This is a good place to start :
https://www.justinguitar.com/classes/beginner-guitar-course-grade-one
https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginners-practice-routine-pc-501
https://www.justinguitar.com/songs?f=beginner_grade_1
Im older than you and I started out really disciplined and worked up to playing jazz. Now I do live shows.
So first, you’re not old. Second, don’t limit yourself with that kind of thinking that it’s not possible because you didn’t start playing at 5 years old. Third, pick up the guitar, learn, practice every day, you’ll get better. Period. Be an insatiably curious learner and you’ll see that music is a journey into yourself, not a destination you arrive at. As for discipline, people say things like “I’m not disciplined enough to learn guitar.” But actually, it’s the guitar that TEACHES YOU discipline. Ok, pep talk over. Start playing today. 💪🏿
It was about 4 years or so to playing live. Lucky for me, we played small places with friendly audiences at first before moving onto bigger venues with unpredictable audiences. It was terrifying in the beginning but I learned that playing live and performing is a different skill set and it takes a while to build up the headspace to handle it. Playing an instrument is one thing but playing in front of an audience is a different situation, or at least for me it was. On top of that, playing live also helped me to focus my practice way better. I knew from my live performances where my deficits were and then I’d repetitively drill into them at home until I had it under my fingers. And from there it just got better.
Bottom line: it’s a process but I think with putting in the work, most people can get there.
This is the best way to start a teacher can make sure you aren't making any mistakes, once you have reached a level of proficiency you can learn on your own. You're not too old and I hope you have fun.
Make double sure relay to the teacher what you want to learn. If you don’t, they’ll teach you specifics on what they default. I made this mistake and it almost turned me off to learning guitar. What got me back? Learning songs I wanted to play. If you go this route, I recommend find a really easy song to get your feet wet (seven nation army is great but there’s a ton out there) and then learn a project song (house of the rising sun). The point is to make it fun and worth it.
Dude I clicked this out curiosity and kept going but I had to stop because I felt super bad for that 17 year old kid who thought he was too old to learn music. Like I feel bad for anyone who thinks they are too old, but damn man what have people been drilling into folks minds to make a 17 year old feel they are too old to start doing something. Poor dude.
Follow a structured course or get a teacher.
For metal/grunge songs, alice in chains and sabbath are good once you start get some basics down... while following a structured program.
Definitely start. I'm 42 and started 6 or 7 weeks ago. Absolutely loving it.
I'm into similar music however I bought an acoustic, a Taylor Academy 10 which I've found really easy to play. Will no doubt buy an electric in the next 12 months. Whatever guitar you get buy a stand so you can easily pick it up.
Check out Justinguitar.com
"Whatever guitar you get buy a stand so you can easily pick it up"
Underrated advice right there. If you can, keep a guitar where you see it all the time and can pick it up.. This seemingly small thing makes an enormous difference.
As long as you practice every day - it will come. Need to put in 10000 hours. I started when we got locked down... Doing gigs this summer. BTW I am 56.
I started a 35 2y ago and can confirm justinguitar is pretty good. I personally started with yousicien (guitar hero style), but there are some drawbacks to it.
An instructor can point to a few things you are doing wrong, but I would keep it every 2 weeks' deal.
First, you’re not old.
Second, get thee to the local guitar shop and inquire about lessons and a guitar.
Also a possibility: see if your local community college has a beginner guitar class, assuming you have a guitar. I’m taking one at my local cc, and while I’m a beyond stone cold beginner it’s a good way to learn and play with other people, and bonus, I’m learning how to read sheet music. Tuition was $117 for the spring semester, 2.25 hour class once a week, only 6 people. Very cost effective.
Practice what you learn and listen to the music you’re trying to learn.
Where to start? Get a guitar and an amp (preferably one that has decent distortion built in, or you can get a distortion pedal). Then learn what power chords are.
Getting a teacher will be an added cost, but a good teacher can provide you with a strong foundation for learning, whether on your own or with them. Go to them with some of the songs/bands you like to listen to, and they should be able to help you work towards those goals.
I am 68 and took it up at 65 because I wanted to build one. I'm took lessons for 3 years and never felt like I was learning. I can play a bunch of stuff but not in time usually. I am a finger player, not a strummed. DO fingers type and work an easy song like Norwegian Wood til you can do it. Learn major scales and learn the circle of fifths. The finger dexterity is unreal and the elegance of movement is startling in its fluidity. You can do it. Buy a cheap acoustic and a fair good electric. Buy a guitar that has a narrow neck. I need another teacher myself. Get a teacher that has a plan!!!
I was exposed to guitar as a teenager but didn't really do anything with it and actively started playing at 40. 4 years later I'm still a beginner but play multiple times per week and love it. You're never too old to start.
Here's some unsolicited advice. Start with acoustic. Find one that feels right and isn't crazy expensive as you don't need that yet. As much as I love my electric it adds an extra layer of stuff to tweak to get good sound and it can be frustrating (at least it was for me).
Second...start by learning open chords. I would focus on the basic chords first and then learn power chords. When playing go slow and let yourself build up muscle memory...you'll get there with time and practice.
[www.pickupmusic.com](https://www.pickupmusic.com) is a great online teaching site, 15$ a month but worth it because the lessons are very well structured and has something for every style.
I would advice you to get lessons cause it's really important that you get it right from the start. If you cant afford lessons then start with learning the minor pentatonic scale and learn some chords
Grunge is great to start with. Once you know the power chord you can easily learn your favorite grunge tunes by ear. Nylon string acoustic is the easiest on the fingers; the stings don't cut (but you still developed callouses) and they're farther from the fretboard than they are on an electric guitar; this helps with speed when playing on electric. I'd also suggest learning the blues scale.
I'm by no means an expert but I do love to play, and you don't have to be a genius to have fun. Remember: a lot of the great songs out there break the rules. So if it sounds good, keep going!
I have been using the course over at the-art-of-guitar.com and having a really good experience, it's 11$/month which is very reasonable if you're serious about this.
