Playing guitar

[Primal Scream]

Two years ago at 59 I decided to try to learn to play a guitar. I bought myself a Yamaha Pacifica a Roland Cube amp, wah wah and chorus pedals.

I had approx 35 lessons and realised I was crap, clearing my basement this morning I stumbled across my guitar looking lonely and unloved on its stand untouched for nearly a year.

A couple of questions, can anyone learn to play guitar to a reasonable standard, any tips or recommendations, should I just sell it all.

 

[vernon]

It's down to you and how determined you are.

My Uilleann pipes have languished unblown for around two years and although I got to the stage of being able to play slow airs and one or two Mazurkas I wouldn't call myself proficient. I fully intend to spend time on improving my skills when I have fewer distractions.

 

[PaulB]

I've tried everything, me and discovered one instrument that suits my sense of timing and ability to master; the banjo. I have three of the buggers, one four string and the others being five string, one open-back, the other with a full pan. I keep each tuned to a different key so you can essentially play the same chords or clawhammer riffs and you've trebled your output with no additional practice!

 

[MontyVeda]

I've been crap for over 20 years... it doesn't stop me!

I have a classical in standard tuning, very nice warm sound thanks to the nylon strings and solid cedar top... I also have an acoustic in open D, lovely light jangly sound thanks to using electric strings rather than acoustic ones.

both of these guitars i pick up often and play them badly, but they do sound nice.

I also have a Gordon Smith GS1 and a mini Orange amp... but i find it really tough to get a good sound out of an electric guitar so seldom pick it up.

maybe try a nice acoustic instead... with a solid top, it makes all the difference.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

A couple of questions, can anyone learn to play guitar to a reasonable standard, any tips or recommendations, should I just sell it all.

Yes, though I suspect like most tasks involving muscle memory it gets harder as you get older and some people are wired up better to do it. I forgot how to play guitar, amongst other things, after a head injury and years later, deciding to play an instrument again, realised the world is full of second rate guitarists and my musical world has one or two really good ones in it, so I took up electric bass instead. Bass has the nice side effect that unless you're a Michael Manring or a Steve Lawson you need others to play with.

Most popular instruments are fairly easy to play, none of them are easy to master, and the lore is 10,000 hours in the woodshed gets you competence depending on your definition of 'reasonable standard'.

I've always fancied the Northumbrian pipes but I'm sticking with bass for now.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I've been crap for 32 years and still enjoy murdering the guitar on a daily basis. I have an Norman acoustic on stand-by and an electric or 2 but it's the acoustic that gets used most.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Two years ago at 59 I decided to try to learn to play a guitar. I bought myself a Yamaha Pacifica a Roland Cube amp, wah wah and chorus pedals.

I had approx 35 lessons and realised I was crap, clearing my basement this morning I stumbled across my guitar looking lonely and unloved on its stand untouched for nearly a year.

A couple of questions, can anyone learn to play guitar to a reasonable standard, any tips or recommendations, should I just sell it all.

You could always take up the triangle

 

[Primal Scream]

Thank you for your replies, my idea of reasonable is a few riffs and some 12 bar blues.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Two years ago at 59 I decided to try to learn to play a guitar/quote]
Quite a few years ago, I too played................... very badly (had a Hofner President)

I considered recently buying a Gretsch, until I realised that in no way could I do it justice, unlike that fretboard wizard Brian Setzer.............

I have to agree with the comments on this page wholeheartedly







I also had memories of Chet Atkins in my head when looking at Gretsches (like this track with Jerry Reed)



Sickening isn't it??!

 

[vernon]

I've always fancied the Northumbrian pipes but I'm sticking with bass for now.

I have an unplayed boxwood eleven key set nestling next to my half set of Uilleann pipes.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I have an unplayed boxwood eleven key set nestling next to my half set of Uilleann pipes.

that is just teasing me you mean person! I've never dared invest in a set. Too expensive for something I can't play!

 

[ComedyPilot]

Stick with it fella.

I picked up a bass 2 years ago as an office joke to start a band. We now practice regularly together and have written 4/5 original riff/songs together, and have about 20 cover songs.

No feeling like jamming in the groove with others.

As a tip, use youtube to learn the chords for your favourite songs, and practice them.

 

[TVC]

Sorry, but this thread clearly requires this particular court case being brought up:

 

[vernon]

that is just teasing me you mean person! I've never dared invest in a set. Too expensive for something I can't play!

As fond as I am of Kathryn Tickell, Adrian Schofield's playing takes some beating. He's a hardcore traditionalist who plays in the Billy Pigg style.

My set was allegedly made by the same chap that made the ivory set for Adrian. I swapped a flute for the pipes.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

adrian is a very gifted player and I've heard him live once, but Kathryn is easier on my eye ear with a more contemporary sound I think.