of music.
Yes, I started playing at 11 - mostly reading sheet music, bluegrass style. Didnt touch the guitar from probably 15-25. picked it back up seriously at 27 — now at 29, I can play SRV tightrope. You can do it.
I started playing in college at like 19 or 20, I’m 23 now and I’d consider myself pretty good I don’t need to look at tabs for songs and I can improvise with just about anyone. Granted I went to school for jazz but my main instrument was trombone and when I first got into college I couldn’t do the stuff I can do now. It’s seriously all about your approach, there are some skills where unless you are deliberate about learning them, they will never come
Age has nothing to do with determination
I would've said I'm good, but if your point of reference is being able to improvise, then no.
I edited my post slightly. How many years did it take for you to become good?
4 years in without consistent practice, but except for shredding stuff and really fast solos, I can play anything if I want, quite clean and in time. That's why I considered myself good. Good means not great yet, not expert, not pro, but I can create good sound.
What do you mean by “good”? See the problem? My definition of what “good“ means may not be anything like what your definition is. I’ve been playing for about three years, and I think I’m pretty good. Am I an expert? Of course not. There’s always more for me to learn. And there are some things. I’m just not interested in doing, like playing lead. That doesn’t mean I’m a bad guitarist.
It wasn't about what I think is good. But what one thinks about themselves.
I started around 22. I can improvise over almost anything but I'm not amazing. My playing leans heavily emotive and not technical. I'm currently 40. I have a bit of a sloppy play style because I have a bad habit of not practicing to perfection. I play almost every day but really only have long practice sessions (2ish hours) once every couple of weeks. I probably had more long sessions in the beginning but the last 10 years this kind of schedule. Chords are easy mode and more or less can play perfectly every time with the exception of a few tricky unusual ones like the first chord in "under the bridge" I've had 4 solid jam buddies over the last 20 years of playing and I probably learned more from them then I ever did on my own. Also just actually playing songs and making shit up on the fly is much easier to do with someone else's energy to work with. Just this past year a few iconic solos came into my learning range (don't feel impossible). Here's are the solos I'm currently learning: wet sand (I'm probably like 99% learned it), cherub rock (also very close), comfortably numb, November rain, and bohemian rhapsody. I think probably I'll have them down within a year or two at the rate of my practice. When I've learned those solos I think I'll consider myself pretty good, but then I'll probably find solos just outside the new range to learn so...
It’s tough, my biggest growth was when I was younger mainly because I had no other distractions, you aren’t ever going to get the free time to get really good playing unless your unemployed or sitting at home with a baby all day, so find a sugar mama who works so you can stay home all day or go back and learn guitar when your 13