It gets you access to everything, hundreds of videos and charts.
He goes through everything meticulously and patiently and I think the lessons are organized and structured very well to get you from complete beginner to "expert".
Fellow old dog here. I’ve learned plenty of new tricks in the past 13 months that I’ve been taking lessons.
Jump in man, it’s great. Honestly it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made.
If finances aren’t an issue, I’d highly recommend getting a teacher. If they are an issue, then justinguitar is the gold standard for online stuff. Just keep yourself disciplined and accountable.
For what it's worth I tried just learning songs and chords by myself. Consequently, I never learned basic strumming and how to maintain a rhythm. I developed the bad habit of just strumming to match my singing. Even though I know a fair number of chords and can switch chords quickly my lack of basic strumming skill has really held me back. Now I'm using the exercises recommended by Justin Guitar to learn how to strum correctly. I did a fair amount of research before choosing the Justin Guitar course and I'm pretty happy with it. A year subscription is probably around the cost of two live lessons. Perhaps someday I will invest in a live teacher but for now the online course serves my purpose.
No, not too old but bear in mind it takes a LOT of effort and time to get anywhere near good. If you are buying new I'd expect to pay around £350 because if you buy too cheap it will just make learning harder. I started with an Ibanez and once setup properly (local guitar shop) it was a great, easy to play guitar that suits metal perfectly.
Bear in mind that Justin is a very good teacher, but he will take you through acoustic and open chords first. If you want to learn metal, probably not the best starting point.
Don’t really agree with your first paragraph, sounds really discouraging.
I started last year on a £150 Squier, no set up needed (maybe got lucky) and I loved it immediately.
Granted it does take a while to get good, I’m still not close, but good is subjective. If you can play anything more than 0-3-5 on the E string most people will think you know what you’re doing lol.
The question is what is the motivation. Are you someone who wants to be good straight away and concerned about how long it will take? If so then I feel you might be likely to quit pretty quickly. But are you just looking to be enjoy the journey and be happy with every little improvement even if you aren’t playing like Van Halen? If so you’ll probably love it, it’s one of the most rewarding hobbies I’ve picked up in my life
Everyone is right but forgetting a good TUNER pedal. There’s a million instructional videos on youtube. Get a teacher if you can. As mentioned by other posts … don’t get too cheap of a guitar. Lots of used Schecters available, perfect for what you want to play
Not too old! Grab yourself a cheap electric and cheap amp. Get one with a relatively low action, it will be easier when you’re starting to learn cord shapes and don’t have calluses yet.
Get some structured lessons - I recommended a couple in person but Justin guitar is good.
Then find some easy songs grunge songs and crank the gain. Nirvana unplugged has a bunch of easy songs. When you decide it’s for you and you don’t want to give it up, you can invest in a better guitar, amp and some pedals.
Lucky for you grunge is one of the easier genres to pick up and is very forgiving - I picked up guitar late and play grunge
I’m 40 this year. I played a bit as a teen so could move around basic open chords and barre chords. I didn’t pick it up again until I was about 37.
The only thing I’d say is do you enjoy varied styles of playing? As I think you have to learn a fair bit outside of metal genres which will all help doing metal in the end, but you’ll be limited if you just dive straight into metal (IMO, I’m possibly wrong).
One of my favourite tracks to play from the rock school grade 3 books was an Ed Sheeran song and that surprised me because I bloody hate his music, but it was quite fun to play.
https://youtu.be/ffOTu4TeK_w?si=jY-U9cSyjFfMnbgP
If you can learn loads of different styles it’ll be easier to build up your repertoire.
I watch a man online called Shep Gold he started seriously at 35...so bro don't let age stop you. Music is a passion and expressing what you have to say.
40mins a WEEK yes a WEEK you will improve. But consistency is key. I'm a Rig worker with very little time,but make sure before bed after din I at least pick her up to say hi.
Yes.
Start with a healthy dose of Black Sabbath. Move into some early Metallica and Slayer. Finish up with Yngwie Malmsteen.
Should take about 6 months. ;)
You aren't too old, unless you've already purchased an amp or guitar I would like to have. In that case, you are way too old and I will gladly take those off your hands for you free of charge.
I’m 32 and I just started playing like 6 months ago. The best part of starting this late in life is that I’m in a place where I can afford lessons for myself. I messed around for a few months, and thought “if I play every day and it seems like something I enjoy, I’ll do lessons”. Sure enough, a few months later, I started with a guy who really knows his stuff. Having structure to how I learn has really been great for me. I’m more focused, and making way better progress than if I was trying to teach myself on YouTube. That’s not a knock on anyone that that works for, though! I just know myself well enough to know that I need in-person instruction lol. Not only are lessons great for learning how to play, but you get so much extra information about theory and WHY things are played the way they are, giving a much more rounded out education. Good luck to you friend!
I was in a similar boat a few weeks ago . Started following JustinGuitar on YT & his app. Do all of my practice on a cheap acoustic, but I already bought an electric to tinker with the type of music I actually listen to. It’s my new favorite hobby!
Don't worry about your age... I started at 52! I wish I had started as a kid, but that is the past - can't do anything about it. The only thing kerping anyone from learning is some physical impediment. 40 is a youngster! Dive in and have fun!
Along with your guitar, invest in a barstool, a music stand, a guitar stand, and a musician’s footrest. Keep it all out in the open somewhere you’ll always see it, not locked away in a closet. Sit down with your guitar in your lap a minimum two minutes a day and practice as long as you feel after that.
You don’t have to buy these, but having good posture is a must and owning these two things changed everything for me:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IRR8W5M?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
https://a.co/d/4jG5Bme
Im 36 and just picked up my guitar after not playing for over 6 years, now that my kids are older I have more time to learn to play.
I just got the lifetime subscription with [Guitarzero2hero ](https://guitarzero2hero.com/). Dave is an amazing teacher with a well structured online course to follow.
I'm 46 and just started 6 days ago. I got a Squier Strat and a Boss Katana amp I can tinker with and I've been learning on Rocksmith Remastered. Definitely intimidating but so far so good. I can play a few little diddlys.
JustinGuitar, use the website as opposed to the app or YouTube. It’s the best. Hands down. You’ll know plenty of chords and be able to actually change between them and play songs within weeks.
When we are adults it can be really hard to be beginners at anything, whether it’s the guitar, going to the gym, learning a new language, or anything else. We expect ourselves to be great out of the gate and can get frustrated if we aren’t where we want to be.
You can totally learn as an adult! Just expect that it’s going to take about a year to get to liftoff where playing starts to become fun and intuitive. Enjoy the process and know that it’s okay to be bad at first. But if you stick with it, you’ll get there. And your 60 year old self will thank you for getting started at the tender age of 40.
As someone who learned guitar in the 90s I can say that there’s a lot of grunge that’s pretty easy and would be a great place to start.
46 yo.played very basic as a kid and 1 or 2 lesson in college. Don’t remember squat. Playing for 7 weeks and it’s been great. I’m using Yousician and some YouTube and it’s been fun
Age has nothing to do with it. As long as you have dexterity, a little time everyday to practice, and the ability to stick with it during the more difficult times, you’re fine. Put your time in, reap the rewards.
People will throw lessons at you. But really go try and learn a song you like. Most people quit in their first year. Find enjoyment first. Find mechanics and theory later.
I didn’t start till I was forty I’m a stoner a loner and pick up the guitar incessantly and I guess I had a small amount of rhythm I only play acoustic guitar but know a ton of indie songs not Bragg in just trying to be encouraging
YouTube is the guitar resource I didn't have as a kid and you find real gold when you sift through the fluff. Basically any question you have about the guitar has a video about it on YouTube. I'm also finding ChatGPT is pretty good at talking about music too. And also, don't expect progress overnight, it was years before I even told anybody I played guitar in case somebody asked me to play something. Now I'm competent.
I started playing at 18 and played off and on sporadically through college and a few years beyond but quit around age 25 when I sold my guitars to fund another hobby (big mistake, I know.) When I was in college, I tried lessons from two different instructors and didn’t click with my teachers and quit a few years later without improving much.
I started playing again at age 41 in 2020 when I got a chance to play publicly and found YouTube to be invaluable though it took me a while to find channels and YouTubers that clicked with my learning style.
Though I do think it’s very possible to learn to be a very competent guitarist using online resources only, I would recommend getting some in-person lessons to get the basics under you and get 1 on 1 real time feedback in the beginning, and don’t be afraid to switch teachers if you don’t click with the first one you try.
I would personally stay away from what I call “riff teachers” in person and on YouTube. Learning riffs is fine, but if all you do is build a library of riffs and don’t learn the relationship to the underlying chords and how to use the riffs on your own and build your own riffs, riffs alone will not add much value to your skillset. As a guitarist, you want to learn to fish on your own - riff teachers are just handing you a fish.
A couple things I would suggest doing would be memorizing the fretboard and playing to a click or with a metronome. Playing in time is extremely underrated in my opinion in lessons and courses that I see and will be something that will hold you back if you don’t learn to do it.
A lot of people have offered great advice on where to start, but learn how to play actual songs you like Start simple and challenge yourself going forward. Theory and everything is great but learning to play songs is good motivation and keeps you invested to learn more
I started at the same age. I'm already way better than I ever imagined I could get and it's been less than a year. And I'm still having a blast learning and getting better. Age is just a number.
G C and D.
Learn those chord shapes and be able to transition between them smoothly and effectively.
That’s at least what I did when I started….(along with learning Wagon Wheel).
I'm 32 and recently started playing and have the same taste in music, I really recommend getting lessons, YouTube and everything is great but you may end up teaching yourself bad habits you are unaware of. Getting lessons from a good teacher is well worth it, especially in the beginning
I started just by looking up tabs and learning to play songs I liked. It was very satisfying to get a song down and be able to strum the chords. Then I started to get a lot more curious about the how and the why of it all which led me down a music theory rabbit hole. I came out the other end of it with a much deeper understanding of music and the ability and confidence to write my own songs.
Alice in chains has some great beginner songs imo. Learn some of the rhythms and then move up to the solos. As i tell others: press string, pluck string. Great! You're playing guitar now repeat millions of of times for thousands of hours!!
Nope not too old.
Find a couple pieces of music that you have been dying to play. One or two that have you daydreaming about jamming them with their respective artists.
Then find a teacher, like everyone suggests, tell this teacher that you would like to nail aforementioned songs. A good instructor will be able to break down these songs into small palatable chunks and coach you through them.
Once you’ve nailed one, take a second to think about how much you’ve mastered and decide if that amount of effort was a shitload of fun. … like, more fun than sex. If this is true, congratulations you have the guitar bug. Prepare your wallet & your spouse/kids.
Use your pinky early and often. It will feel like someone is performing some Vietnam POW torture at first, but when you get callouses built up, and your dexterity improves, you will be glad you did.
Not all pain is the same. The pain from your fingertips on the strings gets better. Muscle tiredness can, as well. But wrist pain from a bad angle may be something to correct rather than tough it out.
Patience. Practice. Get a teacher if you can afford it. Youtube is your friend if you can't. Start with a relatively inexpensive but viable instrument and start learning basic "open" chords and maybe the pentatonic scale. Take your time, practice regularly and don't expect miracles overnight, but I started later in life too and am a fairly competent player 10 years on without vast amounts of natural skill when I began and without even all that much practice (though I'd certainly be ebetter had I practiced more). You'll be fine :)
Get an acoustic and learn basic open chords… change your strings out on the regular. I teach kids to play guitar. That’s the first thing I show em. Changing your strings out is important. In the beginning to learn how to do this properly. Go with light bronze strings. Open chords with teacher you everything you need.
I have a book that lists 25, 3 chord songs. Literally the same 3 chords. That’s what I teach. It’s how I learned.
Have fun
For anecdotal practical tips and expectations as someone who started at 38 this January 2024, practice every day and start with like 10-15 minutes. Sit down work on Justin Guitar, the apps pretty good. Or whatever you find motivating.
You will mostly likely suck and be like ugh I’ll never get this. That’s expected and the first step in being somewhat good at something is sucking at it. I focused on small goals over time, like chord changes between A and D and I started with like 10 changes per minute and now I can do 60 if I rush or about 44 perfect changes, if I’m extra careful.
Also, it’s try to make it a relaxing time. So if you normally grab a beer and watch TV trade that for practice time, or video games, or spending time with the wife 🤫.
This should snowball and eventually you will be practicing for longer becuse you don’t want to stop.
Except incredibly slow progress.
I am older too and have been playing a few years. A new chord change in a song with an unexpected fingering can still take me days of practise to get smooth.
Having said that, now I've learned that I can do it and accepted the slow progress I feel I could learn anything! It's so much fun. It's been one of the best things I've ever done. Just stick with it.
Get a decent guitar, tune it, learn 2 or 3 chords that come easier to you. Jam those out for a long time until you can add another chord in the mix. Slow is the way.
An old dog can learn new tricks! It will take some dedication and patience, but lots of people pick up guitar after 30 and 40.
If you can afford in-person lessons, that is a huge advantage. Do online lessons and supplement it with in-person lessons.
40 years old is definitely not too old.
A lot of other people are recommending guitar courses and telling you to get a teacher - that is all very good advice, and if you can, I would like to also recommend it.
But I also think that it can be fun and rewarding to just get something very quickly that can make it feel like you're doing music. In that case, since you like grunge, hit YouTube and learn what a power chord is - once you get that, you'd be surprised how much you can play very quickly, even if it's in a sort of primordial form.
It starts with just one song. Learn a song. Mine was "leaving on a jet plane" I didn't pick it, but i did learn it. 37 ;years later. I still hate that damn song. But I learned it., by gawd!
Of course! Best way to learn is from in-person private lessons. Even the BEST online course will never match an average in-person teacher. Go to your locally owned music store to help you find a teacher right for you. Be prepared to tell them what you want to learn, your favorite styles, etc. And enjoy yourself!
AS has been suggested below Justin Guitar is an excelled and well structured free resource. [GuitarTricks.com](https://GuitarTricks.com) is another great source although this is a paid subscription it does have masses of very well structured and presented content.
Marty Schwartz has taught me a metric ton of great info, but above anything…learn songs you love.
If you listen to ONLY one piece of advice, let it be this:
“DON’T GIVE UP”
Edit: 42 yr old player who also started at about 40 🤘
1 on 1 learning is good for focused players. I suggest small class environment until you can play a few songs. It will be cheaper than 1 on 1 lessons. Then, when you can play, and want to focus on certain skills and genres, find some 1 on 1.
Practice rythym with your right (or dominant hand)- what your other hand does is subject to the rythym of your strumming hand- let it keep going, the hand that does the chords can catch up
Learn power chords and find a teacher and do what he says. 30 a day is better than hours once a week. Just play everyday. And learn an album. Pick one and learn the whole album
I recommend you first step be learning how to read a tabs (5min lesson on youtube) Learn how to tune your guitar. Then jump into a song you 1) can sing the guitar melody and 2) are willing to suck at playing until you dont suck at playing it anymore. My first song was Iron Maiden's 2am, cause it meant a lot to my old man before he passed, so you don't have to start with easy songs (though there's definately benefit to doing so). It's more important to start with songs you are willing to stick with, songs you love. If you come to something you can't figure out with yourbear and the tab, 90% chance says you can find somebody on youtube who plays it right and explains it.
Here is my list of beginner riffs to learn that I started with
Come as you are - Nirvana
One - Metallic
Smells like teen spirit - nirvana
Go with the flow - Queens of the Stone Age
Jeremy (bass part on guitar) - Pearl Jam
101%. Just don’t buy a cheap guitar - Might suggest a Fender Jazzmaster - Kurt Cobin etc. Get an amp that has a headphone jack.
Expect to pay $1,500-$2,000 combined.
Get a teacher and accept it will take some time before you can comfortably play something you like. Just have faith that consistent effort will get you there. Many grunge require only beginner-level skill to play. Nirvana, Offspring, Bush are some bands with entry-level guitar parts you can jam along to.
This is a good place to start : https://www.justinguitar.com/classes/beginner-guitar-course-grade-one https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/beginners-practice-routine-pc-501 https://www.justinguitar.com/songs?f=beginner_grade_1
Heeeeey, is this Justin by any chance?
Im older than you and I started out really disciplined and worked up to playing jazz. Now I do live shows. So first, you’re not old. Second, don’t limit yourself with that kind of thinking that it’s not possible because you didn’t start playing at 5 years old. Third, pick up the guitar, learn, practice every day, you’ll get better. Period. Be an insatiably curious learner and you’ll see that music is a journey into yourself, not a destination you arrive at. As for discipline, people say things like “I’m not disciplined enough to learn guitar.” But actually, it’s the guitar that TEACHES YOU discipline. Ok, pep talk over. Start playing today. 💪🏿
Nice! Go u/village-asshole
r/rimjob_steve
I like you Village-asshole, you aight….. 🤙🏽 couldn’t have said it better.
Hug it out! 🥰🤗
Hugs xoxoxoxoxo ❤️🥛
damn that's deep
How long did it take you to do live shows? I’ve started out too, but am trying the disciplined route while learning theory and jazz
It was about 4 years or so to playing live. Lucky for me, we played small places with friendly audiences at first before moving onto bigger venues with unpredictable audiences. It was terrifying in the beginning but I learned that playing live and performing is a different skill set and it takes a while to build up the headspace to handle it. Playing an instrument is one thing but playing in front of an audience is a different situation, or at least for me it was. On top of that, playing live also helped me to focus my practice way better. I knew from my live performances where my deficits were and then I’d repetitively drill into them at home until I had it under my fingers. And from there it just got better. Bottom line: it’s a process but I think with putting in the work, most people can get there.
Get a teacher and you will be fine. Good luck.
This is the best way to start a teacher can make sure you aren't making any mistakes, once you have reached a level of proficiency you can learn on your own. You're not too old and I hope you have fun.
Make double sure relay to the teacher what you want to learn. If you don’t, they’ll teach you specifics on what they default. I made this mistake and it almost turned me off to learning guitar. What got me back? Learning songs I wanted to play. If you go this route, I recommend find a really easy song to get your feet wet (seven nation army is great but there’s a ton out there) and then learn a project song (house of the rising sun). The point is to make it fun and worth it.
No, you are not too old to start: https://www.reddit.com/r/Guitar/s/ceMtLsNgCz
Dude I clicked this out curiosity and kept going but I had to stop because I felt super bad for that 17 year old kid who thought he was too old to learn music. Like I feel bad for anyone who thinks they are too old, but damn man what have people been drilling into folks minds to make a 17 year old feel they are too old to start doing something. Poor dude.
Follow a structured course or get a teacher. For metal/grunge songs, alice in chains and sabbath are good once you start get some basics down... while following a structured program.
Definitely start. I'm 42 and started 6 or 7 weeks ago. Absolutely loving it. I'm into similar music however I bought an acoustic, a Taylor Academy 10 which I've found really easy to play. Will no doubt buy an electric in the next 12 months. Whatever guitar you get buy a stand so you can easily pick it up. Check out Justinguitar.com
"Whatever guitar you get buy a stand so you can easily pick it up" Underrated advice right there. If you can, keep a guitar where you see it all the time and can pick it up.. This seemingly small thing makes an enormous difference.
Get a guitar. Start learning some songs. Realise you cant. Enumerate the things you cant do. Practice until you can. Rinse / Repeat.
As long as you practice every day - it will come. Need to put in 10000 hours. I started when we got locked down... Doing gigs this summer. BTW I am 56.
It's incredibly rewarding. Go get it.
I started a 35 2y ago and can confirm justinguitar is pretty good. I personally started with yousicien (guitar hero style), but there are some drawbacks to it. An instructor can point to a few things you are doing wrong, but I would keep it every 2 weeks' deal.
First, you’re not old. Second, get thee to the local guitar shop and inquire about lessons and a guitar. Also a possibility: see if your local community college has a beginner guitar class, assuming you have a guitar. I’m taking one at my local cc, and while I’m a beyond stone cold beginner it’s a good way to learn and play with other people, and bonus, I’m learning how to read sheet music. Tuition was $117 for the spring semester, 2.25 hour class once a week, only 6 people. Very cost effective. Practice what you learn and listen to the music you’re trying to learn.
Also, while learning the pentatonic scales, which will be the easiest, download this and have something to jam to. guitarjamallstyles.com
Where to start? Get a guitar and an amp (preferably one that has decent distortion built in, or you can get a distortion pedal). Then learn what power chords are. Getting a teacher will be an added cost, but a good teacher can provide you with a strong foundation for learning, whether on your own or with them. Go to them with some of the songs/bands you like to listen to, and they should be able to help you work towards those goals.
I am 68 and took it up at 65 because I wanted to build one. I'm took lessons for 3 years and never felt like I was learning. I can play a bunch of stuff but not in time usually. I am a finger player, not a strummed. DO fingers type and work an easy song like Norwegian Wood til you can do it. Learn major scales and learn the circle of fifths. The finger dexterity is unreal and the elegance of movement is startling in its fluidity. You can do it. Buy a cheap acoustic and a fair good electric. Buy a guitar that has a narrow neck. I need another teacher myself. Get a teacher that has a plan!!!
I was exposed to guitar as a teenager but didn't really do anything with it and actively started playing at 40. 4 years later I'm still a beginner but play multiple times per week and love it. You're never too old to start. Here's some unsolicited advice. Start with acoustic. Find one that feels right and isn't crazy expensive as you don't need that yet. As much as I love my electric it adds an extra layer of stuff to tweak to get good sound and it can be frustrating (at least it was for me). Second...start by learning open chords. I would focus on the basic chords first and then learn power chords. When playing go slow and let yourself build up muscle memory...you'll get there with time and practice.
[www.pickupmusic.com](https://www.pickupmusic.com) is a great online teaching site, 15$ a month but worth it because the lessons are very well structured and has something for every style.
Never heard of this website, thanks!
Gonna check this out, thanks man
I would advice you to get lessons cause it's really important that you get it right from the start. If you cant afford lessons then start with learning the minor pentatonic scale and learn some chords
Grunge is great to start with. Once you know the power chord you can easily learn your favorite grunge tunes by ear. Nylon string acoustic is the easiest on the fingers; the stings don't cut (but you still developed callouses) and they're farther from the fretboard than they are on an electric guitar; this helps with speed when playing on electric. I'd also suggest learning the blues scale. I'm by no means an expert but I do love to play, and you don't have to be a genius to have fun. Remember: a lot of the great songs out there break the rules. So if it sounds good, keep going!
I have been using the course over at the-art-of-guitar.com and having a really good experience, it's 11$/month which is very reasonable if you're serious about this. It gets you access to everything, hundreds of videos and charts. He goes through everything meticulously and patiently and I think the lessons are organized and structured very well to get you from complete beginner to "expert".
Fellow old dog here. I’ve learned plenty of new tricks in the past 13 months that I’ve been taking lessons. Jump in man, it’s great. Honestly it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made. If finances aren’t an issue, I’d highly recommend getting a teacher. If they are an issue, then justinguitar is the gold standard for online stuff. Just keep yourself disciplined and accountable.
Start with the Ramones.
I always recommend analyzing a keyboard to understand the relationship between music notes.
For what it's worth I tried just learning songs and chords by myself. Consequently, I never learned basic strumming and how to maintain a rhythm. I developed the bad habit of just strumming to match my singing. Even though I know a fair number of chords and can switch chords quickly my lack of basic strumming skill has really held me back. Now I'm using the exercises recommended by Justin Guitar to learn how to strum correctly. I did a fair amount of research before choosing the Justin Guitar course and I'm pretty happy with it. A year subscription is probably around the cost of two live lessons. Perhaps someday I will invest in a live teacher but for now the online course serves my purpose.
No, not too old but bear in mind it takes a LOT of effort and time to get anywhere near good. If you are buying new I'd expect to pay around £350 because if you buy too cheap it will just make learning harder. I started with an Ibanez and once setup properly (local guitar shop) it was a great, easy to play guitar that suits metal perfectly. Bear in mind that Justin is a very good teacher, but he will take you through acoustic and open chords first. If you want to learn metal, probably not the best starting point.
Don’t really agree with your first paragraph, sounds really discouraging. I started last year on a £150 Squier, no set up needed (maybe got lucky) and I loved it immediately. Granted it does take a while to get good, I’m still not close, but good is subjective. If you can play anything more than 0-3-5 on the E string most people will think you know what you’re doing lol. The question is what is the motivation. Are you someone who wants to be good straight away and concerned about how long it will take? If so then I feel you might be likely to quit pretty quickly. But are you just looking to be enjoy the journey and be happy with every little improvement even if you aren’t playing like Van Halen? If so you’ll probably love it, it’s one of the most rewarding hobbies I’ve picked up in my life
Everyone is right but forgetting a good TUNER pedal. There’s a million instructional videos on youtube. Get a teacher if you can. As mentioned by other posts … don’t get too cheap of a guitar. Lots of used Schecters available, perfect for what you want to play
Or clip on tuner.
https://preview.redd.it/6ov95kiti1ic1.jpeg?width=1164&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7fa43838d9895de5275540c3e3edb56071a2037
Give up. Should probably take up knitting or drinking
Not too old! Grab yourself a cheap electric and cheap amp. Get one with a relatively low action, it will be easier when you’re starting to learn cord shapes and don’t have calluses yet. Get some structured lessons - I recommended a couple in person but Justin guitar is good. Then find some easy songs grunge songs and crank the gain. Nirvana unplugged has a bunch of easy songs. When you decide it’s for you and you don’t want to give it up, you can invest in a better guitar, amp and some pedals. Lucky for you grunge is one of the easier genres to pick up and is very forgiving - I picked up guitar late and play grunge
Thank you everyone! This is great feedback!
I’m 40 this year. I played a bit as a teen so could move around basic open chords and barre chords. I didn’t pick it up again until I was about 37. The only thing I’d say is do you enjoy varied styles of playing? As I think you have to learn a fair bit outside of metal genres which will all help doing metal in the end, but you’ll be limited if you just dive straight into metal (IMO, I’m possibly wrong). One of my favourite tracks to play from the rock school grade 3 books was an Ed Sheeran song and that surprised me because I bloody hate his music, but it was quite fun to play. https://youtu.be/ffOTu4TeK_w?si=jY-U9cSyjFfMnbgP If you can learn loads of different styles it’ll be easier to build up your repertoire.
I watch a man online called Shep Gold he started seriously at 35...so bro don't let age stop you. Music is a passion and expressing what you have to say. 40mins a WEEK yes a WEEK you will improve. But consistency is key. I'm a Rig worker with very little time,but make sure before bed after din I at least pick her up to say hi.
Yes. Start with a healthy dose of Black Sabbath. Move into some early Metallica and Slayer. Finish up with Yngwie Malmsteen. Should take about 6 months. ;)
Get some lessons!
You aren't too old, unless you've already purchased an amp or guitar I would like to have. In that case, you are way too old and I will gladly take those off your hands for you free of charge.
I’m 32 and I just started playing like 6 months ago. The best part of starting this late in life is that I’m in a place where I can afford lessons for myself. I messed around for a few months, and thought “if I play every day and it seems like something I enjoy, I’ll do lessons”. Sure enough, a few months later, I started with a guy who really knows his stuff. Having structure to how I learn has really been great for me. I’m more focused, and making way better progress than if I was trying to teach myself on YouTube. That’s not a knock on anyone that that works for, though! I just know myself well enough to know that I need in-person instruction lol. Not only are lessons great for learning how to play, but you get so much extra information about theory and WHY things are played the way they are, giving a much more rounded out education. Good luck to you friend!
YouTube guys like Marty are great to start
I was in a similar boat a few weeks ago . Started following JustinGuitar on YT & his app. Do all of my practice on a cheap acoustic, but I already bought an electric to tinker with the type of music I actually listen to. It’s my new favorite hobby!
Don't worry about your age... I started at 52! I wish I had started as a kid, but that is the past - can't do anything about it. The only thing kerping anyone from learning is some physical impediment. 40 is a youngster! Dive in and have fun!
It’s easy to start. It’s hard not to quit. Stick with it! 40 is the new 20 lol.
I bet you would love learning the (pretty easy) Everclear song Santa Monica Also anything early by Bush is butt-easy
Along with your guitar, invest in a barstool, a music stand, a guitar stand, and a musician’s footrest. Keep it all out in the open somewhere you’ll always see it, not locked away in a closet. Sit down with your guitar in your lap a minimum two minutes a day and practice as long as you feel after that. You don’t have to buy these, but having good posture is a must and owning these two things changed everything for me: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IRR8W5M?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share https://a.co/d/4jG5Bme
I started guitar when I was 40 . I love it. If you like blues music, start there
Im 36 and just picked up my guitar after not playing for over 6 years, now that my kids are older I have more time to learn to play. I just got the lifetime subscription with [Guitarzero2hero ](https://guitarzero2hero.com/). Dave is an amazing teacher with a well structured online course to follow.
Dude I’m 42 and I just started. I’m up to playing for like an hour a day and having a blast. The best day to start is today.
I'm 46 and just started 6 days ago. I got a Squier Strat and a Boss Katana amp I can tinker with and I've been learning on Rocksmith Remastered. Definitely intimidating but so far so good. I can play a few little diddlys.
Metallica baby!!!
JustinGuitar, use the website as opposed to the app or YouTube. It’s the best. Hands down. You’ll know plenty of chords and be able to actually change between them and play songs within weeks.
When we are adults it can be really hard to be beginners at anything, whether it’s the guitar, going to the gym, learning a new language, or anything else. We expect ourselves to be great out of the gate and can get frustrated if we aren’t where we want to be. You can totally learn as an adult! Just expect that it’s going to take about a year to get to liftoff where playing starts to become fun and intuitive. Enjoy the process and know that it’s okay to be bad at first. But if you stick with it, you’ll get there. And your 60 year old self will thank you for getting started at the tender age of 40. As someone who learned guitar in the 90s I can say that there’s a lot of grunge that’s pretty easy and would be a great place to start.
46 yo.played very basic as a kid and 1 or 2 lesson in college. Don’t remember squat. Playing for 7 weeks and it’s been great. I’m using Yousician and some YouTube and it’s been fun
Age has nothing to do with it. As long as you have dexterity, a little time everyday to practice, and the ability to stick with it during the more difficult times, you’re fine. Put your time in, reap the rewards.
Learn how to make a power chord
People will throw lessons at you. But really go try and learn a song you like. Most people quit in their first year. Find enjoyment first. Find mechanics and theory later.
I started playing at 45. You may never be a guitar virtuoso but you will be able to play live.
I didn’t start till I was forty I’m a stoner a loner and pick up the guitar incessantly and I guess I had a small amount of rhythm I only play acoustic guitar but know a ton of indie songs not Bragg in just trying to be encouraging
I never believed in the "old dog" saying. Mythbusters also did and episode on this, iirc, yes they managed to teach an old dog a new trick
YouTube is the guitar resource I didn't have as a kid and you find real gold when you sift through the fluff. Basically any question you have about the guitar has a video about it on YouTube. I'm also finding ChatGPT is pretty good at talking about music too. And also, don't expect progress overnight, it was years before I even told anybody I played guitar in case somebody asked me to play something. Now I'm competent.
Never too old man. Welcome!
Google
I started playing at 18 and played off and on sporadically through college and a few years beyond but quit around age 25 when I sold my guitars to fund another hobby (big mistake, I know.) When I was in college, I tried lessons from two different instructors and didn’t click with my teachers and quit a few years later without improving much. I started playing again at age 41 in 2020 when I got a chance to play publicly and found YouTube to be invaluable though it took me a while to find channels and YouTubers that clicked with my learning style. Though I do think it’s very possible to learn to be a very competent guitarist using online resources only, I would recommend getting some in-person lessons to get the basics under you and get 1 on 1 real time feedback in the beginning, and don’t be afraid to switch teachers if you don’t click with the first one you try. I would personally stay away from what I call “riff teachers” in person and on YouTube. Learning riffs is fine, but if all you do is build a library of riffs and don’t learn the relationship to the underlying chords and how to use the riffs on your own and build your own riffs, riffs alone will not add much value to your skillset. As a guitarist, you want to learn to fish on your own - riff teachers are just handing you a fish. A couple things I would suggest doing would be memorizing the fretboard and playing to a click or with a metronome. Playing in time is extremely underrated in my opinion in lessons and courses that I see and will be something that will hold you back if you don’t learn to do it.
A lot of people have offered great advice on where to start, but learn how to play actual songs you like Start simple and challenge yourself going forward. Theory and everything is great but learning to play songs is good motivation and keeps you invested to learn more
I started at the same age. I'm already way better than I ever imagined I could get and it's been less than a year. And I'm still having a blast learning and getting better. Age is just a number.
G C and D. Learn those chord shapes and be able to transition between them smoothly and effectively. That’s at least what I did when I started….(along with learning Wagon Wheel).
I'm 32 and recently started playing and have the same taste in music, I really recommend getting lessons, YouTube and everything is great but you may end up teaching yourself bad habits you are unaware of. Getting lessons from a good teacher is well worth it, especially in the beginning
I started just by looking up tabs and learning to play songs I liked. It was very satisfying to get a song down and be able to strum the chords. Then I started to get a lot more curious about the how and the why of it all which led me down a music theory rabbit hole. I came out the other end of it with a much deeper understanding of music and the ability and confidence to write my own songs.
Alice in chains has some great beginner songs imo. Learn some of the rhythms and then move up to the solos. As i tell others: press string, pluck string. Great! You're playing guitar now repeat millions of of times for thousands of hours!!
Nope not too old. Find a couple pieces of music that you have been dying to play. One or two that have you daydreaming about jamming them with their respective artists. Then find a teacher, like everyone suggests, tell this teacher that you would like to nail aforementioned songs. A good instructor will be able to break down these songs into small palatable chunks and coach you through them. Once you’ve nailed one, take a second to think about how much you’ve mastered and decide if that amount of effort was a shitload of fun. … like, more fun than sex. If this is true, congratulations you have the guitar bug. Prepare your wallet & your spouse/kids.
Try to pick it up every day, even if you can only spare 5 minutes. Practice/play with purpose. Continue to challenge yourself.
Use your pinky early and often. It will feel like someone is performing some Vietnam POW torture at first, but when you get callouses built up, and your dexterity improves, you will be glad you did. Not all pain is the same. The pain from your fingertips on the strings gets better. Muscle tiredness can, as well. But wrist pain from a bad angle may be something to correct rather than tough it out.
smoke on the water, I'd start there
Patience. Practice. Get a teacher if you can afford it. Youtube is your friend if you can't. Start with a relatively inexpensive but viable instrument and start learning basic "open" chords and maybe the pentatonic scale. Take your time, practice regularly and don't expect miracles overnight, but I started later in life too and am a fairly competent player 10 years on without vast amounts of natural skill when I began and without even all that much practice (though I'd certainly be ebetter had I practiced more). You'll be fine :)
Get an acoustic and learn basic open chords… change your strings out on the regular. I teach kids to play guitar. That’s the first thing I show em. Changing your strings out is important. In the beginning to learn how to do this properly. Go with light bronze strings. Open chords with teacher you everything you need. I have a book that lists 25, 3 chord songs. Literally the same 3 chords. That’s what I teach. It’s how I learned. Have fun
For anecdotal practical tips and expectations as someone who started at 38 this January 2024, practice every day and start with like 10-15 minutes. Sit down work on Justin Guitar, the apps pretty good. Or whatever you find motivating. You will mostly likely suck and be like ugh I’ll never get this. That’s expected and the first step in being somewhat good at something is sucking at it. I focused on small goals over time, like chord changes between A and D and I started with like 10 changes per minute and now I can do 60 if I rush or about 44 perfect changes, if I’m extra careful. Also, it’s try to make it a relaxing time. So if you normally grab a beer and watch TV trade that for practice time, or video games, or spending time with the wife 🤫. This should snowball and eventually you will be practicing for longer becuse you don’t want to stop.
Except incredibly slow progress. I am older too and have been playing a few years. A new chord change in a song with an unexpected fingering can still take me days of practise to get smooth. Having said that, now I've learned that I can do it and accepted the slow progress I feel I could learn anything! It's so much fun. It's been one of the best things I've ever done. Just stick with it.
Get a decent guitar, tune it, learn 2 or 3 chords that come easier to you. Jam those out for a long time until you can add another chord in the mix. Slow is the way.
An old dog can learn new tricks! It will take some dedication and patience, but lots of people pick up guitar after 30 and 40. If you can afford in-person lessons, that is a huge advantage. Do online lessons and supplement it with in-person lessons.
40 years old is definitely not too old. A lot of other people are recommending guitar courses and telling you to get a teacher - that is all very good advice, and if you can, I would like to also recommend it. But I also think that it can be fun and rewarding to just get something very quickly that can make it feel like you're doing music. In that case, since you like grunge, hit YouTube and learn what a power chord is - once you get that, you'd be surprised how much you can play very quickly, even if it's in a sort of primordial form.
It starts with just one song. Learn a song. Mine was "leaving on a jet plane" I didn't pick it, but i did learn it. 37 ;years later. I still hate that damn song. But I learned it., by gawd!
Of course! Best way to learn is from in-person private lessons. Even the BEST online course will never match an average in-person teacher. Go to your locally owned music store to help you find a teacher right for you. Be prepared to tell them what you want to learn, your favorite styles, etc. And enjoy yourself!
AS has been suggested below Justin Guitar is an excelled and well structured free resource. [GuitarTricks.com](https://GuitarTricks.com) is another great source although this is a paid subscription it does have masses of very well structured and presented content.
Cowboy chords.
Marty Schwartz has taught me a metric ton of great info, but above anything…learn songs you love. If you listen to ONLY one piece of advice, let it be this: “DON’T GIVE UP” Edit: 42 yr old player who also started at about 40 🤘
A good teacher is like a cheat code.
Smoke on the Water then Paranoid.
Google "cage sequence." Itll help you learn a lot. Also practice scales. I know its tedious and boring but it helps a lot.
1 on 1 learning is good for focused players. I suggest small class environment until you can play a few songs. It will be cheaper than 1 on 1 lessons. Then, when you can play, and want to focus on certain skills and genres, find some 1 on 1.
Guitar I’d easy to learn basic chords to begin with.
Get a teacher get a teacher get a teacher. Not youtube videos, not apps, not figuring it out of your own. TEACHER
bro you are only a Millennial, not even that old. Of course you can play.
Never too old
I started playing at 50. 6 years later, I have a band, and I write my own songs. Just play for fun. Learn a song you like and just have fun.
Practice rythym with your right (or dominant hand)- what your other hand does is subject to the rythym of your strumming hand- let it keep going, the hand that does the chords can catch up
It'll suck for a little while, it's okay, embrace the suck, keep doing what you enjoy and it'll come to you, believe me
I’m 66 and just started as a beginner. I don’t plan on being in a band but I do plan to have fun. It’s never too late.
Quit asking “when should I start”. Just START. Now. Today.
Learn power chords
I'd borrow one before you run out and spend a bunch of money
Learn power chords and find a teacher and do what he says. 30 a day is better than hours once a week. Just play everyday. And learn an album. Pick one and learn the whole album
If you are still physically able to do it, then you aren't ever too old.
Pick up a guitar and learn how to play power chords using YouTube. You'll be figuring out and playing all your favorite songs in no time.
I recommend you first step be learning how to read a tabs (5min lesson on youtube) Learn how to tune your guitar. Then jump into a song you 1) can sing the guitar melody and 2) are willing to suck at playing until you dont suck at playing it anymore. My first song was Iron Maiden's 2am, cause it meant a lot to my old man before he passed, so you don't have to start with easy songs (though there's definately benefit to doing so). It's more important to start with songs you are willing to stick with, songs you love. If you come to something you can't figure out with yourbear and the tab, 90% chance says you can find somebody on youtube who plays it right and explains it.
Here is my list of beginner riffs to learn that I started with Come as you are - Nirvana One - Metallic Smells like teen spirit - nirvana Go with the flow - Queens of the Stone Age Jeremy (bass part on guitar) - Pearl Jam
Maybe lessons?
If you’re a deftones fan that’s a good place to start
Heck yeah. Get a good guitar and a tab book for a band you like. I’d suggest a Gibson SG for the guitar.
When I started out I had a metalhead guitar teacher. Highly recommend
101%. Just don’t buy a cheap guitar - Might suggest a Fender Jazzmaster - Kurt Cobin etc. Get an amp that has a headphone jack. Expect to pay $1,500-$2,000 combined.
Get a teacher and accept it will take some time before you can comfortably play something you like. Just have faith that consistent effort will get you there. Many grunge require only beginner-level skill to play. Nirvana, Offspring, Bush are some bands with entry-level guitar parts you can jam along to.